Why the 5 Paragraph Essay Still Works (When You Teach It Right)
The 5 paragraph essay: English class staple or formulaic cliché? We’ve heard plenty of criticism of the 5 paragraph essay…
In the Classroom
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Teaching Literature Effectively: A Pride and Prejudice Case Study in Making Classics Accessible
You know what’s not the best way to make Pride and Prejudice appealing to teenagers? A 102-slide PowerPoint. Yep, you…
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Differentiation Examples That Actually Work in Real Classrooms
It’s time for another round of real talk. Whether it was in your credentialing courses, your teacher induction program, or…
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You Don’t Need a Reading Log: Smarter Ways to Check In with Student Readers
In our divide-and-conquer approach to grading, Steph was our official “reading log grader.” It’s not because she was particularly skilled…
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This Writing Activity Got Our Reluctant Students to Write More Than 10 Sentences
Assigning a writing activity in September brings a big thudding halt to whatever momentum you’ve managed to create through several…
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The 7-Day Writing Lesson Plan Perfect for Awkward Calendar Gaps
Every English teacher has faced those awkward 5–7 days that don’t fit neatly into their semester plan. Too short for…
