Hands-on, brain-based learning and retention comes most genuinely through the writing process, but “The Writing Process” doesn’t have to be formal or essay-style to meet students’ needs. We process and remember more deeply and more meaningfully when we write about our own thinking or when we refer back to something
October in middle school ELA? Think spooky vibes, cozy sweaters, and students who are way more interested in Halloween candy than commas. That’s why I love bringing my seasonal stations to life this month. Take a peek at how I’m running stations in my classroom. Here’s exactly what’s on deck
I cannot even imagine NOT running stations in my Middle School ELA Classroom, especially since I’ve been using themed-station sets so that the work never feels random or “extra”…. Like never out of place. And the way I do that is through station materials that are thematically linked, tied to
Middle school ELA is not exactly known for being a serene environment all the time. Between the constant chatter, the mystery noises coming from the back, and the random falling out of their chairs (is that just my class?), the vibe can get… loud. And yet—calm is possible. Even in
The beginning of the school year brings with it that “fresh start – fitting in” vibe. We’ll capitalize on that by bringing in three reading pieces that are thematically tied to that exact topic: A fiction piece, a nonfiction piece, and a poem that helps students see that starting over
Every once in a while, someone low-key mentions something that hits you like a perfectly-timed coffee run—it’s that simple lightbulb moment that makes your teacher-life 1000% easier. Your first week of middle school ELA can go two ways: Stations (yes, even during the first week of school!) are definitely a
Every summer, I tell myself this summer, I’m gonna rest. Well… I’m gonna focus on my summer baby, hosting the annual MSELA Summit, but that’s IT… Then I’ll rest. Ha. But by July 5th, in between alphabetizing my classroom library and planning summit interviews with guest expert speakers for the
Summer school teachers, tutoring teachers, and anyone feeling summertime vibes—let’s talk about a summertime solution that hits the sweet spot between student engagement and academic rigor. If you’re staring down a summer school roster or running tutoring sessions that need to review reading and writing skills without sending kids running
Every once in a while, someone low-key mentions something that hits you like a perfectly-timed coffee run—it’s that simple lightbulb moment that makes your teacher-life 1000% easier. I’ve gathered these lightbulb moments a little at a time over 20+ years of teaching, and what I’m sharing here are those golden
I’m sharing my tried-and-true low-stress way to wrap up the school Year in my Middle School ELA class ✏️📚🎉 Listen, we all know the last few weeks of school can feel like you’re starring in a weird spin-off of Survivor: Middle School Edition — supplies are running low, attention spans
Writing is hard—especially when you’re teaching middle schoolers with a million distractions (the group chat! the snacks! the existential crisis over which hoodie to wear!). As AI becomes more and more embedded in our lives as adults (I mean, I can’t even run a quick Google search of local dog
If you’re anything like most middle school ELA teachers in May, you’re basically running on caffeine, countdowns, and sheer willpower. 🏃♀️✨ Students are distracted, the summer buzz is real, and you’re out here trying to teach literally anything without resorting to bribing them with snacks (again). 🍫 That’s why these
There’s a shift in the air, y’all. I’m not hearing a whole lot in the way of, “How do we catch AI usage / How do we stop it / How do we keep it out of our classrooms?” Rather, I’m hearing a lot MORE of this: “How do we
Getting right to it: April 28 each year is “National Superhero Day” which allows me to leverage the magic and intrigue of fictional superheroes all month long.… And THIS time of year? Anything to capture the 5-second goldfish attention span of my Middle School ELA/R students is welcome. To run
Middle School ELA/R Test Prep Review Games (No Tech Required!) Can we please take a break from red-eye device zombie screen time? Yes. Yes, we can. Look, I’m not anti-tech. It’s just that since we use digital tools SO much, I’ve found it actually enhances engagement when we put them