Make it Middle School

Inspired by Building Thinking Classrooms by Peter Liljedahl, this math content bundle encourages your students to think creatively and collectively.  The tasks in this bundle are designed to have your students working together in a vertical learning format.  All 171 problems focus on the standards and expectations in a middle school math class.  These problems, although designed for group work, can also be used for assessment and individual practice.

Vertical learning can transform a math classroom. When students get out of their chairs and work on non-permanent surfaces, they start to communicate and think more effectively. The following set of 67 problems are examples of activities I use to engage student thinking. The problems allow students to approach math from more than one perspective. As my school year progressed, I would randomly use different problems to review concepts taught earlier in the semester. These problems and this approa

If you are a middle school teacher, the following list of comments is a must have. The comments are grouped by subject, strand, and level. The Learning Skills section comes with a variety of paragraphs based on skill level and behaviour. Simply copy and paste these comments into your report cards and change the name. These comments are specifically written for students in grade 7 and grade 8.

Although Paul Fisher has bad eyesight, he certainly sees things quite clearly. When his family takes up residence in Tangerine, it does not take Paul too long to know what’s going on, even though the things that happen around him are nothing short of bizarre. The following questions are clustered into 8 different activity pages. Each activity page roughly covers around 30-35 pages in the book. The page numbers at the top of each activity sheet identify the amount of reading students are resp

Conspiracy theories are everywhere, and to a certain degree, we all believe in them. This small unit examines some of the issues related to our belief in various conspiracy theories, whether it be the Kennedy Assasination, 9/11, or the more recent QAnon phenomenon. Students are asked to examine their own beliefs to understand some of the reasons why belief in a particular conspiracy theory is held on to so tightly!

Social Justice and Global Citizenship are extremely important topics that students from grades 5-8 need to learn about. In a language arts program, a great deal of time can easily be spent on topics related to social justice such as refugees, charities, aboriginal people, and citizens from developing countries. The following unit has a broad range of activities that I have compiled over the years to help my students understand the importance of being a good global citizen. I would use this un

Set in 1832, The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle is a high seas adventure centered on a young female protagonist who has to travel across the ocean by herself in order to reunite with her family already in North America. Her crossing is anything but normal. In no time whatsoever, Charlotte is front and center in a whirlwind of events that will change her in ways that she could not have imagined! The following is a novel guide with questions and vocabulary for every chapter. It can be used

The following is a compilation of the high interest, non-fiction units I have developed and used in my classroom over the last five years. Each unit comes with a variety of readings that will provoke debate and discussion in your classroom. Each reading also has questions that allow your students to look beyond the text while working on important skills such as connecting, inferring, questioning, summarizing, and synthesizing. Combined with any fiction you introduce in your class, there is enoug

You cannot move too far without being inundated with social media. Whether it’s our connection to Facebook or the use of every new and improving Smart Phones, Social Media is here to stay and needs to be understood. This unit of study focuses on a key question: What are some of the positive and negative impacts that social media has on young people? Readings have been included to help students examine and debate the issues. A list of reading from the Nelson Literacy series has also been incl

Problem Solving is the cornerstone of a successful math program. The following 25 problems can be used individually or with groups. A problem solving rubric is included to help assess a student's ability to communicate their understanding and mathematical processes. I have used these problems successfully in my 20 years as a middle school teacher, and I have grouped them according to strand. Enjoy!

One thing I have noticed teaching middle school for over 20 years: kids love a good debate, and the vaccine debate is something that most kids find incredibly interesting. This unit digs deep into the reasons for vaccinations and why some people choose not to have their children vaccinated. Students look closely at school district vaccine policy, and they also examine the case study of Ethan Lindenberger who went against his parents wishes and got himself vaccinated. A variety of different rubri

The following is a compilation of the high interest, non-fiction units I have developed and used in my classroom over the last five years. Each unit comes with a variety of readings that will provoke debate and discussion in your classroom. Each reading also has questions that allow your students to look beyond the text while working on important skills such as connecting, inferring, and synthesizing. Combined with any fiction you introduce in your class, there is enough content here for two yea

If you are a middle school teacher, the following list of comments is a must have. The comments are grouped by subject, strand, and level. The Learning Skills section comes with a variety of paragraphs based on skill level and behaviour. Simply copy and paste these comments into your report cards and change the name. These comments are specifically written for students in grade 7 and grade 8 but they can be modified for other grades. Some of the learning skills paragraphs are also written with t

Recently, the issue of fake news has become front and center in public discourse. This unit has selected non-fiction readings which allow students to examine the problem of fake news in great detail. This literacy unit has different activities, such as summary writing, online research of fake news, connecting to personal experience, creating fake news headlines, and using success criteria to write a fake news story.

This bundle has full novel studies for the following titles: 1. Elijah of Buxton 2. Airborn 3. To Look a Nazi in the Eye 4. One Thousand Hills 5. On The Spectrum 6. The Canadian Highland 7. Tangerine 8. The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle Each novel study comes complete with questions that allow students to recall critical information, synthesize new learning, pursue inquiries beyond the text, connect, and infer. The bundle comes at a discounted price. The novel studies can be assigned eit

Studying social justice in middle school helps students develop a deeper understanding of fairness, equality, and the world around them. This unit explores topics such as homelessness, climate justice, and gender equality. Throughout the unit, students learn to think critically about society and their role in making it better. Introducing social justice at this age equips young learners with the tools to address complex issues and promotes a classroom environment where respect and inclusivity ca

Smart phones, computers, ipads, and other screens are a simple fact of life. They are as much a part of the landscape of the modern world as the appliances in your kitchen or the car in your driveway. But is there a saturation point with screens where too much is simply “too much”? This unit examines the issue of screen time with youth, looking into the topics of brain development, physical activity, and digital detox.

As a teacher, your job is no easy feat. From developing lesson plans and evaluating student progress to participating in extra-curricular activities and communicating with parents, you have a full plate of responsibilities. And when report card time comes around, it's yet another task to add to the list. To help lighten the load, this database of report card comments provides a head start on your writing. All 4 levels are written with appropriate qualifiers and next steps, and the comments are f

Matt Cruse is a cabin boy on the Aurora, an airship that commonly travels across the Pacificus Ocean. On one such crossing, Matt helps to recover an unconscious pilot just before he dies, and the ensuing adventure leads him into a band of pirates, a shipwreck, the possible discovery of a new species, and the stubborn determination of Miss Kate de Vries.The following novel study gives students the opportunity to examine some of the more important themes of this award-winning book. You can use t

From planking to pet rocks, fads and trends have captivated people across generations, shaping culture and sparking conversations. This literacy unit invites middle school students to explore the world of fads—what they are, why they happen, and how they influence society. Through different readings, studentsdiscover the history, creativity, and impact of various trends and fads. Alongside reading, activities like discussions and writing exercises challenge students to think critically, express