Story to Poem: Turning Tales into Poetry
I’ve always loved watching students experience that lightning-bolt moment when a text suddenly feels alive in their hands. The Story to Poem activity delivers those moments in bunches. By asking
Coping Skills Toolbox: A Practical Guide for Teachers
If your classroom sometimes feels like the control tower of an international airport—planes circling, radios crackling, and somebody always “needing to go right now”—you’re not alone. Students are juggling academics,
Career Exploration Mind Map Lesson Plan
I’m always on the hunt for low-prep, high-impact activities that make teens forget they’re learning. My latest classroom crush? The career exploration mind map. Hand students a giant sheet of
Metacognitive Reading Strategies Every Teacher Should Try
I’ve spent two decades watching students zip through pages without really thinking about what they’re reading—like driving on autopilot and missing every landmark. Metacognitive reading strategies switch off that cruise
40 SEL Journal Prompts to Cultivate Classroom Connection and Emotional Growth
If you’ve ever wondered how to fit social-emotional learning (SEL) into a jam-packed schedule, journaling is the secret sauce. A quick daily prompt turns five quiet minutes into a powerhouse
Magnetic Poetry Lesson Plan: Turn Your Whiteboard into a Poem-Making Factory
Harnessing this power in the classroom need not be complicated. With a magnetic board and a thoughtfully selected set of word tiles, you can create a dynamic environment in which
Your Ultimate Scientific Method Worksheet for the Classroom
If your students ever blurt out “Why does that happen?”—congratulations! You’ve hit the entry point to the scientific method. As teachers, we’re constantly looking for ways to channel natural curiosity
Your Go-To Guide to Common Formative Assessments
When I started teaching two decades ago, I checked understanding mostly at the end of a unit—right when it was too late to change much. Now I treat learning like
Career Day Role Play Lesson: An Engaging Career Game
Choosing a career path can feel overwhelming for students, especially when their knowledge of the working world is limited to what they see around them. One of the most exciting
Unlocking Deeper Learning with Dual Coding
Ever finish a crystal-clear explanation only to watch understanding slide off your students like water off a whiteboard? Don’t blame them—or yourself. Blame the limits of working memory. Dual coding
How to Create and Use an Inferencing Anchor Chart that Supercharges Comprehension
Every time students read between the lines—guessing why a character slammed a door or predicting what might happen next—they’re practicing inferencing. Yet many readers don’t realize how often they use
Musical Poems Lesson Plan—When Poetry Puts on Headphones
Why a Musical Poems Lesson Rocks (Literally) I’ve yet to meet a teenager who doesn’t perk up when the speakers crackle to life. By hitching poetry to a catchy melody,
Multiple Means of Engagement: More Motivation in Every Classroom
Ever taught the period right after lunch on a gloomy Tuesday? I have, and I swear half my class tried to hibernate under their hoodies. That was the day I
Mastering Your Annual Learning Plan: A Teacher’s Guide to a Happier, Smarter Year
An Annual Learning Plan (ALP) is a focused strategy for professional growth that aligns with your goals, your students’ needs, and the evolving demands of education. Whether you’re a seasoned educator
Job Skills Matchup: A Hands-On Career Exploration Activity for Students
If you’ve ever asked your students, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” and been met with blank stares or answers like “a YouTuber” or “someone who