Resources
Teaching English is a lot. Especially when your students aren’t able to read the source material on their own. These resources and ideas are here to make planning a little easier and your lessons a little better. Dig in, take what works, and leave the rest. And if you have any idea, feel free to share. We’re in this together.
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10 Ways Wipebooks Transform Small-Group Work in Secondary ELA
The Wipebook Reusable Flipchart is one of the most used supplies in my classroom! If you’ve heard of them or seen them in action, you know how cool they are… if you don’t know them, well, they’re pretty amazing. Imagine one of your old-school paper flip charts but as a dry-erase. They are powerful tools… Continue reading
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The Reading & Writing Olympics: A 2-Week Secondary ELA Skills Training Unit
When students struggle with reading tasks, it’s easy for us as secondary ELA teachers to assume the issue is purely motivation. They just don’t want to read. But for many secondary students, the real barrier is that they are missing key foundational skills. They’re missing the reading and writing muscles they need in order to… Continue reading
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The Princess Bride Is the Perfect Movie for Any ELA Classroom
You know those days when you just really need to grade a bunch of stuff, get the children to stop talking for a minute, or straight up veg-out for a little while…but you also can’t justify losing instructional time? Let me tell you why The Princess Bride is the absolute best thing in the whole… Continue reading
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A Movie Marathon in ELA: Standards-Based Fun for the Weeks Before Break
The weeks before Thanksgiving (and again before winter break) can feel… well, a little chaotic. The students are buzzing, the schedule is off, and let’s be honest… you could use your own breather. But “just showing a movie” in any class is usually a no-go. That’s exactly why a group of secondary ELA teachers and… Continue reading
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Unlocking Deeper Comprehension: Engaging Strategies for Teaching Inferences in English Language Arts
Strong reading comprehension requires students to think beyond the text, make connections, and draw conclusions. This is where inferential and critical thinking play a crucial role. Scarborough’s Reading Rope places these skills into the category of Verbal Reasoning. This strand supports the reader’s ability to understand implied meanings, recognize themes, and analyze an author’s intent.… Continue reading
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A Simple Way to Teach the Science of Reading in Secondary ELA (using one poem!)
This post is part of the Teaching Poetry Fest series that includes tons of poetry ideas from over TWENTY secondary ELA teacher-authors. Be sure to follow the hop to Lit with Lyns’ post about Taking the Intimidation out of Teaching Poetry to keep the inspiration going. You can also check out the resource round-up to… Continue reading
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Countdown to Kickoff – Ten Touchdown Worthy Football Lesson Plans
Are you ready to bring the excitement of football season into your ELA classroom? To capitalize on the hype with your students, check out these ten football lesson plans designed to engage them while building critical reading, writing, and analytical skills. These football lesson plans are perfect for ELA teachers looking to tap into the… Continue reading
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Six Ideas for Building Background Knowledge in your Secondary Classroom
Background knowledge is one of the components of Scarborough’s Reading Rope and a necessary part of reading comprehension. Without relevant background knowledge, students have nothing to spark that brain power necessary for understanding what they read. One of our go-to strategies for teaching comprehension is asking students to make connections to what they are reading.… Continue reading
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Engage Deeper with Nonfiction Texts Using Notice and Note Signposts
The “Notice and Note” signposts for nonfiction, developed by Kylene Beers and Robert Probst, are a set of strategies designed to help students engage more deeply with the texts that they read. These signposts highlight key elements and moments in a text that can trigger deeper thinking and comprehension. By identifying and discussing these signposts,… Continue reading
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Integrating Grammar with Literature: The Outsiders Guide
In order to fully comprehend any piece of literature, students need more than just an understanding of plot, characters, and themes—they must also have a solid grasp of grammar and syntax. Grammar is the foundation that allows students to analyze how sentences are structured, how ideas are connected, and how language works to create meaning.… Continue reading
