Do you remember LOVING to play Oregon Trail on the old black and green-screened computers? We strategically planned out how much meat to pack, how many people to bring, and what to name our family members, only to die in the end. The endings ranged from contracting either diphtheria or cholera, to drowning in the river, or dying from a snake bite, all of which were exciting ways to die when traveling west in the 1800s. I honestly do not remember ever making it west. I remember that the only way I could survive was to stop the journey and build along the river. But, despite the eventual death sentence, I loved playing this game — and for my students, this same kind of love is happening with "You Choose You Adventure" Books.
Start with Goals and the Big Picture by Quarter, Trimester, or Semester: For each grading period, include required literature, major projects, and other must-do items. Tip: Add district and state assessments also!
Emergency substitute plans may well just be a lifesaver. Whether your school administration requires you to submit them or not, it is always a great idea to have a set of emergency sub plans for at least one day (even up to a week's worth) for those times when you have to take time off unexpectedly. Here are some tips for preparing emergency sub plans that will have you breathing a sigh of relief if/when the time comes.
Inspiring students to actually read can be a challenge. Many students choose to take the shortcut and read only the Spark Notes version or watch a YouTube video about the book. But as teachers and lovers of literature, we know this is not the same as reading the original text. Here are some of our favorite practices for getting students to actually do their assigned reading.
