One of the most frustrating things about teaching middle school is that a lesson can be genuinely good and still fall flat. You planned it carefully….It covers exactly what students need to learn….You even added an activity you were sure they would enjoy. Then you look around the room and see blank faces, half-hearted answers,
Student Engagement Isn’t About Entertaining Them Read More »
I used to think engagement had to be flashy. That the kids would only be interested if there were bells and whistles and everything was thematic and fun. So I went all in. I actually built a hospital room in my classroom once. The students were “operating” their way through the test prep. I hung
Engagement Strategies That Still Work in a Below-Level Class Read More »
Teaching Greek and Latin Roots Without Boring Your Students Words like biology, astronomy, therapy, and philosophy all have something in common. They’re built from Greek and Latin roots. Once students start recognizing those roots, something really powerful happens: they stop feeling completely lost when they encounter unfamiliar words. Instead of guessing randomly, they can break
Greek and Latin Roots Activities for Middle School Read More »
As you know interjections are those little words or phrases we use to express sudden feelings or emotions. They’re the “Wow!” with something impressive, or the “Oops!” with a mistake. Interjections are quick, expressive, and often stand alone, and bring excitement to our everyday language. For fifth graders, (or any middle schoolers from what I’ve
How Doodle Notes Bring Interjections to Life Read More »
Use doodle notes to help 7th graders grasp the importance of phrases and clauses with a fun, visual approach that aligns with CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.7.1.a.
How to Master 7th Grade Phrases and Clauses with Doodle Notes Read More »
Isn’t it frustrating when you’re teaching antonyms and synonyms, and your students seem to tune out. What’s worse? When they have nothing useful to look back on when it’s time to review. If this sounds familiar, keep reading… I use a different approach to keeping students interested and helping them retain the material. It’s called
How to Make Antonyms and Synonyms Engaging Read More »
Teaching 8th graders about verbals doesn’t have to be overwhelming—discover creative strategies, like doodle notes, to make this concept approachable and engaging for your students.
Master 8th Grade Grammar with These Free Verbals Activities. Read More »
Grammar Doodle Notes make grammar concepts easy to remember. Keep students engaged with this creative approach.
The Best Way to Help Your Students Remember Grammar Concepts Read More »
Are you wondering if middle schoolers are too old for read-alouds? No way! Let me explain… Reading aloud to 6th, 7th, and 8th graders sparks meaningful discussions, enhances critical thinking, and complements their schoolwork. Even at this age, listening to a story offers powerful learning moments. Whether it’s a quick picture book or a longer
Must-read Middle School Read-Alouds Read More »
If you’re teaching middle schoolers like I am, you know how much growth and change they go through during these years. They’re navigating new challenges, learning to balance responsibilities, and figuring out who they are—all while adjusting to the increasing academic demands. During this time, one of the most important skills they need to develop
6 Reasons why Middle School Reading is Important Read More »
Discover middle school books that captivate readers attention
The Top Middle School Books To Read this Year Read More »
Discover six creative strategies to make reading exciting for middle schoolers
Top Ways to Get Middle Schoolers Excited About Reading Read More »
Discover creative ways to use doodle notes to make grammar lessons engaging, interactive, and memorable for your students.
Why You Should Be Using Doodle Notes in Your Classroom Read More »
Grammar review doesn’t always have to be about filling out worksheets or endless drills. In fact, grammar can be one of the most fun parts of your ELA class when you introduce online games into the mix. There’s no limit to how creative and engaging grammar activities can be, especially when you’re trying to keep
4 Interactive Online Games to Teach Grammar Read More »
In middle school, fostering a love for reading is important. Besides the books we offer our students, games are a great way to promote reading. Yes, I said it… GAMES!! Games can help boost reading skills, especially when played in small groups. They provide an interactive way to engage students and make learning more enjoyable
Top 5 Games to Boost Reading in Middle School Read More »
Time and time again, teachers may find it challenging to keep students engaged while teaching grammar curriculum—repeat, repeat, repeat, the same type of worksheet, and the same look in your students’ eyes when you announce today’s grammar lesson. Sound familiar? I always felt that teaching grammar was an uphill battle, especially with subjects like commas,
How I transformed my grammar curriculum Read More »
This is the second blog post in a series about standards-based assessment. On the previous blog, we discussed that standards-based assessments (SBA) are a way to evaluate students’ learning based on one single standard or indicator. We also talked about five reasons why you should use SBA in your classroom. Before you read this blog
How To Use Standard-Based Assessment Data Read More »
A few years ago, I was grading a test that my students had taken the previous week. I was really excited when I looked at the scores! Nineties and eighties littered my gradebook. It seemed like my students really grasped the skills within the assessment. Because the scores were so high, I continued on with
What Are Standards Based Assessments? Read More »
Tracking data sounds like the farthest thing from a good time, but I firmly stand by it. A few years ago, I was feeling lost in my content. We were moving ahead on schedule with the curriculum, but I felt like my students were falling farther and farther behind. Could standards based assessments be the
Why You Should Track Data in Middle School ELA Read More »
The Moment of Realization In my early years of teaching 6th grade, a humbling moment made me rethink my entire approach to teaching grammar. During standardized testing, a continuous stream of raised hands bombarded me with the same question: “What’s a pronoun?” This was more than a reflection on my teaching; it was an insight
Making Grammar Fun: How Doodle Notes Can Change the Game Read More »
Truth, I LOVE DOODLE NOTES! As a 6th grade teacher, I saw a serious disconnect regarding note-taking. I had a few engaged students and eagerly taking notes (you know the ones I’m talking about.) But the others were gone, lost. I realized I needed something to keep student’s attention and engage them in the material.
Doodle Notes in ELA : How To Guide Read More »
Can grammar worksheets transform your middle school ELA classroom into a hub of grammar excellence? As educators, we’ve all witnessed the grammar struggles of our students (and adults on social media). It’s no secret that grammar skills are the foundation of effective communication. To help you tackle this challenge head-on, we present ELA Content Hub’s
Grammar Worksheets – Two Weeks Free Read More »
Good ole’ grammar standards. Let’s be honest; grammar can be super difficult. It’s a concept that most adults don’t really understand ( you have Facebook, right? ), but it doesn’t have to be. So let’s take a look at some easy steps to introduce grammar into your classroom without the moans and groans. 1. Break
Grammar Standards Introduce with Ease Read More »
What are two words likely to make a teacher’s head spin? Assessments and data. We hear these words frequently in education, and it’s often assumed that we must be experts at them. However, while teachers are experts in their content areas, we haven’t all been adequately taught about the different types of assessments and what
5 Ways To Assess Student’s Learning Read More »
Attention all 5th-8th grade grammar teachers! You won’t want to miss out on this free resource to add to your toolkit. I’ve created a grammar reference sheet for your students, and it’s completely free! Grammar Reference Sheets for Grades 5-8 These grammar reference sheets come with three pages. The first page covers general grammar terms
Grammar Cheat Sheets For Middle School Read More »
