A few years back, I noticed something weird – kids sometimes, maybe even often, learned more when I did less. One…
non-fiction
“Homewrecker” – Would You or Wouldn’t You?
I need your help with a judgment call. This month, one of my favorite podcasts, Criminal, detailed the compelling case…
Last Week of School Lesson Ideas
Note: This is an updated repost featuring some of my favorite end-of-the-year lesson ideas. You’ve wrapped your last major unit…
Oprah = Real-World Rhetorical Goodness
If you caught last night’s Golden Globes, you were treated to this heartstopper of a speech by Oprah Winfrey. If…
Top 10 Favorite End-of-the-Year Lessons
Are you facing the Dead Zone? You know, that end-of-year slog where you’ve wrapped up your last major unit and…
Listen to this…
When Norman Ollestad was 11 years old, he was the sole survivor of a Cessna airplane crash in the mountains…
Earth Day the Easy Way
Across the globe, folks will celebrate Earth Day this Saturday (April 22) with lots of community clean-up and educational events.…
Instant Lesson Plan: NYT Found Poetry Contest
Last week, I shared five easy ways to help you celebrate National Poetry Month in your classroom. Today, I’m adding…
A Painless Way to Add More Informational Text
Teenagers are self-absorbed. I get that. (Heck, most adults we know are also pretty focused on themselves, no?) Nevertheless, I’ve…
Juvenile Justice
The Supreme Court is in the news today, as Judge Neil Gorsuch was officially announced last night as the president’s…