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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
Year-End Memory Book Project
“We don’t remember days. We remember moments.”Cesar Pavese, Italian Poet (1908 – 1950) It’s nearing the end of the school year, and we are all searching for an engaging and interactive activity for those last weeks to wrap up the year with intention. I created the Year-End Memory Book Project
Top 5 Books for ELA Teachers: Revive Your Passion for Teaching Writing
Teaching middle school ELA is tough. There’s no getting around that. That’s why, every once in a while, it’s good to read an inspiring book to revive your passion for teaching writing and reading. There’s something about reading books for ELA teachers and by ELA teachers that reminds you… “Oh
How to Organize Your Classroom Library
If you’ve been wondering how to organize your classroom library, I promise you’re not alone. I’ve had middle school teachers from my free Facebook group ask about this very topic… while desperately trying to hide their frustration about it. Hey, no judgment from me!! I get it… it’s frustrating to
Is Gimkit’s Trust No One Game Right for Your Classroom?
I’ve been hearing tons of teachers rave about Gimkit, especially the Trust No One game. Some teachers absolutely swear by this game and say it’s their class’s favorite learning activity. But is Gimkit’s Trust No One game all it’s hyped up to be? I’ll let you decide for yourself. In
Don’t Want to Assign Another Boring Book Report? Try These Fun Alternatives Instead
OK, so you’ve got a nonfiction text you need your class to study this year. But you don’t want to assign ANOTHER book report. Your students think book reports are boring. Or you’re sick of grading work that clearly shows they didn’t understand the assignment. (Been there…) Or you really
What to Do When Your Middle School Students Struggle With Reading
If your Middle School ELA students struggle with reading, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed as their teacher. What do you do when your 7th grader is reading at a 3rd or 4th grade level? How do you pull that up by several grades when you only get 40 minutes a
What Do You Do With Finished Essays? Tips to Help Students With Revision
I get this question a LOT from Middle School ELA teachers in my lesson plan membership and in my free community … What do you do with finished essays? I know, I know… it’s an overwhelming question. Especially after all the hard work you’ve put into helping your students write
What Is ELA? These Diverse Answers Might Surprise You!
What is ELA? Well, for starters, it might help if I instead asked, “What does ELA mean to you?” You might be surprised to know that what you refer to as ELA might not be how a teacher from another state defines it. There are (very!) diverse opinions about this
Tips to Help Your Middle School Students Paraphrase and Summarize
Are your middle school students having a hard time understanding how to paraphrase and summarize? In our day of INTENSE information overload, this is pretty normal. Students nowadays spend so much time online consuming huge amounts of information that it can be hard to summarize a long passage into concise
9 Best Books to Read Aloud With Your Middle School ELA Students
Looking for the best books to read aloud to your Middle School ELA students? If so, you’ve come to the right place because I have 9 fascinating books your students will enjoy listening to! Benefits of Books to Read Aloud to Your Class First, let me explain for just a
How to Use Picture Books as Mentor Texts in the Middle School ELA Classroom
Are you ready to start teaching your Middle School ELA students how to use mentor texts to improve their own writing? If so, you’ll want to start with texts that are simple yet well-written—and that includes picture books. “But aren’t middles schoolers too old for picture books?” In a traditional
Brain Breaks for Teachers: How to Recharge During a School Day
Recently, I shared a couple of articles listing many different types of brain breaks for your Middle School ELA students. But today, I want to give you some brain breaks for teachers… because you need them just as much as your students do! Why Do I Need Brain Breaks for
Top Short Stories to Teach Foreshadowing and Suspense in Your Middle School ELA Classroom
If you’re teaching foreshadowing and suspense in your Middle School ELA classroom, you need some compelling short stories. Thankfully, there are TONS of incredible short stories you can use that your students will really enjoy. The great thing about teaching foreshadowing and suspense is that the stories you can use
Best Advice for a First-Time Middle School ELA Teacher
So… you’re a first-time middle school ELA teacher. Welcome to the madness, I guess! I’m kidding, but in all honesty, middle school isn’t quite like high school or elementary school. Middle school is its own unique level that you need to be prepared for as you get ready to run
Best Book Review Sites for Middle School ELA
Book review sites can save you a ton of time when you’re an ELA teacher… Think about it. You don’t have time to read 25 books in order to choose a handful of good ones for your Middle School class. You’re busy and you should be living your life! (I’m
