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 …
POEMS? That 5-letter word will send shivers down the spines of middle school students. Add in the suggestion of “poetry analysis,” and the moans and groans can be heard throughout the hallways! If all this sounds familiar, I have a few teacher tips to help …
Task cards are a fantastic teaching tool with dozens of different ways to incorporate them into your middle school classroom. I have used task cards with my ELA students for everything from icebreaker activities to context clues and character analysis work. What is a Task …
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