Tag Archives: education

Teaching is hard, but it isn’t brain surgery.

It is the best of jobs, it is the worst of jobs, it is the career of joy and fulfillment, it is the career of crippling self-doubt and soul-crushing imposter syndrome.  Or, maybe that’s just me. Full confession: I ended last year in a very, very bad place. I was just undone by the enormityContinue reading “Teaching is hard, but it isn’t brain surgery.”

The MAGIC of Reader’s Theater Part II: Making REALLY Tough Texts Readable

Some time ago, I posted a basic how-to (and why-to!) guide to Reader’s Theater. Few strategies have had a bigger positive impact on building engagement and community in my ELA classroom. However, it’s important to remember that engagement and community are the first steps toward what we’re really after: comprehension. As ELA/Social Studies teachers, weContinue reading “The MAGIC of Reader’s Theater Part II: Making REALLY Tough Texts Readable”

Engage: Agree/Disagree Walkaround

Here’s a quick activity to get students interacting with each other and talking about big ideas. How to set it up: Here’s a link to an Agree/Disagree Walkaround I shall use this coming week to launch a study of government: Government: What is it? Why do we need it? You can use it as isContinue reading “Engage: Agree/Disagree Walkaround”