This article shares the experiences, tips, and passion of an English I teacher who teaches English language learners (ELLs) who have been in U.S. schools for at least one year. She provides information about various teaching strategies that have been effective in her classroom over the past few years. The article addresses student grouping,…

This article encourages English language arts and reading (ELAR) teachers to take hold of their ability to thrive in the classroom by suggesting three practices that will facilitate that quest. Many ELAR teachers show the signs of burnout and a defeatist mindset too early in their careers. The author seeks to provide constructive ways for teachers…

The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in English Language Arts seem to relegate fiction and poetry to the back shelf. This change in emphasis, favoring nonfiction, has an impact in the classroom. After districts and schools realign the curriculum, many English teachers feel compelled to put away some of their fiction and poetry units. One way to…

The great number of refugees in the U.S. creates challenges for educators to determine the best ways to embrace refugee children and incorporate culturally and linguistically appropriate classroom practices to successfully meet their educational and emotional needs (Prior & Niesz, 2013). This article aims to contribute to English teachers'…

Despite its importance, many teachers overlook a vital component of the lesson cycle--closure. This article explains how a high school English teacher implements Meta Moments, a systematic time for closure that fosters metacognitive habits in students.

Incorporating the arts into the classroom through the study of poetry and writing can improve literacy with the connection to the lyrical movement of dance, music, and art. Through the arts, teachers can guide students in exploring figurative language, tone, rhythm, and imagery as it pertains to the arts and its relationship to the voice and…

In attempting to align all that we do as English teachers with current standards, expectations, standardized tests, and other educational stressors, we have overlooked one crucial element: developing our students as writers, not just because it is beneficial, but because it is good for their souls, their confidence, and their overall evaluation of…