how-to Archives - A Lesson Plan for Teachers

How to Teach the DBQ Writing Process

Posted on February 14, 2018June 25, 2021 by Michele Luck

Teaching the DBQ Process can be as overwhelming for teachers as it is for students. Facing the challenge with a set step-by-step guide can help to overcome the obstacles for introducing this task in any grade level. Having a plan...Read More

How I Use Highlighters in the Secondary Classroom

Posted on May 24, 2017July 25, 2020 by Michele Luck

Color is important! In my classroom, we color coded everything. And to do that, highlighters became a very important tool! I'm sure your students already use highlighters in your classes, but do they use them in the most effective ways? ...Read More

Top 10 Websites for Teaching with Primary Sources in the Secondary Classroom

Posted on September 26, 2016July 25, 2020 by Michele Luck

Whether you are teaching in a Common Core State, trying to address the NCSS C-3 Framework, or simply hoping to teach students the value of history in their lives, using primary sources is the key to helping students experience a...Read More

How-To Practice Skills in the Secondary Social Studies Classroom

Posted on August 22, 2016July 25, 2020 by Michele Luck

In the Secondary Social Studies classroom there are basic skills every student should practice in every unit or every lesson, if possible. Some of these skills are easy to add into the daily lesson plans, but others can be challenging...Read More

How-To Use Music in the Social Studies Classroom

Posted on July 25, 2016July 25, 2020 by Michele Luck

Social Studies teachers often hear how boring our content is from students of all ages and ability levels. However, these same students will listen to music of all kinds, often engaging with the tunes in every possible way. Why not...Read More

How-To Teach Primary Sources in the Secondary Classroom

Posted on July 18, 2016July 25, 2020 by Michele Luck

When common core standards first came out, many Social Studies teachers went crazy worrying how they would teach primary sources. After all, for those who had taught out of textbooks, the transition could be a scary one. On the other...Read More

How-To Teach Comparison in the Secondary Classroom

Posted on July 11, 2016July 25, 2020 by Michele Luck

Teaching comparison in the secondary classroom is a requirement, but it can also be a great challenge. Students are easily frustrated with an open-ended assignment, and they are often flustered with the task of finding comparison criteria when not provided...Read More

How To Use Variations on Think-Pair-Share in the Secondary Classroom

Posted on July 4, 2016July 25, 2020 by Michele Luck

Think-Pair-Share is an old strategy that works! However, if it is used often in your classroom, it can become stale, and less effective. So, change it up! Here are a few how-to suggestions for ramping up your Think-Pair-Share lessons: Think-Pair-Talk:...Read More

How To Make Vocabulary More Engaging in the Classroom

Posted on June 27, 2016July 25, 2020 by Michele Luck

Follow my blog with Bloglovin Teaching vocabulary is vital for the secondary content-area classroom, but the task can also be the most boring activity students must endure. Change that up with this simple how-to! Make learning vocabulary an event in...Read More

How-To Do a Scavenger Hunt in Your Classroom

Posted on June 20, 2016July 25, 2020 by Michele Luck

Scavenger Hunts come in a variety of formats and can be used in a variety of ways in the classroom. Unfortunately, this often means we are overwhelmed with how to use them most effectively in our classrooms with our students....Read More