There’s something about the word “essay” that instantly turns the smiles of middle school students into expressions of dread. Of course, we can’t avoid it when the time comes for teaching the essay. But there are some strategies we can use to show our students it’s not as difficult or taxing as they might think. Struggling writers can gain confidence and produce successful writing in a supportive environment with lots…
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Blog
15 Strategies to Ramp up Your Vocabulary Instruction
If you’re an English teacher, vocabulary instruction goes with the territory. We teach so much literature, right? And there are LOTS of challenging words to bring to our students’ attention and have them work with before and as they read. But do you ever feel like the words your students study drift right out of their minds as soon as you move on to the next unit? And then there…
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40 Choice Novels for Middle School Readers
We all want our students to love reading, right? Like anything else, our passion for authors and books has a way of spreading to the students. And let’s face it, nothing feels quite as awesome as leading a student to just the right book! I have provided 40 titles from incredible authors that are some of the most popular choice novels for middle school students out there. So whether you…
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How to Have Every Student’s Attention When Teaching Class Literature
We all love teaching class literature, right? I’m ecstatic when I get to immerse the students in a great story or novel. Let’s face it, that’s why most of us chose to become English teachers! So how do we get students interested in the literature at the start of a novel or story unit? And how do we sustain their attention as they read? In this post, I will…
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The Secret to a Great BOOK PASS (and 30 Middle School Titles to Use!)
We all want our students hooked on reading, right? I’ve been using reading workshop with my classes since 1995, and that’s actually when I started doing the Book Pass! I read about it in a red teacher binder of English activities, and it’s been a hit every year. When we finish the pass, I have students swarming over the books! They’re asking me to reserve titles for them and…
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How to Stop Writing Restroom Passes (and Keep Students in Class)
Those incessant restroom requests . . . what’s a teacher to do? I admit I’ve always been annoyed by them (What? You mean you want to leave my class?). But how can you say no when students ask? For years, I would just sign the pass, adding wistful words like, “Go quickly!” or “Hurry back!” But once I’d allow one student to go, another and another would want a pass as…
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5 Strategies for a SOLID START to Your School Year
. Ahh, starting the school year! A time for both excitement and nervousness, right? I actually enjoy going in and setting up my classroom, shining up my bookshelves, and decorating with posters and displays appealing to my 7th and 8th graders. Then I take that first peek at my new class lists. Reality sets in. Time to bring the A game. Read on and I will share with you 5 key…
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6 Reasons to Show Movies in Class (without feeling guilty)
There are some excellent movies for kids out there, but when it comes to showing a movie in class, I’ve often felt reluctant. After all, I’m supposed to be delivering rigorous instruction, right? All my lesson plans must closely align with my standards, correct? And, of course, there’s always the dreaded thought . . . What if an administrator happens to stop in? But if you’re like me,…
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