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Diversifying Your Middle School ELA Curriculum: Incorporating Black History & Black Literature

Looking for some fresh ideas for your Black History middle school ELA curriculum?  I'm excited to share some of my ideas with you! Black History Month is traditionally celebrated around the U.S. throughout the month of February. It's also best practice to incorporate African Amer…

Middle School ELA Classroom Routines: Creating and Using a Daily Routines Checklist

January is the perfect time to reset your classroom routines. Not only have your students surely "forgotten" all of the rules, procedures, and expectations over their holiday break, but you may also need to fine-tune your expectations in response to…

10 Engaging Writing Activities for Middle School ELA After Thanksgiving Break

The stretch between Thanksgiving and winter break can be tricky in the middle school ELA classroom. Students are buzzing with holiday energy, yet there’s still plenty of room for creativity and learning. Here are ten writing activities that will keep your students engaged during this fes…

Engaging Middle Schoolers with A Christmas Carol: Ideas to Make Dickens Relatable and Relevant

When you introduce your middle schoolers to A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, you’re not just teaching them a classic text—you’re inviting them to explore timeless themes like kindness, redemption, and social responsibility.  But let’s face it: the language and setting can feel dista…

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month in Middle School ELA: Teaching Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan

As Hispanic Heritage Month approaches, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the importance of incorporating diverse voices into our middle school ELA classrooms. One book that stands out as both a powerful story and a rich educational resource is Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan. This n…

Reflections on 9/11: Why It’s Important to Teach in Middle School ELA & Social Studies

When September comes around, many of us in the teaching community find ourselves reflecting on the significance of 9/11. For those of us who lived through that day, the memories are vivid and lasting. But for our students, it's a historical event they know only from textbooks, novels,…

Why You Should Teach Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli in Your Middle School ELA Class

Published in 2000, Stargirl is a young adult novel that quickly gained acclaim for its unique storyline and memorable characters. The novel is set in the fictional town of Mica, Arizona, and follows the life of Leo Borlock, a high school junior who becomes fascinated by a new student name…