Text structure is important, but middle schoolers do not usually cheer when they hear “cause and effect” or “compare and contrast.” I get it. The skill matters, but the passages we use can make or break the lesson. That is why I like using familiar topics when I teach text structure. If students already care a little bit about the content, they have more brain space to notice how the author organized the information. Disney is perfect for this because students usually have background knowledge before the reading even starts. Start with the structure, not a giant passage Before reading a full text, I like giving students quick examples. A…

Hatchet is one of those books that still grabs middle schoolers. Brian alone in the wilderness with a hatchet, a windbreaker, and a whole lot of problems—students usually want to know what happens next. The danger is turning a great survival story into chapter question overload. I want students to understand plot, character development, theme, conflict, and evidence, but I do not want to squeeze all the excitement out of the book. Make review feel like survival Review does not have to be a packet. A game format works really well with Hatchet because the novel already has suspense and problem-solving built into it. I created this Hatchet Board Game…

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is one of those books where students usually come in with some kind of opinion already. Some have read it three times. Some only know the movies. Some just know Hogwarts exists. Either way, the characters give you a lot to work with. The challenge is getting students past “Harry is brave” or “Snape is mean.” Those answers are not wrong, but they are not enough. A strong Harry Potter character traits activity should push students to look at appearance, actions, dialogue, motivation, and the role each character plays in the story. Here are three ways I like to make character analysis feel a…