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I provide support and resources to middle school English reading and writing teachers.

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Lesson planning inspo --April? Really??! from Just Add Students

Just a note From Just Add Students Hi Reader, Spring fever? Warm breezes? Daffodils? Oh yeah! That may also mean that your inspiration for lesson planning is out the window faster than that leftover Valentine's Day candy. Need some inspo? From foolish creative writing to poetry -- here are 8 easy lessons (and one combo!) that will make teaching in April a breeze🍃🍃. ⬇️⬇️⬇️ Where did this holiday come from? Find out here! Get students up and moving! Such fun! Find it here☝🏼 Freshen up journals!...

Just a note From Just Add Students Hi Reader, Basketball isn't the only "March Madness" for this time of year! Keeping students engaged and working -- that's a challenge. Here are a few lessons that will help! ⬇️⬇️⬇️ Spring Cleaning Vocab Did you know that this is Spring Cleaning week? Here's a creative lesson! Design a hoodie! You'll love how engaged your students are! And the discussion and laughter that ensues! Find it here. Reset with a Time Audit Help students evaluate how they use their...

Just a note From Just Add Students Hi Reader, Feel like math teachers have all the fun on March 14 -- better known as PI Day?? Well, no more! ELA teachers can have just as much fun on PI Day -- and we'll be ready for it because PI Day is not only on a Friday, it's also the night of a full moon!! 😨😨😨 That's why you'll love that the March Lesson Plan Bundle is half price this week! ⬇️⬇️⬇️ Planning? Done!! Take a break on Friday with this fun PI Day activity. Find it here New! Need a "fun...

Just a note From Just Add Students Hi Reader, If you feel like the school year is flying by, you're not alone! So much to teach...and so little planning time! That's why you'll love that the March Lesson Plan Bundle is half price this week! ⬇️⬇️⬇️ Planning? Done!! Here are your plans for March! Half-price this week! New! If you love the Ugly Christmas Sweater project, you'll love the "Design a Hoodie" writing activity. There will be laughing, discussion, and writing analysis when you teach...

Just a note From Just Add Students Hi Reader, Did you know that Thursday, February 27, is International Polar Bear Day? I don't know about you, but I am fascinated and enamored by polar bears...why? No idea. I know one thing about them, though: I would not want to meet one face to face. They're big! But, what else is there to learn about these beautiful animals? Lots! Your students will love watching live cams and tracking polar bears on the Polar Bears International website (which I have...

Just a note From Just Add Students Hi Reader, A while back, I shared the "Good Things are always happening to me" idea. How it works: Share something good that has happened to you today. Repeat daily. Hmmm...tell me more! We so often overlook the simple things in life that are good -- like a hot cup of coffee, someone picking up my school mail for me, the copier working, having cookies in my lunch! And...well, let's consider faculty lounge conversations. Are they positive and uplifting?!...

Just a note From Just Add Students Hi Reader, Quick PSA here! You can save 25% on everything in my Teachers Pay Teachers store today and tomorrow (Feb. 4 & 5). Find everything on sale here! Take a look at these trending resources: ⬇️ Critical Thinking Skills! Identify bias, fact check, and evaluate sources -- so important! On sale here! What are literary elements? Use videos to teach them! On sale here! The mechanics of research made easy! On sale here! Teach annotation with practice &...

Just a note From Just Add Students Hi Reader, Don't you wish you had a dollar for every time someone said, "It's already February! The year is going so fast!" And it is -- especially with a short month like this one. You might be feeling the pressure of fitting everything in and making sure your students are ready for testing -- or even just the next grade. First, take a deep breath and know that you're doing a great job. Next, check out these blog posts that are designed to give you...

Just a note From Just Add Students Hi Reader, It feels like your students should be making progress -- right? Your classroom is running like a well-oiled machine? Sometimes, though, things go off the rails. Here are tools to help you get things back on the rails. Take a look: ⬇️ This freebie will help you get a handle on teaching reading. Get the freebie here Here are actionable plans to help your students. Read it here Step-by-Step This resource breaks down complicated writing tasks. Find it...

Just a note From Just Add Students Hi Reader, Ready to tackle some challenging work? Like research?? 🤔 Be sure to break down and teach the foundational skills. If you feel daunted by getting started, these resources are going to help. Take a look: ⬇️ Do your students understand bias and how to identify it? Find help here This is such an important critical thinking skill! Find it here All websites are not alike! Here's how to teach it Find out how Wikipedia works and how to use it. Find it...