August 25, 2024

A Vocabulary Routine That Allows Students To Understand & Retain Words

Here's the routine I developed for teaching using Sadlier's Vocabulary Workshop so my students can understand the words and retain them.

As a high school teacher, I used Sadlier’s Vocabulary Workshop years ago and was dismayed to find that all of the answers to the exercises in the book were readily available online. I also knew that the exercises in the book alone did not provide enough exposure for students to master the 20 words per unit.

When I was asked last year to use Sadlier’s Vocabulary Workshop with my sixth graders, I took my qualms to teachergram and asked “what do you do?” I used the information and ideas I got from other teachers plus a few of my own to create a routine that worked for me and my students.



August 17, 2024

12 Reads to Enhance Disability Representation in Your Classroom Library

Discover books that highlight both visible and invisible disabilities, recommended by secondary ELA teachers, to include in your classroom.


Disability Pride Month, celebrated every July, commemorates the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, a pivotal law that removed barriers to societal inclusion. Despite the fact that most of us will face some form of disability in our lifetime, obstacles remain, and individuals with disabilities are often marginalized and misunderstood.

Celebrating Disability Pride Month offers an opportunity to acknowledge, honor, and respect disabilities and those who identify as having a disability. Below, you'll find a selection of books featuring characters with both visible and invisible disabilities, recommended by middle and high school ELA teachers, to enhance your classroom library.