Articles by Alberto Contreras

“Although” Writing Challenge!

One of the most effective ways to improve your writing and make sentences more complex is by starting them with the subordinating conjunction “although.” Try these two fun activities to help students master using “Although” in their writing. Worksheet:

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The Handwriting Challenge!

Writing neatly doesn’t make you a strong writer. Many intelligent people have messy handwriting—just look at doctors. However, if you want your ideas to be understood, your writing needs to be readable. If people struggle to read your words, they may miss your ideas. The goal is simple: write in a way that feels natural to you while also making it easy for others to read. Worksheet:

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10-Minute Class Brain Break: Definition Dash!

Here’s a brain break video where students try to guess the word that matches each definition. It also works great as a quick class finisher when you have a few extra minutes. Video:

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Mid-Year Directions Challenge: Reset & Reflect

Many students struggle with reading longer, more detailed passages. That’s exactly why I intentionally give them opportunities to practice it. This “Directions Challenge” is designed to build that skill. Students must carefully read through a dense set of instructions and follow each step to successfully complete the task. It’s a simple but powerful way to strengthen focus, attention to detail, and independence. I hope it helps you and your students! Worksheet: More Direction Challenges Here:

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