9-12 High School

Explore and share tips, strategies, and resources for helping students develop in grades 9-12.

New Teachers
Incorporating SEL as a New Teacher
For young teachers, their age can be both an obstacle and an advantage when teaching social and emotional learning.
Literacy
6 Tips for Teaching Poetry Writing to Teens
Writing poetry is a way for middle and high school students to explore hard-to-describe aspects of their lives.
Project-Based Learning
Guiding Students to Apply What They Learn
A state Teacher of the Year used project-based learning to push her students to think critically and apply their learning in math.
Culturally Responsive Teaching
22 Diverse Book Choices for All Grade Levels
Suggestions from teachers who are working to offer students at every grade level book choices that represent their lives.
Classroom Management
60-Second Strategy: Appreciation, Apology, Aha!
A quick, low-key way to build community in your classroom on a daily basis.
The Research Is In
Understanding a Teacher’s Long-Term Impact
Fostering skills like self-regulation does more to improve students’ long-term outcomes than helping them raise their test scores.
Mental Health
60-Second Strategy: Snowball Toss
A quick, fun classroom activity fosters open dialogue while releasing pent-up energy.
Literacy
Teaching Students to Paraphrase
Ideas for scaffolding paraphrasing so that students correctly learn this valuable but difficult-to-master skill.
Communication Skills
Scaffolding Discussion Skills With a Socratic Circle
Students deepen their understanding and build a sense of community by engaging with their peers’ reasoned arguments.
Professional Development
Using Video for Professional Development
When teachers film themselves in the classroom, it helps them reflect on and improve their teaching practice.
Learning Environments
Learning to Be Flexible
For middle and high school teachers who avoid lecturing, the switch to flexible seating means the room aligns with their teaching style.
Social and Emotional Learning
Elevating Student Voice Through Senior Talks
High school seniors build confidence by documenting their growth and learning in a speech presented to their families and the school community.
Collaborative Learning
Group Work That Works
Educators weigh in on solutions to the common pitfalls of group work.
Lesson Plans
Studying Female Poets to Understand History
Women have often been omitted from histories, but the work of female poets can give students a needed perspective.
Mental Health
Helping High Schoolers Manage Emotions
De-escalation spaces allow students to leave stressful situations or interactions so they can process their emotions and then return to learning.