I’ve started the first day of school in dozens of ways over the years. You know, the soft launch.The syllabus speech. The expectations talk. The “go-around-the-room-and-say-your-name-plus-fun-fact” icebreaker that makes teens recoil in horror. I’ve done them all. But here’s the truth: none of those approaches actually made my students care about history. And they definitely […]

Let’s be real: the first few days of Civics or AP Government are full of silent judgment. Some students are already thinking, “Ugh, this is going to be so boring.” Others are eyeing the syllabus, wondering, “Do I have to memorize all these amendments?”   And in AP classes especially, kids are thinking: “How much […]

“I already won the lottery. I was born in the U-S of A baby.” – Creed Bratton This quote from The Office is one of my favorites and I post it every year on the 4th of July. It’s funny and I love this country. Now, just because I believe America is the best, doesn’t […]

It’s that time of year when people start posting their favorite Martin Luther King, Jr quotes. They’re always the same, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.“ or “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Yes, these are excellent quotes. But […]

I get it. You’re a high school social studies teacher trying to help your English Language Learners. And it’s hard. But it can be easier than you think. I’m here to help you along the way. The secret weapon in your arsenal is SIOP’s Lesson Delivery Component. This strategy can help your ELLs excel in […]

Now that you’re deep in the SIOP Series, let’s dive into the Practice & Application component of the Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP) model. (Oh, you have read the other posts in the series? Check them out here: Lesson preparation, Building Background, Comprehensible Input, Strategies). It will help you make exciting lessons for English Language […]

Engage & Empower: SIOP Lesson Plans with Interaction

If you’ve been following along with my SIOP series, you’ve officially made it to SIOP Component #4: Strategies. (Haven’t read about the first two components? Here’s Lesson preparation, Building Background, and Comprehensible Input). As a high school social studies teacher, you know how essential it is to keep your students engaged. Sound daunting? Fear not. […]

You’ve made it to the third SIOP component, Comprehensible Input! (Haven’t read about the first two components? Click here for Lesson Preparation and here for Building Background). Let’s explore how this component can make social studies come alive for our ELL students. So, let’s roll up our sleeves and uncover some invaluable tips for teaching […]