About the store
Welcome to your new favorite corner of the internet for all things middle school ELA! 🎉
I’m Savannah, a real-life middle school teacher who knows what it’s like to teach standards, manage chaos, and try to keep a straight face during 7th grade lunch duty. Inside this store, you’ll find creative, standards-aligned resources that are classroom-tested and student-approved.
From engaging lesson plans to classroom management lifesavers, everything here is designed to save you time, spark student thinking, and bring a little joy back into your daily routine.
Grab what you need, pour a fresh cup of coffee (or reheat it for the third time...no judgment here), and let’s make teaching a little easier and a lot more fun. 💛
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First Day of Middle School Getting to Know You Icebreaker Activity: Bottle Flip
This game, y’all. This. Game! As soon as tell them to bring in bottles because they are going to do a bottle flip challenge, your cool points will double. Maybe even triple. Hahaha! This is a fast paced partner game where students get to flip water bottles Dude Perfect style while asking each other get to know you questions. I love walking around and hearing the answers to the random questions like.. What animal best represents your dance moves?If you could ask your pet one question, what would
6th - 12th
Classroom Community, For All Subjects
Mood and Tone Mini Lesson Notes & Activities for Middle School
Help your students confidently analyze mood and tone in literature with this engaging and interactive mini lesson! Designed for middle school ELA classrooms, this resource simplifies this complex standard and gives students the tools they need to differentiate between mood and tone, analyze their effects, and apply their understanding to texts. What’s Included:1. Google Slides Presentation: 15 colorful and interactive slides that define mood and tone, explain their differences, and show how th
6th - 8th
English Language Arts, Poetry, Reading
CCSS
RL.6.4
, RL.7.4
, RL.8.4
+1
Theme Mini Lesson | Notes & Application Activity | Middle School ELA
*2022 Update* Your students have probably been studying theme since 1st grade. By the time they get to middle school, they need to dive a little deeper into this concept. This lesson will review theme and help students further explore this topic. This Resource Includes:1. Google Slides Notes: 9 creative and colorful slides that covers theme, 3 steps to identify theme, and how theme relates to plot. 2. Fill in the Blank Notes: Help your students follow along with the lesson using this fill in
6th - 8th
English Language Arts, Reading
CCSS
RL.6.2
, RL.7.2
, RL.8.2
+1
Argumentative Writing Unit Lessons and Practice Activities
If you are planning an argumentative writing unit, then this bundle of lessons is everything you need to teach your students how to write a quality argumentative essay. The seven lessons are designed to take your students from the planning stages to the final essay. Bundle Download Includes:1. Seven Mini Lessons- Overview of Argumentative Writing, Thesis Statements, Introduction Paragraphs, Relevant Evidence, Body Paragraphs, and Conclusion Paragraphs. Each lesson will help your students unders
6th - 10th
English Language Arts, Writing, Writing-Essays
CCSS
CCRA.W.1
, CCRA.W.4
, CCRA.W.5
+2
Connotation & Denotation Mini Lesson and Activities for Middle School ELA
*2021 Update* This is the first step to get your students to understand tone. With this mini lesson, you will teach your middle school students what connotation and denotation mean, and its importance in a sentence. It is a great starting off point for analyzing passages. What's Included:1. Google Slides Presentation: 10 creative and colorful slides that will help your students understand the basics of connotation and denotation 2. Vocabulary and Definitions: Introduces and explains- Figurati
6th - 8th
English Language Arts, Poetry, Reading
CCSS
RL.6.4
, RL.7.4
, RL.8.4
+1
Bell Ringer for Middle School ELA Classroom Journal Prompts- 50 Prompts
**Updated 2022** Question of the Days are freestyle journal entries set to music. In my experience, this style of writing helps students feeling more comfortable with their ideas and the process of writing. As a bonus, when you read their journals, you learned so much about your students which will strengthen relationships and connections. This download includes:Colorful Google Slides Presentation: 50 colorful slides to help you stay organized. Questions are split into 10 sets (5 questions in
6th - 9th
Creative Writing, English Language Arts, Writing
Author's Purpose and POV Bundle: Mini Lesson & Engaging Practice Activities (NF)
Get the complete package right here! This Author's Purpose and Point of View bundle for nonfiction text is a comprehensive resource that will help you teach standard RI.6 to your middle school students. This Bundle Includes:Author's Purpose and POV Mini Lesson1. Google Slides Presentation: 28 colorful and engaging slides that provides students with detailed notes about author’s purpose and point of view. 2. Notes: Defines and explains author’s purpose, point of view, and bias. Provides a step-
6th - 8th
English Language Arts, Reading, Reading Strategies
CCSS, TEKS
RI.6.6
, RI.7.6
, RI.8.6
+8
Inference Mini Lesson + Activities | Developing an Understanding | Middle School
*Updated 2026* Looking for a ready-to-teach inference mini lesson for middle school? This lesson builds a foundational understanding of inference for grades 6, 7, and 8. I t's perfect for introducing the skill or reteaching students who are still just summarizing instead of reading between the lines.Students learn what inference is, what two things every inference requires (text clues and background knowledge), and how to follow a three-step process to make and support an inference. Real-world,
6th - 8th
English Language Arts, Literature
CCSS
RL.6.1
, RL.7.1
, RL.8.1
Also included in: Inference Bundle with Mini Lesson and Quest Activities _ Middle School
Types of Irony: Mini Lesson Notes and Activities for Middle School ELA
In order to understand why an author would use irony, students need to understand irony and the different types. With this mini lesson, you will teach your middle school students the three types of irony, how to recognize it, and the purpose of each type. What's Included:1. Google Slides Presentation: 18 creative and colorful slides that will help your students understand the basics of argument and claims. 2. Vocabulary and Definitions: Introduces and explains- Situational, Dramatic, and Verb
6th - 8th
English Language Arts, Literature, Reading
CCSS
RL.8.6
, L.8.5a
, CCRA.R.6
How to Write a Thesis Statement Mini Lesson and Activities
This mini lesson is a simple and straight to the point method to teach how to write an effective and solid three-pronged thesis statement. No prep needed! Lesson Download Includes:1. Hook Activity- In order to get students engaged in the topic, they will play a game of Take a Stand! Game Cards and Instructions Included. 2. Mini Lesson- 7 colorful and creative slides that walk students through how to develop a thesis statement. Students will learn the definition and purpose for thesis statem
6th - 9th
English Language Arts, Writing, Writing-Essays
CCSS
CCRA.W.1
, CCRA.W.2
, CCRA.W.4
+1
Also included in: Argumentative Writing Unit Lessons and Practice Activities
Central Idea Mini Lesson for Informational Text (Middle School) Digital & PDF
Central Idea Mini Lesson for Informational TextThis mini lesson will help your students learn what a central idea is and the steps to follow in order to write one. In addition, students will practice writing a central idea statement after reading two short passages and a short informational article. This Product Includes:Google Slides Presentation: 14 colorful and engaging slides that walks the students through the process of writing a central idea statement.Notes: Defines and explains centra
6th - 8th
English Language Arts, Informational Text, Reading
CCSS
RI.6.2
, RI.7.2
, RI.8.2
+1
First Week of Middle School: Building Relationships Bundle of Lesson Plans
You are a great teacher (that's why you're checking out products related to building relationships) and you know how important it is to spend time getting to know WHO your students are before you jump head first into content. This bundle will help you build and start to form those relationships from day 1! What's Included: (Click on the links for more detailed descriptions)1. Alpha Autobiographies: All this super simple activity has them do is think of something for each letter of the alphabe
6th - 9th
Classroom Community, English Language Arts, For All Subjects
Author's Purpose & Point of View Mini Lesson Informational Text - Middle School
*Updated 2021* Wow! I always wonder why it is so hard for middle school students to determine author's point of view and purpose? Is it because they struggle to put themselves in other's shoes? Is it because it takes a mature level of analyzing? I'm just not sure {but when I figure it out, I will write a book all about it! haha! }. However, what I do know is that this lesson is a great way to introduce determining author's purpose and point of view in informational text.This Product Includes
6th - 8th
Close Reading, English Language Arts, Informational Text
CCSS
RI.6.6
, RI.7.6
, RI.8.6
Chasing Lincoln's Killer Complete Lesson Plan Bundle
This is EVERYTHING you need to teach Chasing Lincoln's Killer! From pre-reading to final test, this download has it all! 1. Lesson Plans and Novel Guide:35 Page Novel Guide: For each chapter...Vocabulary Section with Frayer Model Jot Section (a place where students can annotate while they read)12-15 Comprehension QuestionsStandardized Test Practice Question Analyzing Figurative Language Section2 Short Answer Standards Based Questions Question Writing Section where students can practice writing
5th - 8th
Close Reading, Informational Text, Other (ELA)
CCSS
CCRA.R.1
, CCRA.R.2
, CCRA.R.3
+2
Best Selling Chasing Lincoln's Killer Lesson Plan & Novel Guide: Updated!
**2019 Complete Product EDIT and UPDATE!** I have read all of your comments and completely updated and revised my best selling product to better meet the needs of you and your students! **2020 Update: Packet answer key and master vocabulary list added***What's Included:35 Page Novel Guide: For each chapter...Vocabulary Section with Frayer Model Jot Section (a place where students can annotate while they read)12-15 Comprehension QuestionsStandardized Test Practice Question Analyzing Figurative
5th - 8th
English Language Arts, Informational Text, Reading Strategies
Also included in: Chasing Lincoln's Killer Complete Lesson Plan Bundle
Poetry Structure Mini Lesson for Middle School Notes and Activities RL4
*Updated 2022*Before you take a deep dive into poetry, are you looking for an engaging way to review, teach, and/or introduce POETRY STRUCTURES to your middle school students? Then this is it! This lesson is a great intro to poetry and will help your students break down the basics of how a poem is structured by learning about and exploring stanza, repetition, rhyme, rhyme scheme, and line break. This Resource Includes:Google Slides Presentation: 15 colorful and engaging slides that introduce
6th - 8th
English Language Arts, Poetry
CCSS
RL.6.4
, RL.7.4
, RL.8.4
Point of View Mini Lesson: Notes and Activities: Middle School ELA
Point of View Mini LessonGive your students the foundation they need to understand how Point of View impacts their reading experience. This engaging, interactive mini-lesson breaks down the different types of POV with creative visuals, hands-on practice, and clear explanations to help students grasp this essential concept. What’s Included:1. Google Slides Presentation:19 colorful and engaging slides that explain 1st person, 2nd person, and the three types of 3rd person POV.Includes an embedded
6th - 8th
English Language Arts, Literature, Reading
CCSS
RL.6.3
, RL.7.3
, RL.8.3
+1
Objective Summary Mini Lesson Activity for Middle School ELA - Digital
*2022 Update* That RL 2 standard is a heavy one, isn't it? Theme, central idea, and objective summary. Where students have been doing theme and central idea for several years, I have found a lot of my middle school students have no idea what an objective summary is. This mini lesson helps to introduce the concept and give them some practice with identifying and writing an objective summary. This Download Includes: 1. Google Slides Presentation: 10 creative and colorful slides that will help y
6th - 8th
English Language Arts, Literature, Reading
CCSS
RL.6.2
, RL.7.2
, RL.8.2
+1
Argument and Claims Bundle: Mini lesson, Activities & Project- Middle School ELA
Help your middle school students not only understand the basics of arguments and claims, but also how to apply the concepts. These activities are perfect way to bring engagement to your middle school ELA classroom. Mini Lesson Notes & ActivitiesThis is the first step to get your students to read critically and analytically. With this mini lesson, you will teach your middle school students what an argument and claim is, how to find it, and how to analyze the evidence.It is a great starting off p
6th - 9th
Close Reading, English Language Arts, Writing
CCSS
RI.6.8
, RI.7.8
, RI.8.8
+2
Arguments and Claims Practice Activities (Perfect for Middle Schoolers!)
These five activities are an engaging and creative way to help your students practice identifying the different elements of an argumentative text. The Quests: Quest 1: Part One-Students will identify if the sentences are opinions or claims. Part Two-Students will write their own claim sentence based on a topic they select. Quest 2: Part One-Students will read a claim and then classify each which evidence is relevant and irr. Part Two-Students will write their own claim sentence based on a topic
6th - 8th
Close Reading, English Language Arts, Writing
CCSS
CCRA.R.8
Also included in: Arguments and Claims Bundle: Mini Lesson and Application Activities
Showing 1-20 of 290 results
About the store
Experience
Welcome to your new favorite corner of the internet for all things middle school ELA! 🎉
I’m Savannah, a real-life middle school teacher who knows what it’s like to teach standards, manage chaos, and try to keep a straight face during 7th grade lunch duty. Inside this store, you’ll find creative, standards-aligned resources that are classroom-tested and student-approved.
From engaging lesson plans to classroom management lifesavers, everything here is designed to save you time, spark student thinking, and bring a little joy back into your daily routine.
Grab what you need, pour a fresh cup of coffee (or reheat it for the third time...no judgment here), and let’s make teaching a little easier and a lot more fun. 💛
Teaching style
I believe in a classroom built on collaboration, creativity, and clear structure. Personalized learning, consistent procedures, and a strong sense of community are at the heart of everything I do. Most of all, I believe that when we teach students to love reading, everything else starts to click into place.
Awards & shining teacher moments
I was honored to be named Teacher of the Year in 2021. It was an unforgettable moment that reminded me just how much heart and hustle go into this work. From classroom chaos to “aha!” moments, I’ve lived it all… and I’m here to share what works (and what doesn’t) with you.
My own education history
Masters of Middle Grades Education from Gardner Webb University-2013
Bachelor of Arts in Education from University of Charlotte- 2006
Additional biographical information
Additional Info
Want even more ideas, strategies, and ready-to-use resources for your middle school classroom? Come hang out with me over on my website! It’s packed with tips, freebies, and tools to help you thrive in the classroom (without burning out).
👉 www.teachingintentionally.com
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