Black History Month is a time to honor the contributions of Black individuals throughout history. In this post, I’ve gathered a variety of educational resources—lesson plans, activities, and writing tasks—that will help engage high school students in meaningful discussions about race, identity, and the ongoing fight for equality.
Getting students to read silently every day is a game-changer! With over 11 years of teaching experience, I’ve seen the power of Silent Sustained Reading (SSR) in transforming classrooms, from boosting test scores to giving students a much-needed mental break. In this post, I’ll show you why you should implement SSR!
To kick off Lord of the Flies, I engage students by creating chaos in the classroom. Desks are piled up, chairs are flipped—creating a disordered scene. Students work together to restore order, choosing a leader and creating rules. This hands-on activity sparks discussions about leadership, survival, and human nature in the novel.
Valentine’s Day can be chaotic in the classroom, especially with teenagers and all their drama. But with a little creativity, you can channel that energy into something productive. Here are a few of my favorite Valentine’s Day activities—thank you note writing, argument debates, and fun writing prompts—that keep the mood light and engaged!
Have you been wanting to try to incorporate inquiry based learning in your English or Social studies class? Hoping to increase engagement & buy-in from students? This Inquiry based learning project unit changed my school year! It’s become my absolute favorite unit, and my students agree!