3 Keys for Back to School Success in High School

Key #1: Orient students to your academic and social expectations One of the best ways to do this is with a clear and focused syllabus. Download a free editable ELA syllabus here: Key #2: Build Classroom Community You need to get to know your students and they need to get

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How to Teach Annotation in High School

In an ideal world, students annotate with ease, naturally interacting with the texts on paper. In this ELA utopia, students connect metaphors to emerging themes, recognize foreshadowing, and question characters’ motivations. However, as most teachers know, the actual classroom experience with annotation differs gravely. Many students struggle with annotation. They

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4 Alternatives to Essays

It’s possible to assess student learning, skill acquisition, and academic achievement through means other than essays. Essays are wonderful for building writing skills, developing rhetoric, displaying clear thinking, and demonstrating text analysis. However, teachers can assess many of the same skills in other ways. Once you know which skills you

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3 Steps to Persuasive Letters that Effect Real Change

I love teaching Persuasive Writing because it gets students engaged and invested in their topics! Any Persuasive Writing Unit is an opportunity for students to write about issues they are passionate about. It’s their opportunity to learn how to take action and effect real change in the world. In my

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3 Easy Steps to Socratic Seminars

Students love Socratic Seminars because the format provides a forum to express their ideas and hone their leadership skills. Keep reading to learn how to use Student-Led Fishbowl Discussions, Philosophical Chairs, Socratic Circles and Whole Class Socratic Seminars in your classroom lesson plans! PRIOR TO ANY SOCRATIC SEMINAR Step 1:

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