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Books

Lit Circles

Projects

Reading

Writing

Lesson Plans

10 Young Adult Novels with Strong Female Protagonists

Women’s History Month is a time to reflect on the (at times, still overlooked) contributions of women. In honor of the dedication, ostracization, and relentlessness of women in our country’s history, I have put together a list of 10 YA adult novels with strong female protagonists. Read on for my favorites as well as a bonus resource at the end that pairs great with these YA novels.  1. Tierney from The Grace Year by Kim Liggett At the cusp of womanhood, Garner County girls are banished for their grace year. Believing their youth is a form of magic, young girls spend the year in the wild in order to return purified. As Tierney’s own grace year looms closer she realizes

continue reading

7 St. Patrick’s Day Literacy Activities for Secondary ELA

You might be wondering if it’s worth it to incorporate St. Patrick’s Day literacy activities in your secondary ELA classroom, but let me assure you—it absolutely is! Celebrating this festive holiday can be a great way to engage students with themed lessons that reinforce reading, writing, and critical-thinking skills. St. Patrick’s Day has been recognized as a holiday since the Middle Ages, but its traditions have evolved significantly, especially in America. Why not use the opportunity to blend cultural exploration with your curriculum through fun and meaningful learning activities? To make planning easier, I’ve rounded up seven “lucky” St. Patrick’s Day literacy activities perfect for secondary classrooms. From creative writing prompts and close reading tasks to thematic vocabulary games and

continue reading

10 Tips for Teaching SETTING in the Secondary ELA Classroom

Teaching setting in secondary English Language Arts classrooms can be an overlooked literary element. It can certainly be tricky to identify and use, but rather than skim over it, I like to slow down and focus on setting as a stand-alone literary element. There are so many great activities that you can use to give it the spotlight it deserves. Read on for some of my favorite ideas.   1. Use rich mentor texts Having an example for good writing is so important for students. Use rich mentor texts from Young Adult historical fiction which always does a fantastic job of highlighting the setting. My favorites include All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, The Lovely War by Julie

continue reading

Book Speed Dating: The Ultimate Classroom Activity to Spark Your Students’ Love for Reading

Give the traditional method of sorting students into reading groups a creative twist by using book speed dating— a fun and interactive activity that introduces students to a variety of texts in a short amount of time. This unique approach not only makes the process of selecting books exciting, but also allows students to engage with multiple genres or themes, sparking their interest in reading. Even if you’re not currently using reading groups, book speed dating is a versatile activity that can still be a valuable tool. It’s perfect for helping students discover new books for independent reading or literature circles. Plus, you can collaborate with your media specialist or local librarian to expand the selection of books available to

continue reading

10 YA Romance Novels Your Students Will Love

Are you on the hunt for YA romance novels that will liven up your classroom library or make perfect summer reading assignments? If you want to surprise your students with stories that are both engaging and relatable, you’re in the right place! YA romance novels have a unique way of capturing the highs and lows of first love, friendship, and self-discovery—all while keeping the content appropriate for young adult readers. To help you curate a list that students will genuinely enjoy, I’ve rounded up 10 contemporary YA romance novels that have earned rave reviews from readers everywhere. From heartwarming tales of personal growth to laugh-out-loud romcoms and stories of swoon-worthy meet-cutes, these irresistible reads offer something fresh and exciting for

continue reading

Tips for Teaching the Literary Element CHARACTER in the Secondary ELA Classroom

Character can be a difficult standard to tackle in the secondary English Language Arts classroom, but it doesn’t have to be. I could talk all day about the importance of understanding character development and why I think breaking down a character’s values and motivations is an important skill students will find applicable in the real world, but I’m an English teacher and this is my bread and butter. My students, on the other hand, sometimes need me to not only give them explicit reasoning, but also make it fun and readily accessible. Read on for some of my top tips for teaching about character.  1. Class Character Brainstorm I love class brainstorm sessions. There are a lot of great ways

continue reading

7 Ideas for Teaching Figurative Language in Secondary ELA

Teaching figurative language can be super engaging. I love weaving it into the school year and reminding students that English can be fun. Below are 7 activities that you can use any time in the school year to teach figurative language in your secondary ELA classroom. 1. Use direct instruction first Probably the easiest way to teach figurative language is to just jump right in teaching the terms explicitly. Strengthen student writing with old school notetaking and definition reviews, and of course, practice activities. Sometimes it’s best just to start with the basics, especially if you know your students don’t know the terms or are in serious need of a refresher.  If you’d like a premade resource of presentations and

continue reading

Why Students Should Use Doodle Notes in Secondary ELA

Doodling isn’t just for little kids. Big kids love to doodle, too! You can find a lot of research (read on for links) on the benefits of doodling, so why not embrace it and help your students become avid doodlers? Check out this list of ideas why doodle notes (or sometimes called sketch notes) are so great for students in middle school or high school English Language Arts. 1. Keep students on task. If we’re being honest with ourselves, we know that each day our lessons don’t keep every student engaged for the entire lesson. This is why doodle notes are a great way to keep students on task. The ultimate goal of doodle notes is to bridge the gap

continue reading

5 Day Before Winter Break Activities for Secondary Students

‘Twas the day before winter break, and all through their mind, The teacher was unsure how to pass the time. Did they put together a test they would just have to grade?Did they pop in a movie and call it a day?No, they searched ideas from bloggers and TPT,For activities they could do that would be super easy!  Day before winter break activities can be so tricky to plan. I never liked the phrase “free day” – I like for the time in my classroom to be useful to my students through reinforcing knowledge or building up class culture. On the other hand, keeping students focused on the day before they leave for an extended break can be hard. That’s why I

continue reading

5 Gift of the Magi Short Story Activities

Looking for some unique and engaging “Gift of the Magi” story activities? I’ve got you covered! “Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry is a great work to choose if you’re looking for a short story study, need a quick lesson as you approach winter break, or need an engaging substitute plan. Learn more about “Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry below and discover some of my favorite short story activities to pair with the text. Summary of “Gift of the Magi” “Gift of the Magi” is a short story by O. Henry that was first published in 1905. The story follows a young couple, Della and Jim, who are deeply in love but very poor. As Christmas approaches,

continue reading

10 Young Adult Novels with Strong Female Protagonists

Women’s History Month is a time to reflect on the (at times, still overlooked) contributions of women. In honor of the dedication, ostracization, and relentlessness of women in our country’s history, I have put together a list of 10 YA adult novels with strong female protagonists. Read on for my favorites as well as a bonus resource at the end that pairs great with these YA novels.  1. Tierney from The Grace Year by Kim Liggett At the cusp of womanhood, Garner County girls are banished for their grace year. Believing their youth is a form of magic, young girls spend the year in the wild in order to return purified. As Tierney’s own grace year looms closer she realizes

continue reading

7 St. Patrick’s Day Literacy Activities for Secondary ELA

You might be wondering if it’s worth it to incorporate St. Patrick’s Day literacy activities in your secondary ELA classroom, but let me assure you—it absolutely is! Celebrating this festive holiday can be a great way to engage students with themed lessons that reinforce reading, writing, and critical-thinking skills. St. Patrick’s Day has been recognized as a holiday since the Middle Ages, but its traditions have evolved significantly, especially in America. Why not use the opportunity to blend cultural exploration with your curriculum through fun and meaningful learning activities? To make planning easier, I’ve rounded up seven “lucky” St. Patrick’s Day literacy activities perfect for secondary classrooms. From creative writing prompts and close reading tasks to thematic vocabulary games and

continue reading

10 Tips for Teaching SETTING in the Secondary ELA Classroom

Teaching setting in secondary English Language Arts classrooms can be an overlooked literary element. It can certainly be tricky to identify and use, but rather than skim over it, I like to slow down and focus on setting as a stand-alone literary element. There are so many great activities that you can use to give it the spotlight it deserves. Read on for some of my favorite ideas.   1. Use rich mentor texts Having an example for good writing is so important for students. Use rich mentor texts from Young Adult historical fiction which always does a fantastic job of highlighting the setting. My favorites include All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, The Lovely War by Julie

continue reading

Book Speed Dating: The Ultimate Classroom Activity to Spark Your Students’ Love for Reading

Give the traditional method of sorting students into reading groups a creative twist by using book speed dating— a fun and interactive activity that introduces students to a variety of texts in a short amount of time. This unique approach not only makes the process of selecting books exciting, but also allows students to engage with multiple genres or themes, sparking their interest in reading. Even if you’re not currently using reading groups, book speed dating is a versatile activity that can still be a valuable tool. It’s perfect for helping students discover new books for independent reading or literature circles. Plus, you can collaborate with your media specialist or local librarian to expand the selection of books available to

continue reading

10 YA Romance Novels Your Students Will Love

Are you on the hunt for YA romance novels that will liven up your classroom library or make perfect summer reading assignments? If you want to surprise your students with stories that are both engaging and relatable, you’re in the right place! YA romance novels have a unique way of capturing the highs and lows of first love, friendship, and self-discovery—all while keeping the content appropriate for young adult readers. To help you curate a list that students will genuinely enjoy, I’ve rounded up 10 contemporary YA romance novels that have earned rave reviews from readers everywhere. From heartwarming tales of personal growth to laugh-out-loud romcoms and stories of swoon-worthy meet-cutes, these irresistible reads offer something fresh and exciting for

continue reading

Tips for Teaching the Literary Element CHARACTER in the Secondary ELA Classroom

Character can be a difficult standard to tackle in the secondary English Language Arts classroom, but it doesn’t have to be. I could talk all day about the importance of understanding character development and why I think breaking down a character’s values and motivations is an important skill students will find applicable in the real world, but I’m an English teacher and this is my bread and butter. My students, on the other hand, sometimes need me to not only give them explicit reasoning, but also make it fun and readily accessible. Read on for some of my top tips for teaching about character.  1. Class Character Brainstorm I love class brainstorm sessions. There are a lot of great ways

continue reading

7 Ideas for Teaching Figurative Language in Secondary ELA

Teaching figurative language can be super engaging. I love weaving it into the school year and reminding students that English can be fun. Below are 7 activities that you can use any time in the school year to teach figurative language in your secondary ELA classroom. 1. Use direct instruction first Probably the easiest way to teach figurative language is to just jump right in teaching the terms explicitly. Strengthen student writing with old school notetaking and definition reviews, and of course, practice activities. Sometimes it’s best just to start with the basics, especially if you know your students don’t know the terms or are in serious need of a refresher.  If you’d like a premade resource of presentations and

continue reading

Why Students Should Use Doodle Notes in Secondary ELA

Doodling isn’t just for little kids. Big kids love to doodle, too! You can find a lot of research (read on for links) on the benefits of doodling, so why not embrace it and help your students become avid doodlers? Check out this list of ideas why doodle notes (or sometimes called sketch notes) are so great for students in middle school or high school English Language Arts. 1. Keep students on task. If we’re being honest with ourselves, we know that each day our lessons don’t keep every student engaged for the entire lesson. This is why doodle notes are a great way to keep students on task. The ultimate goal of doodle notes is to bridge the gap

continue reading

5 Day Before Winter Break Activities for Secondary Students

‘Twas the day before winter break, and all through their mind, The teacher was unsure how to pass the time. Did they put together a test they would just have to grade?Did they pop in a movie and call it a day?No, they searched ideas from bloggers and TPT,For activities they could do that would be super easy!  Day before winter break activities can be so tricky to plan. I never liked the phrase “free day” – I like for the time in my classroom to be useful to my students through reinforcing knowledge or building up class culture. On the other hand, keeping students focused on the day before they leave for an extended break can be hard. That’s why I

continue reading

5 Gift of the Magi Short Story Activities

Looking for some unique and engaging “Gift of the Magi” story activities? I’ve got you covered! “Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry is a great work to choose if you’re looking for a short story study, need a quick lesson as you approach winter break, or need an engaging substitute plan. Learn more about “Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry below and discover some of my favorite short story activities to pair with the text. Summary of “Gift of the Magi” “Gift of the Magi” is a short story by O. Henry that was first published in 1905. The story follows a young couple, Della and Jim, who are deeply in love but very poor. As Christmas approaches,

continue reading

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