Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis is one of those perfect middle school novels that teaches character resilience while keeping kids engaged page after page. The Great Depression setting gives you a built-in angle for teaching historical fiction, which is something many teachers struggle …
Earth Day is one of those school days that can come and go without much fanfare. State testing is often in full swing, and the schedule is jam-packed with only a month or so left of instruction. Earth Day is important, though, and students are …
April is packed with teaching opportunities like Poetry Month, Earth Day, and spring break reflections. As teachers, we need April ELA activities that engage our middle school students but don’t cost us more hours of lesson planning. I’ve pulled together my favorite print-and-go April activities …
Wonder by R.J. Palacio is one of my favorite books to teach in middle school because it sparks authentic discussions about empathy, perspective, and acceptance. If you’re looking for Wonder lesson plans that are ready to teach, I’ve got you covered. In this post, I’ll …
Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick is one of those perfect middle school novels that can motivate even your most reluctant readers. Your 5th/6th graders will love the friendship between Max and Kevin, and your intervention-level 7th and 8th graders will see themselves reflected in …
If your middle school poetry unit feels flat, you’re not alone. Most students see poetry as irrelevant, difficult, and frankly, boring. But Love That Dog by Sharon Creech changes everything. This novel teaches poetry analysis through a relatable character, Jack, a reluctant poet who starts …
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