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!

In this episode, Shannon shares two quick, high-engagement writing activities you can use right away—even if winter weather has your schedule totally off track. You'll hear how "The Day the Rules Disappeared" works as a persuasive writing lesson and a classroom reset, plus a fun Valentine's option, "Break Up With Winter," that gets even reluctant writers to buy in.

Both resources are FREE and include print-and-teach materials, with an optional interactive extension linked inside. Grab both freebies here!

The Day the Rules Disappeared

Break Up With Winter

January can feel like the first day of school all over again—except your middle schoolers are louder, bolder, and ready to test every boundary. In this episode, we're sharing practical, real-life strategies for middle school ELA teachers who need a true classroom reset after winter break. You'll learn how to choose the most important behaviors to reset, tighten routines without long lectures, prevent problems before they start, and respond calmly and consistently when students push back—so you can get your class back on track fast.

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!

If your students stare blankly at rubrics or ignore them altogether, this episode is for you.

In this episode of Two Middle School ELA Teachers, Shannon shares a fun, low-stakes, and unforgettable way to introduce students to what a rubric really is—by blowing bubbles. You'll hear how she uses a bubble-blowing challenge to teach the two essential parts of a rubric (criteria and levels) and how that experience gives students the confidence to understand and use the SC READY argumentative writing rubric.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How to set up the bubblegum rubric activity

• How to transition into the real writing rubric using student-friendly language

• How to run a fishbowl scoring activity that helps students internalize rubric expectations

• Why rubrics give students power—and how to make that message stick

Grab our free bubble gum rubric here!

Get ready for a frightfully fun October in your ELA classroom! In this episode, Shannon shares how to host a One-Sentence Spooky Story Week to teach sentence structure, punctuation, and style in a way that feels creative and seasonal. Learn how to help students start sentences in new ways, weave in clauses and phrases, and build suspense in just one chilling line. Then, discover how a Dead Word Funeral sets the perfect stage for stronger word choice all month long. Packed with mentor examples, teaching tips, and Halloween classroom magic — this one's a must-listen for ELA teachers who love a good scare and great writing.

Check out our Weak Words Dead and Gone Activity Pack in our TPT store!

Every teacher has those days—when behaviors feel overwhelming, the lesson doesn't land, or you leave school wondering if you're really making a difference. In this episode, I open up about the reality of defeated days in the classroom and share five practical ways to reset. You'll also hear encouragement to remind you that one hard day doesn't define your calling. Tomorrow is a brand-new chance, and your presence matters more than you know.