Blog | enraged2engaged

photo by Daria Shevtsova.
Adapted Litarature Readings: Classic ELA / ELL materials for secondary students re-written as UDL informed lower lexile books with an automated readability index of grade 3/4. Photo by Susan Yin on Unsplash

Why a Murder Mystery Game is the Best Icebreaker

Starting a new school year is awkward AF. You’ve got a classroom full of students who don’t know each other (or you), and the pressure’s on to make those first days not just bearable but actually engaging. So, how do you get everyone talking, thinking, and—dare I say—having fun from day one? Two words: murder […]

Why Adapted Literature Matters for High School Students in SPED and ELL

Posted by sara Aug 16, 2024 Accessible ELA Lesson Plans, Differentiated Instruction to Address Behavior, Easier-To-Read, ELL accessible reading materials for high school, adapted literature for ELL students, Adapted literature for SPED students, building confidence in SPED students, culturally relevant literature for ELL students, differentiated instruction in high school, empowering SPED students through reading, engaging ELL students in high school, English Language Learners reading strategies, equity in education for SPED and ELL, high school literacy support, inclusive teaching practices, language accessibility in education, lower reading level books for high school, overcoming reading barriers in high school, promoting literacy in Special Education, reading comprehension for SPED students, Special Education reading resources, supporting diverse learners in high school, tailored education for ELL students

Imagine sitting in a classroom, the teacher hands out a book, and as soon as you open it, the words start swimming on the page. It’s like trying to decode a message in a language you’ve never learned, and instead of feeling curious or excited, you’re overwhelmed. You want to engage, but the material is […]

Another Year Begins…

And thanks to my daughter having to be up at school for band camp for a week, I’m ahead of the game. When she gets her restricted permit in September, I’ll revert to laziness. For now, I’m on it. So, what’s new? LOTS of new products in the TpT store to make life better for […]

Who Wants to Play a Fun and Educational Game!?!

QUICK! Look at the photo below. How many everyday objects can you identify? When the kids ask what I like to do outside of school, my typical response is to look them dead in the eye and tell them my only hobbies are grading and writing curriculum. Freaks them out, which is fun. However, I […]

20% off short story units on TpT!

Posted by sara Mar 4, 2024 Accessible ELA Lesson Plans, Differentiated Instruction to Address Behavior, ELL

If you’ve wondered about my short story units, this is your chance to check them out at a discount! They are truly turnkey, all-in-one digital assignments. Just push out ONE DOCUMENT per story. Everything is linked from there. Perfect sub plans because you can go into them ICE COLD and still have a productive day […]

Embedding Close Reading Into Your Daily ELA Routine

Seems like the higher-ups are saying the phrase “close reading” so often these days that, if this were a drinking game, I’d be dead from alcohol poisoning. It’s kind of like when you way the word “watermelon” enough times in a row and the word stops having any connection to a melon you can eat […]

IT’S HERE! IT’S HERE! IT’S HERE! DUMPSTER FIRES!

It’s been a loooonnnng time coming, but it’s finally here! My new staff development game, Dumpster Fires, is live on TpT, just in time for all the instructional coaches who need some staff development for January. When I say its been a loooooonnnng time coming, I mean LONG. Like, way back in my center-based SPED […]

New GIGANTIC Client-Connected Presentation Unit on Chronic Absenteeism

In the ever-evolving landscape of education, fostering meaningful connections between students and real-world issues is essential for cultivating critical thinking and problem-solving skills. One compelling way to achieve this is through client-connected projects, where students actively engage with a real client to address pressing challenges. One such profound and impactful assignment revolves around chronic school […]

It’s Beginning to Look at Lot Like Flu Season…

Posted by sara Nov 27, 2023 Accessible ELA Lesson Plans, Behavior Hacks close reading, E2E, enraged2enaged, fiction, nonfiction, sub plans, turnkey secondary ELA lessons

Everywhere. You. Go. Walmart? Coughing people. Grocery store? Snot-nosed child wiping boogers on the cart. Gas station? Woman unceremoniously throwing disgusting used Kleenex on the ground…from whence it proceeds to take flight in the icy breeze, landing wetly on my cheek. Ahhh. The magic of the season! It’s all around us! Time to make sure […]

Standardized Test-Style Daily Review Qs for The Things They Carried–Now on TpT!

Posted by sara Nov 17, 2023 Accessible ELA Lesson Plans, Differentiated Instruction to Address Behavior, New Products ACT, close reading, E2E, Enraged2Engaged, MAP, multiple choice questions, reading check, review questions, secondary ELA, standardized test prep, test preparation, testing strategies

Last year, I started getting serious about my test prep. You can read all about that in my blog post about daily ACT-style review questions here. Spoiler: I lament that this is something the kids have to worry about but accept the stupid reality that standardized tests aren’t going anywhere for a while. Since then, […]

enraged2engaged

Social Skills and Low Lexile literature for adolescents with EBD, ASD or intellectual disabilities