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By MARISSA DESPINS Updated April 11, 2024 Engaging students in challenging yet fun activities can be a hard task for any teacher, but using “Would You Rather” writing prompts in upper elementary is an excellent way to get kids involved and excited about learning. Not only are Would You Rather activities fun and interactive, but they also…
By MARISSA DESPINS Updated Dec 14, 2023 Tips for novel Study Text Selection The novel study text selection process is an important but daunting task. With so many great new titles popping up, as well as the tried and true classics, it can be challenging to choose the perfect text for your learners. As teachers, we know…
By MARISSA DESPINS Updated Nov 14, 2023 how to keep students engaged before a holiday break The holiday season is upon us, which means that there are only a few short weeks left before students (and teachers!) have a much-needed break from school. However, before the break, there is still work to be done! Below are a…
By MARISSA DESPINS Updated Nov 30, 2023 Engaging holiday short stories for middle school As the holidays approach, you may be looking for some short stories to share with your middle school students. Whether you’re looking for something heartwarming, funny, or thought-provoking, there are plenty of great holiday-themed short stories out there that are sure to engage…
By MARISSA DESPINS Updated Nov 28, 2023 Members of the Creative Classroom Core Community already know how passionate I am about teaching novel studies. I truly believe that the novel study is the backbone of the middle school and upper elementary ELA curriculum, and bring with them a wealth of important learning benefits. Sharing a whole class…
By MARISSA DESPINS Updated Feb 9, 2024 Teaching Freak the Mighty Teacher friends who have been following me on the blog for a while know how passionate I am about the powerful teaching tool that is the middle school novel study. I strongly believe that the novel study can be the backbone of the middle school ELA…