A Better Way To Teach
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Atlanta, Georgia, United States
About the store
Get highly engaging grammar, writing and literature resources here! I'm all about getting your students to buy in to what you're teaching, and then keeping that engagement through student choice, authentic audience, compelling literature, mentor texts, with some hands-on activities sprinkled in. I've been in education for over 20 years (14 years full-time in the high school ELA classroom). If you're looking for low prep, research-based, student-approved resources, you're in the right place. Download the free lesson and check it all out!
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First Day Of School Writing Activity For High School
This first-day-of-school-writing-activity for high school students is an outstanding way to start the school year. The resource includes two options: an autobiographical writing prompt and a hands-on creative writing prompt. Whichever you choose, this will give you a chance to get a snapshot of your students' writing abilities from the very first day of school. A detailed lesson plan is included with tips on how to gauge your students writing though this assignment, plus a short video for you,
9th - 11th
Creative Writing, English Language Arts, Grammar
CCSS
CCRA.W.3
, CCRA.W.4
, CCRA.W.5
 +4
Grammar With Mentor Sentences: TWO Full Years
This a a two-year sequence of grammar instruction that includes all you need to teach grammar to your students in an engaging and effective way through using mentor sentences and scaffolded writing practice! It's customizable, standards-based, and highly engaging! This research-based curriculum uses the concept of teaching grammar with MENTOR SENTENCES because in order for students to learn grammar it has to be through an integrated approach. Every lesson is well scaffolded, includes powerful
9th - 11th
Creative Writing, English Language Arts, Grammar
CCSS
RL.9-10.4
, L.9-10.1
, L.9-10.1a
 +15
Personal Narrative Essay Writing Unit For High School Students
Use this personal narrative essay writing unit to teach your students how to craft powerful narratives through this step-by-step method that uses research-based techniques to lead students toward great writing! What The Personal Narrative Essay Unit IncludesSIX resources for narrative writing- includes lessons on observing elements of narratives, brainstorming, sensory details, structuring a narrative essay, characterization, plus the bundle includes narrative prompts and editable rubricList of
9th - 11th
Creative Writing, English Language Arts, Grammar
CCSS
CCRA.R.1
, CCRA.R.3
, CCRA.R.4
 +15
Imagined Life Podcast Complete Unit Plan, Close Listening, and Literary Devices
Imagined Life is an incredibly engaging podcast and perfect for use in the English classroom that will allow your students to hone their close listening skills and then ultimately apply what they've heard to their own creative essay styled after the podcast! Named Best Podcast on the Human Condition, Imagined Life will thrust your students into a unique story of obstacles and growth while using narrative elements that model the power of a well-told story. Each episode details a famous person'
9th - 12th
Creative Writing, English Language Arts
CCSS, TEKS
CCRA.L.1
, CCRA.L.2
, CCRA.L.3
 +4
Also included in:Â Podcasts For High School: Imagined Life, Scattered, Radiolab, Poetry Unbound
Grammar For High Schoolers With Mentor Sentences (Full-Year Curriculum)
This full-year grammar curriculum has everything you need to teach grammar to your high schoolers, and with almost no prep; plus it's customizable, standards-based, and highly engaging! This research-based curriculum uses the concept of teaching grammar with MENTOR SENTENCES because in order for students to learn grammar it has to be through an integrated approach. Every lesson is well scaffolded, includes powerful mentor sentences and ample opportunities for writing practice, so that your stu
9th - 11th
English Language Arts, Grammar, Writing
CCSS
W.9-10.3c
, W.9-10.3d
, L.9-10.1
 +14
Also included in:Â Grammar With Mentor Sentences: TWO Full Years
Grammar Bell Ringers and Warm Ups With Mentor Sentences For High Schoolers
These bell ringers and warm-ups for high school students have a grammar focus that leads your students to become better writers; these bite-sized practices include mentor sentence observations, practice with sentence frames, story starters, and more! Guide your students toward understanding grammar concepts and improving their writing and fluency with these engaging bell ringer activities. Use mentor sentences to showcase what great writers do, then work on a specific skill each day--in under
9th - 11th
Creative Writing, English Language Arts, Grammar
CCSS
CCRA.R.1
, CCRA.R.4
, CCRA.R.5
 +11
Shakespeare Coloring Pages For Teens With Quotes From Well-Known Plays
Use these Shakespeare coloring pages for teens with quotes from some of the most commonly-read plays in high school including Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Julius Caesar, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and the Merchant of Venice! This resource includes 9 coloring pages with some of the most beautiful and inspiring quotes from all of Shakespeare's work, plus 2 coloring pages that don't have a quote, so that your students can choose a quote that resonates with them and write it on the sheet! When To Use T
9th - 12th
English Language Arts, Literature, Poetry
CCSS
L.9-10.1
, L.9-10.2
, L.9-10.5a
Also included in:Â Coloring Pages For Teens With Quotes From Diverse Authors
Scattered Podcast Unit; Oral Storytelling & Active Listening; Latinx Heritage
The Scattered podcast by Chris Garcia is a captivating way to teach storytelling elements, active listening skills, empathy, history, poetry, and analysis to high school students, and works great during Latinx Heritage month (September-October) . This compelling podcast details the host's journey to find out more about his recently deceased father. Part memoir, part homage, it tackles the full range of human emotion. Your students will be exposed to the art of oral storytelling while learning
11th - 12th, Higher Education
Creative Writing, English Language Arts, Writing
CCSS
CCRA.R.2
, CCRA.R.3
, CCRA.R.4
 +8
Also included in:Â Podcasts For High School: Imagined Life, Scattered, Radiolab, Poetry Unbound
Podcasts For High School: Imagined Life, Scattered, Radiolab, Poetry Unbound
Use these ready-made plans for podcasts for high school students to allow your students to develop active listening skills while deepening their understanding of literary techniques. Whether you're new to using podcasts in your classroom or you've already tried it out, these no-prep full unit plans, mini unit, and bell ringer activity will help you on your journey to using podcasts effectively! Research shows that listening comprehension actually leads to better reading comprehension, which mea
9th - 12th
Creative Writing, English Language Arts, Reading
CCSS
CCRA.R.1
, CCRA.R.2
, CCRA.R.3
 +20
Parallel Structure Bundle With Mentor Sentences, Writing Prompts, and Quiz
Teach your students how important writing in parallel structure is by breaking down the concept into these 3 well-scaffolded lessons. Each lesson engages your learners and gives them a clear path to master the concept of writing in parallel structure (or parallelism). These lessons highlight how great authors write in parallel structure by using mentor sentences for your students to observe and emulate. If your students have an understanding of parts of speech, teach them how to craft better s
9th - 11th
English Language Arts, Grammar, Literature
CCSS
RL.9-10.4
, CCRA.R.4
, CCRA.W.4
 +7
Phrases Bundle For High School Grammar With Mentor Sentences
Teach prepositional phrases, gerund phrases, infinitive phrases, appositive phrases, and participial phrases in this proven method of grammar instruction that is both fun and meaningful. Combine great literature with great grammar instruction and watch your students not only understand what these phrases are but actually use them in their own writing! Create fluent writers who understand grammar concepts, all while you get to talk about amazing literature! At the heart of the lessons is the men
9th - 11th
English Language Arts, Grammar, Writing
CCSS
RL.9-10.4
, RI.9-10.4
, L.9-10.1
 +18
Bell Ringers With Mentor Sentences: Review Grammar & Practice Writing Craft
Use these no-prep bell ringers to help your students review grammar concepts and practice writing craft through observing and imitating mentor sentences! These bite-sized practices include mentor sentence observations, practice with sentence frames, story starters, and more! Guide your students toward understanding grammar concepts and improving their writing and fluency with these engaging bell ringer activities. The bell ringers vary in difficulty, with the easier ones at the beginning of th
9th - 11th
Creative Writing, English Language Arts, Grammar
CCSS
CCRA.R.1
, CCRA.R.4
, CCRA.R.5
 +11
Coloring Pages For Teens With Quotes From Diverse Authors
Use these coloring pages for teens that feature quotes from diverse authors and leaders including women, Black authors, and Shakespeare! This bundle includes 35 coloring sheets! All of the sheets are unique and perfect for older students, teens, and adults. Most of the sheets include quotes by great authors, and there are a few "blank" ones that allow your students to write their own quote. These coloring pages feature compelling quotes from writers, leaders, activists, and more. Use These:A
9th - 11th
Creative Writing, English Language Arts
CCSS
L.9-10.2c
, L.9-10.3
, CCRA.R.1
 +3
Intermediate Grammar Lessons For High School (Full-Year Curriculum)
This intermediate full-year grammar curriculum has everything you need to teach grammar to your high schoolers, and with almost no prep; plus it's customizable, standards-based, and highly engaging! This research-based curriculum uses the concept of teaching grammar with MENTOR SENTENCES because in order for students to learn grammar it has to be through an integrated approach. Every lesson is well scaffolded, includes powerful mentor sentences and ample opportunities for writing practice, s
9th - 11th
English Language Arts, Grammar, Writing
CCSS
W.9-10.3c
, W.9-10.3d
, L.9-10.1
 +14
Also included in:Â Grammar With Mentor Sentences: TWO Full Years
Coloring Sheets For Teens With Quotes From Authors
These coloring sheets for teens are the perfect activity to use after a test, after a quiz, when you're listening to a podcast, or anytime students need a break. Research shows that coloring reduces stress and anxiety even for teens and adults. These coloring sheets are even better than a typical coloring sheet because they engage your students with quotes from great authors. Use them as decor for your classroom after students color them! I discovered coloring was restful for my students many
9th - 11th
English Language Arts, Literature, Other (ELA)
Also included in:Â Coloring Pages For Teens With Quotes From Diverse Authors
Capitalization Lesson For High School: Rules, Review, Practice
Teaching and reviewing capitalization rules is absolutely needed for high school students, which is why this lesson includes 9 important capitalization rules for your students to review and practice! This lesson reviews common capitalization rules in the best way possible: through mentor sentences! Through observing what actual authors do, students will see that capitalization brings clarity in writing. HOW THIS LESSON ENGAGES YOUR LEARNERS:Includes a warm-up game that wakes your students up I
9th - 11th
English Language Arts, Grammar, Writing
CCSS
L.9-10.1
, L.9-10.1b
, L.9-10.2
 +9
Hands-On Grammar Games Bundle For Parts of Speech, Phrases, and More
Use these grammar games for high school students if you are looking for ways to teach grammar in a hands-on way that will engage all your learners, but especially students who are kinesthetic learners and benefit from touching and moving things for concepts to sink in deeply. Allow your ELA students to work with concepts like action and linking verbs, sentence types, active and passive voice, sentence parts, and more! Included in this bundle are several hands-on activities that can be used after
9th - 11th
English Language Arts, Grammar, Literature
CCSS
CCRA.R.5
, CCRA.W.4
, CCRA.W.5
 +6
Clauses and Sentence Types Grammar Bundle With Lessons, Writing Prompts, & Quiz
Teach independent and subordinate clauses as well as sentence types by using mentor sentences in a way that is both fun and meaningful. Combine great literature with great grammar instruction and watch your students not only understand what clauses and sentence types are but watch as they actually become more fluent writers who can punctuate correctly! This bundle focuses on the two main types of clauses (independent and subordinate), and the types of sentences: simple, compound, complex, and co
9th - 11th
English Language Arts, Grammar, Writing
CCSS
CCRA.R.1
, CCRA.W.5
, CCRA.W.10
 +5
Radiolab Podcast Lesson: Discussion, Persuasive Writing, and Active Listening
Allow your students to develop active listening skills while analyzing the effects of a controversial law through this engaging podcast lesson. Students will listen, analyze, question, and discuss the ideas presented in this compelling 1-hour podcast (which you can break up into more than one class period). If you are looking for a meaningful way for your students to develop and deepen multiple skills, Radiolab podcasts are perfect.What the Podcast Is About:This riveting podcast depicts the sto
10th - 12th
Creative Writing, English Language Arts, Writing
CCSS
W.9-10.1
, W.9-10.1a
, W.9-10.1c
 +27
Also included in:Â Podcasts For High School: Imagined Life, Scattered, Radiolab, Poetry Unbound
Writing Topics For Teens With Grammar Focus For Developing Craft
This bundle of writing topics for teens includes 50 different engaging writing prompts for your students! Each handout includes two options from which your students can choose to respond (so you get 25 handouts, that each have 2 options on them). But these aren't you're average writing prompts: they actually allow your student to focus on their writing craft by instructing them about how to use one grammar concept in each response (see the preview for more details). Each handout focuses on a di
9th - 11th
Creative Writing, English Language Arts, Grammar
CCSS
W.9-10.10
, CCRA.W.3
, CCRA.W.4
 +4
Showing 1-20 of 78 results
About the store
Experience
Get highly engaging grammar, writing and literature resources here! I'm all about getting your students to buy in to what you're teaching, and then keeping that engagement through student choice, authentic audience, compelling literature, mentor texts, with some hands-on activities sprinkled in. I've been in education for over 20 years (14 years full-time in the high school ELA classroom). If you're looking for low prep, research-based, student-approved resources, you're in the right place. Download the free lesson and check it all out!
Teaching style
The concepts that compel my lessons are simplicity, scaffolding, and practice, and great literature.
My own education history
Bachelor's Degree in English from University of Florida, Master's in English Education from University of Florida
Additional biographical information
What I post on TPT are lesson plans that I've spent hours, sometimes years creating and tweaking. I bring only my very best lessons and unit plans to this forum. I want your students to LOVE these lessons. I want you to be inspired with new ideas and refreshed in your love for teaching in meaningful ways.
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