Short Story Mentor Texts to Teach Narrative Writing Elements
Raise your hand if teaching narrative writing has you feeling stressed or overwhelmed. I’ve been there. Every writing unit seems to bring its own challenges
Using Mentor Texts for Narrative Writing in Middle School ELA
You would think narrative essays would be one of the easier forms of writing. Students have been interacting with narrative stories since they were little
Grammar for Middle Schoolers in 10 Minutes a Day
Let’s face it, grammar can be really boring – for you and your students. Not to mention, it feels like there is never enough time
5 Strategies for Struggling Readers in Middle School
You’ve probably heard all the hype around the Science of Reading (SOR). Sounds pretty great, right? Research-based approaches to reading, sign me up! But a
Mentor Texts: When and How To Use Them in Your ELA Lessons
I’m a huge fan of using mentor texts in the classroom because I’ve seen what they can do. Traditionally in the classroom, students are given
14 Middle School Books Made into Movies (That You Can Teach)
One of my favorite classes I ever taught was a books and movie elective class. Students loved it. I loved it. In this class, we
How to Deepen Students’ Literary Analysis Essays
Teaching middle school students how to write high-quality literary analysis can be a huge challenge. As I’m sure you’ve found, oftentimes, students’ literary analysis barely
3 Types of Essays Your Middle Schoolers Need to Practice
Writing can be a real headache for ELA teachers. Writing is layered with skills – from grammar to analysis – so it’s not a walk
Tips for Successful Student Writing Conferences in ELA
If the thought of student writing conferences makes you break out in a cold sweat, this one’s for you. Student writing conferences seem like a
How Writing Conferences Reduce Essay Grading Time
Essay grading can be time-consuming and tedious. After years of trial and error, I found a great way to make grading papers easier while also
My Unpopular Opinions on Teaching Middle School ELA
Did you know that before I teaching middle school ELA, I was an elementary teacher? When I started teaching middle school, there was no shortage
How to Maintain Student Choice While Teaching the Classics
A lot of the joy of teaching comes from having some autonomy in what we teach our students. I loved introducing my students to new
