Two-Minute Tip of the Day
When should I use a semicolon?
Semicolons don't have to be mysterious! There are only two reasons to use a semicolon in a sentence. Take a look at this Shurley English Two-Minute Tip of the Day to learn more:
strategies
Holiday Lessons/Resources
Resolutions vs. Goals
During the first few days of January, many people across the globe participate in the age-old tradition of writing a New Year’s Resolution. The custom of making a promise to do something differently to improve one’s life (mind, body, & soul) in the coming year has been going
Holiday Lessons/Resources
ELA Tips for a Successful Second Semester
As a classroom teacher, returning from holiday break was always bittersweet. On one hand, I knew the pressure for “test prep” would be more intense, but on the other hand, the satisfaction of witnessing my students grow into wiser beings put a validating smile on my face. It was a
Holiday Lessons/Resources
Language Arts Success: Top 10 List, 2021 Edition
As the calendar year comes to a close, a teacher’s journey is still moving at full speed. (It’s true!) We are not quite to the halfway mark of our year, and we still have much to do! As 2021 comes to a close and before you begin the
Holiday Lessons/Resources
How to Manage Stress During the Holiday Season
There are only nine shopping days left before Christmas! (Let that sink in for just a minute!) I know that Christmas is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, but right about now, I’m feeling a little less than wonderful! The very idea that I only
Holiday Lessons/Resources
Holiday Activity: The Kindness Calendar
Kindness is defined as the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. Some of the words associated with kindness are affection, gentleness, warmth, concern, and care. The act of being kind often requires courage and strength, but a simple act of kindness can have huge effects individually and globally. Think
Holiday Lessons/Resources
Holiday Fun: A vocabulary game for the whole family
My family and I have played a really cool game throughout our years together. My wife and I thought it up when we were traveling on vacation several years ago, and it remains one of my all-time favorites (not sure anyone else agrees!!). It only requires a brain, a vocabulary,
Holiday Lessons/Resources
Writing Extension: Thanksgiving Thank You
Are you looking for an idea to motivate your students to grow an “attitude of gratitude” during this season of Thanksgiving? Why not assist them in creating their own personalized letter of thanksgiving written to someone special in their lives? Not only will you create a Thanksgiving to remember, but
Holiday Lessons/Resources
Boost Your Mood With Gratitude
Every year, Daylight Saving Time (DST) ends on the first Sunday in November, when clocks are moved back an hour at 2 a.m. local daylight time. When this happens, It takes our minds and bodies several weeks to adjust to the time change. On top of that, the early
Holiday Lessons/Resources
Writing Extension: Veterans Day Comparison-Contrast Essay
One of my favorite forms of writing is the Comparison-Contrast Essay. You must use factual details to analyze the similarities and differences between two or more subjects. I think the wanna-be researcher in me loves this! I get to scour sources for facts and data. I get to learn new
ELA Success
More Than the ABCs: The Consonant S
Welcome back! In a previous post, I showed you how to help students own the alphabet as more than just the ABCs. Each symbol or letter is a picture of sound. Our job is to teach kids how to attach the sound or sounds that each symbol represents. I introduced
ELA Success
How to Teach Subject-Verb Agreement
Subject-verb agreement refers to the special way in which a subject and verb work together to make a sentence correct. Basically, the two must agree in number. For example, if the subject is singular, the verb must be singular. If the subject is plural, the verb must be plural. Without