ELAsuccess
What is personification?
What is personification? Should I use personification when I am writing? Get the answers to these questions and many more during this Shurley English Two-Minute Tip of the Day! Take a look…
tips
ELAsuccess
Playin’ Around with Verb Tenses
Verb tenses can be challenging for students and adults! In an effort to reinforce correct verb tense usage, why not play a little game? Let’s get started with a quick review of verb tenses. Tense means time. So, that means that the verb in the sentence actually lets the
Two-Minute Tip of the Day
What is the Oxford Comma?
What is the Oxford Comma? Should I use the Oxford Comma when I am writing? Why is the Oxford Comma so controversial? Get the answers to these questions and many more during this Shurley English Two-Minute Tip of the Day! Take a look… Would you like more tips? Be sure
Two-Minute Tip of the Day
NEW ELA Tool: The Two-Minute Tip of the Day
Our commitment to you and your success in language arts is ongoing. A few years ago, we launched the Shurley English Blog, where our team of educators discusses trends, strategies, and tips for success. It’s all about support and encouragement. It has been a true labor of love, and
ELAsuccess
One Giant Step—The Revision Process
As a teacher, you know the effortful task of teaching students about the six steps of the Writing Process. The steps should be taught and repeated so that students will always know how to communicate thoughts and ideas in competent, confident way. Here’s a quick recap and commentary of
Holiday Lessons/Resources
Starting Your Second Semester Off Right: 365 New Days!
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. I imagine my
ELAsuccess
Are you meeting your students' needs?
Today’s classroom teacher wears many hats, and that’s a fact. Not only are they responsible to help children develop and improve their literacy, mathematic, and social science skills, they must also evaluate student progress and performance along the way. To be upfront, I’m not just talking about
ELAsuccess
Teaching Word Choice: Skills for day-to-day life
As teachers, the concept of “word choice” is common language in classrooms around the United States. Careful word choice is a key to effective writing and speaking. Selecting appropriate and precise words helps to increase the impact you have on your audience. Ideally, this is what teachers try to convey
ELAsuccess
The Importance of Word Choice…in Life
“Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words can change your brain.” Wait a second, that’s not how I learned it! Many of us grew up reciting some version of this common idiom, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” This childhood
ELAsuccess
How to Spell Well: Tips and tricks for spelling success
Would you agree that teaching spelling should be an all-day/every-day job?! We all know that opportunities to teach quick spelling lessons arise frequently throughout the day. But, all too often, we miss these teachable moments! Research on spelling shows that for decades, the common approach to teach spelling centered
ELAsuccess
How to Implement Correct Reading Techniques
Today, I’ve decided to write to you, the adult reader, about a topic that most of us take for granted: Reading. I’ve chosen this topic because improving reading skills is not just a concern for students only! We all need to practice. The truth is that your reading
shurley english
Teacher Toolbox: Even a Motivator Needs to be Motivated
If you’ve ever found yourself in the middle of a tumultuous situation like a rip-roaring, indoor recess due to inclement weather, or a rigorous test preparation right before a holiday, you know how it feels when you need a break! …You need it, and you need it NOW! Now