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Continue reading →: How and Why We Must Teach Grammar and Punctuation to Our High SchoolersHigh school education has increasingly neglected grammar instruction, resulting in students’ inability to write clearly. Effective teaching necessitates explicit grammar lessons, fostering skills that promote academic and professional success. To address equity and empower students, teachers must prioritize direct, systematic grammar education, enabling students to express themselves with confidence and…
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Continue reading →: Full AP Lit The Awakening Unit Guide – Teaching Resources & Lesson PlansThis guide offers teaching resources for Kate Chopin’s The Awakening, aimed at engaging high school students through discussions about identity, societal expectations, and personal liberation. It provides a chapter breakdown, activities, and debate prompts to enhance literary analysis while saving preparation time for educators. Ideal for AP Literature and advanced…
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Continue reading →: Full Homegoing Novel Unit – Teaching Resources, Materials, & Lesson Plans for AP Lit, Honors 11th Grade English, 12th Grade ELAThe Homegoing Teacher’s Guide is an essential resource for 11th- and 12th-grade educators, providing a comprehensive framework to teach Yaa Gyasi’s novel. It includes lesson plans, activities, and discussion prompts addressing themes of family, identity, and the impacts of slavery and colonialism. The guide aims to engage students and deepen…
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Continue reading →: Beyond “Don’t Use Wikipedia”: Teaching Students Effective Research SkillsMany teachers discourage citing Wikipedia due to its status as a tertiary source lacking expert verification. However, Wikipedia can be a valuable research tool for background knowledge and source identification. Teaching students to evaluate information critically and utilize Wikipedia’s references fosters essential research skills for navigating information in the digital…
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Continue reading →: Simplify Your Graphic OrganizersFrom humble classroom staples to Instagram-worthy masterpieces, graphic organizers have undergone a startling transformation—but at what cost to actual learning? When decorative borders and cute clip art overshadow purpose, our students suffer. The most powerful organizers strip away the visual noise, creating breathing room for young writers to think deeply…
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Continue reading →: Making Poetry Analysis Click: Three Game-Changing Strategies for AP Lit TeachersAP Lit students often struggle with poetry, viewing it as boring and difficult. To enhance their confidence, teachers can adopt three strategies: emphasizing five key question types to reduce anxiety, starting with contemporary poems to build connections, and modeling annotation techniques. These approaches can transform poetry lessons, fostering analytical skills…
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Continue reading →: Teaching Critical Lenses in High School: Literary Analysis That ResonatesTeaching critical lenses in literature can be challenging yet rewarding. Students often find these theories intimidating, which can disconnect them from meaningful analysis. By connecting these concepts to familiar texts and providing structured support, educators can enhance students’ understanding, engagement, and analytical skills, transforming essays into insightful discussions and fostering…
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Continue reading →: How to Get Through Novels and Plays Your Students Don’t Like: Strategies for Tough ReadsContext, multimedia, focusing on key chunks, connecting to psychology and pop culture, activities, and accountability can combat disengagement.
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Continue reading →: Supporting Learners Who Fall Behind: Strategies for TeachersHow can teachers help when students fall behind in class? Key reasons for lagging include anxiety, feeling overwhelmed, lack of confidence, perfectionism, confusion, poor time management, and external life challenges. Strategies offered include breaking tasks into manageable parts, emphasizing progress, building confidence, and maintaining clear communication.
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Continue reading →: Cheap Maternity Leave Sub Plans for High School English Teachers (Grades 9-12)Complete Persuasive Speech Unit: No-Prep Sub Plans for ELA Maternity Leave/Paternity Leave 66 cents per day!! Planning maternity leave when you’re a high school English teacher can be pretty overwhelming. You need to write sub plans, you are probably a little worried about classroom management while you’re gone, and you…
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Continue reading →: Teaching Critical Lenses as an AP Lit TeacherLet’s get into the value of critical lens assignments for engaging high school AP Lit and AP Lang students in literary analysis. Discover six lenses—Reader Response, Psychoanalytical, Post-Colonial, Gender, Class, and Ecocriticism—that stimulate critical thinking and writing skills. These assignments enhance students’ analytical abilities and connect to student interests with…
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Continue reading →: 11th Grade: College and Career/Future Options Unit for High Schoolers
Let’s make a “college and career” unit! Effectively engage high school students by providing guidance for their futures with tailored surveys, structured research, and practical tools like teen-specific resume templates. A unit like this can prepare students for various paths. Parental involvement and practical applications enhance the unit’s impact, fostering…
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Continue reading →: Teaching College Essays: Narrative Writing and Application SuccessLet’s talk teaching narrative writing skills through college application essays for high school juniors and seniors! We can transform a daunting task into an engaging learning experience with this activity, helping students share meaningful personal stories!
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Continue reading →: Should We Stop Teaching Shakespeare?Let’s talk about the importance of teaching Shakespeare to modern students, despite concerns about comprehension. Mastering his texts enhances critical reading skills, cultural literacy, and confidence. Effective teaching strategies include demystifying the language, utilizing performance approaches, and connecting themes to contemporary issues to boost student engagement and understanding.
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Continue reading →: From Identification to Deep Analysis: Digging into Sound Devices with AP Lit StudentsLet’s address the challenges faced by AP Literature students in writing meaningful analyses rather than merely identifying literary devices! Here’s a lesson pack that will transform sound device study with engaging activities and games, encouraging deep exploration of why these devices matter. Help your students develop sophisticated analytical skills and…
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Continue reading →: Easy Materials for Teaching Rhythm and Meter
This post shares three valuable resources to help high school teachers teach rhythm and meter with ease. It includes a free PowerPoint lesson with clear explanations and examples, and a comprehensive handout for in-depth understanding. Additionally, there’s a free practice activity to reinforce learning. These resources aim to make learning…
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Continue reading →: How to Teach Renaissance Poetry in AP LitThe article discusses strategies for teaching Renaissance poetry effectively to high school AP Literature students, emphasizing the importance of scaffolding and making the material relevant. It highlights how understanding historical context and connecting themes to modern experiences can enhance student engagement and confidence, ultimately preparing them for success on the…
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Continue reading →: Freebies: High School English MaterialsSign up for the newsletter! I send links to blog posts with tips, tricks, and free materials, including links to TPT freebies every month! Free Materials on the Blog Use the search bar to find all posts related to the following teaching topics: Searchable Lessons and Units: Current List of…
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Continue reading →: How to Teach Revision to High School StudentsThe article emphasizes the importance of teaching revision in high school writing, advocating for strategies that engage students and reinforce the writing process. It suggests grading each step of writing, utilizing collaborative activities, and providing structured feedback. By fostering a positive revision culture, teachers can enhance students’ writing skills and…
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Continue reading →: CER Paragraphs for The Crucible Improve Writing SkillsThe CER writing assignment for The Crucible offers 11th grade American Literature students a personalized, engaging way to analyze the play. By allowing choice in essential questions and providing differentiated levels, students enhance their critical thinking, writing skills, and comprehension. This structured approach aligns with Common Core standards, fostering deeper…
Hi,
I’m Carly
Welcome to English with Mrs. Lamp, where I share teaching ideas, advice, and resources for 11th Grade American Literature, AP Lit, and High School ELA!
I specialize in providing units and materials for new teachers & homeschool parents that come with thorough pacing guides, unit calendars, lesson plans, answer keys, and notes with tips, tricks & advice to make your lessons go smoothly!
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