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 […]

Teaching social studies to English Language Learners can seem like a daunting task. But it doesn’t have to be. One of the best solutions is the Structured Instruction Observation Protocol. You can create engaging history ESL lessons using the “Building Background” component of SIOP. Now, what exactly is the Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol? It’s a […]

So, you’ve got English Language Learners joining your social studies class this year, and you want to ensure they feel welcome and supported. Fear not! I’m here to share some killer strategies to help you create an inclusive and engaging learning environment for your ELLs. With these ells strategies, you’ll be set to kick off […]

If you’re anything like me, you’ve been stumped about how to help the English Language Learners in your classes. Would you believe it if I told you there’s a way to help not only your ELLs but ALL your students? It’s called the SIOP Model. You might be wondering, “What is the SIOP Model?” Well, […]

Are you ready to create an inclusive classroom and ensure every student thrives? Here are 10 remarkable ELL instructional strategies designed for social studies. These strategies will engage and empower English language learners (ELLs). And create a vibrant and inclusive learning environment for all students. 1. Visuals Speak Louder Than Words: Do you know what’s […]

Juneteenth became a huge topic of conversation in 2020. Now, it’s a recognized holiday. You might know all about Juneteenth by now, but I don’t like to make assumptions. Here’s some helpful information about Juneteenth to help you understand why June 19th is a holiday. First, let’s define what Juneteenth is. I’m not going to […]

Teaching high school students about the Cold War in the United States can be interesting. But it can be challenging, especially for English Language Learners. There’s good news, though! Use the Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP) strategies. These strategies ensure meaningful learning experiences for English Language Learners. They also promote their language development. Let’s look […]

Teaching social studies to English language learners (ELLs) can be challenging. Social studies involves a lot of content-specific vocabulary, cultural references, and complex concepts. These may be unfamiliar to ELLs. However, with the right teaching strategies, you can make social studies engaging and accessible for ELLs. So, let’s dive right in. Here are five unique […]

In today’s globalized world, diversity is increasingly prevalent in our classrooms. As teachers, it’s our responsibility to not only acknowledge this but also embrace it. Our task is to prepare our students for the diverse and dynamic world they will inherit. The world is becoming increasingly multicultural and multilingual. It’s essential that we are equipped […]

First things first (said in my best Biggie voice), let’s talk about the elephant in the room: Teaching social studies to English language learners can be challenging. Not only are you trying to convey complex historical and cultural concepts. But you’re also trying to do it in a language that may not be their first. […]

Dream with me for a minute. Imagine we didn’t relegate teaching “non-white” history to designated “History Months?” I remember when I was a student teaching. My cooperating teacher was like, “it’s February, teach Black History. Next month teach Women’s History.” So that’s what I did. Black History Month is essential. It brings attention to and […]

The Haitian Revolution in 1804 is the most important revolution in human history. Yet, most people don’t know anything about it. (The defeated United States and European powers made sure of that). Ok, you might be thinking, “That’s a bold statement, Noelle.” It is and I stand by it. The Haitian Revolution is so important […]

Warning, this isn’t like my usual upbeat and positive posts. I’m gettin’ real. A note: when I’m mentioning white people, I am talking about the racist white people of the time I am discussing. Now that that’s out of the way… Back in late Spring of 2020, (you know, when people said they cared about […]

I’m proud that my school district changed Columbus Day to Indigenous People’s Day. It’s important to recognize indigenous people. I’m sure there were a ton of people who had an atomic wedgie over it, but… It was the right move. That got me thinking. What did I learn about indigenous people in my K-12 education? […]

Think back to what you learned about the Civil Rights Movement. My bet is that you learned that it started in the 1950s when Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on the bus. I mean, why wouldn’t she? She was a tired old lady who was trying to get home from work. Then […]

Imperialism in Africa is one of my favorite things to teach. Not only is it interesting, but it’s the perfect time to tackle misconceptions about Africa. You know, like the one where people call Africa a country. News flash. Africa is the most diverse place on the planet. It has 54 distinct countries and thousands […]

Do you hear that? Yup, those are crickets. I remember not so long ago, it seemed like everyone was posting about antiracism on Instagram. The cynic in me was like, “Yeah, let’s see how long this lasts.” I hate to say it, but the cynic in me was right. Everyone who became woke six months […]

Do you believe in magic? Well, the Electoral College sure does. It’s a magic number, and it’s 270. That’s the number you’ll see sprawled across the top of all the news channels on election day. It’s the number of electoral votes a candidate needs to win the presidential election. So I figured I’ll explain the […]