Are you looking for the best way to start your ELA school year with excitement, engagement, and ease? These 5 first week activities for middle school will help you build classroom community, boost student participation, and introduce essential reading and writing skills right away.

Skip the boring syllabus-only week and start strong with these creative and purposeful activities your middle school students will love.

Day 1: Solve the Mystery of Your New Teacher

Make your first day unforgettable with The Mystery of Your New Teacher activity. Instead of the usual “About Me” presentation, let your students become detectives! They’ll use clues from a case file to infer fun facts about you, like your favorite snack, hobbies, or even a surprising talent.

This activity encourages teamwork, critical thinking, and makes the first day of school fun and interactive. It’s the perfect way to break the ice and get students curious and talking. It also breaks the normal routine of the first day syllabus and expectations.

Why it works:

• Builds relationships
• Encourages inferencing
• Engages students from the start

Day 2: Create Back-to-School One-Pagers

One-pagers are a creative and low-pressure way to get to know your students during the first week. With this Back to School One-Pager activity, students answer fun prompts and visually express their personalities, interests, and goals.

Ask students to include:

• A favorite book or genre
• A quote that inspires them
• Goals for ELA this year
• A drawing that represents them

These are perfect for classroom displays and give you quick insights into your students’ identities and learning styles.

Why it works:

• Combines creativity with self-expression
• Easy to display for classroom community and Back to School Night
• Great insight for differentiated instruction

Day 3: Back to School Growth Mindset Stations

Help students start the year with confidence and purpose through Growth Mindset ELA Stations. These stations reinforce the idea that effort and persistence matter more than perfection—an essential message for middle schoolers.

Each station focuses on a different skill or mindset, such as:

• Setting academic goals
• Reflecting on past challenges
• Sorting growth vs. fixed mindset statements
• Creating motivational bookmarks or affirmations

Why it works:

• Establishes a positive classroom culture
• Builds independence and responsibility
• Promotes student self-awareness

Day 4: Solve the Back-to-School ELA Mystery: Who Kidnapped the Principal?

Bring in some academic fun with this exciting Back to School ELA Mystery: Who Kidnapped the Principal? Students will read passages, identify figurative language, analyze motives, and use text evidence to eliminate suspects.

It’s more than a mystery; it’s a standards-based review in disguise!

Why it works:

• Engages students in ELA skills right away
• Encourages close reading and inference
• Turns learning into an adventure

Day 5: Complete a Student Interest and Learning Survey

Wrap up the week with a valuable tool for relationship building and differentiation: the Student Interest and Learning Survey. This survey asks students about their reading preferences, writing strengths, class goals, and more.

Example questions to include:

• What’s a book or story you loved (or hated)?
• Do you prefer group work, independent work, or a mix?
• What’s something a teacher has done that helped you learn better?

Why it works:

• Helps you understand how students learn best
• Builds student-teacher trust
• Guides instruction for the rest of the year

Other Back to School Blog Posts You May Like…

Back-to-School Activities for Middle School

Decorating the Middle School Classroom

Classroom Management in Middle School

These first week ELA activities for middle school help create a welcoming, engaging, and purposeful start to your year. From building classroom community to introducing academic routines, every day of the first week sets the stage for success.

Each activity is designed to be:

• No-prep or low-prep
• Print-and-go or digital
• Meaningful and standards-aligned

Ready to start your year with confidence and connection? Try these first week ELA activities in your middle school classroom—you won’t be disappointed!

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It’s that time of year again. Test Prep season! ELA Teachers are prepping for state testing—cue the highlighters, the pacing guides, the acronyms (RACE, anyone?), and the collective groan of “Test Prep Season.” Reviewing for state tests doesn’t have to mean endless packets and practice questions that drain the joy out of your classroom. In fact, with a little creativity, you can review the standards, the skills, and keep your students smiling.

Here are fun, brain-boosting activities to help your students review ELA skills without the monotony of drill-and-kill:

“Trashketball” with a Test Prep Twist

I love Trashketball, and I play this with my students all the time to review vocabulary. Divide your class into teams. Ask standards-based review questions—academic vocabulary, multiple choice, short answer, or grammar corrections. If a team gets it right, they earn a shot at the trashcan with a crumpled piece of paper. Different distances earn different point values. Suddenly, reviewing test terms becomes a slam dunk.

Check out these Academic Vocabulary Posters and References Worksheets for your students and classroom:

Escape Rooms

Students love escape rooms because they are fun, exciting, and competitive. The bonus? Teachers can disguise the learning with a fun activity. Turn your classroom into a test prep-themed escape room! Build puzzles around key skills like main idea, theme, text structure, grammar, and writing prompts. Each correct answer leads them closer to “breaking free” or “breaking out”. Escape rooms build collaboration, critical thinking, and confidence.

No time to build your own? Check out this Test Prep Digital Escape Room aligned with your standards. This NO PREP activity has your students solving clues on text structures, figurative language, literary devices, words in context, reading comprehension, main idea, author’s purpose, and other skills to improve their knowledge in ELA test-taking.

Test Prep Review Relay Races

Set up stations around the room, each with a different type of ELA task (inferencing, poetry analysis, text evidence, etc.). Students rotate in teams, racing the clock to complete the tasks. Add in silly challenges like “answer this while wearing giant sunglasses” for extra fun. Making activities entertaining means getting students out of their seats!

Sticky Note Showdown

Give each student a stack of sticky notes. Pose a review question, and they write their answer (or evidence) on the note and slap it on the board. Then read through and discuss the strong ones, misconceptions, and clever responses. It’s anonymous, low-stakes, and highly interactive. You can also have your students walk around the room, voting for the most insightful and interesting sticky note!

Scavenger Hunts

Want to sneak in high-impact reading practice without the groans? Try a nonfiction or poetry scavenger hunt! Provide short texts or poems around the room, and give students a list of specific skills to “hunt” for—like figurative language, text structure, tone, or main idea. These hunts are perfect for practicing those often-tricky standards that show up on state tests, especially when students need to compare across genres. By actively searching and annotating, they’re doing the same cognitive work required on the test—but in a way that feels more like a game than a grind. Plus, it gets them up, moving, and talking about texts—triple win!

Let’s be real. State testing isn’t going anywhere, but your review sessions can be meaningful and memorable. The key is to sneak in rigorous practice under the disguise of play, movement, and choice. When students are engaged, they’re more likely to retain the strategies and skills that count.

Happy test taking season!

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February is a month that brings with it a feeling of celebration for many people. Are you looking for ideas on how to celebrate Black History Month in the classroom? After all, it marks the start of the new year, Valentine’s Day, and a time to remember and celebrate the achievements of African Americans during Black History Month. In schools across the country, teachers are using this month as an opportunity to discuss and explore the history of African Americans and their contributions to our society. So how can educators make sure they’re teaching Black History Month in an effective and meaningful way? Let’s find out!

The Importance of Contextualization

Contextualization is key when it comes to teaching and celebrating Black History Month in the classroom. We know that African American history goes back centuries before slavery – so why do we only focus on that period of time? It’s important to include stories from all different times in history, including those from pre-colonial Africa, the Civil Rights Movement, and modern-day events. When you contextualize your lessons, you give students a better understanding of where people have come from and where they are going.

Engaging Black History Month Activities

It’s no secret that students learn best when they’re engaged. That’s why it’s important for teachers to get creative with their lesson plans for Black History Month! There are lots of ways you can engage your students without having them memorize facts or dates. For example, you could have them create timeline posters showing important moments in African American history or have them write original speeches from famous civil rights leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, or Sojourner Truth. These activities allow students to explore ideas in a fun and meaningful way while still learning about black history.

In addition, you can also celebrate Black History Month in the classroom by introducing compassion and empathy lessons. Teaching empathy, compassion, and tolerance in the classroom is so important for laying the foundation for our students’ future. It exposes them to different personalities and cultures, providing them the opportunity to learn about black history month or to understand cultural differences at a much deeper level. Educating our children on these concepts isn’t just important during black history month or other special events—it should be woven into curriculum as early as possible. That way they learn not only facts, topics and subjects but also how to interact with others compassionately and respectfully. It’s our job to teach them how to be mindful of one another while working together on tasks that foster patience, respect and tolerance—essential skills needed in today’s society!

Here are some empathy, compassion, and tolerance activities your students will enjoy and love-

Teaching Empathy & Compassion

Black History Month Article & Reading Comprehension

Encourage Discussion

Finally, don’t forget to encourage discussion among your students! This is a great opportunity for them to ask questions about what they’re learning and share their own personal experiences related to black history – something that can be difficult but incredibly rewarding if done correctly. Encouraging discussion also gives students an opportunity to find common ground with one another while deepening their understanding of the material being taught.

Other Resources for Black History Month

• 5 Black History Month Activities for Middle School
• Breaking Down Stereotypes & Prejudices -Social Justice Lesson

Black History Month is an important time for us all – not just African Americans – because it allows us to take a step back and reflect on our shared past while also looking ahead towards a brighter future together. As educators, we have a responsibility to teach black history effectively by providing context for our lessons; engaging our students; and encouraging open dialogue among student peers so that everyone can gain new insights into the long-standing struggles faced by African Americans throughout our nation’s history. With these tips in mind, let’s use this month as an opportunity to empower each other through education and work together towards creating a more inclusive society for all!

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Classroom rewards are normally an important piece of the classroom. Teachers give incentives and rewards in classrooms more often than we realize. It may be a gold star on a worksheet or 10 extra points on a quiz. Regardless of what shape it takes, the purpose is always the same—to motivate students to achieve. But does this method actually work?

The research is somewhat inconclusive on whether or not extrinsic motivations like rewards are effective in the long run. There are some studies that suggest they are helpful in the short term. For example, one study found that students who received small awards for completing their work spent more time on task and had a higher rate of task completion than those who were not given any awards.

It’s also important to keep in mind that not all students respond to rewards in the same way. Some students may be more motivated by tangible rewards like candy or toys. However, others may prefer intangible rewards like extra free time or privileges. As a result, it’s important to experiment with different types of rewards to see what works best for your students. Below are some ideas to help you start on the right path!

Classroom Rewards Students Love!

When it comes to rewards, there is no one-size-fits-all solution; different rewards work better for different students. Some students may respond better to tangible rewards such as candy or stickers while others may prefer intangible rewards such as praise or recognition from their peers. Whatever reward you choose, make sure that it is meaningful and relevant to your students.

Praise & Reinforcement-Praise and Positive Reinforcement

Sometimes all it takes to make a student feel special is a few words of praise. Instead of using extrinsic motivation like candy or prizes, try focusing on intrinsic motivation by giving your students compliments or simply telling them how proud you are of their hard work. This type of positive reinforcement can go a long way towards motivating your students to continue working hard. Leave your students little sticky notes of encouragement or motivation on their desk. You can also make pre-made notes to send home with your students.

Virtual Rewards
If you’re looking for something that will really excite your students, why not try virtual rewards? Virtual rewards could take many forms, such as extra time on their favorite computer game or an extra hour on their tablet. This type of reward encourages students to engage with technology, but also provides an outlet for them to use it responsibly. By rewarding them with something they enjoy doing anyway, you can be sure that your reward will be appreciated!

Fun and Games
Games can be an excellent way to reward your students in the classroom. Whether they’re playing board games or a collaborative class game, games are a great way to engage your class while also teaching them important lessons about teamwork and cooperation. Plus, when everyone is having fun together it makes learning more enjoyable!

Exciting, Tangible Awards

One of my all-time favorite incentives that truly works in my classroom (and the kids go crazy for) are my prize jars. I choose 5-6 inexpensive prizes like stickers, candy, ice cream, 5 free points on a quiz, and erasers. These are prizes that are not going to break the bank. Throughout the week, I hand the students tickets for answering questions correctly, homework, quiz grades, behavior, and any other reason I think a students deserves a ticket. At the end of class, my students can choose which jar to put their tickets in, and every Friday, I choose a winner. Of course, you are probably are wondering how I handle the different classes? I bought five different colored rolls of tickets! This is how I can quickly can pick tickets for each class.

Would you like these incentive pictures for your own jars? Grab them for FREE right HERE!

There is no one magic solution when it comes to finding effective classroom incentives, but experimenting with different types of rewards is a good place to start. Ultimately, the goal is to find something that motivates your students to achieve their academic goals—whether it’s a tangible reward like candy or an intangible reward like extra free time. Whatever you decide, make sure to give rewards consistently and fairly so that your students know that their hard work is paying off.

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Are you looking for classroom essentials for your ELA classroom? We are rolling right through August, and it’s time for us to get ready for back to school! As you walk the aisles of your favorite teacher store (or you scroll through Amazon), there are going to be so many things screaming that you need them. But let’s be real, you don’t need everything. So, what do you need? These six essential items for an ELA Classroom. 

WRITE About This Classroom Essential

Even though we live in a digital world and many of us do a majority of things online, there are times when the old-fashioned pen and pencil are what you need. Therefore, having extra pencils in your classroom for students ready to go can save you a ton of headaches. I actually make sure I have any writing utensils my students might need. From pencils, pens, to highlighters, having these go-to tools on hand is an essential item for your classroom to keep everything moving. What is my favorite? Check these classroom essential writing tools below (affiliate links).

TICONDEROGA PENCILS

Have you tried the Frixion Erasable Pens? They are amazing! Trust me!

Frixion Erasable Pens

Mark Your Spot!

Whenever I give out books to students whether it’s a class novel or reading textbook, I always get asked, “What page are we on?” about 10,000 times a day. This gets so frustrating which is why I like to hand out bookmarks. Now, you can buy bookmarks on Amazon in bulk or you can make it more personal. I like to just cut off slices of paper, have students write their name on it and then decorate it as well. This way students like their bookmark and it doesn’t cost any money. You can also do this with sticky notes. This essential item for an ELA classroom will help you keep your sanity when your students need to find their place. 

Bookmarks

Read All About this Classroom Essential for the ELA Classroom 

Since you’re going to have bookmarks, you want to make sure you have books that go with them! Even if you are reading in class, having a small classroom library for students to check out books is an essential classroom item because it encourages reading. Whenever my students finish an assessment early, I tell them to read something. However, I don’t want my students going to the library by themselves. Therefore, having a small student library is an essential ELA item. 

Organize the Essential Lists! 

An essential item for your ELA classroom that pertains more to you than your students are file folders. Having file folders for papers to grade, lists for attendance, or simple fast finisher activities is an essential item. Having file folders in your classroom will help keep you organized. You can also use these for students so they know where to put things. When I was teaching multiple grade levels, I had a designed folder for each grade level which made my life so much easier. 

Colorful File Folders

Keep It All Together 

Beyond using file folders for organizing, having bins or even a cell phone holder can be an essential item for the ELA classroom. You want to know where things are when you need them. Therefore, if you are using organizing bins or drawers, you should label them so your students know where to go if needed. Having a specific place for pencils, highlighters, fast finisher activities, and more can be a huge help. You can also have a place for passwords which can be helpful, especially with middle school students. 

The Essential Sub Binder 

Finally, the essential item for any classroom is a sub-binder. Creating a sub-binder for any time you might be gone can be a complete lifesaver. In your sub binder, you can have a schedule, class lists, and any seating charts. You might also want to include a list of classroom rules or policies the school has in an easy-to-read list. In my sub binder, I like to include some fast finisher work or activities students can do if they finish things early. 

Other Back to School Ideas

There are about a thousand different things you could get for your classroom. However, if you focus on the essentials, then you’ll have a classroom that is organized and easy to navigate. Happy start of the school year! 

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Have you ever struggled to get students pumped up for ELA activities? Have you ever tried using an ELA Mystery in your classroom? I know I have worked and worked on different activities and found my students finish them too fast. Other times, my students simply can’t do the ELA activity because it is just too difficult or complicated. Finding engaging ELA activities that are also rigorous while still completely doable as an independent activity can be difficult. That’s why engaging ELA activities like the ELA Mystery Activities are a must-have for every English teacher! 

What is an ELA Mystery?

An ELA Mystery is an engaging activity that tests students ability in terms of ordering events, comprehension, context clues, and of course the ever important and hard to assess in a fun way, grammar. Once you use an ELA Mystery Activity, you’ll be hooked and so will your students! You can find these activities at English, Oh My! 

How to Use These ELA Mysteries

Usually when we think of an activity being engaging, we think it needs to be engaging on an individual level so students stay silent. However, the Mystery ELA activities are great for several different activities in your classroom. 

Collaborative Efforts 

Engaging ELA activities often start with students getting to work together. I like allowing students to collaborate on the ELA Mystery activities because they can learn from each other and talk through some of the problems. Now, I will say, if this is how you choose to use your ELA Mysteries in your classroom, you’ll want to make sure you set some expectations. 

For example, in the grammar section, it can be easy for one student in the group to just tell their partner their answer. To combat this, I make sure I am always circulating around the room while my students are working on these activities. Plus, I make sure there is a writer and a reporter. So, if you use this as a classroom discussion, the reporter has to be able to explain their way through the answer. This tends to combat some of the issues of one person doing all of the work. 

Review the Basics 

Another way you can use ELA Mysteries is as a class activity. When you do this, you’ll want to make sure you’re doing it to review and not so much to teach. This is a great way to use the ELA Mystery the first time because you’re teaching students how to do the activities. Then, when they get to do it on their own, they’ll be able to do it with few problems. 

A great way to use the ELA Mysteries as an engaging ELA activity for the full class is to exercise the I Do, We Do, You Do method. This helps make sure students are still doing some independent work. 

Assess Student Knowledge 

Now, you can use these engaging ELA activities in groups/partners, as a whole class, or as an individual activity. When you use these activities as an individual activity, you are giving your students an informal assessment. The main reason I love using these as an informal assessment is they are fun! Because these are fun activities, students don’t feel so much stress or pressure to be right. Therefore, you are getting more authentic work and you can see which area students need the most help with. 

What are Waiting For? 

When you check these engaging ELA activities out, you’ll see there are several mysteries to choose from. What does this mean? You’re covered with fun for several times of the year including: 

.     

.     

• March with March Madness
• February with Valentine’s Day 
• The Fall with Football 
• Spring with the Missing Seed Truck 

Now of course you can use all of these at any time. However, it can be nice to do with the time of year. Make sure you check out all of my ELA Mystery Activities on English, Oh My! You and your students are sure to love them! 

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Do you allow your students to listen to music in your classroom? A study that was conducted in 2016 concluded that 79% of people are more productive with their work when they are listening to music. Music can also lower people’s heart rate and stress levels, helping them relax more. Dopamine releases into our brain when we hear the music we really like, putting us in a better mood as well. 

Now that you’ve decided you want your students to be able to listen to music while they are working, what do you listen to?

Suggestions for Listening to Music in Your Classroom

First, mix it up. A lot of teachers like to play “pump it up” music as students enter and exit the classroom. (Some teachers find this is too stimulating for their students and decide against it. Of course, this is a matter of doing what you see fit for your class.)

Next, be sure to switch up the genres of music. My students and I listen to Disney hits, country, the 70s and 80s, rap, hard rock, and even steel drum music. There are so many good tunes out there! Expose students to them all!

Lastly, have your students help you create a playlist. This allows them to have input and increases the variety of music played. (I am sure to sensor the songs for explicit language and to make sure it fits the vibe I want in my classroom before adding it to the list.) I DO tend to make the music instrumental as I have found songs with music are usually distracting for students. 

If you don’t want to make your own music list, don’t! Here are a few specific stations that have great music for your middle school classrooms:

• Dallas String Quartet on Pandora turns popular songs into instrumental music

• Jingle Punks Hipster Orchestra on Pandora is pop music turned instrumental

• Classical Goes Pop on Pandora is full of wordless, modern songs

• Under the Stars on Spotify has a great mix of slower and upbeat instrumentals

• Video Game Soundtracks on Spotify have some great background music choices

• Miss Bensko on Spotify has some excellent playlists that she’s created in a variety of genres

ELA Lessons with Music

Incorporating music into English Language lessons will definitely engage your students. Have you used music in any of your lessons? Here are some lesson ideas to incorporate into your classroom:

Song Lyric Analysis

Teaching Elaboration with Song Lyrics

Have a suggestion you think I need to add to the list? Be sure to let me know by leaving a comment below! Happy listening!

Kim

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One of the major components of a classroom is student engagement. As a middle school teacher, I have always tried to be cognizant of student engagement.  Whether I’m in the front of the class making a fool of myself, creating content about the most recent “dopest thing ever,” or giving assignments that require watching TikTok (<<insert face plant here>>), I want my students engaged. For the most part, middle school students want to be with their friends, but don’t want to be at school. Now, let’s add virtual learning to this equation and we have a Whole. New. Ball game. But I’m telling you – you’ve got this! Here are some quick ways to try and increase middle school student engagement while you are in the virtual setting.

Tips for Student Engagement

1. First, as always with teaching, give your students choices. That includes the use of the camera! How will you know they are there? You can still hear them! If you really still want to see your kiddos’ amazing faces, make some aspects of virtual learning camera required and some camera optional. Some kids don’t like staring at themselves and certainly don’t like other people staring at them. If you want your students participating they need to be comfortable. Not all students will always be with the camera on them. At least do me a favor and try this: tell students you’re doing an experiment and reduce your camera-on time requirements for a week. See what happens! 

2. Next, communication is key with student engagement. Just as we, as teachers, have a lot on our plates, so do these kids. CHECK IN ON THEM, and NOT just about school. Depending on how many students you have, set up a time for a Zoom, Google Meets or whatever platform you use to have a video conference with them at least twice a month. Make sure they know in advance this is a no pressure meeting and is for no other reason other than to check in on them. Ask them what they are enjoying about distance learning, what they hate about it, what they had for breakfast that morning, anything! Students will appreciate your personal interest in them and you will get to know them a bit better with every meeting. Remember students won’t learn from someone they don’t like.

3. Third, be flexible. Teaching through a pandemic is something administration, teachers and students have never done before. Don’t put a crazy amount of pressure on yourself or students to get through something if it’s just too much. Everything will get done in due time. We are all doing the very best we can, so give yourself (and everyone else) some grace!

4. Lastly, be creative. More than ever, you need to put on your creative hat, and choose activities that are going to engage your students in the online environment.  Teach and engage your students with creative games like digital escape rooms.  Your students can review and learn while playing a game.  They will be hooked! Here are some of my very popular Digital Escapes™-

Below are some question stems you may also want to try out with your middle school kiddos to help with student engagement. I have created them just for the topic of this post – promoting engagement! I would love to have you try them out and let me know what you think! 

Other Website Suggestions for Engagement in the Virtual Setting

1.25 Remote Teaching Tips To Engage Students In Distance Learning

2. 10 Ways to Engage and Instruct Students Remotely

Below are some question stems you may also want to try out with your middle school kiddos to help with student engagement. I have created them just for the topic of this post – promoting engagement! I would love to have you try them out and let me know what you think! 

Download these questions stems right HERE!

Happy teaching! 😊  Always, if you ever have any questions, please always feel to reach out!  

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Using engaging TED Talks in middle school is a perfect way to engage, inspire, and motivate your middle school students and young adults. First, TED talks are brief, to the point, lectures that are wonderful for encouraging an open dialogue with your middle school students. Next, there are a variety of topics that the TED talks cover. There is one thing these videos have in common. The subjects and themes are those that matter in the daily life of students, faculty, and families. Check out some of these amazing middle school TED Talks and motivating videos to inspire your middle school students.

Engaging TED Talks for Middle School Students

THE SIMPLE POWER OF HAND WASHING-

This first engaging middle school TED talk suggestion covers a topic we should all be on board with right now (and should’ve been on board with years ago). Dr. Myriam Sidibe, who is a crusader against childhood disease, discusses how important it really is for everyone to grab a bar of soap and wash their hands.

OVERCOMING OBSTACLES-

Next, Steven Claunch, who was born with multiple physical disabilities, gives a powerful talk. He discusses overcoming obstacles, as well as disabilities vs. abilities, in under 5 minutes.

WHY I, AS A BLACK MAN, ATTEND KKK RALLIES-

Daryl Davis, a professional musician born in Chicago, explains why he, as a Black man, has attended Ku Klux Klan rallies. Mr. Davis eventually became the first Black man to interview various KKK members. He wrote a book about what he learned. His driving question was always, “How can you hate me when you don’t even know me?” Today, he owns multiple robes and hoods of prior KKK members who have renounced from the group after befriending Mr. Davis.

MAKE YOUR BED, AND NEVER RING THE BELL -University of Texas at Austin 2014 Commencement Address-

Naval Adm. William H. McRaven’s 2014 Commencement Speech at the University of Texas at Austin gives quite the inspiring speech. He teaches us 10 important life lessons that he learned in the 6 months of Navy SEAL training, beginning with his first one – every morning, make your bed and ending with don’t ever, ring the bell.

Audrey Mason-Hyde discusses how people instinctively judge someone’s gender at their first appearance. She goes on to explain her trouble in bathrooms and how this progressed for her as she aged, as well as why we should try to denounce gender roles.

TOILETS, BOWTIES, GENDER AND ME-

Audrey Mason-Hyde discusses how people instinctively judge someone’s gender at their first appearance. She goes on to explain her trouble in bathrooms and how this progressed for her as she aged, as well as why we should try to denounce gender roles.

More Suggestions for Your Classroom

Here are some more links to help you explore engaging TED talks:

1. 10 TED Talks to Empower Middle School & High School Students
2. 35 Must Watch TED Talks for Students

How Would You Like a FREE TED Talk Digital Worksheet?

I created a TED Talk Digital Worksheet for you to assign to your students in Google Classroom or on a digital platform.  This worksheet asks your students to write about the main points of the TED Talk. It also asks your students to write a summary, discuss a theme, among other important items.  Grab it HERE.

Looking for more engaging resources like this? Check out my shop! 

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Classroom management tips for middle school are critical and important, and any teacher will take suggestions to help create a cohesive classroom environment. In addition, it is important a middle school teacher establishes rules, expectations while abiding by them in his/her classroom.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard something along the lines of, “You teach MIDDLE SCHOOL?! I could NEVER!”  While this age range can be challenging, all ages have their own positives and negatives. Therefore, I want to share a few tips for navigating classroom management in 6th, 7th and 8th grades.

Classroom Management Tips

1. First, build relationships. This is imperative with ALL grade levels. For instance, regardless of their age, no child is going to want to learn from someone they do not like or respect, especially in middle school. In some way, be sure to make a personal connection with each of your students. Be sure to jot down when you make this connection and what the connection was to ensure you reach each of your students. 

2. Secondly, treat middle school students like the young adults they are. Middle schoolers frequently go back and forth between wanting to be babied and wanting to be treated like an adult. Talk to them and treat them with the same respect you expect from them. 

3. Next, remember they are not adults, yet. Middle schoolers still love picture books, coloring, and need to move around. Provide them with opportunities to do all of these things. 

4. Be fair, firm, and consistent. Middle school students talk. If you don’t treat all of your classes or each individual student with the same rules, guidelines, and punishments, they will find out. Set up procedures and expectations at the beginning of the year and maintain them throughout the entire year. While you become more comfortable with each other and build those relationships, students still need to know that there are clear standards they are accountable for adhering to in your classroom.

5. Have fun! You will see such a progression of maturity with these kids as they age throughout middle school. While they enter middle school as “babies,” by the time they exit, they are witty, sarcastic, and just all-around fun (and funny) to be around. Enjoy them!

6. Lastly, middle school students WANT teachers to know about their lives, even though they will say or act like they don’t!  Find activities that will give your students the opportunity to tell you about themselves, and let them tell you about their life, family, goals, passions, and hobbies.  This will give you the perfect avenue to start meaningful conversations with your students and build relationships.

Ideas for a Comfortable, Respectable Classroom Environment

Are you looking for more classroom management ideas to help you establish a cohesive classroom community? Check out these websites for more information and tips for your classroom:

*20 Classroom Management Strategies and Techniques

*19 Big and Small Classroom Management Strategies

*Taming the Chaos: Eight High School Classroom Management Strategies That Work

Activities to Build Relationships, and ROCK Managing Your Classroom

Are you wanting to learn about your students and develop a respectful relationship with your students? Check out Walking in Someone Else’s Shoes-A Getting to Know You Activity.  In this activity, your students will learn about empathy, compassion, and seeing things from another’s perspective.  It also teaches your students to not judge others until you walk in their shoes.  This is a perfect “getting to know you” activity, and your students will decorate shoes while educating others with ten things people would not know about them.  Your students will find this extremely enjoyable, and it will create an encouraging, welcoming classroom.

Walking in Some Else’s Shoes – A Getting to Know You Activity

I hope this blog post is helpful as you develop your classroom procedures, rules, and requirements.

KIM

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Displaying students’ work creatively has become a challenge with distance learning. On a normal day, our students look forward seeing their work displayed on the bulletin boards in the classroom. However, with distance learning, students cannot see their work displayed. What would you do if I told you there is a solution to this?!??! Yes, that is right. You can implement digital bulletin boards.

Currently, activities are assigned in Google Classroom, completed by our students, and poof, the students return the work into the vast Internet cloud, to never see it again. For some students, seeing their work presented in the classroom encourages and reinforces their effort, integrity and hard work. How can teachers display students’ work digitally? Digital Bulletin Boards.

Virtual Ways to Use Digital Bulletin Boards

Displaying Students’ Work- Are you working on a writing assignment, poetry or a creative assessment? When your students turn in their work and you assess it, take screen shots of their work. Or, you can actually save a Google Doc or Slide as a JPEG, by clicking on FILE–>DOWNLOAD–>SAVE AS JPEG. You then can upload all of your JPEGS into a blank bulletin board JPEG in Google Slides. What is really exciting is you can link your bulletin board Google Slides to the large documents by creating a hyperlink in the Google Slides.

Create Weekly Agendas- Our students find it difficult to navigate the Google Calendar. There is sometimes 10-15 assignments assigned in the Google calendar, in addition to the Google Meets. You can display your week of activities on one digital bulletin board. Then, you can attach it right in the Google Classroom feed.

Create a “To-Do” or a Reminder Board-Send out your bulletin board with sticky note reminders. This is a creative way to remind your students what they need to do or projects that are due.

Add Your Own Flair to Your Virtual Bulletin Boards

Teachers miss their bulletin boards in their classroom. There is an excitement when I decorate my bulletin board. Guess what?!?! You can add your own flair, colors and creative niche to your digital bulletin boards!

Add Borders– Just like your regular classroom, you can add your own flair to your bulletin boards with vibrant, fun borders. Look at these-

Insert Sticky Notes PNGs-Want to remind your students of an assignment or a project? Add a Sticky Note PNG.

Add Frames Around Your Students’ Work-If you are looking to display your students’ work, add some of the creative frames around their work!

Create Your Bitmoji!–Bitmojis are all the craze right now in the digital classrooms. Adding an avatar to your bulletin board makes them even more personal. If you want to add a Bitmoji, you will have to create an account on the Bitmoji site. You then can download the extension for Google Chrome and easily insert your avatar into anything!

Free Sites to Help You Create Your Digital Bulletin Boards

These websites will help you in your creation of your bulletin boards-

Pixabay

Pexels

Unsplash

Don’t Have Time to Create Your Own Virtual Bulletin Board?

I know. Time is of the essence right now, and it is hard to find time in between distance learning and teaching to create things from scratch!

Don’t worry, I have you covered. I created Digital Bulletin Board templates to get you started. This product comes with borders, frames, sticky notes, digital stickers, push pins, and of course ideas! This is all ready to go in Google Slides.

There are so many ways to use these bulletin boards, and I know your students will appreciate seeing their work digitally! Get creating!

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Teachers are always looking for classroom hacks and time management strategies to make their classroom life easier. Time is short in the classroom. Also, teachers will use anything that works when it comes to adding those few extra minutes. What works for you and what works for another teacher may be different. However, I wanted to share with you some incredible advice, insight and classroom hacks from other teachers and sellers.

This post does include affiliate links to products on Amazon.

My Personal Classroom Hack

I wanted to share my classroom trick and hack: QUICK CLASS LISTS. This has been a game changer for me!

First, on a half page of an 8 1/2 x 11 page of paper, I type out my entire class list. Then I copy it, and create two copies of the class list per page. I choose a color for each class, so I can easily identify each class period.

Second, on the list, I include the name of the assignment, the date, and I leave space to check off an assignment. Every assignment I collect or check off, I start a new list, so I can attach it to the assignment. I can write notes, and I have an accurate checklist for the work. The convenient part is I can just clip it to the assignment, or start a pile of assignments I need to enter into Infinite Campus, our online grade book. This definitely alleviates the headache of the traditional grade book. I can easily check back to specific assignments. Check out the pictures below!

Sometimes, I will use one sheet to check off more than one assignment if it necessary. You can see this in my vocabulary and spelling assignments in the pictures.

Try it out! This may work very well in your classroom, especially when you are assigning multiple assignments at one time!

Would you like to try out this template?

GET IT FOR FREE RIGHT HERE!

Classroom Hacks from Veteran Teachers

Here are some other wonderful, insightful classroom tricks and classroom hacks from some of my amazing teacher friends!

Kristi A Moore-TpT Store, Moore English, 6-10 years of teaching:
“I teach 9-12, and my students begin the class 2-3 times a week with silent reading. While they are silent reading, I take attendance and then go around to 5 or so students and conduct a comprehension interview. I first read about this in Jan Richardson’s book, The Next Step Forward and adapted it to the high school classroom. This gives me a quick, formative snapshot of where students are, makes sure I check in with each student at least once a week, and it also provides me with a “disguise” I can use to chat with students about missing work, personal struggles, or anything else that’s on their minds. “

Here is the Jan Richardson’s book, The Next Step Forward:

Pamela Bryson- A Texas teacher with over 20 years of experience:
“I think it is significant to have, “class discussions about problems in the class–behavior, unfinished assignments, tardies, etc.. Sometimes the students have information you don’t have. Sometimes being heard equals feeling valued. “

Cheryl Meany-A NY teacher with over 15 years experience:
“As far as a classroom management hack, I give my students many controlled choices. For example, I have flexible seating in my room, and I allow my students to self-select their seating option (they move chairs to their assigned space in the room). They maintain that responsibility unless there is an issue. Same with tasks like throwing garbage away, borrowing materials, using the bathroom, etc.. They can move around the room as they need to as long as they are respectful and let me know where they are off to. The students feel like they are a partner in the classroom rather than an inferior, even though behind it all, I control the choices they have. It’s amazing what a little autonomy (or the allusion of autonomy) does for classroom management. “

Charlene A.-TpT Store, Making ELA Matter:
“Save time at the beginning of the school year by re-papering and setting up your bulletin boards at the end of the previous school year and then covering them. I have 4 small bulletin boards, 2 large bulletin boards and one long header bulletin board in my classroom.

The first year, it took my 2 plus days just to set up these boards. I always do The Outsiders with my 7th graders as the last unit before summer, so while they watch the movie on those last days, I can tend to tasks I need to do, such as setting up and covering my bulletin boards for the next year. I usually re-paper and put the borders in place and then cover them.

Another tip is to buy some inexpensive posters and laminate them (there are many free things teachers can find online and have printed and laminated at local stores). When I start to set up my classroom for the new school year, I remove the covering, and if I’m short of time, I can temporarily put the posters in place until I can set up the bulletin boards. HUGE time saver at the beginning of the year when the last thing you may have time to do is set up bulletin boards. “

Wendy Bichler-Find Wendy on Instagram!
“A doorbell is my new classroom management hack. It has helped as a warning and for transitions. For example, instead of me constantly reminding students to quite down, or yelling at them to switch stations or tasks. The doorbell has been a game changer. I also use a few different forms for missing work and kids who will be gone that have been effective to keeping me organized and my kids organized. “

Find the wireless doorbell right here:

I hope these classroom tricks and hacks help your classroom, and they set your on a successful path for the rest of the school year.

If you ever have any questions, please feel free to e-mail me at englishohmy@gmail.com. I hope you are having a wonderful school year!

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