October is the perfect time to lean into the spooky side of literature. Middle and high school students love a good chill, and spooky stories offer just the right mix of suspense, intrigue, and teachable moments. Whether you’re looking for classics that pack a literary punch or a creative activity that gets your students writing,Continue reading “5 Spooky Stories for Your Secondary ELA Classroom This October”
Tag Archives: reading
3 Essential Authors to Read for Hispanic Heritage Month in Middle School
Hispanic Heritage Month is on September 15-October 15. It’s the perfect opportunity to celebrate the voices, stories, and perspectives that have shaped American literature. As English teachers, we have the unique chance to highlight authors who not only reflect diverse backgrounds but also connect with students on themes of identity, honesty, growing up, and findingContinue reading “3 Essential Authors to Read for Hispanic Heritage Month in Middle School”
Meaningful Classroom Decor for Secondary ELA
Let’s be honest—secondary students can sniff out a “fluff” poster from across the room. That’s why meaningful, content-rich decor matters. In an ELA classroom, wall space shouldn’t just be pretty—it should spark thinking, support learning, and build classroom culture. Here are some of my favorite go-to resources for decorating with intention: Reasons to Read BulletinContinue reading “Meaningful Classroom Decor for Secondary ELA”
Five ELA Activities for Early Finishers
It’s the reality in most secondary ELA classrooms with heterogenous populations that you’re going to have some students finish their assignments earlier than others. What do you usually have these students do?? Most ELA teachers will say, “I just have them read,” but if you want to kick it up a notch with some ideasContinue reading “Five ELA Activities for Early Finishers”
Review Games for Multiple Choice Questions for Secondary ELA
Engaging middle school students in review activities can sometimes feel like a daunting task, especially when faced with the challenge of preparing them for THE BIG STATE TEST 😬 Fortunately, there’s a powerful tool in every teacher’s arsenal: multiple-choice review games. These games not only make reviewing content more enjoyable but also encourage critical thinkingContinue reading “Review Games for Multiple Choice Questions for Secondary ELA”
Back to School Night for Secondary ELA
Back to school night is formatted differently for every school, but for every teacher, this is your first chance to make an impression on parents and guardians. Even though it might seem intimidating or a slog to get through, it is an amazing opportunity to show everyone who you are and what your class isContinue reading “Back to School Night for Secondary ELA”
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”
5 Ways to Motivate Students to Read in Secondary ELA
Motivating some students to read at the middle and high school students can be a monumental task. How can you expect to compete with technology that delivers on-demand dopamine hits? There’s no real tried and true answer to that question, but my best advice to just try a variety of strategies to reach as manyContinue reading “5 Ways to Motivate Students to Read in 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”
Thanksgiving Activities for Secondary ELA
With the changing weather and the excitement of winter break just around the corner, this time of year means that students can get pretty squirrelly! Luckily, teaching students about Thanksgiving and the meaning of gratitude translates well into the secondary ELA classroom and there are plenty of important lessons to be had (and keep themContinue reading “Thanksgiving Activities for Secondary ELA”
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