You don’t always get a full, tidy block of time to teach. Classes arrive jittery, tech hiccups eat minutes, a lesson wraps early, or the energy dips without warning. In those moments, you need something you can launch immediately—no printing, no scavenging for supplies, and no complicated directions—yet still purposeful enough to move learning forward. […]
9 No-Prep Classroom Activity Ideas For Instant Engagement Read More »
Every teacher knows the struggle of those first few minutes of class. Students wander in like they’ve just emerged from hibernation—half-awake, half-talking, and entirely unsure what century they’re in. That’s where minds-on activities come in. A minds-on task is a short, engaging warm-up that activates students’ thinking, gets them focused, and connects their prior knowledge
50 Fun and Engaging Minds-On Activities to Kickstart Any Lesson Read More »
Today marks the end of our short story unit with the short story test. This assessment gives students the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of the elements of fiction we’ve explored—plot, character, conflict, setting, point of view, and theme. It’s a great way to see how well they can apply their learning to new stories
Day 25: Short Story Test – Assessing Student Understanding of Fiction Read More »
Those first five minutes can make or break the tone of your class. You need classroom icebreaker activities that are quick, low-risk, and genuinely engaging—without hours of prep or awkward silence. Maybe your group is a mix of shy and talkative students, maybe you’re juggling large classes, limited space, or a hybrid setup. You want
Classroom Icebreaker Activities for Quick Connection + PDFs Read More »
Grammar Notes: Rules of the Verb “To Be” The verb “to be” shows a state of being or existence. It changes form depending on the subject and the tense. ✅ Present Simple Forms Subject Form Example I am I am a teacher. You are You are my friend. He / She / It is
Understanding the Verb “To Be” Read More »
Students will review 15 key literary devices in a creative, high-energy classroom competition modeled after Taskmaster. Materials Needed: Whiteboard and markers Envelopes or cards with each literary device written inside Props (simple classroom objects like paper, markers, random items for creative tasks) Scoring sheet Optional: silly hat, wig, or crown for the “Taskmaster” Lesson
Day 24 Literary Device Review: A Taskmaster-Style Classroom Challenge Read More »
1. Silent Reading – 15 Minutes As always, begin class with 15 minutes of silent reading time. Encourage students to continue their independent reading novels and to look for strong examples of characterization, conflict, and theme as they read. This primes their thinking for today’s review activity. 2. Read the Short Story, Gore Get
Day 23 Lesson Plan: Elements of Fiction Review Using Gore Read More »
If your gifted students finish in minutes and then fidget, or ace the pretest and still get more of the same, you know the gap: they need depth, pace, and purpose—while you need plans that fit a real teacher’s day. Maybe you’ve tried extra worksheets, unstructured “independent” projects, or pairing them as helpers and it
Differentiated Instruction for Gifted Students: Top 5 Tips Read More »
Welcome to Day 22! Today’s class begins with some quiet reading time before jumping into a short grammar assessment on semicolons. Afterward, we’ll return to our short story study and finish The Interlopers questions from yesterday. Lesson Flow 1. Silent Reading – 15 minutesAs always, start the day with sustained silent reading. Encourage students to
Day 22 Lesson Plan: Semicolons Quiz and The Interlopers Questions Read More »
Grammar Lesson: Correlative Conjunctions 🔹 Rules and Notes Correlative conjunctions are pairs of conjunctions that work together to connect equal parts of a sentence. They show relationships between ideas and keep sentences balanced. Common pairs include: either / or neither / nor both / and not only / but also whether / or as /
Correlative Conjunctions: How to Use Them Correctly Read More »
