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Hi! I'm Melissa. I'm a middle school ELA teacher and founder of Straight Outta Class - a blog dedicated to helping teachers teach and live well! I started this site and my weekly Cheat Sheet because I want to make sure YOU have the best experience in your teaching career.
I've got 30 years of classroom experience and National Board Certification for Professional Teachers. Middle School is my thing, but I am certified to teach 4-8 in all subjects with ESL and GT credentials and grades 6-12 in English Language Arts.
I have been a presenter at state and national conferences and served as a teacher mentor for colleagues and student teachers for many years. My teaching style has always been about students being actively engaged and taking ownership in the learning process. I'm a believer in collaborative learning experiences, hands-on workshop writing lessons, technology integrated units, and critical thinking activities to foster independent and higher-level learning. All of this takes place in a community of learners established from day one.
I want to help you step into your classroom and start a successful teaching journey just like I did. And I'm here to guide you each step of the way.
Straight Outta Class is a place where you can find inspiration for your own classroom, teaching tips, ideas, and resources.