Each month, we share five things we love as part of our Footnotes Newsletter. Dive into our December 2024 edition to discover the latest English language arts resources, articles, and other gems that we think you should see!

1. The Origins of A Christmas Carol

In 1843, after hearing about the appalling working conditions among children in England, Charles Dickens was determined to bring this issue to the public’s attention. At the British Library YouTube channel, Professor Michael Slater explains how Dickens’s mission evolved into the publication of A Christmas Carol, one of his most celebrated stories.

2. The Power of Teaching Living Poets: Embracing Every Hue

As award-winning educator, writer, and activist Darius Phelps writes in this post for NCTE, students face many troubles—mental health challenges, grief, and trauma, to name a few—that aren’t typically addressed in standard curricula. His suggestion: Introduce students to contemporary poetry by diverse poets. This approach helps students better connect with voices that reflect their own experiences and the world they live in today.

3. Classroom Management Tips for Fun Teachers

Do you want to add a little more pizzazz to your classroom in 2025? Check out this video by educator CJ Reynolds! Here, he shares four tips on how to jazz up your lessons and have some fun while still setting clear boundaries and expectations for your students.

4. Top 3 Tips for Scaffolding Secondary Reading

For the students whose reading skills need to improve, scaffolding may be the answer. Visit middle school teacher Lisa Spangler’s website to see her tried-and-true scaffolding methods that have helped her students get the most out of what they read.

5. A Time for Reflection: How Data Reflection Leads to Student Growth

Like many students in Texas, those in Ashley Anderson’s class took the English STAAR test. But when it came time to review the results, Ashley couldn’t find the right tool that provided actionable feedback for both her and her students. So, she made her own! In this post for Moving Writers, see how you can replicate Ashley’s reflection activity in your own classroom to help your students pave their own roads to academic success.