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In The Middle Curriculum -Julie and Mark Donnelly

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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.
Mystery Genre Study Unit
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Mystery Genre Study Unit

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This 4 week long mystery genre study unit provides students with an understanding of the mystery genre through engaging slide presentations, original mystery short stories, creative writing story starters and comprehension sheets. This 97 page/slide unit also includes: A list of the mystery terms suitable for posting. Differentiated note-taking sheets to help students record mystery terms and definitions. Formative and summative assessments with answer keys. Mystery story graphic organizers. Mystery “story starter” peer feedback forms (in the digital format only.) Rubric Other resources you might be interested in: Trash by Andy Mulligan Novel Study Clean Getaway by Nic Stone Novel Study Unit Science Fiction Genre Study
Argumentative Essay Unit for Middle School
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Argumentative Essay Unit for Middle School

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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
Maizy Chen's Last Chance by Lisa Yee Novel Study Unit
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Maizy Chen's Last Chance by Lisa Yee Novel Study Unit

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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.
Show Me a Sign by Ann Clare LeZotte Novel Study Unit
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Show Me a Sign by Ann Clare LeZotte Novel Study Unit

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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!
Code Talker by Joseph Bruchac Novel Study Unit
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Code Talker by Joseph Bruchac Novel Study Unit

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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
End of the Year Activities for Middle School
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End of the Year Activities for Middle School

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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
Unwind by Neal Shusterman Novel Study Unit
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Unwind by Neal Shusterman Novel Study Unit

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This novel study unit for Unwind by Neal Shusterman has everything you need (including chapter summaries) to support your students as they read Shusterman’s timely novel. in this Unwind novel study, you will find: A total of 110 pages of print and digital materials Chapter summaries in two different formats Discussion questions Vocabulary lists and activity pages Comprehension activity pages Student discussion pages End-of-book multiple-choice assessment (in self-correcting Google form version too!) Answer keys Other resources you might be interested in: Science Fiction Genre Study Unit The Last Cuentista Novel Study Unit
Science Fiction Genre Study Unit
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Science Fiction Genre Study Unit

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Students love science fiction and this Science Fiction Genre Study unit makes it easy to immerse them in this interesting genre. This month long unit is always a great hit in our classrooms! This 130 page/ slide Science Fiction genre study unit is presented in both print and digital formats and includes the following: 2 colorful lesson presentations An Introduction to the characteristics of science fiction Two original science fiction short stories to help teach the characteristics of science fiction. Identifying science fiction characteristics in a text Differentiated note-taking sheets Assessments A quiz of the science fiction terms 2 multiple choice assessments (also in self-correcting Google form versions) Answer Keys Other resources you might like: Unwind by Neal Shusterman Novel Study Unit The Last Cuentista Novel Study Unit
Clean Getaway by Nic Stone Novel Study Unit
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Clean Getaway by Nic Stone Novel Study Unit

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This novel study unit for Clean Getaway by Nic Stone has everything you need (including chapter summaries) to support your students as they read Stone’s acclaimed novel. In this Clean Getaway novel study, you will find: Chapter Summaries formatted for teacher use and for distribution to students. Discussion Questions Comprehension Activities Vocabulary Quizzes Whole book Multiple Choice Assessment (in Google form version too!) Student Discussion Question Worksheets End of the novel extension questions Answer Keys Historical Topic SLIDES presentation Links to Digital Files Each chapter contains multiple leveled questions allowing the teacher to differentiate. Other resources you might be interested in: Ghost by Jason Reynolds Novel Study Unit Look Both Ways by Jason Reynold Novel Study Unit
Back to School and End-of-Year Activities Bundle
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Back to School and End-of-Year Activities Bundle

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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
Graphic Novel  Writing Unit
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Graphic Novel Writing Unit

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Leverage students’ enthusiasm for graphic novels and meld it with research and informational writing! This resource not only helps teachers teach the elements of graphic novels such as splash pages, frames, use of color, close ups etc., It also teaches narrative elements such as characterization and dialog. This month-long, 160 page/slide graphic novel unit will guide you through teaching your students all about graphic novels, their unique elements and how to convert traditional text into a graphic novel format. Students will learn how to read and analyze graphic novels for their literary aspects then create a research-based graphic novel biography. Although this resource contains lessons focused on how to create a biography graphic novel, you can easily adapt the lessons to teach your students how to convert stories, personal narratives or other types of informational text into a graphic novel format!* This resource was created using Google slides. WHAT’S INSIDE: Pacing Guide Standards List 4 Lesson Presentations *Introduction to Graphic Novel Elements *Graphic Novel vs. Novel- Literary Elements (Setting, Dialog, Mood, Traits) *How to Create a Graphic Novel Activity *Biography Graphic Novel Project Reading Comprehension Activity Sheets Assessments with answer keys Applying Graphic Novel Elements Practice Storyboard Research Planning Pages Ten Unique Graphic Novel Layout Templates Graphic Novel Biography Project Checklist Rubric Links to Digital Files Other resources you might be interested in: Middle School Narrative Writing Unit Character Traits Resource
Back to School Activities for the Middle Grades
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Back to School Activities for the Middle Grades

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Are you looking for “getting to know you” activities for older, adolescent learners? This no-prep, 45-page resource contains everything you need to get started with a new class. Here’s what’s included: 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 Also included: 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 Most of the materials are presented in a **print as well as in an editable, digital format **for maximum teaching flexibility.
Amari and the Night Brothers Novel Study Unit
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Amari and the Night Brothers Novel Study Unit

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This novel study unit for Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston has everything you need to support your students as they read Alston’s engaging fantasy novel. In this Amari and the Night Brothers novel study, you will find: Chapter Summaries formatted for teacher use & distribution to students. Discussion Questions Comprehension Activities Vocabulary Quizzes Whole Book Multiple-Choice Assessment in print and self-correcting Google form version. Student Discussion Question Worksheets End-of-book essay question Answer Keys Comprehensive teacher Information pages Each chapter contains multiple leveled questions allowing the teacher to differentiate for all students. Another resource you might like: Fantasy Genre Study Unit
Halloween Activities for Middle School
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Halloween Activities for Middle School

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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
Middle School Narrative Writing Unit
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Middle School Narrative Writing Unit

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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
Middle School Creative Writing Activities
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Middle School Creative Writing Activities

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This Middle School Creative Writing Activity collection is a fun way to get your middle school students writing! This resource guides students through 9 creative writing activities (in both print and digital formats.) Students are prompted to independently compose an exciting and interesting short story. Each creative writing activity contains a writing prompt that provides the important characters, the setting, and the problem. The students then take the story in whatever direction their imagination leads them! In this 100-page/slide resource, you get 9 creative writing activities that each contain a graphic organizer focusing on one of the following aspects of narrative writing: Story Elements Character Traits Revealing Characters Using Dialog Using Sensory Words Using Transitions Elements of a Mystery Peer Review Opportunities! (Digital Version) In addition to guiding students through writing a narrative, each activity provides the opportunity to SHARE stories with classmates. This encourages the student writers to communicate with each other and improve their writing. Other resources you may be interested in: Graphic Novel Reading and Writing Project Narrative Writing Unit for Middle School Argumentative Writing Unit for Middle School
Fantasy Genre Unit
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Fantasy Genre Unit

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The fantasy genre, a favorite among many students, is the perfect avenue to keep students engaged while learning important reading and writing standards. This 115-page/slide, unit includes: 2 colorful lesson presentations An Introduction to the Fantasy Elements Identifying Fantasy Elements in a Text Differentiated note-taking sheets Assessments A quiz of the fantasy elements 2 multiple choice assessments (also in self-correcting Google form versions) Answer Keys Two original fantasy short stories Comprehension activities to support independent reading of a fantasy novel A FUN interactive writing activity that helps students as they write their own fantasy story Graphic organizers Peer feedback form Rubric Other resources you might be interested in: Science Fiction Genre Study Unit Mystery Genre Study Unit Amari and the Night Brothers By B.B. Alston Novel Study Unit
The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani Novel Study Unit
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The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani Novel Study Unit

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This novel study unit for The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani has everything you need to support your students as they read Hiranandani’s historical fiction novel. In this The Night Diary novel study, you will find: *** Chapter summaries** presented in two ways-one for teacher use and one for student use Supplemental Information presentation (created in Google Slides) Informational page about the politics behind the story Student discussion question pages Comprehension activities Vocabulary lists Vocabulary quizzes Differentiated extension question writing activity End of Novel, Multiple Choice Assessment (in print and Google form version) Answer Keys This resource makes it easy for you to differentiate and support ALL of your students!
Grammar Bundle for Middle School
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Grammar Bundle for Middle School

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This bundle of middle school grammar resources has everything you need to help your students meet the middle school grammar objectives. All three products are aligned with national standards and contain detailed, engaging lesson presentations to make teaching grammar easier and more enjoyable! Included in this 250 page/slide bundled resource: Lesson Presentations That Teach Each Grammar Concept (60+ Slides) 5 Review Lesson Presentations Nouns Verbs Prepositional Phrases Conjunctions Subject/Predicate 48 Student Practice Pages 12 Printable Quizzes 3 End-of-The-Unit Assessments in Print and Google Form Versions Answer Keys Teacher Information Pages and More!
The Many Assassinations of Samir, The Seller of Dreams by Daniel Nayeri
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The Many Assassinations of Samir, The Seller of Dreams by Daniel Nayeri

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This Novel Study for The Many Assassinations of Samir, The Seller of Dreams by Daniel Nayeri will help you support your students as they read Nayeri’s engaging and important novel. This 114-page, low-prep “The Many Assassinations of Samir…” novel study unit contains: Chapter Summaries formatted for teacher use & distribution to students. Discussion Questions Comprehension Activities Vocabulary Quizzes Character List Vocabulary Lists and 4 Quizzes Student Discussion Question Worksheets End-of-the-Novel, Multiple-Choice Assessment (Print and Google Form Version) Supplemental Information Google Slides Presentation Answer Keys Other resources you might like: The Last Cuentista Novel Study Understanding Theme, Motif and Symbolism