
How to Use Reader’s Notebooks in the Middle School Classroom
April 22, 2025
My favorite school days are the ones that find us in a bit of a routine, when my middle school students are to the point where they are energized and enthusiastic while knowing procedures and classroom expectations. One project that has exemplified this glorious balance has

What to Teach After Testing: ELA Activities Students Love!
April 19, 2025
State testing is stressful for teachers and overwhelming for students, and the moment it is completed, there is a sense of relief and joy in every school building. There’s so much buildup to testing that it’s easy to forget we have to keep students learning

10-Things Middle School Readers Want You to Know
April 14, 2025
I LOVE being a middle school language arts teacher! I can also tell you that my enthusiasm for teaching middle school is often a cause for debate. “Middle School?! Really??” My response is always, “When you love to teach, you can teach any grade, especially

A Few Novel Study Activities for Bud, Not Buddy
April 8, 2025
Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis is a realistic historical fiction novel your students will love reading. This is one of the first books I created my own novel study unit for, and it has been a staple of my classroom ever since. Here