July 2026 - Next Day Teaching

A photo of a classroom with the desks arranged in a circle

5 Benefits of Teaching Poetry (And Why Every Teacher Should Try Poetry Friday)

When I was in school, poetry usually meant reading long poems written by old, dead, white men. My classmates and I slogged through analyzing rhyme schemes, identifying symbolism, and interpreting themes. Snore! So when I found myself as a teacher needing a lesson to fill an awkward Friday time block, poetry wasn’t exactly the first […]

5 Benefits of Teaching Poetry (And Why Every Teacher Should Try Poetry Friday) Read More »

An open book with light and sparkles coming out and the word "poetry" in script above it all

How to Teach Poetry in the Classroom with Poetry Friday

Lesson Ideas

Most teachers remember poetry lessons from their own school years the same way: long poems, complicated symbolism, and endless analysis that made everyone (including the teacher) want to fall asleep. That doesn’t have to be the way you teach poetry in the classroom. One of my favorite weekly routines was Poetry Friday: a simple, discussion-based

How to Teach Poetry in the Classroom with Poetry Friday Read More »

A spread of early finisher critical thinking activity ideas including lateral thinking puzzles, one-minute mysteries, and perplexors

5 Teacher-Tested Early Finisher Activities That Build Critical Thinking Skills

Teaching Strategies

Every teacher knows the feeling: Half the class is still working quietly when one student raises a hand and asks, “I’m done. What should I do now?” While it’s tempting to tell early finishers to “add more detail” or “read quietly,” I found those moments were the perfect opportunity to build critical thinking, logic, and

5 Teacher-Tested Early Finisher Activities That Build Critical Thinking Skills Read More »