Year: 2024

Embrace the Season: Classroom Spring Cleaning for a Mindful and Organized Space

As the frost of winter melts away and the first buds of spring start to bloom, it’s the perfect time to bring the essence of renewal into our classrooms. “Classroom spring cleaning” isn’t just about dusting off shelves and organizing supplies; it’s about creating a space that enhances learning, fosters mindfulness, and promotes a sense […]

Deep Dive into “The Lottery”: Mastering Reading and Annotation Strategies

Welcome back, educators! Following our exploration of pre-reading strategies for Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery,” it’s time to guide our students through the heart of this enigmatic story. As we venture into the reading phase, our focus shifts to strategies that not only deepen comprehension but also foster a culture of critical thinking and engagement. Let’s […]

Engage Before You Read: Pre-Reading Strategies for “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson

  Welcome, teachers, to the first part of a 4-part blog post series of our journey through Shirley Jackson’s provocative and ever-relevant short story, “The Lottery.” As we delve into this classic narrative, it’s crucial to scaffold our students’ understanding and engagement from the very start. Pre-reading strategies are not just about previewing content; they’re […]

Engaging Holiday Activities: Supplement Your Core Curriculum with Holiday Spirit

As the holiday season approaches, schools are abuzz with excitement and anticipation and happen to be the perfect time and place for engaging holiday activities. From Halloween to Thanksgiving, and all the way through to Valentine’s Day, each holiday offers a unique opportunity to enrich your classroom with exciting, thematic activities. But how can you […]

“The Lottery” Lesson Plans: Engage and Empower Students with Annotations

Today, we’re going to dive into the wonderful world of various “The Lottery” lesson plans and explore how they can be a game-changer in your classroom. If you happen to be reviewing standards, make sure you circle back to characterization during your reading of “The Lottery” because it lends itself rather nicely to the standards! […]

3 Engaging Vocabulary Activities for “The Giver”

Teaching Lois Lowry’s “The Giver” can be a transformative experience for your 8th-grade students because you can create meaningful vocabulary activities for “The Giver”.  It’s a novel that explores complex themes and emotions, making it a fantastic opportunity to enrich their vocabulary. In this blog post, we’ll dive into three vocabulary activities that will not […]

Reflection Questions for Middle School Students that Create Deeper Discussions

As a seasoned middle school teacher, I’ve seen firsthand how the typical “How was your week?” can lead to monosyllabic answers and missed opportunities for deeper engagement. To remedy this, I’ve crafted a set of reflection questions designed specifically for middle school students. These aren’t just conversation starters; they’re gateways to meaningful discussions and self-discovery. […]

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