Annotated ELA

Picture books in middle school? Absolutely! Discover how these treasures can captivate your students and make vocabulary lessons a breeze. Ever thought picture books were just for little kids? Think again! In this exciting episode, former elementary teacher and current consultant Liz shares her passion for read-aloud time and how it became a powerful tool for vocabulary instruction. Imagine your s...

Are you a secondary ELA teacher looking for ways to make your feedback process more efficient and effective?  In this episode of Annotated ELA, we explore three transformative strategies that will save you time and enhance your students' writing skills. First, discover how investing time upfront to develop a bank of commonly used feedback can pay off throughout the school year. Tips on levera...

Do you want your students to take control of their writing? Are you looking for strategies to improve your writing instruction? You won’t want to miss this episode where Melissa Morrison from Teaching to Transform LLC shares strategies and insight into how we can move your students from passive to active when it comes to writing.  Melissa Morrison brings her expertise on authentic writing ins...

Have you tried group essays?   We're unpacking the what and how of group essays and why you should give them a try. First up, group essays save us time. Fewer essays to grade means more time for you to enjoy that extra cup of coffee. But the benefits go beyond that. When students work together, they learn to peer edit and provide feedback. It's about creating a cohesive piece that sounds...

Welcome to the first episode in our summer series on writing feedback! This week, we're diving into three strategies that will change how you approach grading. Join Melissa as she explores how getting laser-focused can save you precious time while providing meaningful feedback to your students. From using single-point rubrics to breaking writing assignments into manageable chunks, these methods wi...

In this episode of Annotated ELA, Melissa tackles the often daunting task of how to grade writer's notebooks. For secondary ELA teachers who regularly integrate writing into their classrooms, assessing these notebooks can seem overwhelming. Melissa shares her approach to making this process not only manageable but also rewarding for both teachers and students. She emphasizes the importance of clea...

In this episode, we are discussing teaching literary analysis to middle and high school students with expert educator Becca Rice from The Teacher Rewrite. She shares her tried-and-true strategies for breaking down the complex process of literary analysis, making it accessible and engaging for students. Becca discusses the importance of starting with short stories and constructed paragraphs, s...

Looking to explore novels in verse for middle grades with you students during poetry month, or any time of the year? Novels in verse provide an opportunity for reluctant readers to find books they love and more advanced readers can explore new genres. Let’s get started and dive into novels in verse for middle grades because they are perfect for all reading levels. No matter what level your student...

Poetry Month is April and I've curated a list of Poetry Month activities designed to deepen your students' appreciation for poetry while making it an engaging and accessible experience in the classroom. From poem a day and poetry explore boards to poetry analysis stations and illustrate a poem; having poetry month activities up your sleeve will engage students in a way that is meaningful and worth...

Does setting up writer’s notebooks with your students have you stumped? Have you tried all the ways and still feel like nothing works? Let’s talk about intentionally setting up writer’s notebooks so it will work for you and your students.  Choosing the ‘right’ notebook The seven key considerations will get you thinking about all aspects of the notebook - from portability to structure, ensurin...

We are visiting the world of narrative hook writing – a skill that goes beyond just “hooking” readers; it's about transforming students into skilled communicators and creative thinkers. Why teach narrative hook writing? It's not just a standard; it's the key to engaging the reader and becoming an effective writer. A well-crafted hook not only captures readers' attention but also elevates student w...

In this episode, we uncover Writer's Notebooks: 7 Powerful Decisions for Success . These considerations are meant to create a useful writer’s notebook that will be used to improve student writing and engage them in the writing process.  1. Choosing a Notebook - from composition to digital options, the first decision encompasses selecting a suitable notebook that aligns with both teacher prefe...

In this episode, we explore teaching students to write narrative hooks.  Crafting narrative hooks can be fun and a chance for students to get creative, but it often comes with its challenges—some students grasp it effortlessly, while others need more guidance and support. I've experimented with various techniques over the years and honed in on a set of reliable strategies. Before diving into...

Looking for ways to engage students in productive ways? This week’s episode has you covered! Join Melissa as we explore three strategies to keep students engaged that will work for just about any assignment.  Discover ways to use Explore Boards, Escape Rooms, and Choice Boards to give students more choices.  Explore Boards are visual displays or interactive stations where students explor...

All the talk about self-care went in one ear and out the other, for many years I was on auto-pilot when it came to thinking about myself. I spent all the free time I had thinking about school and working on school.  Then I had children and discovered that I had no balance in my life. Let’s be honest, there is no balance. There are always times when one thing in life has more attention than an...

As teachers we love to share. Share our knowledge, share our resources, share our best tips, share germs because it’s easier to go to work sick than write sub plans.  What’s even better than sharing, having colleagues who make you better and this week’s episode is all about the teachers I love to follow because they inspire me…and we share all our best stuff! Liz from Vocabulicious helps teac...

It's Thanksgiving week! Time to rest, spend time with those who are important to us, and enjoy our favorite family recipes. This week's episode shares how grateful I am that you show up every week, and in the spirit of resting and slowing down, take a listen and take a look back at three of my favorite episodes. Episode 11: Tips for Using Picture Books to Teach Middle School ELA Episode 16: Novel...

Melissa is exploring a treasure trove of captivating reads perfect for middle-grade book suggestions. In this episode, we're delving into a curated selection of compelling novels that not only captivate our own reading time but also serve as fantastic recommendations for our students. Join her as she explores a variety of genres, from mysteries and dystopian adventures to heartfelt narratives that...

Welcome to another episode in the "My Favorite Things Series," tailored for all you dedicated middle school ELA teachers out there! If you're on the hunt for podcasts that can both enrich your professional life and add a touch of fun to your personal time, you're in the right place. As a fellow teacher, I'm excited to share some fantastic podcast recommendations with you, so grab those headphones...

If you're as passionate about reading and teaching as I am, you won't want to miss this podcast. Join me as we explore seven incredible professional development books to elevate your middle school ELA classroom. In this episode, we'll discuss gems like Notebook Know-How by Aimee Buckner, a fantastic guide to setting up and maintaining writer's notebooks. Discover actionable strategies adaptable to...

Have you ever made the mistake of jumping straight into writing with your students without proper preparation? In this episode we explore effective strategies to prepare middle school students for argument writing. In this episode, we'll dive into a series of activities designed to lay a strong foundation and help students find their voice as writers before delving into the world of argumentative...

Do your students struggle to trace and evaluate an argument? You and your students will love this fun and engaging solution. Students will become proficient at tracing and evaluating arguments and identifying and analyzing claims, reasons, and evidence using the podcast Smash, Boom Best .  Smash, Boom, Best is a funny, smart debate show for kids. Every episode takes two cool things, smashes t...

It’s the time of year when I want to watch Gilmore Girls and gear up for all the cheesy Hallmark movies, all while I’m planning our children’s Halloween costumes and one of my favorite units.  And one of my favorite units is spooky stories for literary analysis.  Spooky stories are always a hit in the middle school classroom and I love using them to teach literary analysis. Students are...

Are you looking for vocabulary tools? Are you feeling stuck when it comes to vocabulary instruction? Maybe you’re a vocabulary rockstar and you’re looking for something different to engage students.  Whatever your vocabulary status, these vocabulary tools are a great addition to your literacy toolbox.   Seven Vocabulary Tools Word Walls Concept Circles Possible Questions Vocab-O-Gra...

It’s a fantastic guest episode today! Join us as we talk all things Vocabulary with Liz Puma from Vocabulicious. She is the “Vocabulary Queen!” Liz began her career as a 4th and 5th grade teacher in Vermont. After seven years in the classroom, she transitioned to Educational Technology. She was first a Professional Development Trainer, then an Instructional Coach, and now a Curriculum Consultant....