We left the classroom a little more than a year ago and are reflecting on what we've learned and new... more

As a teacher, deciding which plays to teach is a rite of passage all its own. Will you stick to... more

In this episode of the podcast, we're discussing whether traditional ELA instruction provides our students with the skills they most... more

Ideally, we'd like to have all of our students participating in class discussion. When too many students aren't participating,... more

The difficulties posed by challenging students and classes can really wear a teacher down. Our misery will often make us... more

Do you dread those days when you're expecting your students to read in class? If your students don't like to... more

How do you feel about your level of parent-teacher communication? Is it something you've got down? Is it your teacher... more

March is, arguably, the worst month for teachers, though October certainly puts up a good fight for itself. We’ve been... more

Many students are overwhelmed by the seemingly insurmountable task of writing a research paper and emerging writers often shut down... more

Do you feel like you’re trying strategy after strategy to improve your students’ writing . . . and none of... more

Have you found a NEW text that you want to add to your curriculum? First of all, congrats! Introducing... more

This week's dilemma will be a familiar one for any teacher who has been teaching the same prep for a... more

Traditional grading, standards-based grading, grade floors, it’s all enough to make any teacher’s head spin. What does a student's... more

We've all been there before. At some point during the fall semester, the wheels started coming off the bus, the... more

Grades. Pressure. Anxiety. For us, these three words were inextricably linked with December (and May) for years. We started to... more

Cheating in the classroom is as much a part of the school experience as bad cafeteria lunches and popular cliques... more

A lively and engaging whole class discussion. We imagine ourselves sitting perched on a stool, steaming cup of coffee in... more

Whether it comes from parents, students, counselors, or administrators, as a teacher, you will inevitably hear criticism about the decisions... more

Managing the grading load is one of the worst parts of teaching, especially in the ELA classroom where the stacks... more

The flipped classroom model has a lot to offer teachers and can be a great benefit to students, but many... more

We may not always like it, but assessments are an important part of what we do as classroom teachers. But... more

An often ignored topic for middle school and high school teachers is classroom management. If we get any training, the... more

Teachers cannot do it all, nor is it reasonable to expect them to! Let's normalize purchasing lesson plans, unit plans,... more

Joining a PLC is like joining a family. Sometimes you fit right in and it feels like you were born... more

Part of teacher self-care is knowing what you realistically can and cannot be responsible for, and blurring those categories is... more

Are you looking for Back to School Night ideas for your middle school or high school classroom? In this episode,... more

The first few weeks of school are an important but frantic time, and we’ve found high-interest activities that introduce or... more

The first week of school is an important one, yet it can also be awkward and feel overwhelming trying to... more

You've used Google Classroom, but now you want to try something more robust. You've tried Canvas, but are feeling a... more

It's just about Back to School time here in California. It's a fresh start for students and teachers, and Answers... more

It’s no surprise that growing numbers of teachers are quitting, in large part due to teacher burnout. In this week’s... more

Teacher self-care is never going to fit into our busy schedules unless we are proactive about making space for it.... more

Keeping your classroom organized is one of the first steps toward preserving your sanity. No matter what grade you teach,... more

Independent reading is an important part of any ELA classroom, but it can be challenging to find meaningful activities to... more

Grammar, vocabulary, literary devices, college application essays (if you're teaching seniors) plus our regular ELA curriculum - how are we... more

Textbooks and curriculums are often slow to change, and unless your school has funding (and a desire) to purchase supplemental... more

This week we're talking about the dreaded textbook dilemma: "Help! I don't like my curriculum." Not all of us have... more

This week's dilemma: I created what I thought was a great assignment with a reasonable rubric / answer key, and... more

While homework has long been a traditional part of the middle school and high school English class, we moved away... more

Give your future fall self a helping by hand by completing some (or all) of these steps before you leave... more