You guys, I finally did it. I created a fully customizable HARRY POTTER-theme syllabus template! What nerdy English teacher doesn't need one of these in his/her life?! Also, fun fact about me: I am, like, RIDE-OR-DIE Harry Potter fan level. I got a Deathly Hallows tattoo about three years ago. I love when people recognize it because... Continue Reading →
My creative juices were flowing this weekend, and I'm really excited to share my newest syllabus template just in time for the new school year! This fully customizable Google Drawings document will allow you to make it your own. Add your own text, change fonts and colors, and move elements to suit your syllabus needs.... Continue Reading →
I had a super sweet first-year teacher send me an email asking for advice on her upcoming year. I was flattered, to say the least, that someone thought of me as having some sage wisdom to impart about my adventures in teaching. After all, I'm sure anyone teaching for 5+ years can still remember their... Continue Reading →
Last year was the first full year that my 8th grade students all were issued an iPad. Up to that point, I was one of a handful of teachers who got to experiment with classroom sets. There were definitely some challenges with sharing the sets (mostly issues with Google accounts being logged in at the same... Continue Reading →
We've all been there. As students and teachers. "Tell me about your summer!" Stares. A few random hands. About 12 stories involving Panama City Beach. Sure, it's fun to hear about your students' summers (you definitely learn a lot about them based on the answers, for sure). But the topic can also be a bit... Continue Reading →
Want a beautiful syllabus without all of the design know-how? Check out this resource!
I'm a big proponent of the Teachers Pay Teachers website. Why? Reinventing the wheel is silly! There are so many thoughtful resources available for almost any unit or lesson you're planning on TPT. There are some REALLY creative teachers out there! Every time I log on, I am blown away by the engaging lessons that... Continue Reading →
There's a lot of digital tools available to teachers, and as a teacher who isn't too far removed from college, I'd have to say that Google Classroom (and the entire Apps for Education suite, really) has been life changing for me. I spent my entire college career, like most people who have been at a... Continue Reading →
It's hard to believe our first week of school is already over! Most of my friends and family from out of state are blown away that we started in July, but now that August is upon us, it feels even more real. My body is still in the "I HATE YOU!!!" mode having to wake... Continue Reading →
Sometimes I think I'm a terrible teacher. I don't read enough books about pedagogy, planning lessons, or best practices. I should, but I don't. Now that I've finished my master's degree, it's amazing how much TIME there is in the day when it's not taken up by 8 billion pages of textbook reading. (hmmm, I... Continue Reading →
ENGLISH IS MY THING 