This month is the birthday anniversary of a favorite author and local legend, John Steinbeck (born February 27, 1902). Learning about a Nobel Laureate such as John Steinbeck—or another favorite author—is one way to get students excited about literature, about … Continue reading →

When the school year ends, the “What Is It?” lesson may prove to have been your favorite for integrating standards across the ELA and SL curriculum. The “What Is It?” weekly lesson asks students to turn a doodle (such as … Continue reading →

Vocabulary is an essential focus of current standards, with emphasis placed on teaching vocabulary through meaningful engagement, not memorization. We know this is ideal, but how do we give students meaningful experiences with words? Our veteran teachers on staff have … Continue reading →