Using Reference Notebooks in Middle School ELA

Your middle school English Language Arts students have so many terms related to reading and writing. It can be overwhelming! Rather than expect your students to memorize every term, why not share reference sheets for middle school ELA? These sheets help them keep track of everything middle schoolers need to know when it comes to nonfiction, fiction, grammar, writing, and poetry. Using reference notebooks in middle school ELA will provide your students with the resources they need to be successful on grade level reading and writing tasks.

Setting up a Reference Notebook

To begin, your students can set up their own personalized reference notebooks! In fact, the title page of the reference notebooks includes a space for you or your student to type their own name. This easily identifies student work. Encourage them to type or write their first and last name so the notebook is theirs to use in your classroom and beyond!

Next, each section of the notebook has identifiable tabs. For example, in the grammar section, you’ll see tabs and pages for types of sentences, punctuation, parts of speech, and many more! Some teachers and students like to glue or fasten the tabs and sheets in a spiral notebook. Others use a three whole bunch to add to a binder. It’s entirely up to you and your students.

Since the notebook comes with more than 100 pages of reference sheets, you may choose to keep the categories in one large notebook or binder or divide them up for units of study. Of course, do what works best for your classroom and students.

Nonfiction Reference Sheets

First, the nonfiction reference sheets focus on terms for informational reading for middle school students. The reference sheets for your reference notebooks in middle school ELA are a great way to help those learners who need reminders of the terms or to simply introduce concepts to all students.

Nonfiction Reference Sheet Terms

Here are the terms and concepts covered in the nonfiction reference sheets.

• Analysis
• Oxymoron
• Repetition
• Rhetorical question
• Understatement
• Irony
• Thesis statement
• Topic sentence
• Claims
• Author’s purpose
• Argument
• Central idea
• Summary
• Key concept
• Evaluate
• Sound Reasoning
• Conflicting Information
• Interpretation
• Refining

Overall, the nonfiction reference sheets provide concepts and terms for everything your students need for informational reading!

Literature Reference Sheets

Next, literature terms are so important in middle school ELA! These reference sheets included in the reference notebooks in middle school ELA bundle focus on concepts and terms to support your readers in fiction.

Another reason I love these reference sheets is that they can provide some extension opportunities for those learners that master grade level concepts. For example, you may not address bias or sympathetic characters early in the year, but some of your learners may be ready to discuss these concepts. The reference sheets can be a starting point for those conversations.

Literature Reference Sheet Terms

Here are some of the terms and concepts covered in the literature reference sheets.

• Citing Textual Evidence
• Inference
• Theme
• Plot
• Summary
• Central idea
• Conflicts
• Character
• Point of view
• Narrator
• Figurative language
• Tone
• Mood
• Symbolism
• Flashback
• Irony
• Imagery
• Foreshadowing
• Protagonist
• Antagonist
• Compare & Contrast
• Climax
• Suspense
• Dialogue
• Genre
• Fiction
• Non-fiction
• Genres

Finally, these fiction terms can be applied to short stories and full novels. Whatever concepts you are teaching, just remind your students to check out their literature reference sheets!

Grammar Reference Sheets

Middle School students often groan when grammar lessons start. Let’s be honest. Some teachers feel that way too! Fortunately, having grammar reference sheets will help lessen the anxiety for both teachers and students when it comes to grammar. Having all the grammar terms and concepts in one place definitely makes it easier to apply and understand grammar.

Of course, understanding grammar concepts allows students to start incorporating these grammar terms into their own writing pieces.

Grammar Reference Sheet Terms

Here are some of the terms and concepts covered in the grammar reference sheets.

• Types of Sentences
• Noun
• Pronoun
• Verbs
• Adverb
• Adjective
• Subject
• Predicate
• Preposition
• Conjunctions
• Interjection
• Article
• Clauses
• Nuances
• Punctuation
• Figurative Language
• Homophones
• Homonyms
• Homographs
• Synonyms
• Antonyms
• Denotation
• Connotation
• Verb Moods

From parts of speech to verb moods, everything your students need to know about grammar is included in these grammar reference sheets.

Writing Reference Sheets

Next, teaching your students about different modes and genres of writing is definitely a HUGE part of the ELA curriculum. Get your students prepared and confident with writing reference sheets to support their learning.

Allow your students to use these along with the grammar reference sheets when creating their own writing samples.

Writing Reference Sheet Terms

Here are some of the terms and concepts covered in the writing reference sheets.

• Argumentative writing
• Formal style
• Concluding statement
• Introduction statement
• Informational text
• Exclamatory text
• Text Structure Writing Strategies
• Details
• Transitions
• Precise language
• Domain-Specific vocabulary
• Narrative writing strategies
• Writing Purpose
• Writing Process
• Credibility of Sources
• Quote
• Paraphrase
• Plagiarism

Overall, these writing reference sheets for the ELA reference notebook bundle will help your students (and you) feel confident in their writing instruction!

Poetry Reference Sheets

Whether you are teaching how to read a poem or all about writing poems, your students will be excited to have all of their poetry terms in one convenient reference notebook.

In addition to figurative language, your students will be familiar with many types of poems with these easy to use sheets.

Poetry Reference Sheet Terms

• Figurative Language
• Mood
• Tone
• Plot
• Character Traits
• Theme
• Setting
• Author’s Purpose
• Text Structure
• Point of View
• Verse
• Stanza
• Rhyme
• Rhyme Scheme
• Types of Rhyme
• Meter Refrain
• Types of Poems
• Poetry does not have to be confusing! Use the poetry reference sheets to help your students read and write their own poetry.Setting up a reference notebook for middle school ELA is easy and fun! Try these simple reference sheets with your students to support their learning!