Category: Resource
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Writing Introductory Paragraphs
For opinion/argument and informative/explanatory essays Are you using AI in your classroom yet? You should be. To create these resources I took prompts from CommonLit and popped them into ChatGPT. I instantly got results, which is great for me, and something to keep in mind when you are assigning writing…
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18 Hook Ideas with Mentor Texts
You just spent three weeks teaching a unit on argument writing. You’ve analyzed essays, modeled writing in front of the students, had lots of discussions, and have just given your students the final prompt that they’ll complete independently. Most of your class is clacking away on their Chromebooks. But there’s…
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41 Poems I Love to Teach In the Middle Grades
Poetry is powerful. These engaging, shorter texts offer an abundance of opportunities to work on reading comprehension, fluency, and writing skills while building background knowledge and connecting social and emotional learning. See my Poem of the Week post for tips on how to incorporate more poetry into your classroom. Here’s…
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5 Types of Writing on the Mississippi State Test
If you teach in a state where your standards are influenced (or copied… 😏) from the Common Core State Standards, then your Writing Standards 1-3 say that you should teach: Did you know there are actually five types of writing on the Mississippi state test? 🤯 The free PDF below…
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Poem of the Week
Get a printable one-sheet copy of the protocol here: I love teaching poetry. Poems are jam-packed with teachable moments while remaining concise enough to keep students engaged. Well-chosen poems often have layers that can be revealed throughout the week with my Poem of the Week protocol that I developed when…