Spring fever is real — and if your middle school students are suddenly acting like they have forgotten how to sit, listen, think, or care, you are not alone.

In this episode, I'm sharing a fun poetry lesson I tried today when my students were restless, distracted, and not exactly eager to do "regular school." I used the poem "Autobiography in Five Short Chapters," but this same idea could work with almost any poem you are already teaching.

The best part? The lesson actually worked. Students were engaged, they were thinking, they were talking, and it even gave me a fresh idea for what to do next.

If you are a middle school ELA teacher trying to survive the last stretch of the school year, this episode will give you a simple, low-prep poetry activity you can use right away.

What makes a teacher truly effective?

Is it the lessons they design? The strategies they use? The test scores their students achieve?

In this episode of Two Middle School ELA Teachers by ELA Core Plans, we explore 12 characteristics of effective teachers that students consistently remember years later.

If you're a teacher who wants to make a lasting impact—not just academically, but personally—this episode will encourage you and remind you why the work you do matters.

We'll also share a fun St. Patrick's Day writing activity you can use with your students that practices important ELA skills while keeping students engaged. You can find the link below.

Click here for two FREE engaging writing activities to use this March in your middle school ELA classroom! These are perfect for St. Patrick's Day!

In this episode for Middle School ELA teachers, we tackle the nonstop "roast climate" that can hijack your class—yo mama jokes, put-downs, and the back-and-forth that feeds off the audience. You'll learn how to tell the difference between joking and harmful comments using the Roast Scale, what to say in the moment, and how to use clear, consistent consequences to shut it down and reset your classroom culture.

This link will take you to the Google Form for signing-up to be our very first teacher that we get to help launch 5 TPT Products with a personalized blueprint! ! We can't wait to help you! Sign up today! We will select one teacher later in January!