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Lit Circles

Projects

Reading

Writing

Lesson Plans

5 Tips for Using a Book Tasting to Encourage Independent Reading

Conducting a Book Tasting is one of my favorite lessons of the year. It combines the things I love most about teaching – creativity, collaboration, and most of all, BOOKS! If you have never heard of a Book Tasting, the goal of the activity is to allow students to self-select novels for an independent reading assignment or literature circles. Students are grouped and then given time to explore novels at each table. This is consistently one of both me and my students’ favorite activities of the year. Below are 5 tips (and some bonus grouping suggestions) to help you run a successful Book Tasting with your classes! Tip #1: Collaborate Enlist your Media Specialist to help you conduct this activity.

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Improve Classroom Culture with Attendance Questions

Attendance questions are one of my favorite daily classroom routines. I love them to help me connect with my secondary students and build stronger relationships. The idea is that every day you post a random question and each student must answer it at the beginning of class to account for their presence. These questions can be personal, content-related, or quick would-you-rather type questions. I usually have the question waiting to students when they enter the room. (See an example of my beginning of class Google Slide below.) The sky is really the limit on the types of questions you can ask. Here are some things I learned while using them as well as some tips for getting started quickly. The

continue reading

10 Tips for New Teachers

Getting ready to enter the teaching profession can be so exciting, but also overwhelming. As a blogger and a veteran teacher, I am often asked to offer advice for new teachers. I developed a set of rules that I think are extremely helpful when entering the teaching profession. Samantha in Secondary’s Guide for First Year Teachers Because it’s a marathon, not a sprint. #1: Be yourself. Your students may not always remember what you teach them, but they will remember you. Don’t get hung up on what you think a teacher is supposed to be. You do not need to create a teaching persona; they don’t work, and your students will see right through a façade. It is better to

continue reading

5 Tips for Using a Book Tasting to Encourage Independent Reading

Conducting a Book Tasting is one of my favorite lessons of the year. It combines the things I love most about teaching – creativity, collaboration, and most of all, BOOKS! If you have never heard of a Book Tasting, the goal of the activity is to allow students to self-select novels for an independent reading assignment or literature circles. Students are grouped and then given time to explore novels at each table. This is consistently one of both me and my students’ favorite activities of the year. Below are 5 tips (and some bonus grouping suggestions) to help you run a successful Book Tasting with your classes! Tip #1: Collaborate Enlist your Media Specialist to help you conduct this activity.

continue reading

Improve Classroom Culture with Attendance Questions

Attendance questions are one of my favorite daily classroom routines. I love them to help me connect with my secondary students and build stronger relationships. The idea is that every day you post a random question and each student must answer it at the beginning of class to account for their presence. These questions can be personal, content-related, or quick would-you-rather type questions. I usually have the question waiting to students when they enter the room. (See an example of my beginning of class Google Slide below.) The sky is really the limit on the types of questions you can ask. Here are some things I learned while using them as well as some tips for getting started quickly. The

continue reading

10 Tips for New Teachers

Getting ready to enter the teaching profession can be so exciting, but also overwhelming. As a blogger and a veteran teacher, I am often asked to offer advice for new teachers. I developed a set of rules that I think are extremely helpful when entering the teaching profession. Samantha in Secondary’s Guide for First Year Teachers Because it’s a marathon, not a sprint. #1: Be yourself. Your students may not always remember what you teach them, but they will remember you. Don’t get hung up on what you think a teacher is supposed to be. You do not need to create a teaching persona; they don’t work, and your students will see right through a façade. It is better to

continue reading

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