11 short stories for fall to use in High School English classes.

11 Short Stories for Fall for High School English

Fall is the perfect time to incorporate a short story unit into any high school class.  So today I am sharing 11 short stories for fall that are also perfect for high school English classes. Why use Short Stories in the Fall? Starting the school year with a short story

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5 English teachers share their favorite exit tickets and bell ringer questions

Favorite Bell Ringer Questions and Exit Tickets

As we start to think about going back to school, it is also time to think about the routines we want to establish in our English and ELA classrooms.  And those routines should definitely include a regular routine for warm ups and closures.  So this week, I have brought together

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Teaching Argument through Bell Ringers

Our state exam and the AP® Language exam both require students to write argument essays.  I find that students need all the practice they can get in making an argument which is why teaching argument through bell ringers is an idle way to get lots of experience. What is Argumentative

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Introduction to the Poem: AP Literature Unit 2

When students enter my AP Literature classroom, most of them are coming from AP English Language where they have had very little exposure to poetry.  It’s just not part of the course.  This means at best, they had poetry over a year ago.  But let’s face it, lots of English

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Using Fairy Tale Poems in High School English

One of my favorite units in my college courses was the one where we explored the original versions of fairy tales.  And, when I have done this in my high school English classes using fairy tale poems, it is always a hit. 5 Ways Incorporate Fairy Tale Poems in High

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7 Formative Assessments in 10 Minutes or Less

The goals for formative assessments are that they are 1. quick and 2. easy to grade which is why today I am sharing 7 formative assessments that you can do in your high school classroom in ten minutes or less. Using Bell Ringers and Exit Tickets for Formative Assessments Both

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5 Formative Assessment Strategies for High School

You want to do a quick check for understanding or a reading check or skill check, but you don’t want it to take the whole class or even half the class.  That’s why you need these five formative assessment strategies.    What are Formative Assessments? I generally think of a formative

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The AP English Exam is Over–What’s Next?

It’s almost May, which means those of us who teach AP® English are wrapping up in preparation for the exams.  It doesn’t matter whether that is the AP® English Literature exam or the AP® English Language exam, our core courses are winding down.  And for many people, this also signals

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Jeanmarie McLaughlin at McLaughlin Teaches English

Hi, I'm Jeanmarie!

I help AP Literature and High School English teachers create engaging classrooms so that students will be prepared college and beyond.

Learn more about me and how I can help you here 

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