The Accidental English Teacher

I was involved in a Facebook group discussion recently about the mandated use of classroom data walls. I was surprised by the strong angry and emotional reaction I had to the conversation. The en...

https://accidentalenglishteacher.com/2018/08/07/teachers-tear-down-that-data-wall/

This is a graphic I designed for a webinar I did for AMLE a couple of years ago. I used it again today in a presentation I did for the AMLE Leadership Institute. I am considering using it as the ...

https://accidentalenglishteacher.com/2018/06/20/mizernys-8-facets-of-engagement/

Those of you who have read my previous posts know that I am a huge fan of Notice and Note by Kylene Beers and Bob Probst. I started using it in my sixth grade English classes and saw levels of an...

https://accidentalenglishteacher.com/2015/12/29/short-stories-picture-books-and-video-clips-for-notice-and-note/

I just saw yet another article on my social media feed by yet another expert proposing that a decline in free, unstructured play can lead to depression and anxiety. I have also seen many articles...

https://accidentalenglishteacher.com/2015/10/10/thank-you-captain-obvious/

My MiddleWeb article from 5/17/15 During my college years, I worked as a server at several restaurants to pay my rent. At the swankiest of these, I recall the chef once telling his sous chefs to ...

https://accidentalenglishteacher.com/2015/07/27/is-your-tech-integration-mostly-a-garnish/

Smartbrief published a modified version of my Goldilocks post on June 8, 2015 As a naturally reflective person and educator, I am on a never-ending quest to design the “just right” English cl...

https://accidentalenglishteacher.com/2015/07/27/channeling-goldilocks-revisited/

My Middleweb Post from 7.07.15 Teaching middle school is unlike any other level of education. Early adolescents are not just large elementary school children, nor are they small adults. They are ...

https://accidentalenglishteacher.com/2015/07/13/how-to-become-a-tween-centered-teacher/

I asked my sixth grade students to do book talks on their favorite novel of the year. The only caveats I gave them were that the books must be appropriate for their age range (middle grade) and n...

https://accidentalenglishteacher.com/2015/05/26/sixth-grade-summer-reading-recommendations/

The text from my SmartBrief article on April 13, 2015 I’ll admit it: I enjoy being known as one of the “fun” teachers in school. I get a little lift when they walk in and the first thing th...

https://accidentalenglishteacher.com/2015/04/28/the-serious-business-of-classroom-fun/

The text of my article for Middleweb from March 24, 2105 We’ve all read the rhetoric from self-styled school reformers perpetuating the myth of schools full of bad teachers. This has not been m...

https://accidentalenglishteacher.com/2015/04/28/5-ways-to-make-kids-hate-your-class/