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You're in the right place for action steps and take-aways if you're a busy Middle School ELA teacher who prefers personal family time over prepping for class. You want to teach with confidence while also leaving at a very decent time each day. On that note, welcome to the library where I only share the kind of recommendations + advice that'll uplevel your classroom without taking away from your personal life.
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Latest from the Blog
3 Test Taking Steps for Middle School Reading & Writing Teachers to Help Their Students
“But I’m stuck!” “They’re trying to trick us!” “I have, like, NO idea!” “None of the answer choices makes sense!” “I think all the answer choices could be the right one.” Do any of those^ frustrating comments from students sound familiar? They’re the complaints that come from students when they
Two No-Prep Reading Strategies for Struggling Students >> Middle School Test Review Edition!
As middle school reading teachers, we’re often told to “meet them where they are” and to “close the gaps” regarding students who read (sometimes far) below grade level. When middle school students struggle with reading comprehension—which limits their ability to analyze, build connections, and develop their own thoughts about what
The Top 3 Reading Test Review Skills for Middle School ELA Teachers
Whether you’re crunched for time, or you just want to focus on a few high-impact test review skills without overwhelming yourself or your students, I’ve got you covered. In fact, the three skills I’m sharing with you are wildly helpful to implement all throughout the year—-not just for test prep
A Real-Life Formal Observation that Went SO Wrong (and what I did about it) – Middle School ELA
I’ll share a personal situation that was a TERRIBLE formal observation (and what I did about it and how I shifted my mindset). It was my first year at a new middle school and the principal at the time kept scheduling my observation and then unscheduling it multiple times… Or
5 Easy Ways to Grade or Assess Writing without Selling Your Soul – Middle School Reading and Writing
Before we jump into the five methods, here’s the foundational thinking of each of the five strategies: Don’t grade every “thing” on every assignment. Choose one or two key focus areas to actually grade instead. In fact, don’t grade every assignment, either! Sometimes a quick check mark, stamp, or verbal
8 Ways to Engage Your Students – Middle School Reading and Writing
(1) Using PearDeck with Google Slides… Game changer! You get to see what everyone knows, not just the only two kids willing to answer. → It’s an add-on that lets you add a variety of questions (multiple choice, short answer, “drawing”, etc). Students login to the presentation on a computer
You’ve reached your breaking point as a Middle School ELA Teacher. Now what?
Does this sound familiar? Could this be you right now? It’s Sunday night, and my teacher breaking point has ruined my whole weekend because last week was awful, and I’ve spent the weekend so upset while also dreading Monday. Self-sabotage, self-care, self-esteem, self-doubt, all piled up on stress over personal
6 Skills You Must Review for Your State Test – Middle School Reading and Writing
Nope, I don’t LOVE test prep, nor do I advocate promoting lots of “worry” or concern about it with students. → But!! I also know that many teachers are feeling pressured by outside forces to “get the kids ready” and to “start prepping now” . . . Even though you’ve
What to Teach in January: New Year Growth Mindset Lesson Plan Ideas for Middle School ELA/R Teachers
January is kind of a sluggish part of the year for Middle School ELA/R teachers and students since we’re all coming back from break. . . I know for me, it’s sometimes hard to get back into my flow as a teacher because on one hand, I do feel really
What to Teach in December: Community-Building Lesson Ideas for Middle School ELA/R Teachers
December is a super high-energy time for Middle School ELA/R teachers (and students!) due to the impending weeks of time off that are about to be here. We need extra special help to keep students engaged, and if you’re like me, it’s probably been a hot second since you’ve even
What to Teach in November: Engaging Lesson Ideas for Middle School ELA/R Teachers
November is a tricky time of year for Middle School ELA/R teachers because of the high-energy coming off of Halloween coupled with the kickoff of the entire holiday season. That energy follows us into the classroom each day as it billows up from the change in weather, the change in
What to Teach on Mondays – Middle School Reading and Writing
What Would Your Weekends Feel Like if You Never Had to Plan What to Teach on Mondays for the entire school year? Figuring out what to plan and how to start each week of school feels like running backward on a hamster wheel that never stops. . . For me
Middle School English Language Arts & Reading: What to Do When Your Students Say, “Oh, we already did that last year.”
I heard one of my students make a comment to her partner that what she completed on the poetry analysis assignment we were working on that day was “good enough” because she “already did that poem last year.” Yikes. If I had been standing in another part of the room
12 Fun Board Games for Middle School Students
What are some fun board games for English class? If you have never used the game Snake Oil…You need to start. My students LOVE it, and it’s about arguing your point. It’s perfect for argumentative writing. It is also MENSA-approved. But let’s look at other board game options, too— and
List of Spooky Short Stories for Middle School Students
Are you looking for some spine-chilling short stories to engage your middle school students during the high-energy Halloween season? Look no further! I’ve curated a small-but-mighty collection of the best spooky short stories that will leave your students wanting more of them. These stories are perfect for Middle School English
