Today marks the start of our novel study — one of the most exciting and rewarding parts of the English program! This is where students get to dive deep into storytelling, character development, and themes while building their own interpretations and connections. We’ll begin class with a short grammar quiz to keep skills sharp, then…
It’s report card season, the clock is ticking, and you need individualized comments that are specific, constructive, and kind—without sounding copy‑pasted. You want to highlight strengths, point to evidence, and propose next steps, while keeping tone and length consistent across a whole class. And if AI is going to help, it has to be fast,…
What Is a Gerund? A gerund is a verb form that ends in -ing and functions as a noun within a sentence. Even though a gerund begins as a verb, it no longer shows action—instead, it names an activity, idea, or experience. This means a gerund can take on the same roles as any other…
Today’s class is all about collaboration and refinement. Students have spent the past several days building their essays—now it’s time to polish them through peer editing. By sharing their writing and giving constructive feedback, students will develop stronger revision skills and learn to see writing from a reader’s perspective. After a short grammar mini-lesson, students…
You want students who lean into challenges, learn from mistakes, and keep going when it’s hard—but finding solid, age‑appropriate lessons takes time. Resources are scattered, quality varies, and it’s easy to slip into empty “try harder” messages instead of evidence‑based practices that actually change classroom talk and behavior. This guide solves that. We’ve curated the…
Predicate nouns are one of those grammar elements that sound complicated but are actually pretty simple once you see how they work. In this lesson, we’ll explore what predicate nouns are, how to find them in sentences, and how they differ from predicate adjectives. Then, we’ll practice identifying and using them correctly. Grammar Notes: Predicate…
Direct and Indirect Objects What is a Direct Object?A direct object is the noun or pronoun that receives the action of a verb. It answers the question “what?” or “whom?” after the verb. Example: She kicked the ball.→ “The ball” is the direct object (it receives the action “kicked”). What is an Indirect Object?An indirect…
Today’s lesson is all about refinement. Students are moving from draft writers to editors of their own work. Before we can polish and perfect our essays, we need to make sure every essential element is in place—from proper MLA formatting to well-structured paragraphs by using an essay checklist. Think of this stage as tightening the…
Report card season can turn even the clearest thinker into a late-night editor, hunting for phrases that are honest, kind, and specific—all within a tiny comment box. Behavior feedback adds an extra layer: it must be observable, bias-aware, and action-focused, while also supporting family partnerships and honoring IEP/504 goals and language needs. You want statements…
Today’s class focuses on polishing writing fundamentals and building strong research skills. Students will begin with a quick review of linking verbs—a grammar cornerstone that helps improve sentence clarity. Next, they’ll move on to the essential skill of creating MLA in-text citations, learning how to properly give credit within their essays. Finally, any remaining time…