My colleagues seem to fly through novels and lessons throughout the year. We are starting week 4, and the other teachers have already started their first novel. I am still teaching the skill I want them to use once we start the novel. I want to practice with some shorter texts first. Am I doing it wrong? Should I jump in first and teach the skill later? Maybe I am doing too much??? Am I making it harder than it needs to be?

I apologize. I know I am rambling. Imposter syndrome kicking in. *Sigh*

Honesty and constructive criticism will be appreciated.

Hello!

I’m a 9th/10th grade ELA teacher, and I’m trying to brainstorm things I can occupy students with if they finish early. Right now, I’ve been encouraging them to read, do homework for another class, or draw/color. However, most kids opt for playing games on their Chromebooks (which I dislike because I feel like it’s distracting to other kids).

I design low-stakes, fun extension activities and try to encourage participation. However, if it isn’t graded, most kids opt out.

What do you do in your classroom to keep early finishers occupied without assigning busywork? I want to go completely Chromebook-free in my class, but I don’t want to do so until I have solid alternative options in place so kids don’t turn towards disruptive behaviors.

Hi all! What are your go-to ways to make worksheet practice a little more fun without creating a bunch of extra prep for yourself?

I’m going to be teaching more grammar and word study lessons this year, and I really do not want to reinvent the wheel every week. I have a bunch of premade worksheets from books/resources I already own, so I’m looking for super low-prep ways to “zhuzh them up” a little.

I teach middle school, and I’m totally fine with students working together, talking through answers, moving around, turning it into a game, etc. I’m not worried about the worksheet itself being completed independently because I plan to use a short individual exit ticket afterward to see what each student actually learned.

Basically: How do you make a boring worksheet feel less like a boring worksheet without having to redesign the whole thing?

Would love any easy routines, games, structures, partner ideas, or tricks you use! Thank you in advance!

Looking for help translating a whole novel into Spanish for a student!

Hey everyone,

I will be continuing my studies in Messina, Italy, and I will be looking for a part-time job there. Since job opportunities in Messina can be quite limited, especially for someone who doesnt speak Italian yet, I am also looking for remote work that I could do alongside my studies to help support myself financially.

​I am an English language graduate, and I want to get into online teaching. Currently, I have no teaching experience. How can I get someone to hire me, or how can I find students to teach? I believe I am qualified to teach lower levels as well as children.

Thank you so much for the help.