Black History Month is a powerful opportunity to celebrate the achievements, contributions, and stories of Black individuals throughout history. As English Language Arts (ELA) educators, we can create meaningful and engaging learning experiences that inspire students to explore Black voices, literature, and culture. Here are some exciting ELA activities to bring Black History Month to life in your classroom.

1. Dive into Literature by Black Authors

First, introduce students to influential Black authors such as Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes, and Jacqueline Woodson. Select age-appropriate poetry, short stories, or excerpts from novels to analyze themes of resilience, identity, and social justice.

Activity Idea:

• Conduct a “Poetry Analysis Gallery Walk,” where students read and analyze poems, annotating literary devices and discussing their impact.
• Host a “Read Aloud & Reflect” session to encourage thoughtful discussions on character development and cultural themes.

Recommended Books:

• “Brown Girl Dreaming” by Jacqueline Woodson
• “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas
• “Hidden Figures” by Margot Lee Shetterly (Young Readers Edition)

2. Black History Month Writing Prompts

Encourage students to reflect on key figures and events through writing activities. Creative and analytical writing helps students connect personally with historical moments.

Activity Idea:

• Use prompts such as:
  • “If I could interview one Black historical figure, who would it be and why?”
  • “How has the Civil Rights Movement shaped our world today?”
  • “What does Black excellence mean to you?”

Tip: Create a classroom writing wall to showcase student reflections and celebrate their voices.

3. Black History Month Bulletin Board

Make learning visible by designing an interactive bulletin board featuring influential Black figures in literature, music, activism, science, and the arts.

Ideas for this Activity:

• Set up a “Who Am I?” section where students match achievements to key historical figures.
• Have students create biographical pennants summarizing an inspiring person’s contributions.

Check out my Black History Month Bulletin Board:

Why You’ll Love This Bulletin Board Set:

✔ Encourages Inclusivity: Promote cultural awareness and inspire students to embrace diversity and representation in your classroom.

✔ Versatile Display Options: Perfect for Black History Month, but also ideal for year-round decor in ELA, social studies, and history classrooms.

✔ Classroom Engagement: Use the posters as teaching tools to highlight the achievements and contributions of Black leaders across history.

✔ Easy to Assemble: Simply print, cut, and arrange to create an engaging and motivational display that aligns with culturally responsive teaching practices.

4. Reading Comprehension Activities with Historical Passages & Pennants

Enhance reading skills while exploring key moments in Black history through engaging passages and comprehension questions. In addition, have your students take their new knowledge and create beautiful pennants for your classroom. Check out this Black History Leaders Reading Passages & Snapshot Pennants.

5. Black History Month Speech Analysis

Analyzing famous speeches by Black leaders can help students explore rhetorical strategies and persuasive techniques.

Activity Idea:

• Assign speeches such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” or Sojourner Truth’s “Ain’t I a Woman?”
• Break students into groups to identify rhetorical devices like ethos, pathos, and logos.

More Black History Month Activities & Websites:

• Black History Month Activities

• 13 Fun Black History Month Activities for Elementary and Middle School Students

• 12 Black History Month Activities to Engage Students

By incorporating these engaging Black History Month ELA activities, you can foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of Black history and culture in your classroom. Whether through literature, writing, or interactive displays, these activities empower students to honor the legacy and achievements of Black individuals.

Looking for ready-made Black History Month classroom resources? Browse our collection of posters, reading passages, pennants, and bulletin board kits to make your lessons even more impactful.

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Creating effective reading routines early in the school year is crucial for setting the tone for academic success in a middle school English Language Arts classroom. A consistent reading habit not only improves literacy skills but also fosters a lifelong love for reading. However, many teachers struggle with the steps to make a consistent reading routine happen. Here are practical steps to help you build an effective reading routine for your middle school students.

Step 1: Set Clear Reading Goals

Setting achievable reading goals is the first step in establishing a reading routine. For middle school students, start by setting both short-term and long-term goals. Short-term goals might include finishing a book within two weeks or reading a specific number of pages each day, while long-term goals could involve completing a series or reaching a certain number of books by the end of the semester.

Encourage your students to set personal reading goals tailored to their interests and reading levels. This personalization helps motivate them and gives them a sense of ownership over their reading journey. Having a daily reading tracker or bookmark can help with these goals. As your students read, they can track their reading for the day or week. Grab this FREE Reading Tracker for your students!

Step 2: Create a Cozy Reading Environment to Create a Reading Routine

Designing a comfortable reading space in the classroom can significantly impact students’ willingness to read. Consider arranging seating to create cozy nooks or using bean bags and cushions for a relaxed atmosphere. Proper lighting is also essential—natural light is ideal, but adjustable lamps can work well too.

Involve students in setting up the reading area. When they contribute to the design, they feel more connected to the space and are more likely to use it.

Step 3: Incorporate Daily Reading Time

Daily reading practice is vital for developing strong reading habits. Schedule a specific time each day for independent reading. Because some of the middle school classes are on tight time periods, the first 10 minutes of each period is a perfect way to get students to settle down. Stick to this schedule consistently to make reading a regular part of the routine. During this time, allow students to choose their own books to foster a sense of autonomy and cater to their interests.

Step 4: Use Reading Logs and Journals

Reading logs, journals, and reading bookmarks are excellent tools for tracking progress and reflections. Provide students with templates to record the books they read, their thoughts, and any new vocabulary they encounter.

These logs not only help students keep track of their reading but also allow you to monitor their progress and provide feedback. Encourage students to reflect on their reading experiences in their journals to deepen their understanding and engagement with the text.

Step 5: Introduce a Variety of Genres

Exposing students to a wide range of genres is crucial for expanding their reading horizons. Introduce them to genres such as fantasy, mystery, historical fiction, non-fiction, and poetry.

Create book displays or reading lists featuring different genres, and encourage students to explore new ones. This variety can spark interest and help students discover new favorite types of books.

Step 6: Implement Book Talks and Discussions

Organizing book talks in the classroom can generate excitement about reading. Schedule regular sessions where students can share their thoughts on books they’ve read.

Guide these discussions with open-ended questions and encourage respectful dialogue. Suggested questions might include: “What did you like most about the book?” or “How did the main character change throughout the story?”

Here is an extensive list of book talk questions from Scholastic.

Step 7: Leverage Technology

Incorporating technology can enhance the reading experience. Use e-readers and reading apps to provide access to a wide range of books. Online resources like book recommendation sites and reading challenge platforms can also be valuable.

Teach students how to use these tools to find books and track their reading progress. Technology can make reading more accessible and engaging for digital-savvy students.

Step 8: Encourage Family Involvement

Family involvement is key to reinforcing reading habits. Suggest at-home reading activities, such as family reading nights or reading aloud together.

Communicate with parents about their children’s reading goals and progress. Provide tips for supporting reading at home, such as setting aside a daily reading time or visiting the local library together. Here is a great website that can give you some ideas for your parents to encourage family involvement in their child’s reading.

Step 9: Celebrate Reading Achievements

Recognizing and celebrating reading achievements can motivate students to continue their reading journey. Consider setting up a system for tracking and rewarding progress, such as a reading chart or certificates.

Organize reading challenges or competitions to add an element of fun and excitement. Celebrating milestones, no matter how small, can boost students’ confidence and enthusiasm for reading.

You can also create a book bulletin board like the one here on the right. Have your students fill out a book template, and add their books a shelf on your bulletin board. In addition, you can create a reading challenge for the class in a similar fashion.

Building a successful reading routine in middle school ELA involves setting clear goals, creating a comfortable environment, incorporating daily reading time, using reading logs, introducing various genres, implementing book talks, leveraging technology, encouraging family involvement, and celebrating achievements. Start implementing these tips today to foster a love for reading in your students.

We’d love to hear your experiences and additional tips for building reading routines. Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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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 New Year’s activities for teens or your middle school students after the holiday break? Hopefully you relaxed and enjoyed a much needed, much deserved winter break! Now, it’s time to start thinking about what you will conquer when students return in January. Are you sick of “New year, new me?” I hear you! Here are a couple of fresh New Year’s activities and ideas to do with your middle school ELA students. Start 2022 off right!

New Year’s Activities for the New Year

First, capture your students’ attention the second they walk in the door to your classroom with these eye-catching morning and afternoon slides:

Secondly, rather than having students write resolutions for the new year, have them write positive goals for themselves. For example, instead of them saying, “I won’t have any failing grades this year,” they can say, “I will try my hardest to complete all of my academic work to the best of my ability.” Students should strive to write goals that reflect positive attributes they will try to add to their lives. This is better than writing what they won’t do or what they will stop doing.

Some students may not feel comfortable sharing their goals with their peers and maybe not even with you. Consider leaving their goals ungraded and instead, have them write goals or resolutions as though they are a favorite character from a novel! Students will enjoy pretending they are a favorite character. You can easily grade this assignment without making anyone feel uncomfortable.

Third, students (and teachers) will return to school out of sync. They will probably need to ease back into routines after such a long break. Their stamina will also most likely be low and they will struggle to stay concentrated for long periods of time. Check out this engaging New Year’s Celebration Digital Escape Room. This New Year’s activity is sure to keep your students interested while they are learning:

Lastly, provide students with one of these KWL charts: New Year’s Ball Drop KWL Chart or a General K-W-L chart. Use these charts as they watch this short clip explaining the history of the Times Square New Year’s Eve ball drop:

Hopefully these ideas will help you have a successful first month back in the classroom. Do you have any other favorite classroom activities to kick off the new year with your kiddos? Be sure to let me know what they are so I can add them to the list! Best of luck to you and yours in 2022!

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As ELA teachers know, April begins poetry month.  First, making poetry exciting in the middle school classroom is not easy, for both the teacher and the student. Teachers fret teaching poetry because many do not have a teaching method that is successful. Secondly, teachers are often met with groaning and whining from their students because they have the impression that poetry “is boring”.  How do you make poetry exciting in the middle school classroom? In this blog post, I am going to give you some poetry teaching tricks, exciting and engaging poems for your middle school students, and suggestions on how to make poetry exciting in your middle school classroom.

Poetry Teaching Tips

When I was in college and studying English, I had one professor who taught us some really great ways to analyze poetry. He demystified that poetry is hard. Honestly, this is why I think middle school students groan about poetry.  It’s not that they find it boring; it’s that they don’t know how to properly read or analyze the poetry. His poetry strategies are how I teach my own students to analyze poetry.

1. Read the poem twice. One reading of a poem is not enough to truly understand the meaning of a poem.  Students should read the poem at least twice, and they should not stop at the end of line, but rather at the end punctuation.  Our students want to stop at the end of the line, and they think this is the end of the sentence.  Teaching your students to read through to the end punctuation will help them comprehend what the narrator is expressing.  Reading to the end of the line makes the image or thought choppy.

2. If the poem is not already broken into stanzas, chunk the poem into sections. After each stanza or chunked sections, write a small summary or understanding in the margin of the poem.

3. Identify the setting of the poem. Knowing where the poem takes place is key to helping a student to understand the poem.

4. Identify the speaker. Kids tend to think the poet is narrating the poem.  Teachers have to reiterate this to their students. Identifying the speaker, whether the narrator is male, female, old, young, or an object is significant to understanding the meaning behind the poem.

5. Write a small, short summary or interpretation of the poem. At the bottom of the poem page, have your students write a short summary of the interpretation of the poem.  This will help to assess their understanding.

Side note-I like to have my students annotate for figurative language and imagery for the added understanding.

Poetry That WILL NOT Make Your Middle School Students Cringe

“The Rose That Grew from Concrete” by Tupac 

“Worst Day Ever” by Chanie Gorkin

“Please Don’t Take My Air Jordans” by Reg E. Gaines

“The HIll We Climb” by Amanda Gorman

“Dear Basketball” by Kobe Bryant

“Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf” by Rhold Dahl

Engaging Poetry Activities to Try with Your Students

Are you in the hunt for some engaging poetry activities for your middle school students to have your students buy into poetry? Check out these ideas:

1.Try the Magnetic Poetry Website. When I was growing up, I had a set of Magnetic Poetry on my closet door, and I would move around the words to make poetic sentences.  Now, students can “play” with words online.  This may spark ideas for your students, and it is quite fun to play with!

2. Use song lyrics. Popular songs are perfect to excite students in poetry. Print out some of the popular songs your students are familiar with and you have the opportunity to show how song lyrics look just like poetry and technically read like poetry.  This activity also gives teachers the opportunity to review figurative language and imagery in the songs. See my product below on how I teach my students to elaborate with song lyrics!

3. Try out a Poetry Scavenger Hunt.  Here your students can hunt through a poem to find figurative language, imagery, and poetic devices.  This activity has your students diving deep into the poem! Check out my Poetry Scavenger Hunt Activity below.

PRODUCTS DISCUSSED IN THIS POST

Have fun teaching your poetry unit. Leave a comment below if you have any questions!

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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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Classroom digital tools are a hot topic of conversation among teachers these days. Many districts are debating whether their schools will go back full time or if there will be a hybrid schedule.  Nonetheless, teachers want to prepare for the “just in case” scenarios. Teachers want reliable, engaging digital tools.  Specifically, English Language Arts teachers are searching for digital websites and resources that help their students with annotating, reading and writing skills, grammar practice, among other English skills and techniques.

I wanted to share with you a few digital platforms and resources for the English Language Arts classroom.  I used and found these tools extremely helpful during distance learning.  Regardless of what your school district is doing in the fall, it is important to have a list of go-to digital tools in your back pocket. Distance learning is now a part of teachers’ vocabulary.  They have to be ready for the distance learning scenario at a moment’s notice.

Digital Resources for the Classroom

Here are three of my favorite digital tools for the English Language Arts Classroom-

Kami– Have you used Kami? It is an amazing digital tool for the English classroom. Kami is a Google Extension™ one can easily download to a Chromebook or Chrome extension bar.  What is so incredible about Kami, is the teacher uploads a PDF assignment, and it allows the students to highlight the text on the PDF. It also allows the students to listen to the text, annotate, write, and make notes on the document. Teachers can assign work through Kami, and the students can turn it in Google Classroom™.

Google Meets Grid View– During distance learning, many teachers were using Zoom; however, many districts were finding issues with the platform, as it was not safe.  Districts were and are using Google Meet because they are GSuite subscribers, and the students are 1:1 with Chromebooks. One of the nice features about Zoom is it provides a grid view of the students who enter a meeting.  For a while, Google Meets™ did not have the grid view features…but now they do.  You can now download this Google extension, and you get the same features of the grid view Zoom is offering. I love seeing all of my students’ faces in the meetings and creates the personal connection.

Quill– Quill is one of my favorite digital websites I used during distance learning.  I worried my students would digress in some of their grammar, punctuation, and mechanic skills, and this website came to the rescue. Quill provides free writing and grammar activities for elementary, middle, and high school students. What is incredible about Quill is the teacher can build an assignment for their students or s/he can assign a diagnostic test to see where the students are lacking in skills. Quill makes it so easy because if the teacher is using Google Classroom™, s/he can just connect his/her classes right to Quill. You will love it!

The ELA Success Summit

Are you looking for MORE engaging, exciting digital tools, resources, and insights for the English Language Arts Classroom?

My dear friend, Kristy, from 2Peasandadog and I, put our creative minds together and created the ELA Success Summit. Together, we had discussions about what we thought English teachers will need for the upcoming school year. Since online learning may continue, we put together an online conference focusing on digital tools, resources, websites, and insights to help teachers in the classroom.

In this online summit, registrants will receive 20+ videos ranging from creating in Google Slides™, writing and reading in the digital classroom, using Google Forms™ for assessment purposes, classroom discourse, and so much more! Registrants will also receive the replay of the videos for two months, and s/he can watch them at his/her leisure.

This summit will give you a tremendous amount of information, incredible planning ideas for the new school year, as well as relieve some of your stress and apprehension you may have with remote learning.

If you are interested in learning more about the ELA Success Summit, you can check it out HERE!

If you ever have any questions or want to reach out, please feel free to email me at englishohmy@gmail.com!

Talk soon,

Kim

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Teachers are on the hunt for engaging ELA websites for their middle school English Language Arts students. Because of distance learning, teachers are scouring the Internet. They are trying to find a variety of lessons and activities to make the distance learning experience interesting and appealing. Teachers want to give their students a variety of online resources that assesses and reviews a variety of ELA skills-grammar, spelling, punctuation, reading skills and writing-while engaging and piquing their interest.

Below, I compiled a list of engaging ELA websites I have been using in my own distance learning experience.

ELA Websites & Resources for Middle School ELA Students

Quill.org-This is one of my favorite engaging digital websites I am using with my students in their distance learning experience. Quill gives students the opportunity to practice their grammar, mechanics and editing skills. If you are using the Google Classroom platform, you can easily upload your students, and assign the lessons using the Classroom.

Actively Learn-Out of all the reading websites like NewsELA, CommonLit, and such, this is one I really like because the articles are a bit more relevant and engaging for middle school students.

IXL-IXL offers a variety of skills for any subject; however, you can have your students take a diagnostic test, and focus on specific ELA skills with them. IXL is offering their premium membership free for 30 days.

EdPuzzle-EdPuzzle is an engaging video website. Teachers can assign videos with questions, and EdPuzzle pushes out the videos into Google Classroom.

Writable-This websites allows teachers to build purposeful, proficient writers while saving time on grading and prep. Teachers can choose from 600+ customizable assignments and prompts or create your own, then assign to start growing great writers. This is Google Classroom friendly! This website is currently free to teachers.

Teaching Tolerance -Teaching Tolerance has great lessons on inclusion, diversity, and tolerance.

I hope these websites are helpful in your exploration in digital and remote teaching.

Digital ELA Resources for Distance Learning

Here are some of my digital English Language Arts resources I have created for my own classroom and digital learning:

I hope these websites are helpful to you, and if you have any questions about any of the websites or my resources, please always feel free to email me at englishohmy@gmail.com.

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Are you in the hunt for the best novels for middle school students? Are you looking to find contemporary novels that are high-interest and add to your reading list? I have a list of novels recommended by my students!

First, finding novels that interest your students is tricky. Secondly, our goals as teachers is for our students to LIKE what they are reading. In order to accomplish this goal, I have my students choose their own independent reading novels; giving the students choice in their reading helps with their enjoyment and their willingness to read.

What are Middle School Students Reading?

Teens want to read current, relevant books. This is exactly what they will choose, too. My 8th grade students choose a book a month to read independently. After reading, they complete a Book Spine Activity to reflect on the novel. It includes a summary, recommendation, and rating. Check out the picture below!

I compiled a list of the five most engaging novels for middle school students, recommended by my middle school teens. These novels were read multiple times or by a few of my students.

Recommended Novels

Contemporary Novels

The Fault in Our Stars by John Greene:

Hazel Grace Lancaster, is a 16-year-old cancer patient. She meets and falls in love with Gus Waters, a similarly afflicted teen from her cancer support group. Hazel feels that Gus really understands her. They both share the same wit and a love of books, especially Grace’s touchstone, “An Imperial Affliction” by Peter Van Houten. When Gus scores an invitation to meet the reclusive author, he and Hazel embark on the adventure of their brief lives.

One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus:

This is the story of what happens when five strangers walk into detention and only four walk out alive. Everyone is a suspect. Everyone has something to hide. This novel follows four different characters as their lives unfolds around the suspected murder of their classmate.

13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher:

It is the story of a young high school student as she descends into despair brought on by betrayal and bullying. This ends with her suicide. She details the thirteen reasons why she was driven to end her life in an audio diary which is mailed to a friend two weeks after her death.

Mystery & Suspense Novels

The Girl in the Locked Room by Mary Downing Hahn:

A family moves into an old, abandoned house. Jule’s parents love the house. Jules is frightened and feels a sense of foreboding. When she seeings a pale face in an upstairs window, she can’t stop wondering about the eerie presence on the top floor–in a room with a locked door. Could it be someone who lived in the house a century earlier? Her fear replaced by fascination. Jules is determined to make contact with the mysterious figure and help unlock the door. Past and present intersect as she and her ghostly friend discover—and change—the fate of the family who lived in the house all those many years ago.

Dystopian Novels

Divergent by Veronica Roth-

The novel Divergent features a post-apocalyptic version of Chicago and follows Beatrice “Tris” Prior as she explores her identity. This society defines its citizens by their social and personality-related affiliation with five factions. This removes the threat of anyone exercising independent will and re-threatening the population’s safety.

Other Recommended Novels

Here are other titles my students recommend:

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas

Heat by Mike Lupica

Reading Activities to Use with Books

Annotating Text

Literacy Centers for English Language Arts

I hope you enjoy these recommendations, and if you have any questions, please always feel free to reach out-englishohmy@gmail.com.

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Halloween and Thanksgiving are perfect times of the year to incorporate exciting and creative activities within your ELA classroom. There are three things I know my middle school English students love to do-color, write creative stories and learn about the “real” history of different events. At times, it is hard to find activities like these for middle school, especially since coloring is more of an elementary level activity.

I wanted to help you with your lesson search, and provide you with unique, entertaining activities for Halloween and Thanksgiving. These activities incorporate coloring, creative, and other fun activities your students wish they did more of in the classroom. In addition, these activities will have your students:

-Recalling information

-Practicing their reading comprehension skills

-Practicing their multiple-choice abilities and test-taking skills

-Engaging their higher level thinking and analytical abilities

Halloween & Thanksgiving Activities

Halloween Reading Comprehension Color-by-Number:

Learn about the history of Halloween with this article. Students will answer multiple choice questions that will correlate with a color grid. They will color in the grid according to their answers, and it will reveal a spooky character!

“The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe–

Introduce your students to the haunting poem, “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe, and have your students learn, analyze, critically think and discuss this poem with guided vocabulary and comprehension questions. Next, have your students dive into Poe’s poetry writing, analyzing his style and formatting by creating their own poetry!

Dracula-The True Story-

This activity gives the students the opportunity to write Dracula’s perspective of his life using the music of Taylor Swift’s song, “Bad Blood”. We all know the stereotypes of a vampire, but what if that is not really the story? Your students have the opportunity to explore this question, creating a song parody with Dracula’s real story.

FREE-100 Descriptive Halloween Word List:

Here are 100+ words to help your students write more descriptively for Halloween. These words are perfect for short story and creative writing!

Thanksgiving Reading Comprehension Activity & Turkey Craftivity

This activity will have your students comprehending a non-fiction article, reviewing citations and using the citations in their answers. In addition, they will also ponder over what is important to them in their lives, what they are grateful for, what they wish for in the future, what they hope for, and how they feel about their life/family/world. Secondly, your students will transfer all their information to the turkey template.

In the end, the students will all an adorable colored turkey that shows evidence of the article, as well as their thinking!

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