Helping Students Understand the Logic Behind Literary Analysis A high school teacher describes how she teaches her students that disciplinary literacy is more than ‘fancy’ vocabulary.

English teacher Elizabeth Galbreath provides a variety of linguistic frames and classroom discussion strategies that set students up for success when they’re being graded on their literary analysis. 📝

#ELATeacher #ITeachELA

Walking Through Writing a Compelling Essay Working out the parts of an essay step by step helps students think more creatively and analytically about what they want to convey.

What steps do students need to take to write a successful essay? Walking through Writing shows them the path! 🛣️

P.S. If you’d like to try this in your classroom, we have a full packet of activity resources!

#EduSky #ELATeacher

Pairing Images and Text for Critical Analysis Teachers can give students opportunities for close reading through exploration of books paired with visual media.

Want to build students’ capacity for critical analysis and discussions? Try pairing images with texts—like playing the new Supergirl trailer when discussing The Scarlet Letter!

Here are some ideas and best practices. 🖼️📗

#literacy #ELATeacher #EduSky

It’s WeWillWriteWednesday 💜

Free today only: 3–4 quick writing challenges.

This week we’re doing sensory storytelling, hidden motives and clear explanations.

Post your midweek moment with #WeWillWriteWednesday to enter the weekly draw for 1 month of Premium.

#TeacherTips #ELATeacher #FutureReady

Pairing Images and Text for Critical Analysis Teachers can give students opportunities for close reading through exploration of books paired with visual media.

Give students opportunities for close reading through exploration of books paired with visual media! 📚👀

@wordsimagesworlds.bsky.social explains how.

#literacy #ELATeacher #EduSky

First slide in the “Shades of Tone” slideshow. It has three rows of color: orange, blue, and green, with each in a gradient from pale to more vibrant. Below are instructions: Each of the following slides has four related tone words and one paint chip. Your job is to determine the level of intensity of each of the four words. Paste the four words in order of intensity on the right side of the paint chip. Be prepared to justify your choices.

Second slide with a “paint chip” graphic of blue, ordered from pale to more vibrant. There are 4 keywords to put in order: Solemn, serious, contemplative, thoughtful.

Third slide with a “paint chip” graphic of orange, ordered from pale to more vibrant. There are 4 keywords to put in order: Humorous, light-hearted, flippant, playful.

Fourth slide with a “paint chip” graphic of green, ordered from pale to more vibrant. There are 4 keywords to put in order: Ironic, mocking, sarcastic, critical.

Use this lesson and slides to teach tone and deepen reading comprehension!

Learn more in @kfusaropizzo.bsky.social’s article: edut.to/3ZhU0H3

#literacy #ELATeacher #HighSchoolTeacher

Teaching Tone to Deepen Reading Comprehension Explicit instruction in how tone is conveyed in writing helps students become more thoughtful readers and more precise, empathetic writers.

Looking for ways to teach tone? Try this exercise from veteran teacher @kfusaropizzo.bsky.social! 📝

#literacy #ELATeacher #HighSchoolTeacher

Philosophical Chairs Brings Out the Passion in ELA Classrooms This low-prep, high-engagement activity prompts students to debate a question and critically examine their own and opposing positions.

When a neighboring teacher comes to see what all the excitement is about? That’s successful student engagement. 🏆

This activity is called “Philosophical Chairs,” and your students will keep requesting to do it.

#ITeachELA #ITeachEnglish #ELATeacher

Philosophical Chairs Brings Out the Passion in ELA Classrooms This low-prep, high-engagement activity prompts students to debate a question and critically examine their own and opposing positions.

In the debate activity ”Philosophical Chairs,” students defend their position—or switch to the other side.

And yes, sometimes they stand on a chair to make a point. 🪑

#ITeachELA #ITeachEnglish #ELATeacher

#poetry @sharemylesson.bsky.social @thevogelman.bsky.social #iteachpoetry #elateacher

The Benefits of Nature Journaling in English Class While observing outdoor settings, students pay attention to specific details and employ critical thinking as they sharpen their writing skills.

Nature journaling isn’t just for science class! English teacher @biblio-phile.bsky.social shares 5 exercises that get students outdoors—while building literacy, language, and writing skills! 🌸✍️

#EduSky #ELATeacher #ITeachEnglish

“When we align classic literature with future-ready competencies, we remind students and ourselves that these stories speak to what it means to be human. We keep coming back to them, not because they’re required, but because they still have something to teach us about courage, empathy, and possibility.” —Lauren Kaufman, Educator

How classic stories can prepare kids for the future: https://edut.to/3LSGg1Q

#ELATeacher #EduSky

Using Classic Texts From the Past to Foster Future-Ready Skills High school teachers can use texts from the canon to promote the skills their schools or states have identified as essential for graduates.

Lord of the Flies, The Tempest, Catcher in the Rye, and The Sun Also Rises all help students connect with classical literature—and prepare themselves for the future.

Here’s how to use classic stories to get kids excited about future challenges! 📚

#ELATeacher #EduSky

A Simple and Effective Way to Teach Annotation Try a straightforward three-step strategy to help students get comfortable with exploring challenging reading assignments.

“It's increasingly important to teach and model for our secondary students how to interact with the texts they meet in school … Skillful annotation is not a soft or basic skill; it is a crucial skill for reading and learning.” 📖✍️

#literacy #ELATeacher #EduSky

Authentic Writing in the Age of AI Collaboration and choice can help students learn the foundations of good writing without relying on AI for assistance.

If you’re struggling to AI-proof your writing curriculum, you’re not alone.

Here’s how high school ELA teacher @jen.litandtech.com helps her students learn how to use AI to strengthen their writing—not do their thinking. ✍️

#EduSkyAI #EdTech #ELATeacher

A Simple and Effective Way to Teach Annotation Try a straightforward three-step strategy to help students get comfortable with exploring challenging reading assignments.

If fake, rushed reading is problematic in your classroom, try fostering handwritten, responsive annotations instead. 📖✍️

Here’s a simple, 3-step strategy.

#literacy #ELATeacher #EduSky

Woo hoo. We need #WriteOut these days, especially teachers & librarians!

#teachers #englishteacher #elateacher #writingteachers #writingteacher #findyourpark #englishteachers #outdoorteacher

Check out my article, “Critical Rambling for Climate Justice across Literature and Landscapes,” in #ncte‘s English Journal
doi.org/10.58680/ej2...

Also, check out #writeout from #nationalwritingproject

#teachingenglish #elateacher #climateeducation @ncte.org @writingproject.bsky.social

How to Facilitate Creative Writing Workshops Students’ writing skills grow when they participate in activities that guide them to work at developing their own narratives.

Want to help students grow their writing skills? ✏️🌻

Try facilitating a creative writing workshop that exposes learners to a variety of authors, aids brainstorming, and encourages creativity!

#ELATeacher #EduSky

Learn more about #WriteOut
writeout.nwp.org

#NationalWritingProject #NCTE #ELAteacher #WritinTeacher #Teaching

I ❤️ a good mystery for sneaky, fun learning! Can your students discover the name of Lady Eleanor’s long lost child and break the curse?

#teacher #elateacher #ela #highschoolenglishteacher #gothicfiction

How to Facilitate Creative Writing Workshops Students’ writing skills grow when they participate in activities that guide them to work at developing their own narratives.

Facilitating a student writing workshop allows you to guide students in a process where they'll learn to stretch their story ideas. ✍️

@wordsimagesworlds.bsky.social shares a step-by-step guide!

#ELATeacher #EduSky

Tackling the Question of Character Development in the Classroom Using texts, projects, and classroom policies, some English teachers encourage self-reflection and teach social responsibility.

Can schools play a role in student character development? These HS ELA teachers say yes.

#EduSky #ELATeacher

I had a great day exploring some unfamiliar local trails. Got a little bit of writing done inspired by that ramble. Getting ready for #WriteOut

Sign up for the newsletter:
writeout.nwp.org

Get outside and write in the gorgeous weather you can find. Take students
#ITeachEnglish #NCTE #ELATeacher

Tackling the Question of Character Development in the Classroom Using texts, projects, and classroom policies, some English teachers encourage self-reflection and teach social responsibility.

“Young people are exposed to matters of honesty, compassion, and justice in their lives anyway,” says professor Andrew Peterson. “By enforcing norms around various values or virtues, every teacher is already involved in character education.”

#EduSky #ELATeacher

Poster titled “Characters in Conflict” showing two overlapping outlines of heads. Internal Conflicts are inside the head shape with words like “lonely,” “in love,” “unconfident,” and “depressed.” External Conflicts are outside the head shape with examples like “missing parents,” “friend died,” “stranded on an island,” and “evil wizard.” Includes a note: “Often characters must work through their internal conflicts before they can solve their external conflicts.” Bright colors and arrows are used to differentiate types and examples.

Anchor chart titled “SOAPSTone – Strategy for analyzing what you read.” Each letter stands for: Subject: What is the topic/issue? Occasion: Time/place/context Audience: Who did the author “speak” to? Purpose: Why? Inform, convince, entertain? Speaker: What do you know about the author? Tone: Word choices and rhetorical patterns that tell you how the author feels. Text is written in black and burgundy, with green accents.

Chart titled “STEAL – Characterization.” Each letter stands for a way to analyze character: Speech: What does the character say? Thoughts: What is the character thinking? Effect on others: How do others react? Actions: What does the character do? Looks: What does the character look like? Includes a note on Setting: learning about characters from their surroundings. Color-coded questions follow each category.

Poster titled “Talking about writing” with sentence stems for students to use. Positive feedback in blue and green: “I like the way the writer…” “I think the best sentence is…because…” “I felt…when…because…” “I understood…better when…” Constructive comments in orange and brown: “I wondered about…when…” “I think this piece needs more…” “I got confused when I read…” “I would like this more if…” Ends with “I wish the writer would…” in red.

Looking for ways to break down characters and characterization in your classroom? Or teach students how to analyze and discuss what they’re reading? Check out these anchor charts from ELA teacher @jen.litandtech.com 📖👇

#ELATeacher #EduSky

Exploring Narrative Elements Through a Drama Game Using an improv exercise to practice the parts of a story gets ideas flowing for students—and helps them add structure to their writing.

How do you help students structure their writing without limiting their creativity? This teacher uses an improvisation game to get them laughing and kick-start their imaginations. 💫

#EduSky #ELATeacher

How to Integrate Creative Writing Across Subjects From science to history to math, try these creative writing activities to help students process content and think deeply.

These teacher-tested, low-lift writing activities can help students synthesize their learning in math, science, history, and more! ✍️ 🌟

#MathSky #HistoryEducation #ITeachScience #ELATeacher #EduSky

How to Integrate Creative Writing Across Subjects From science to history to math, try these creative writing activities to help students process content and think deeply.

Creative writing doesn’t have to be confined to ELA classrooms. ✍️

Use these exercises to help students connect complex ideas, reflect on new content, and develop academic confidence across subjects!

#MathSky #HistoryEducation #ITeachScience #ELATeacher #EduSky

From the 1st day of my 5th year of teaching (forgot to post).

#teachers #elateacher #highschoolteacher #hsteacher