20 Books Written in Verse That Need to Be in Your Classroom Library
This up and coming school year we are really going to have to pull out all the stops to get our students who currently show very little interest in reading… to give reading a try. One thing that we have found a lot of success with is having a huge selection of novels written in verse. Students will gravitate towards these novels because they seem “easier to read,” and they can feel a great sense of accomplishment when they finish the book. Here’s a little secret, while the books may seem “easier to read” they are extremely complex and often times they delve into very deep material. This deeper material may relate to some of the problems and hardships some students may be going through. Therefore students can connect with these novels on a deeper level.
Read More
Fall Style Ideas
Here are some fall style staples that we love wearing.
Read More
Easy Ways to Boost your Class Decor Using a Cricut Explore Air
The beginning of the new school year is quickly approaching, and it is time to bust out our Cricut Explore Air to take your classroom decor to the next level.
Read More
Tesla Model 3 Accesssories
I just took delivery of my Tesla Model 3 Long Range in June, and here is a list of items that I purchased after getting the car:
Read More
Pressed Green Juice Review
In addition to all of my skin care blog posts, I have recently learned from the book Glow from Within by Joanna Vargas that drinking a glass of green juice each day will help give your skin extra glow.
Read More
Turn Your Reading Responses Into a Card Game
A quick lesson idea we wanted to share with you all was on a way we like to gamify our reading responses. We think it is a fun and interactive way for students to analyze the book that they are reading. We hope that by giving students several options to show their understanding of the book that they are reading (independently, in book clubs, or a whole class novel) that they will shine like the diamonds they are.
Read More
Anti-Aging Skin Care
Is teaching creating more wrinkles and making you look haggard? This is just one of the many occupational job hazards we have to deal with, but luckily for you, I am obsessed with anti-aging and skin care. Over the past year, I’ve started to incorporate a nightly retinol serum and ABA/BHA peel. I don’t use them both at the same time, but rather switch back and forth. I do, however, notice improvements in my overall skin appearance when I use them on a consistent basis.
Read More
Zum Clean Laundry Soap Review
If you are in the market for a clean laundry detergent (soap) that leaves your clothes and home, smelling amazing, give the Zum Clean Laundry Soap a try.
Read More
Tesla Model 3/Y Review
So, I recently purchased a 2021 Tesla Model 3. I’ve been dreaming of having a Tesla since I first saw a model S in 2013. I just never really believed that it was possible for me on a teacher’s salary. Then when the model 3 came out in 2016, I thought well…maybe… someday decades from now, it might happen.
Read More
Grading Hacks for Middle and High School Teachers
I just finished reading Teaching for Deeper Learning by Jay McTighe and Harvey F. Silver. It is a teaching book on how to teach so that students thrive and learn at a deep level. Let me tell you, the title lives up to the name. Here are some of my takeaways:
Read More
Teaching Compare and Contrast Note Taking Skills
Let’s talk about compare and contrast note taking skills in this blog post. First and foremost, we as teachers know that comparing is a foundational thinking skill for students and is the foundation to learning more complex thinking such as problem solving, argumentation, and decision making. Basically, teaching students HOW to compare and contrast leads to huge gains in achievement.
Read More
The Best Pens for Teacher Lesson Plan Books
We have tried out quite a few different types of pens in our teaching careers. Some are much better than others. Below is a list of our all time favorite pen brands that we love to use in our plan books and for writing in general.
Read More
