“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
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
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
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
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
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
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? 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Ten years ago, podcasts weren’t nearly as popular as they are today. Now, they’re a huge asset to our personal and professional lives—including in the classroom. That’s why today I’m walking you through how to use podcasts in Middle School ELA classrooms. If you’re not a big podcast listener, you