Memorial Day Activities for Middle School: Reader’s Theater and Close Reading
Memorial Day activity for middle school students
ELA Classroom
Organizing your language arts classroom to optimize learning and minimize distractions is a delicate practice. This section contains my favorite ideas and resources that I use in my own ELA classroom.
ELA End of the Year Activities for Middle School
The last weeks of school are a unique kind of chaos. Your students have completely checked out, state testing is behind you, and there is no way you are starting a new novel with three weeks left. As a middle school teacher, I find that …
Earth Day Activities for Middle School: Reader’s Theater, Crafts, and ELA Lessons
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 ELA Activities: Poetry Month, Earth Day, and Spring Break Writing for Middle School
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 …
Freak the Mighty Novel Study: The Perfect Novel for Struggling Readers
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 …
Love That Dog Novel Study: How to Teach Poetry to Reluctant Middle School Writers
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 …