Reading challenges for middle school

Introduce the 40 book challenge to your students in a way that will get them excited about reading. Perfect for upper elementary and middle school.

Reading comprehension skills like making inferences, finding the main idea, and recognizing cause and effect are critical curriculum elements in any ELA classroom. As our students build their reading skills, they need to develop their understanding of 12 different reading comprehension skills. One of my favorite ways to teach students about the reading skills is with doodle notes. Don't worry...I've put together a 20+ page set of doodle notes that you can download for FREE! (Sign up at the…

If you are like me, you have gone down the rabbit hole of searching for resources, ideas, and strategies to bring the science of reading and structured literacy into the classroom. Your eyes are glazed over and you have some great ideas... but just don't know where (or how) to start. Here are some simple tips that can help you get going on your science of reading journey in your classroom of older students. Tip #5 is my favourite!

TRASH THOSE READING LOGS | Is it possible to have accountability for students' at home reading without using reading logs? I think so and I figured out how with a Status of the Class reading routine. Find out the tips and tricks I used to make status of the class reading routine work and how I created reading accountability without using reading logs! #readingaccountability #upperelementary #backtoschool #readersworkshop #readingworkshop #4thgrade #5thgrade #tarheelstateteacher

If you’re looking for a fresh way to promote reading in your middle school classroom, read on to see how I implemented the million word reading challenge to encourage my readers!

Find a FREE READING BINGO PRINTABLE FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL! Summer or winter break challenge in school or public library activity.

If you have any variation of independent reading in your middle or high school English class, you've undoubtedly faced challenges at some point in the experience. Unlike the enthusiasm for reading in primary grades (think stickers, SSR, take-home bags, cute reading nooks, etc.), it's a huge accomplishment in secondary to get students to read anything, much less doing so with a stocked classroom library, fair assessments, and anything resembling enthusiasm. When many of our kids are…

Includes five captivating picture books that offer rich storytelling, beautiful illustrations, and thought-provoking themes.

Guided reading is a valuable tool for middle school teachers looking to improve their students’ literacy skills. It's an effective strategy to increase comprehension and fluency, and promotes engagement and motivation.

Need some ideas? Inspiration? These are all tried-and-true activities I've done in my libraries over my career. I've worked at all grade levels, both in Texas and in China, so you'll find a wide variety here!