Technology Tips

How to Circumvent ChatGPT and AI CHEATING

How to Circumvent ChatGPT and AI CHEATING

It looks like the brave new world of the future is HERE! And it’s equally scary and exciting to think about the potential that AI will bring to the world. However, we know as English teachers, that AI is going to make it even more difficult for us to police cheating amongst our students.

Grading Essays Online vs. Grading on Paper: Pros and Cons

Grading Essays Online vs. Grading on Paper:  Pros and Cons

I find myself dancing between grading essays online (via Google Spreadsheets and Doctopus/ Goobric) and printing out student essays to grade on paper. If you’d like more information on getting started with online grading using Google Spreadsheets, check out my YouTube tutorial for some helpful tips.

5 Ways to Use Jamboard in Secondary ELA

5 Ways to Use Jamboard in Secondary ELA

Jamboard through Google has become a cornerstone tool in my virtual ELA classes because one of my go-to strategies when we had students in class was to use sticky notes on the board. You can read more about the Board but NOT BORING: My Go-to Collaborative Activity for Secondary ELA strategy here.

Yes, YOU CAN! Use PDF Files for Distance Learning

Yes, YOU CAN! Use PDF Files for Distance Learning

Teaching online certainly comes with its share of obstacles and roadblocks. It also forces us as educators to become more innovative in our practices and approaches; however, there are so many amazing tech tools to help circumvent these issues— even if a file happens to be a PDF.

How to Facilitate Online Discussion Boards

How to Facilitate Online Discussion Boards

Online discussions can be helpful as discussion strategy for virtual learning or in a co-seated classroom environment. But, how can we facilitate these discussions using technology and going online?

5 Things You can do with Google Slides in Secondary ELA

5 Things You can do with Google Slides in Secondary ELA

Google Slides has become my go-to platform for any type of distance learning or even for class activities. It’s a user-friendly platform that can be used for so many different purposes and lesson plans— from assessment to writing workshop!

How to Make a Choice Board on Google Slides

How to Make a Choice Board on Google Slides

Google Slides makes it easy to create content for our students to use online. It’s not only a platform for creating presentations, but teachers can even use it to create online choice boards.

How to Turn a PDF Worksheet into a Google Slide

How to Turn a PDF Worksheet into a Google Slide

Being able to use Google Classroom is an invaluable tool for teachers today— especially in our ever-increasing technological world. Not to mention that this technology can make teaching more effective and efficient for both teacher and student— and it’s also great for distance/ online learning.

5 Online Platforms for Distance Learning in the ELA Classroom

5 Online Platforms for Distance Learning in the ELA Classroom

As ELA teachers, our job is to assess reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Thankfully, all of these skills can be assessed through online platforms. Check out these FIVE universal and easy-to-implement platforms and lessons for online teaching that can be done at any grade in secondary ELA.

Tips for Grading Essays: Don't Grade Every Piece of Paper! Try These 8 Strategies for More Efficient and Effective Grading

Tips for Grading Essays:  Don't Grade Every Piece of Paper!  Try These 8 Strategies for More Efficient and Effective Grading

Teaching on the secondary level can be challenging with the number of students that we are required to teach each year.  Therefore, it is essential as a secondary teacher to develop strategies for more efficient grading practices and to rethink our roles as auditors rather than graders.

Ten Ways to use Canva in the Classroom

Ten Ways to use Canva in the Classroom

A Facebook friend of mine recently posted the following question:  “Where can I go online to create an eye-catching poster for my upcoming show?”  99% of the people who responded said Canva.

Blendspace (TES Teach):  An Easy Way to Bundle Resources for the Classroom

Blendspace (TES Teach):  An Easy Way to Bundle Resources for the Classroom

Blendspace.com (now known as TES Teach) is an online tool through the education curriculum company TES.com.  It is a tool that is used for collecting and bundling information for a multitude of uses.

LiveBinders in the Classroom

LiveBinders in the Classroom

LiveBinders.com is a website that enables the user to create virtual three-ring binders of digital files including, but not limited to, YouTube videos, Google docs, DropBox files, images, websites, text files, and much more!

Motivating Struggling Students with These FIVE Apps to Support the Writing Process

Motivating Struggling Students with These FIVE Apps to Support the Writing Process

Oftentimes when people grimace at the thought of “English class,” it’s because of their haunting memories of failed writing assignments.  

Beyond the Test: 10 Innovative Ways to Assess Secondary Students

Beyond the Test:  10 Innovative Ways to Assess Secondary Students

Are your students moaning and groaning over taking another test or writing another essay? While these are tried and true methods for assessing many skills, I have been on a mission to find more innovative, unique ways of assessing student growth and learning.

Teachers: Five Ways to Work in Exercise at School to Stay in Shape

Teachers:  Five Ways to Work in Exercise at School to Stay in Shape

Do you struggle with getting in at least three quality workouts during the week?  Are you like me and bring your gym bag to school everyday...

 

Five Creative Ways to use Evernote in the Classroom to Support Educational Content

Five Creative Ways to use Evernote in the Classroom to Support Educational Content

Recently, Evernote has been popping up in classrooms across the nation as a free tool to aid students and teachers...