I recently posted about book clubs in my classroom and have gotten many questions about how I run them on both posts. I am going to try and answer them all here. First and foremost, I try to make Book Clubs as simple as possible. I used to be MUCH more involved in the book ... Read more
Book clubs for middle school and high school have become the new version of literature circles. Book clubs in school represent a more authentic and organic means of literary study because they are more student-directed whereas literature circles are more teacher-directed. Check out this guide with
This is a guide to helping teachers organize and run successful literature circles in their middle school classroom. Lesson plans and tips.
Thirty of the best new and classic middle school and middle grade books with diversity and different genres to add to your or your child's reading list.
Looking for a fun and engaging way to get your middle school students talking about their independent reading? No problem! Just download, print, and go! This fun and creative book club unit for middle school readers includes all you need to engage your students in literature-based discussions. This unit is designed for bi-weekly meetings over the course of four weeks. This download includes printable PDF files AND links to copy and edit the resources in your Google Drive. This download includes: a Book Club Contract to ensure all group members take ownership in the book club a Reading Pacing Calendar to help keep your students on track all resources for Book Club/Literature Circle meetings, which include eight creative activities to engage your students in conversations about their books a CCSS-Aligned Rubric to assess your students' participation Special thanks to Lovin Lit and The Hazel Owl for fonts and graphics used on the cover photo! Please follow my store to receive updates on new products and freebies! Also, don't forget to earn your TpT Credits by leaving some feedback. Thank you :)
Wanting to revamp your independent reading program? Try using a classroom book club, which is a great way to enrich, engage, and differentiate in secondary.
These 8 great books are perfect for your middle school book club. Your middle school kids will enjoy this variety of titles at book club.
Read for ways to foster student-led learning, build classroom community, and create excitement around reading with books clubs.
Book clubs for middle school and high school have become the new version of literature circles. Book clubs in school represent a more authentic and organic means of literary study because they are more student-directed whereas literature circles are more teacher-directed. Check out this guide with
Teachers, set up a reading workshop with your middle school students. Read how: Independent Reading - Simple Tricks for a Successful Reading Workshop
by Terri Selting David (Author) Wren is impulsive, curious, and always in trouble. When her beloved STEM club is accused of a crime, can her flaws become their greatest asset to catch the real thief? Wren Sterling has a problem. She knows she's super smart and a good friend, but no matter how hard she tries, she can't shake her reputation as a troublemaker. It feels like the only people who believe in her are her three best friends in the Renegade Girls Tinkering Club. She'd hoped middle school would be different, but when her inability to control her temper causes an accident, even her beloved tinkering club is no longer a safe haven. She has to find a way to fix it. When her idea to start a business inventing and selling spy gadgets succeeds, it looks like she's finally done something right But then the Club is accused of a crime. Can they use their own gadgets, and a little bit of trouble to solve the mystery? If they can find the real culprit, Wren may just discover she has a bright future after all. If they can't, she could lose her best friends forever. "It's The Babysitter's Club meets MacGyver " Build your own SPY GADGETS Instructions included in this charming story about friendship, middle school, and the Engineering Design Process for kids ages 8-12. Number of Pages: 318 Dimensions: 0.79 x 8 x 5.25 IN
What is the purpose of literature circles? How do you structure a literature circle? How long should Literature Circles last? What is the teacher's role in
If you love the idea of book clubs, literature circles are another great way to engage your secondary students in discussion. This post has everything you need to know about creating engaging roles for high school and middle school students. This post also includes distance learning tips for hosting literature circles virtually.
I have dreamed of creating a middle school poetry unit with lesson plans, tons of reading response examples of poetry analysis, along with a verse novels book club and activities component. I have spent the last month creating this complete middle school poetry reading and writing unit. I have a whole blog post about the ... Read more
Create meaningful and successful classroom book clubs in middle and high school by setting expectations and designing a practical schedule.
hold students accountable while they independently read with these easy to implement reading tips and tricks and strategies
Need Wonder activities for your classroom or home school Wonder teaching resources? We have Wonder lesson plans, Wonder worksheets, and more ideas for book projects, kindness activities for middle school, and diversity lessons to make a great study unit for students using both the novel by RJ Palacio and teaching with movies (including the popular precepts project!).
Book Synopsis Izzy Malone, a spunky girl who wants to be part of an elite rowing club, must first attend a very unique charm school in this first novel of a brand-new duology. Izzy Malone isn't your typical sixth grader. The stars are her only friends, and after only a month of middle school she's already set the record for the most trips to the Principal's office. The only place Izzy feels at peace is when she's on the open water, and more than anything else, she wants to become a member of the Dandelion Paddlers, her school's competitive rowing club. When Izzy's antics land her in hot water, her parents enroll her in Mrs. Whippie's Charm School. Izzy receives a letter, a shiny gold bracelet, and instructions telling her how she will "earn her charm." Izzy must earn her first charm and actual charms--by performing a series of tasks and good deeds. After completin some of the tasks--to Izzy's surprise, she actually finds herself enjoying the course. But when one of her attempts at doing something good is misinterpreted, she fears her chances at passing the course--and becoming a Paddler--are slipping away. With some unexpected friends there to support her, can Izzy manage to earn her charms and stay true to herself?
I have dreamed of creating a middle school poetry unit. Lesson plans, poetry analysis reading responses, and verse novels book club and activities.
hold students accountable while they independently read with these easy to implement reading tips and tricks and strategies
Book reports and summaries are a thing of the past. Engage your middle and high school students with five book report alternatives that will leave them asking for more and, most importantly, building vital reading and analysis skills along the way. 1. Assign one pagers at the end of a novel. One pagers are engaging, allow for creativity, and lead to higher level thinking and analysis. Assigning a one pager is easy and works for any novel. Follow these simple guidelines: • Make it standards base
Get your students reading with these 11 great middle school books made into movies.
Use informational picture books in your middle or high school classroom. Really.
Ways to teach literary elements - three engaging ways to teach the elements of literature with strategies and teaching tips
I have dreamed of creating a middle school poetry unit with lesson plans, tons of reading response examples of poetry analysis, along with a verse novels book club and activities component. I have spent the last month creating this complete middle school poetry reading and writing unit. I have a whole blog post about the ... Read more
Middle school novel study favorites - top novel study picks for grade 5-9 to engage and encourage young readers.
Make implementing literature circles and book clubs in your middle school ELA classroom fun, engaging, and streamlined with these forms and structures. This resource includes 20 printable and digital Google slides for middle school literature circles and book clubs. These literature circle response forms include forms and job roles directly related to literature concepts and standards. That makes these response forms perfect to use alongside any individual reading assignment as well. Here's what you'll get: Weekly grading rubric/page for students to grade each other Bookmarks or students to write their weekly reading and jobs Handout with a breakdown of each job Quarter-page hand-out for students and teachers to create literature circle groups based on student book club choices. Literature Circles and Book Clubs Teaching Guide Editable book club planning resources and templates Starbooks Book Tasting Resources Your students will love getting into literature circles and book club groups because they will have a structure and framework each week. They'll easily meet with their group members and be able to know what work should have been done as well as many talking points for discussion. All of these literature circle response forms are designed to get students to think beyond the text and beyond basic comprehension. Even more so, all forms are printable and digital to meet the needs of all different classrooms. Prep is quick and easy... Decide if you'll use the digital or printable version. Just print the student pages or assign them in your digital classroom. Have students breakdown their weekly reading on their bookmarks, explain how they'll select their jobs each week, and send them off to do their real-deal middle school ELA book clubs. The following literature circle forms are included: Plot analysis literature circle job graphic organizer (2) Conflict analysis literature circle job graphic organizer (3) Figurative Language analysis literature circle job graphic organizer (1) Literary analysis literature circle job graphic organizer (1) Literary devices analysis literature circle job graphic organizer (1) Point of View analysis literature circle job graphic organizer (2) Novel Passage analysis literature circle job graphic organizer (1) Summary analysis literature circle job graphic organizer (1) Vocabulary analysis literature circle job graphic organizer (1) TEACHERS LIKE YOU SAID… ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Plans and Pivots says, "This was very helpful with implementing our book club expectations and allowing for autonomy within the groups. It really cut through time that has been spent in previous years allowing students to try and determine these things without enough context, as well as outlining the individual responsibilities and expectations, thank you!" ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Jessica J. says, "The bookmarks are a good idea for students to plot out their reading schedule and keep it in a handy place. We found it helpful to have the variety of roles, recording sheets, and group member assessment sheet (helps keep them honest)." ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Tara C. says, "Engaging, user friendly and very well done. Thank you for creating such wonderful resources. By far one of my most successful Lit Circles, and I can't wait to use it again. I can always count on your resources to fulfill the need in which it was purchased for." ___________________________________ You may also like… → Middle School ELA Literature Reference Booklet → Middle School ELA Guided Reading Forms → First Chapter Friday for Middle School ELA ___________________________________ Copyright © Martina Cahill - The Hungry Teacher Permission to copy for single classroom use only. Please purchase additional licenses if you intend to share this product.
Middle grade books are admittedly some of my favorites to read. Both when I was in middle school and now as an adult. My only regret is that I hardly read
This is a very spontaneous form of printmaking! Students used black ink and/or watercolor paint to dye a long piece of cotton twine. Laying the colored string in a looped pattern between two pieces…
Book clubs have never been so easy! This easy-to-use reading journal is print and digital, and includes everything you need to run and organize your literature circles. Perfect for differentiating, mini lessons, and getting students engaged with great texts! This reading journal can be used with any novel to create a four week (or fewer) book club unit. By the end of this unit, your students will have practice with: summarizing identifying new vocabulary focusing on making deep, meaningful connections with the text examining how setting influences the text analyzing characters analyze conflict and how it develops in the text Reasons this journal will make your life easier: Ready to use -- digital or print Planning chart is done for you -- it's editable and easy to customize Use over and over again with any fiction text! Differentiation is a snap! Choose books that are appropriate for your readers. The groups can set their reading schedule and meetings. All readers can use this journal. 35 open-ended discussion questions -- perfect for journal prompts, warm ups, group discussion starters Self-pacing! Students can work at their own pace, which means you can keep book clubs going all year! Great sub lesson as well. Student paced!! This is what you'll get: ♥ teacher resource with sample schedule, editable calendar, and 14 project suggestions ♥ print and digital versions ♥ Student survey: preview of novel ♥ Student schedule for reading and club meetings Part I ♥ summary ♥ vocabulary collector ♥ what's the setting ♥ characters in part I ♥ making connections -- text to self ♥ the conflict in part I Part II ♥ summary ♥ vocabulary collector ♥ making connections -- text to text ♥ the conflict in part II Part III ♥ summary ♥ vocabulary collector ♥ making connections -- text to world ♥ the conflict in part III Part IV ♥ summary ♥ vocabulary collector ♥ making connections -- review and depth ♥ the conflict in part IV End of novel activities: ♥ Let's take a closer look: favorite parts & visualization ♥ Visualization practice - illustrating a favorite passage ♥ Reflection on how reading changes readers ♥ Novel review and recommendations ♥ Discussion questions that you can assign to groups for jigsaw or fishbowl discussions, assessments, exit questions, or writing prompts ♥ Rubric makes it easy for you to assess the journal Note: there are 20 discussion questions in the foldable booklet; there are 35 discussions in the vertical and digital journals -- you have access to both! Please check out the preview for all the goodies! When you purchase you will receive: a zipped file with four different files inside: the teacher resource that includes the link to the digital journal vertical journal horizontal journal (foldable - print front-to-back) in color horizontal journal (foldable - print front-to-back) in black & white ♥♥♥ This super-easy reading journal works well with Create Your Own Reading Journal Here are other products that will help coordinate your reading program -- 40 book challenge or not! Love Those Reading Badges! ♥♥♥ Thank you for stopping by! I hope you love this resource as much as I do! I like creating journals that are "just right" for you! I would love to have you follow my store and be the first to learn about sales, freebies, and new products. Just click on the green star by my store name. I can't wait to hear from you! I read and respond to all feedback, so don't forget to leave it (and earn those TPT credits!). If you have a question, just leave it in the Q&A below. I'll get right back to you! Happiness always♥ Marypat
Too many classroom icebreakers require students to take big social risks with people they barely know. Or they don't really help students get to know each other. Or they are just plain cheesy.
It began with one nicety, one kindness, one random act.
These STEAM activities are perfect for homeschool classes or co-ops. Put science, technology, engineering, and math into hands-on homeschool STEM learning.
She's a reader. There's no denying that. She's also quite driven. At only 11, she has already chosen her desired college, major, and minor. And while I recognize that at eleven her opinions and plans might ebb and flow in the coming years, I also know HER and know that when she gets her sights set on a goal, there's no stopping her determination. That being said, the plan she has penciled in for herself after much prayer and self-evaluation requires a strong literary background. With that in mind, I have spent many months putting together a middle school reading list that will set her on that path. (This post contains affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for full details.) The Selection Process Since I'm not a huge fan of most modern reading lists and award-winning books, I have consulted only quality lists from sources that I trust which include THESE lovely gems, The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling Teens, and The Home Scholar. I have pored over countless titles and have devised a list of 50 that I think represent a worthwhile sampling of different genres, themes, and eras. There is an intentional absence of non-fiction books since she reads so many of these already for our living literature style science and history. In my opinion, middle school is a time to start developing personal opinions and convictions on many topics while under the protective umbrella of home. That being said, several of these books contain gentle messages that will challenge her current belief system. While I don't introduce them to sway her from her Christian worldview. On the contrary, I hope to use these weightier-themed books to slowly help her grow stronger in her ability to filter EVERYTHING through a Biblical lens. My home is a greenhouse...a place where small buds can grow strong and form deep roots in Truth. Up until this point, so much of my daughter's growing has come from exposure to nothing-but-Truth. But now that she is in middle school and currently doing some high school level course work, she needs to learn how to weather the tough storms that the world will hurl at her by being gently released to find the Truth amidst the lies. With that in mind, I plan on reading several of these heavier titles with her. We will each read our own copy separately and dialogue about them as we are able, dissecting the Truth from the lie. The Plan I have placed all of these books on a "shelf" called Middle School MUST READS in my Goodreads account so that she can see the list at a glance. There really is no structured order to it all. She is free to pick any title at any time. I don't necessarily expect her to read all of these books by the time she starts high school. (Then again, she's an avid reader and just might surprise me. She's actually read a handful of them already!) I mostly just want to set a wide variety of books in front of her that will each add an element of excellence to her literary journey without the worldly indoctrination that so many popular books offer. As always, when she finishes a book, she will document it for her annual portfolio and mark it as "read" in my Goodreads account. The Books Classics An Old-Fashioned Girl by Louisa May Alcott Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery Black Beauty by Anna Sewell Call it Courage by Armstrong Sperry Captains Courageous by Rudyard Kipling Little Women by Louisa May Alcott My Antonia by Willa Cather* Old Yeller by Fred Gipson Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie The Black Arrow by Robert Louis Stevenson The Call of the Wild by Jack London The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls General Fiction Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt Black Ships Before Troy by Rosemary Sutcliff Blue Willow by Doris Gates Johnny Tremain by Esther Hoskins Forbes Letters from Rifka byKaren Hesse* Lyddie by Katherine Paterson* Men of Iron by Howard Pyle* Mr. Tucket by Gary Paulsen* Rascal by Sterling North Redwall by Brian Jacques Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor* Sounder by William H. Armstrong Steal Away by Jennifer Armstrong* The Borrowers by Mary Norton The House of Sixty Fathers by Meindert DeJong* The Miracle Worker by Willian Gibson The Shakespeare Stealer by Gary Blackwood* The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo Tree Castle Island by Jean Craighead George* The Cay by Theodore Taylor The Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell* Watership Down by Richard Adams Tales from Shakespeare by Charles Lamb Biographies/Autobiographies America's Paul Revere by Esther Hoskins Forbes Amos Fortune, Free Man by Elizabeth Yates Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery by Russell Freedman Joni: An Unforgettable Story by Joni Eareckson Tada Not a Tame Lion: The Spiritual Legacy of C.S. Lewis and the Chronicles of Narnia by Terry Glaspey The Diary of a Young Girl by Ann Frank Up From Slavery by Booker T. Washington *Books that I am not as familiar with and will be reading alongside her. For more great book suggestions, be sure to head to iHomeschool Network and check out the Massive Guide to Homeschool Reading Lists!
Book Synopsis Based on the award-winning comics cocreated by artist Ryan Sygh, The Backstagers and the Theater of the Ancients is an original middle-grade book from actor Andy Mientus. After all the backstage ghost drama during Phantasm, things are quiet for the Backstagers of the St. Genesius School Drama Club. Too quiet. But when that quiet is filled by a mysterious voice that haunts the Backstagers day and night, they set off on a globetrotting adventure to discover the ancient secrets of the legendary artifacts of the theater. Can they solve the mystery in time to open their production of the rock musical Tammy? Each Backstager brings unique skills to the team: Mischievous Sasha is impossibly positive; no-nonsense Aziz makes sure everything runs smoothly; whiz-kid Beckett is a perfectionist through and through; flirtatious Hunter knows the backstage better than anyone; and sweet Jory can think his way through any problem. Effortlessly inclusive and full of adventure, The Backstagers and the Theater of the Ancients is sure to have readers calling, "Encore!" The Backstagers series: The Backstagers and the Ghost Light (#1) The Backstagers and the Theater of the Ancients (#2) The Backstagers and the Final Blackout (#3) About the Author Andy Mientus is an actor, singer, and songwriter who is known for his roles in Spring Awakening, Wicked, Les Misérables, Smash, and The Flash. He lives in New York. Rian Sygh is a comic artist and cocreator, along with James Tynion IV, of the award-winning Backstagers comics. He lives in Glendale, California.
Find good books for your middle school students who are reluctant readers, maybe even struggling readers, books that are motivating, some at lower levels.
Holes Novel Study Activities - resources for teaching a novel study on Holes by Louis Sachar - graphic organizers, questions, and projects!
This Green Ember Book Club was an absolute hit. Our book club included food, games, and activities in addition to our great discussion.
Looking for unique post-reading activities to inspire students and provide a sample of their analytical skills? Find high-interest strategies for secondary.
Finding engaging TED Talks for middle school students is important task in inspiring and motivating your students. Find them right here!