discussion

PowerPoint Party: A Fun Persuasion Game

PowerPoint Party:  A Fun Persuasion Game

In their pure sense, PowerPoint Parties started becoming popular due to COVID, and friends/ family members would get together (albeit virtually) to present a PowerPoint on a topic of interest. This eventually morphed into a fun game for high school and college-age students (is it ok for me to add “drinking game” in here?). Currently, PowerPoint Parties have become popular on TikTok, which provided the inspiration for this post. Head over to TikTok and search for “PowerPoint Parties” to find ideas… be forewarned that some of these ideas will not be “school appropriate” but still humorous.

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?

The Pick Two Assessment:  A Quick Strategy for Comprehension & Analysis

The Pick Two Assessment:  A Quick Strategy for Comprehension & Analysis

If you’re like me, reading checks and quizzes seem to sneak up every week, and I find that I am not always prepared with an assessment.  Coming up with multiple-choice questions or quiz questions takes time, and sometimes, I just need something quick and easy to create.  So, I created the “Pick Two Assessment Strategy” in order to cut down on prep time in creating reading checks and reading quizzes. 

Famous Love Letters: A Unique Approach to Rhetorical Analysis and Creative Writing for Valentine's Day in Secondary ELA

Famous Love Letters:  A Unique Approach to Rhetorical Analysis and Creative Writing for Valentine's Day in Secondary ELA

Valentine's Day is a polarizing holiday-- people either love it or hate it.  But no matter how you feel about the holiday, Valentine's Day provides an opportunity for students to focus on the most powerful emotion behind literature and art:  LOVE. 

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.

Setting up & Assessing Book Club in Secondary ELA: FOUR FREE GUIDES FOR SUCCESS!

Setting up & Assessing Book Club in Secondary ELA:  FOUR FREE GUIDES FOR SUCCESS!

Book club is now considered to be one of the “best practices” in English Language Arts.  Book clubs differ from traditional literary circles in that they are less teacher-directed.  The students take on the responsibility of selecting their roles, making their assignments, keeping track of their reading, and much more. 

Secondary ELA Book Club: A Menu of Options

Secondary ELA Book Club:  A Menu of Options

The first rule of Book Club is:  you do not talk about Book Club.  The second rule of Book Club is:  you DO NOT talk about Book Club!  Kidding.  The only rule of Book Club is: DO IT...