Simply Novel Blog - Teaching Tips and Ideas for Teachers

I recently learned from one of my professional development sessions how we can actually make better use of class time if we allow students to take ...

Are you looking for an engaging way to end your week? First Chapter Friday is a fantastic way to preview books with students and *hopefully* get th...

I cannot believe I am already saying this, but it's time to start planning for a new school year, teachers! There is so much that needs to be done, and so much we want to accomplish that it can be overwhelming, right? But it doesn't have to be! I have a series of posts to help both new and veteran teachers get prepped for another year of learning. 

Here are 25 bellringer, "Do Now", early finisher ideas for your middle and high school ELA students.  Of course, the activities also be used as exit slips, for early finishers, and most are great to keep on hand for extra credit or make-up opportunities in a pinch! 

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. 

Back to School Night is upon us, and it’s time to get our game faces on! Iron out your slacks and practice your perma-smile!  Most Back to School n...

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!

July is almost gone, so it is officially time to start thinking about going back to school. For a long time, the first day of school was one of my...

Some call it *The Gram* Some call it *Insta* Whatever you call it, there is no doubt that Instagram is *the* place to find awesome teachers sharin...

Teaching nonfiction is (surprisingly) one of my favorite things to do! There is so much to do with informational articles, including using nonfiction to tie back and relate to fiction stories, to develop an argumentative stance, give historical context for novels, and much more. However, many teachers avoid nonfiction, preferring to focus their time on more "exciting" texts.

But teaching nonfiction doesn't have to be dry, boring, or rigid. Here are some fun, "out-of-the-box" ways to teach nonfiction texts to help break the monotony:

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!