Each month, we share five things we love as part of our Footnotes Newsletter. Take a look at some of our favorite English language arts resources, articles, videos, and more we found in February!

1. 6 Activities for Teaching Speaking and Listening

There’s no better place for developing better communication skills than the English language arts classroom! At The Daring English Teacher, educator Christina outlines six ways you can help your students build stronger listening and speaking skills alongside your usual ELA lessons.

2. Build Your Stack: Graphic Novel Nonfiction

Graphic novels have exploded in popularity among students of all ages in the past few years. Why not bring these books into your nonfiction units? Visit the NCTE blog to find eight exciting graphic novels for students that explore real-world events and historical figures!

3. 10 Time-Saving Grading Strategies for High School English Teachers

Looking to break up the monotony of day-to-day grading? In this post from reThinkELA, discover ten different techniques to streamline your grading process and free up more time for classroom instruction.

4. My Favorite Podcasts for Teachers and K-12 Educators

Speaking of grading, are you the kind of person who needs a little background sound while you work? Try a podcast! Over on her website, educator (and podcaster!) Angela Watson has compiled a list of over 20 different educational podcast recommendations for teachers like you.

5. Themed Literature Circles: Facing Fear

Literature circles are a powerful way to engage students through choice-based learning. When it comes to organizing them, many teachers select texts based around a common genre, historical event, or theme. At her blog The Literary Maven, Brynn Allison shares her students’ favorite lit circle picks for the theme “facing fear.”