Favorite March Resources for Secondary ELA

Hi teachers! It’s nearing the end of February and March is already next week! Before we get to spring break, there’s plenty of fun holidays and activities that you can celebrate in your secondary ELA classroom. Reading Bingo Challenge March is National Reading Month! If your school celebrates Read Across America Day on March 2,Continue reading “Favorite March Resources for Secondary ELA”

White Elephant Book Exchange In Your Classroom

Why do a white elephant book exchange in my classroom? Doing a white elephant book exchange is a fun holiday and community building activity for students! If you’ve never done it before, it can be amazing to get students in the holiday spirit while refreshing their home libraries. Every student who brings a book, getsContinue reading “White Elephant Book Exchange In Your Classroom”

Hybrid Socratic Seminar: Two Simultaneous Classroom Discussions

What is a Socratic seminar? A Socratic seminar is a  formal discussion (NOT a debate), based on a text(s), in which students ask open-ended questions and discuss answers to deepen their learning and  understanding. Socrates, the Greek philosopher, believed that the answers to human questions and problems reside within us, but as mere mortals, weContinue reading “Hybrid Socratic Seminar: Two Simultaneous Classroom Discussions”

Engaging Vocabulary Activities for Secondary ELA

Sometimes teaching vocabulary can be a slog. Beyond the normal dictionary activities, Frayer model worksheets, and flashcards, what else is there? Here are a few engaging ideas for mixing up your vocabulary review in your classroom! Tarsia Puzzles Everyone likes a good puzzle. Giving students a chance to manipulate pieces with their hands gives themContinue reading “Engaging Vocabulary Activities for Secondary ELA”

How to Hold a Mock Trial in Secondary ELA

Why do a mock trial in secondary ELA? Mock trials can be one of the most memorable activities you do all school year! They are meant to be used as a fun summative assessment at the end of reading any complex text. Students are assigned different roles within the trial and must research the bestContinue reading “How to Hold a Mock Trial in Secondary ELA”

Games and Manipulatives for Secondary ELA

Hi teachers! Getting hands-on in the secondary ELA classroom is easier than you think. When students can organize information at their own pace and with others collaboratively, magic happens! Here are a few ideas for incorporating games and manipulatives in your lessons! Roll a Question Resources With these resources, students roll two dice to getContinue reading “Games and Manipulatives for Secondary ELA”