Simply Novel Blog - Teaching Tips and Ideas for Teachers

Summer school provides an excellent opportunity for English teachers to engage with students outside of the traditional school year. While some tea...

Summer school programs look different in each school district across the country, but one thing that is almost a constant is that student motivati...

A good memoir is a story that endears the narrator to the reader and makes the reader root for them. A good memoir can be just as captivating (and full of drama) as a fictional story, it just happens to be true! Below is a list of memoirs I’ve read that have been so encapsulated with that I’ve devoured them, they’re that good! 

Now that summer is officially here, let’s talk summer reading and professional development! Most people know how hard teachers work during the school year, but not many know how hard we work during our summers. We attend conferences, teach summer school, work on our credentials, read, prepare, and do countless other things that help us be better teachers every year.

If you'd like to spend a little time on some relaxing yet thoughtful summer PD reading, here are some of our favorites! 

Four tips for wrapping up your school year! This list provides four ideas all teachers could do during the last few weeks of school. Each idea is manageable and meaningful; these tips will help you transition into the much needed summer break!

It’s summer! That magical time when teachers take a deep breath, unload the dishwasher, and forget what day of the week it is. After a trying year ...

Summer school programs look different in each school district across the country, but one almost constant is that student motivation is certainly not high. These 5 Tips will help Spice Up Summer School!

In addition to settling into a summer routine and tackling that to-do list, consider some of the following suggestions to help you feel productive yet relaxed and achieve a healthy school/home life balance, even in the summer months.  Here are 9 things English teachers should do this summer!

Summer reading can be difficult for students who lack time management skills, motivation, or even the literacy skills necessary to complete the work. Here are tips on creating summer assessment that helps keep students engaged and having fun, and makes your life easier when it comes to assessing summer reading.

Many schools require summer reading for college prep, honors, and Advanced Placement English classes, which can present some challenges but also offers some valuable learning experiences over the summer. Here is how to leverage summer reading that will complement your course, and keep your kids on track for fall.