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 May!

1. 3 Engaging Activities to Teach Setting in the Secondary ELA Classroom

Setting is undoubtedly an important literary element, but teaching students how to analyze it can be challenging. At her website, Dr. Jenna Copper shares three fun activities to teach setting in the high school classroom, from connecting setting to imagery to asking students to create their own setting descriptions from scratch.

2. Students Not Turning In Homework? 4 Common Mistakes to Avoid (And What to Do Instead)

You’ve probably had that one student who never does their homework. What gives? In this Truth for Teachers article, English language arts teacher Kim Lepre explores the reasons why students don't submit homework, such as fear of failure, confusion, and lack of motivation. She also has some practical advice for handling the homework issue in your own classroom.

3. 6 Tenets of Postplagiarism: Writing in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

With AI-powered writing tools now available to the average person, the way we approach learning and teaching is rapidly changing. At her blog, Dr. Sarah Elaine Eaton, a professor at the University of Calgary, discusses six principles to keep in mind as the line between human and machine writing becomes increasingly blurred.

4. Possibilities and Power in Young Adult Literature: Finding Agency in Scholarship

Over 200 scholarly books on young adult literature have been published within the last two decades, but are they helpful for teachers wanting to justify the use of YA books in their classrooms? To find the answer, NCTE members Sarah J. Donovan, Ashley S. Boyd, and Terri Suico took a closer look at these academic books. Read about their discoveries at the NCTE Blog!

5. Beyond Poetry Month: Leveraging Poetry’s Possibilities All Year Long

Discover how poetry can be used as a powerful tool for learning and self-expression in this article by educator JoEllen McCarthy! Learn how to leverage poetry throughout the school year, not just during single units of study, and see examples of how students can use poetry to explore their identities and the world around them.