Looking to explore novels in verse for middle grades with you students during poetry month, or any time of the year? Let me help with this curated list of novels in verse that are sure to spark your students’ reading interests.  Novels in verse provide an opportunity for reluctant readers

In celebration of Poetry Month, I have crafted a list of poetry month activities aimed at fostering a deeper appreciation for poetry.  Is your classroom feeling a bit… prosy? Dust off those anthologies and get ready to unleash a month-long exploration of lyrical language and rhythmic revelry.  From scavenger hunts

Novels and mentor texts are powerful tools to teach hooks in narrative writing.  Crafting an engaging hook isn’t just about reeling in the reader; it’s about enhancing student engagement, honing effective communication skills, sparking creativity, and fostering critical thinking.  Trust me, it’s the bait that keeps on giving in the

Do you find yourself making middle-grade book suggestions ALL. THE. TIME? When we are not reading, we are searching for more to read so we are prepared to give recommendations to our students.  Let’s be honest, there are hundreds of books to discuss out there and it feels like we

There are so many podcasts that it’s hard to choose my favorite podcasts. Since sharing is caring, I want to share some of my favorite podcasts from the classroom to downtime.  Podcasts have quickly become a simple way for me to consume content because I can listen to it in

Check out these seven professional development books for middle school teachers to level up your teaching game. There are more to check out in Seven of My Favorite Professional Development Books for ELA Teachers I could pick 20 more to add to this list and there is a stack on

Argument writing activities middle school are activities to prepare your students for the writing. These activities will build a foundation and help them find their voice.  I have made the mistake of  jumping straight into writing. This is not the end of the writing world, but I have come to

Do your students struggle to trace and evaluate an argument? You and your students will love this fun and engaging solution. Students will become proficient at tracing and evaluating arguments and identifying and analyzing claims, reasons, and evidence using the podcast Smash, Boom, Best.  Smash, Boom, Best is a funny,

It’s the time of year when I want to watch Gilmore Girls and gear up for all the cheesy Hallmark movies, all while I’m planning our children’s Halloween costumes and one of my favorite units – Spooky Stories for Literary Analysis.  Spooky stories are always a hit in the middle

Seven Vocabulary Tools Word Walls Concept Circles Possible Questions Vocab-O-Gram Contextual Redefinition Word Sorts Survival of the Fittest Are you looking for vocabulary tools? Are you feeling stuck when it comes to vocabulary instruction? Maybe you’re a vocabulary rockstar and you’re looking for something different to engage students.  Whatever your

Word meaning is not a simple definition of a word and hoping the students will remember. Words have shades of meaning and context plays a role in what the words mean. This makes vocabulary instruction feel overwhelming. But, building a word conscious classroom does not need to be one more

Engaging students in word learning at any age can be like pulling teeth. Not to mention that finding time to teach vocabulary can feel impossible, but it doesn’t have to be. Let’s explore four tips for creating a rich word-learning environment that fits your daily classroom routine.  What is a

“Use context clues in reading,” they say. “It will help,” they say. I don’t know about you, but the amount of times I have been told to have students use context clues in reading would make me a millionaire. And the amount of times I have used the phrase myself

Vocabulary acquisition strategies go beyond providing a list of words and defining them. As teachers, we want students to have word ownership. We want students to be word wizards because a verbal rich environment opens the doors to comprehension and critical thinking.  How do we encourage word ownership and develop

A list of professional development books for ELA teachers may not interest you…as if teachers don’t sit through enough professional development.  Am I right?  The list of professional development books are worth the read. These books have provided more practical tips and strategies than years of professional development.  Bare with

Essential questions encourage inquiry, spark more questions, invite the exploration of ideas, and encourage collaboration — while allowing students to draw their own conclusions about the subject. This is one of the most powerful tools at a teacher’s disposal. With our students’ apathy and lack of motivation, choice, and curiosity

The best part of novel unit planning is having a plan for the next three to four weeks. It feels liberating to have a unit planned and lessons ready to go.  It’s also fun to get students excited about a topic and a story, it’s the start of something new

Back to school can be exciting and stressful, so having back to school activities planned will reduce anxiety. That first week is all about building relationships and getting to know each other, before diving into the learning.  Personally, I find the first week of school to be a quick transition

Alissa Crabtree from Crabtree Coaching Collaborative, is an instructional coach who helps teachers and instructional leaders reach their full potential and conquer their goals. She specializes in helping coaches build relationships and provide feedback that sticks. Alissa focuses on building relationships and being a thought partner because teachers are the

Are you ready for it? We are entering the back to school zone.  Before diving into the five things that will help back to school scaries, I wanted to share some very unscientific data. I polled a small group of teachers to find out who is a planner and who

In the ever-evolving landscape of education, teachers are always looking for innovative methods to engage their students; using picture books to teach middle school ELA is one way to cultivate a deep appreciation for reading and writing. Picture books are associated with elementary education. However, picture books are a hidden

Let’s talk about Chat GPT in the classroom and guiding students through using Chat GPT. Let’s start with my feelings about Chat GPT and AI writers. Ignoring and intentionally avoiding any AI writer seemed like a good idea. I had no real reason other than I am old school and

Narrative Writing Process: A Guide for Effective Classroom Instruction is a continuation of Narrative Writing: A Step-by-Step Guide for Success in Middle School and How to Teach Narrative Writing for Powerful Classroom Instruction In those blog posts we explored the first six steps in a narrative writing unit. In this

How to Teach Narrative Writing for Powerful Classroom Instruction is a continuation of Narrative Writing: A Step-by-Step Guide for Success in Middle School. In that blog post, we explored the first three steps in a narrative writing unit. This post will explore steps four through six in a narrative writing

Teaching narrative writing in middle school is a remarkable opportunity to nurture young minds. Encouraging them to weave words into captivating tales and find their unique voice in the process. It is a time when students are beginning to discover their identities, navigating the complexities of adolescence, and yearning to

Packing up your classroom can be the most satisfying part of closing up for the year. Planning how to pack it all up can also feel daunting, making you want to throw it all in a box and call it a year. It doesn’t have to be complicated. Join me

Close out the year without the overwhelm and endless list of to-do items.  Packing up your classroom can feel daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Even if you love to close out the year, find new ways to organize and prepare for success in the fall. Join me for

The end of year is a lot of fun, but packing up your classroom can feel daunting with the endless list of to-do items. Skip the overwhelm and close out your classroom with ease.  Join me for the End of Year Classroom Closeout three blog/podcast series to prepare for the

Are you ready to talk to your students about writing? Writing conferences with students is a powerful practice that can feel overwhelming and stop us in our tracks. But, it does not have to be a big production.  Conferencing with students can be implemented in 3 actionable steps because baby

Want a community of writers in your classroom? Looking for less sighs and groans when it’s time to write? Join me today to explore ideas and strategies that will help you create a culture of writing in your classroom.  Engagement with writing is one of the first skills I explore

What would it be like to see improvement in your students’ writing, to have students who take ownership of their writing and progress? No, this is not a fairytale. It is possible to have students engaged in the writing process. Conferencing with students is a powerful practice that will improve

Asking a student to narrow a topic is like asking them to explain quantum physics. Fortunately, there are simple strategies you can use to quickly identify and focus on relevant ideas and topics.  Having students consider their topic on a smaller scale helps them realize their focus and stay on

Writing is hard work and not all students love writing, okay there are plenty of students who do not like writing – so what do we do with a struggling writer? As teachers, we want to find strategies for our struggling writers to engage them in writing, create writing independence,

Grading a writer’s notebook can be a challenging, but rewarding task for an educator. Thinking critically about what to include in the grade, and how to assess student writing can help foster more meaningful growth for each student. Here is an in-depth guide to help you confidently and effectively grade

Writing conferences in the classroom provide a number of unique benefits for both teachers and students alike. Writing conferences allow for an individualized approach, offering an opportunity to assess student understanding of writing concepts with targeted feedback and instruction. Additionally, writing conferences help to foster collaboration and self-regulated learning skills

Writing can often be a time-consuming and creative endeavor, especially when trying to find writer’s notebook topics. From generating ideas to organizing your thoughts, writing can easily overwhelm even the most experienced writers, so making it manageable for your students is important. Here are five easy methods to develop ideas

Whether you’re a teacher looking to get your classroom writing projects off the ground, or a student wanting to create an effective space for writing practice and reflection, how to set-up a writer’s notebook is essential for getting started. In this guide, we’ll go over the basics of what it

Whether you are using writer’s notebooks with your students for the first time or the thirty-seventh time, the decisions for writer’s notebook are something even the most seasoned teacher should consider when planning.   Writer’s notebooks are a must for engaging students in writing. Thinking through the decisions has positively impacted

Writing conferences with students can feel overwhelming, and it can become a tedious practice when trying to track all the things. However, starting small and focusing on the benefits of writing conferences with students will make all the work worthwhile.  Don’t forget that practice will make writing conferences more effective;

“Is writing important?” A common question at the beginning of the year in my classroom. Many students dread writing and don’t understand why they have to write. So I spend the first weeks of school (and the entire year) showing students why writing is so important.  As ELA teachers, we

In the constant pursuit of novels that help teach writing – here is a list of books with good hooks (added bonus: students may actually want to read these novels)!  The following novels are a great way to introduce students to the types of hooks.  It also shows students that

5 simple ways to teach narrative hooks to middle school. Discover activities that will help students learn how to hooks their readers.

Hooks in narrative writing are a fun way to introduce the elements of narrative writing.  Narrative writing is a less intimidating writing assignment because students feel comfortable telling stories to begin the year.  Allowing students the freedom to share their stories also creates community, builds confidence, and gets the momentum