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.
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 …
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 …
Some of the best classroom conversations begin with a simple quote that gets students thinking. When middle school students are presented a quote that makes them pause and think for a moment, it naturally opens the door for deeper conversations and writing responses. I like …
It is March, which means spring break is on the horizon and the 4th quarter has just begun. And of course, state testing will be here ASAP. We have worked hard to get to this point in the school year with so many standards being …
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