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Laura Swilley
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Empowering Youth Voice: Analyzing Greta Thunberg’s “How Dare You” Speech in the ELA Classroom By Laura Swilley
When I teach persuasive writing and rhetorical analysis to my eighth graders, I want more than just academic understanding—I want them to...
Laura Swilley
Mar 25, 20252 min read


Mission: Essay Possible! A Spy-Themed Adventure in Essay Writing for Middle Schoolers By: Laura Swilley
Have you ever wished your students approached essay writing with the same excitement they bring to solving mysteries, decoding riddles,...
Laura Swilley
Mar 23, 20252 min read


Celebrating National Poetry Day: Two Engaging Lessons for Middle and High School By Laura Swilley
National Poetry Day is more than just a calendar event—it’s a vibrant opportunity to help students connect to the power of words,...
Laura Swilley
Mar 21, 20252 min read


Lost & Found: A Narrative Writing Adventure Through the Eyes of an Object by Laura Swilley
As teachers, we’re always on the lookout for ways to spark creativity, build empathy, and engage students in meaningful writing...
Laura Swilley
Mar 21, 20252 min read


Voices That Glowed in the Dark: Teaching Radium Girls in 8th Grade ELA
What happens when you give 13- and 14-year-olds a play about corporate corruption, workers’ rights, and the hidden costs of silence? You...
Laura Swilley
Mar 21, 20252 min read


Reclaiming Restoration: Teaching Aphra Behn’s The Rover in the 21st-Century Classroom
What happens when you bring a 17th-century female playwright into a modern senior English classroom? Magic. Wit. Chaos. And more...
Laura Swilley
Mar 21, 20252 min read


Teaching Grammar with Taylor Swift: A Year-Long Curriculum for Middle and High School
Introduction Teaching grammar can often feel like an uphill battle—endless rules, disengaged students, and the question, Why does this...
Laura Swilley
Mar 18, 20253 min read


The Overstimulated Teacher: Managing Triggers in the Classroom
Teaching is often described as a calling, a profession driven by passion and dedication. But just like students, teachers are human. We...
Laura Swilley
Mar 18, 20253 min read


The Heartbreak of Saying Goodbye: A Teacher’s Silent Mourning
Each year, teachers welcome a new group of students into their classrooms, forming a bond that goes far beyond academics. We learn their...
Laura Swilley
Mar 17, 20253 min read


Teachers Make More Minute-by-Minute Decisions Than a Brain Surgeon—Here’s Why
It’s often said that teachers make more decisions per minute than brain surgeons. While it may seem like an exaggeration, research...
Laura Swilley
Mar 16, 20253 min read


Bringing St. Patrick’s Day to the ELA Classroom: Engaging Lessons for Middle and High School
St. Patrick’s Day often conjures images of shamrocks, leprechauns, and parades, but it also presents a fantastic opportunity to introduce...
Laura Swilley
Mar 16, 20252 min read


Bringing Whimsy into the ELA Classroom: Making Learning Magical
As English teachers, we know that literature and language can be powerful, transformative, and even life-changing. But let’s be...
Laura Swilley
Mar 15, 20254 min read


Beware the Ides of March: Engaging ELA Lesson Plans for Middle and High School
March 15, famously known as the Ides of March , marks the fateful day of Julius Caesar’s assassination in 44 BCE. It’s a moment in...
Laura Swilley
Mar 15, 20253 min read


Slay the Lesson: Using Gen Z Slang to Make ELA and History Lit (for Real, for Real)
As an English and history teacher, I know that engaging middle school students can sometimes feel like trying to get a cat to take a...
Laura Swilley
Mar 15, 20253 min read


Grading Made Easy: Time-Saving Strategies for Giving Meaningful Essay Feedback in Middle School ELA
Grading essays in a middle school ELA classroom can be time-consuming, but there are strategies to streamline the process while still...
Laura Swilley
Mar 11, 20252 min read


Murder Mystery Game: “The Case of the Vanishing Manuscript” Untitled
A Collaborative Classroom Mystery for 7/8th Grade ELA Overview The students will take on the roles of characters involved in a...
Laura Swilley
Mar 10, 20253 min read


Teaching Middle School Students How to Take Notes in Class
Taking notes is a fundamental skill that helps middle school students process, organize, and retain information. However, many students...
Laura Swilley
Mar 9, 20253 min read


Radium Girls Themed Escape Room
Radium Girls-Themed Escape Room (Advanced Version) Based on Radium Girls by D.W. Gregory Grade Level: 8th Grade ELA Number of Puzzles: 10...
Laura Swilley
Mar 9, 20253 min read


All Reading is Reading: Why Every Word Counts
When we think of “reading,” what comes to mind? A novel? A textbook? Maybe a news article? For years, traditional literacy has been...
Laura Swilley
Mar 8, 20252 min read


First Chapter Friday: Sparking a Love for Reading in Your ELA Classroom
By Laura Swilley As ELA teachers, one of our biggest challenges is getting students excited about reading—especially in a world filled...
Laura Swilley
Mar 7, 20253 min read
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