We create engaging English language arts resources that help teachers save time! We are full-time teachers and have taught in a middle school for over 20 years. Our goal is to create high-quality resources focused on grades 5-9.
We create engaging English language arts resources that help teachers save time! We are full-time teachers and have taught in a middle school for over 20 years. Our goal is to create high-quality resources focused on grades 5-9.
Point of View and Perspective can be challenging to teach because each term is often used interchangeably. To make teaching easier and a little less stressful, we’ve created this 48-page, low-prep resource. Inside, you’ll find a slide show that has clear definitions and simplified examples to help you introduce students to the concepts of point-of-view and perspective.
Here’s what you get…
A day-by-day week-long lesson plan
An editable Google slide presentation providing an overview of the five types of point-of-view as well as an overview of perspective and its influencing factors
A note-taking sheet to keep students engaged during the presentation
A point-of-view practice sheet
A quiz to help students understand the factors that influence perspective
A comprehension practice sheet that prompts students to identify and analyze a character’s perspective
A fifteen-question multiple-choice assessment in both print and self-correcting Google form formats
This novel study unit for THE LAST CUENTISTA by Donna Barba Higuera has everything you need to support your students as they read Barba Higuera’s science fiction novel.
In this The Last Cuentista novel study, you will find:
**Chapter summaries **formatted for teacher use & distribution to students.
Supplemental Information SLIDES presentation
Student discussion question pages
Comprehension activities
Vocabulary lists
Vocabulary quizzes
End of Novel, Multiple Choice Assessment (in Google form version too)
Answer Keys
This is unit is offered in a print and digital format so you can upload digital student sheets to a learning management system.
The structure of this resource allows for easy differentiation to help you support your students in class.
Other resources you might be interested in:
Science Fiction Genre Study
Unwind by Neal Shusterman Novel Study Unit
December is full of holidays and this unit will help you explore them with your students in fun and engaging ways while meeting the standards. Start each class with a bell ringer then follow that up with a group writing activity centered around a holiday-themed prompt. Your students can spend a class designing a toy and telling a story from that toy’s point of view. They’ll also have the opportunity to work on nonfiction reading comprehension with five original informational articles about Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Las Posadas, Christmas in America, and Christmas in Australia. Each non-fiction article comes with a corresponding assessment featuring multiple-choice and constructed response questions.
These activities are designed to give teachers choices. Activities last anywhere from 10 minutes to multiple classes. Each activity stands on its own or works as part of the mini-unit. If you teach one grade level or multiple grade levels across many sections, we’ve got you covered!
Inside this Resource…
Story Starter Activity
Write-Around Activity
The Secret Life of a Toy Writing Activity
5 Informational Articles Featuring:
Hanukkah
Christmas in the U.S.
Kwanzaa
Las Posadas
Christmas in Australia
Assessments: Multiple-choice/Constructed response (print & digital)
Five Fun Bell Ringer Writing Prompts
Story Writing Rubric
Prompt Response Sheets
Links to Digital Files
Answer Keys and More!
Another resource you might be interested in:
End of (School) Year Activities
Unlock the secrets of literature with our literary devices bundle! This product contains engaging lessons on mood, tone, symbolism, theme, motif, perspective, and point of view.
Each lesson is crafted to provide clear explanations in a thought-provoking manner.
By incorporating these resources into your curriculum, you’ll help your students develop critical thinking skills, and foster a deeper appreciation for literature all while helping them to improve their overall reading comprehension.
Purchase this bundle and transform your classroom into a center of literary exploration!
Included in this Bundle:
Lesson Presentations That Teach Each Literary Device (75 Slides)
13 Student Practice Activities
3 End-of-Unit Assessments With Answer Keys
3 Pacing Guides
Student Information Pages
15-20 Total Instructional Days
This novel study unit for Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds has everything you need to support your students as they read Reynolds’ award winning novel.
In this Look Both Ways novel study, you will find:
Chapter Summaries formatted for teacher use & distribution to students.
Discussion Questions
Comprehension Activities
Vocabulary Quizzes
Three Multiple-Choice Assessments (one every 3-4 chapters) and a comprehensive end-of-the-unit multiple-choice assessment.
Student Discussion Question Worksheets
End of the novel essay question
Answer Keys
Teacher Information pages
Each chapter contains multiple leveled questions allowing the teacher to differentiate for all students.
Another resource you might be interested in:
Ghost by Jason Reynolds Novel Study Unit
Take the stress out of teaching pronouns with this engaging, student-centered, standards-aligned unit. This resource is a result of the many years we’ve spent refining the way we teach pronouns in our middle school classrooms. We’ve learned teaching grammar is a balance between introducing new concepts at a level most middle school students can grasp (without overwhelming them) while reinforcing their understanding of the fundamentals. Through the years, we have learned that when we get this balance right, grammar study really helps our students become knowledgeable, confident, and successful writers. (It can also be fun!) This resource helps students understand pronoun case, indefinite singular pronouns, relative pronouns, as well as reflexive and intensive pronouns.
INSIDE THIS RESOURCE, YOU WILL FIND…
A List of Standards/Learning Objectives
Teacher Background Information Pages for all Concepts
A Noun Review Lesson Presentation
An Engaging, Editable, 27-slide Lesson Presentation Covering:
possessive, subjective, and objective cases
indefinite singular pronouns
reflexive and intensive pronouns
relative pronouns
Fifteen (15) Printable Student Practice Pages
Five (5) Printable Quizzes
End- of-Unit Assessment in Print and Google™ Form Versions
Answer Keys
Links to Presentations and Digital Assessments
Other resources you might like:
Understanding Phrases and Clauses
This engaging grammar resource is the product of many years refining the teaching of phrases and clauses in a middle school classroom. These activities get students to the point where they are able to identify phrases and clauses, use phrases and clauses effectively in writing, and punctuate correctly. It really helps our students become knowledgeable, confident, successful writers too!
INSIDE THIS RESOURCE, YOU WILL FIND…
A List of Standards/Learning Objectives
Teacher Information Pages
5 Editable, Review Lesson Presentations:
Nouns
Verbs
Prepositions
Conjunctions
Subject/Predicate
Printable Student Practice Pages Connected to all Presentations
PRE and POST Assessments in Print and Google™ form Versions
Review Quiz
Editable, Step-by-Step Phrases and Clauses Slide Presentation
More Printable Student Practice Sheets
Punctuation Guidelines Page
Answer Keys
Links to Presentations and Digital Assessments**
Teach verbals, voice, and mood with this engaging, student-centered, standards-aligned unit. We’ve spent years refining the way we teach these grammar topics in our middle school classrooms and learned teaching grammar is a balance between introducing new concepts at a level most middle school students can grasp (without overwhelming them) while reinforcing their understanding of the fundamentals. Through the years, we have learned that when we get this balance right, grammar study really helps our students become knowledgeable, confident, and successful writers. (It can also be enjoyable!) This resource helps students understand gerunds, infinitives and participles, passive and active voice as well as the various verb moods.
INSIDE THIS RESOURCE, YOU WILL FIND…
A List of Standards/Learning Objectives
Teacher Background Information Pages for all Concepts
Student Reference Sheet
A 15-Slide Review Lesson Presentation on Verbs, Subjects, and Predicates
An Engaging, Editable, 20-Slide Presentation Covering:
gerunds, adjectival participles, and infinitives
passive and active voice
five verb moods
15 Printable Student Practice Pages
5 Review quizzes
End-of-Unit Assessment in Print and Google™ form Versions
Answer Keys
Links to Presentations and Digital Assessments
Other resources you might like:
Understanding Phrases and Clauses
Understanding Pronouns
If you’re looking for a low-prep, flexible, vocabulary unit to help you teach academic vocabulary to your students, this resource is for you! You can teach in a “word a day” format or in a full-time, multi-week format. We’ve included three different pacing guides to help you decide.
Academic words are traditionally used in academic dialog and texts. Because these words are not common in everyday conversation, it’s very important to teach them directly to students. This will help students better understand directions, assignments and tests and comprehend text across different subject areas.
Inside This (165+ Page/Slide) Resource You Will Find:
Three Pacing Guide Options
Word Lists
4 Twenty-Word Lesson Presentations (80 words in total)
-contains the word, definition, sentence, synonym, image
Student Notes Pages
Activity Sheets for Every Word List (5 words each list)
-includes 4 Writing Activities in Print and Digital Formats
4 Multiple Choice Assessments in Print and Google Form Versions
4 Fill-in-the-Blank Assessments
Answer Keys
“Print and Cut” Display Words
Links to Digital Files
Other resources you might be interested in:
Phrases and Clauses Unit
[Pronouns Unit]https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-13062700)
Verbals, Voice and Mood Unit
Character traits and character analysis can be fun to teach in middle school with this low prep easy to use unit!
This unit will help you engage your students as they examine character traits and perform character analysis using examples from interesting YA novels.
Lesson Presentations Focus
How Authors Reveal Characters
Identifying Character Traits (Using Evidence to Support Inferences)
Character Types
Character Changes
Included in the Resource
**What’s inside this 110 page/slide resource: **
Teacher pacing guide and explanation
Learning targets
Links to 4 editable Google SLIDES lesson presentations
15 Student activity sheets (with links to digital versions)
A word list of over 100 character traits
Character Archetype Information Page (used for enrichment)
Assessments
Identifying and supporting character traits
End of Unit multiple-choice assessment in print and self-correcting Google form version.
Answer Keys
Other resources you might be interested in:
Tone and Mood Literary Device Resource
Symbolism, Motif, Theme Literary Device Resource
Point of View and Perspective Literary Device Resource
Literary Devices Bundle
This argumentative writing unit contains colorful lesson presentations that guide students through an understanding of each aspect of writing an argumentative/persuasive essay. It is also presented in both print and digital formats to provide maximum teaching flexibility.
This 145 page,argumentative essay unit contains;
7 easily editable digital mini-lessons (created in Google SLIDES)
Parts of an Argument
Writing an Engaging Introduction
Writing a Thesis Statement
Writing the Middle of the Essay (reasons and evidence)
Writing a Conclusion
Citing Your Sources
Conducting Peer Reviews
A link to digital versions of student sheets
Multiple, printable graphic organizers
Student/Parent Information sheets
3-5 days of fun, pre-writing lesson activities (for in-class lessons)
Argumentative Writing Rubric
Learning Targets/Target Table
Pacing Guide
Peer Review sheet
Student Reflection and Goal Setting sheet
Other resources you might be interested in:
Graphic Novel Reading and Writing Project
Narrative Writing Unit for Middle School
This novel study unit for “Maizy Chen’s Last Chance” by Lisa Yee has everything you need to support your students as they read Yee’s award winning novel.
In this Maizy Chen’s Last Chance novel study, you will find:
**Chapter summaries *** presented in two ways- one for teacher use and another for student use
Supplemental Information presentation (created in Google Slides).
Student discussion question pages
Comprehension activities
Vocabulary lists
Vocabulary quizzes
Extension question writing activity
End of Novel, Multiple Choice Assessment (in print and Google form version).
Answer Keys
This unit is offered in both print and digital formats.
This novel study unit for Show Me A Sign by Ann Clare LeZotte has everything you need to support your students as they read LeZotte’s historical fiction novel.
In this Show Me A Sign novel study, you will find:
Chapter summaries presented in two ways-(for teacher use and student use)
Supplemental Information presentation (created in Google Slides)
Historical Background Information
Student discussion question pages
Comprehension activities
Vocabulary lists
Vocabulary quizzes
End of Novel, Multiple Choice Assessment (in print and Google form version)
Answer Keys
This unit makes it easy for you to differentiate and support your students!
It’s offered in bot PRINT and DIGITAL formats!
This complete novel study unit for Code Talker by Joseph Bruchac has everything you need to support your students as they read Bruchac’s World War 2 novel.
In this Code Talker novel study, you will find:
Print and digital versions of all assessments and activity sheets
Chapter summaries in two formats to make it easy to distribute to students who may need extra help.
Discussion questions
Student Discussion Question handouts
4 Multiple-choice End-of-Section quizzes
Comprehension Activity sheets
Vocabulary quizzes
Whole book assessment in Google form version and print version.
Answer Keys
These fun end of the year activities for middle school students are great for the last week, the last day or anything in between. This no-prep unit contains everything you need to wrap up the year in a fun way!
What’s included:
Snapshot of Favorite Memory
Letter to My Future Self
Summer Bucket List
A Year in Review-Books
In The News
Meme of the Year
My Favorite Things
My Year in Review
Letter of Advice
Reflection and Feedback survey (Google form)
Top 10 Memorable Moments Memory Book Activity
Student Examples
Make the start of the year and the end of the year fun and stress-free for you and your students with this no-prep discounted bundle!
Start the new school smoothly with the “Getting to Know You” activities. These activities help you get to know your students while your students are getting to know each other. Then, when it’s time to wrap things up at the end of the year, you’ll be able to use the “End of the Year Activities’’ unit to help the students reflect on a great year of learning.
This 80+ page bundle includes 15 activities, four surveys, a digital planner, an editable syllabus, and a start-of-the-year presentation making it easier to adapt to meet the challenges of the beginning and the end of the year schedule.
Included in our Back to School Resource:
3 different versions of a Getting to Know You sheet
Reading Interest Inventory Sheet
Writing interest Inventory Sheet
Letter to Myself Activity
Wanted Poster Activity
Heart Map Activity
2 Truths and a Lie Activity
Digital Student Planner
Parent/Guardian Survey (created using Google Forms)
Student Interests Survey (created using Google Forms)
Class Syllabus Template
“Welcome to my class” Presentation
Included in “End of the Year Activities” Resource
Snapshot of Favorite Memory
Letter to My Future Self
Summer Bucket List
A Year in Review-Books
In The News
Meme of the Year
My Favorite Things
My Year in Review
Letter of Advice
Reflection and Feedback survey (Google form)
Top 10 Memorable Moments Memory Book Activity
Student Examples
Make Halloween week fun for your middle school students with this standards-based, activity filled, ELA resource. Start each class with an engaging bell ringer then follow that up with a group writing activity around a Halloween-themed prompt. You can have your students create a monster and tell that monster’s story from its point of view. Work in some reading comprehension with an original, light-hearted, Halloween story and corresponding multiple-choice assessment. Then finish things up with a quick trick-or-treat themed grammar review.
These activities are designed to give teachers choices and include activities that last anywhere from 10 minutes to multiple classes. Each activity stands on its own or works as part of the mini-unit. If you teach one grade level or multiple grade levels across many sections, we’ve got you covered!
Included:
Story Starter activity
Write-Around activity
The Secret Life of a Monster Writing Activity
Reading Comprehension activity (with multiple choice test)
Grammar activity
A week of Halloween Bell Ringers
Story Writing rubric
Prompt response sheets
Links to Digital Files
Answer Keys
Most of the materials are presented in print as well as in a digital format for maximum flexibility. (Created using Google Slides)
Other resources you might be interested in:
December Holidays Activities
This Middle School Narrative Writing Unit will make guiding your students through the narrative writing process easy. It is a complete, 125-page unit that contains all of the resources necessary for you to teach your students how to write in the narrative genre. It is aligned with learning standards and can be used for first-person and third-person narratives. It also includes digital files of all student handouts!
INCLUDED IN THIS MONTH-LONG UNIT:
7 easily editable digital mini-lessons (created in Google Slides)
* Introduction to narrative characteristics (including 4 mentor texts)
* Brainstorming a topic
* Revealing Characters
* Expanding a small moment using sensory details
* Using and punctuating dialog
* Using transitions to show the passage of time
* Conducting peer reviews
LINKS to the mini-lessons and student practice sheets
Printable Student Practice Sheets
Multiple Graphic Organizers
Student Information Sheets
Creative writing story starter card activity
Rubric
Learning Targets/ Target Table
Pacing Guide
Peer Review sheets
Student reflection and goal-setting sheet
Other resources you might be interested in:
Graphic Novel Writing Unit
Argumentative Writing Unit for Middle School
Creative Writing Activities
This middle school study skills curriculum is perfect for grades 6 through 8. It is designed specifically for a middle school class and will help all middle schoolers improve their study skills.
This resource was developed as a 9-week elective course but you can use these study skills lessons with your homeroom/advisory class, academic support class, study hall students, or embedded within any content area class.
This 305-page/slide resource is easy to follow and low prep!
What you get:
Comprehensive pacing guide
Teacher lesson plan pages
Student activity sheets
Work completion calendar sheet
Planner template sheets
Answer keys
Student Information Pages
Colorful and engaging lesson presentations (118 slides)
Bell Ringer Slides (63 slides)
Bell Ringer response/notebook sheets
TOPICS
Preparing to learn
Learning styles
Getting organized
Time management
Listening skills
Study skills/Note-taking
Test-taking skills
Nonfiction reading
Reflection and goal-setting
Research/reliable website
Presentation skills
Bonus: Chromebook tips
Other resources you might be interested in:
Middle School Creative Writing Activities
Middle School Academic Vocabulary Activities
Your feedback matters to us. Our goal is to create 5-star products. We love learning about how our products are used in classrooms, and your insight helps us continually improve.
Please reach out to us if you have any questions.
Thank you,
Julie and Mark
In The Middle Curriculum
This fully editable packet of parent email and letter templates will help you reduce stress, save time, and effectively communicate with parents throughout the year.
This 23-template packet contains letters and emails about the following:
Welcome to The Class
Grading Philosophy
You Can Count on Me
Parent Teacher Conference Letters (for Traditional, Arena Style, and Virtual)
Halloween Party Overview
List of Nut-Free Halloween Treats
Birthday Celebration Overview
List of Nut-Free Birthday Treats
2nd Quarter Expectations
3rd Quarter Expectations
4th Quarter Expectations
Response to Parent Request for Work for Family Vacation During School
Response to Parent Request for Extra Credit
Explaining a Low Grade and Offering Tips to Improve
Notifying Parents of Behavior Concerns
Notifying Parents of Attendance Issues
Notifying Parents of Excessive Tardies
Notifying Parents of Failure to Complete Assigned Work
Addressing Concern That a Student is Not Being Challenged
In addition, we’ve included a short tip page (developed over 25 years of responding to parent emails) to help you stay calm, focused, and positive as you support your students.
