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Teaching students how to identify, analyze, and evaluate the use of figurative language in texts can help them grow as readers, as well as writers. But when it comes to the actual challenge of how to teach figurative language, it can be tricky to know where to begin! That’s why I’ve come up with a […]

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Teaching figurative language in middle and high school ELA in six steps

Where I live, winter can sometimes feel long. Don’t get me wrong – I love a lot of things about wintertime! But chilly temperatures, dark mornings and evenings, and heavy snowfall can have a chilling effect on the energy in a classroom. You might be looking for a lesson for middle school ELA that can […]

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There are hundreds of short stories to read at Christmas with ELA students of all ages, but middle schoolers can be an especially tricky group in the run-up to the holidays. They are too old for Santa, but deep down, they’re still kids at heart!  In my experience, even the most skeptical middle schoolers appreciate […]

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Three short stories to read at Christmas with middle school ELA students

I’ve got a soft spot for any holiday that involves a big meal and a decadent dessert, so Thanksgiving ranks up there as one of my favorite times of the year! However, when it comes to incorporating this holiday into the ELA classroom, it can initially seem challenging to find a meaningful Thanksgiving lesson for […]

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The Pumpkin Pie Reading Mystery is an engaging Thanksgiving-themed lesson for middle school ELA.

One thing I absolutely love about using novel studies in middle school ELA is using the power of fiction to help students develop a stronger sense of empathy. After all, novels give the reader a chance to see through a character’s eyes and gain a greater understanding of their experiences. With this in mind, I […]

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October is the season of tricks and treats, and if you’re looking to infuse a few scares into your middle or high school ELA classroom, teaching Neil Gaiman’s short story “Click-Clack the Rattlebag” is an excellent choice. This spooky tale, published in 2015, has all the makings of a perfect ghost story. It centers around […]

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Tips for teaching "Click-Clack the Rattlebag" by Neil Gaiman

If you are teaching “A Sound of Thunder” by Ray Bradbury, you might be looking for creative ideas to bring this thought-provoking short story to life for middle or high school students. In my opinion, “A Sound of Thunder” is a great text to share with students as Halloween approaches! But really, it’s an awesome […]

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Tips for teaching "A Sound of Thunder" by Ray Bradbury

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