top of page
As an educational blogger, I hope to provide ideas and materials for your curriculum to help you succeed in your classroom! While many of my posts will lead you to my Teachers Pay Teachers store, you will get detailed insight into what has worked in my very own classroom. - Read Write Teach ELA
Search
Preparing for the English Language Arts State Test Writing Tasks: Prompt Prep and Analysis
The writing tasks are the key to success on state standardized tests for language arts.
Megan Mariano
Jan 234 min read
1,381 views
10 comments
Building Stronger Theme Statements: Elevating and Developing Theme
Theme is one of those ELA standards that's taught every. year. And every year, students struggle with the concept. By middle school,...
Megan Mariano
Nov 26, 20243 min read
560 views
13 comments
How NOT to Get Middle Schoolers to Read
The struggle to get students reading real books has gotten much more difficult over the years. With the onset of social media and back in...
Megan Mariano
Oct 7, 20243 min read
850 views
9 comments
Citing Concise Textual Evidence: Avoiding "Quote Plopping"
One of the key things we teach our middle schoolers all year is to support their thinking with textual evidence. In the younger grades, stud
Megan Mariano
Aug 29, 20243 min read
1,343 views
11 comments
Spring Things! Fun with Poetry and Figurative Language
Spring is poetry time! I like to use this time of year to do a poetry unit with my 6th graders (read about that here). That unit focuses...
Megan Mariano
Apr 1, 20242 min read
690 views
20 comments
Why I Don't Do a Daily Reading Log: What I Do Instead
The reading log. What is it exactly? I think most of us reading teachers know, but for those who are not familiar, in short, it's a...
Megan Mariano
Jan 16, 20244 min read
1,479 views
14 comments
Online Research, Note-Taking, & Argument Essay: Student Choice Driven
I was given a 7th grade section of ELA in 2021. Before that, I was only teaching 3 sections of 6th grade. So, I had to plan an entire...
Megan Mariano
May 28, 20235 min read
1,730 views
11 comments
Memoir Reading Unit: Engaging Non-fiction
When I was told I would be teaching a section of 7th grade in the 2021 school year, I immediately was super stressed. I already do ALL...
Megan Mariano
Mar 28, 20233 min read
7,405 views
6 comments
Book Clubs in Middle School: Independence, Choice, and Autonomy
When I started teaching, book clubs were all the rage. In fact, just using real books in general was highly promoted. In my first...
Megan Mariano
Feb 28, 20235 min read
2,015 views
133 comments
Multi-Genre Writing Unit: Companion Websites Based on a Book
Try a multi-genre writing unit in middle school ELA!
Megan Mariano
Jan 19, 20235 min read
1,389 views
1 comment
All the Ways to Use Google Forms in Middle School Language Arts
Google Forms have been around for awhile now. Many teachers use them for easy test-taking, which is great and provides an easy...
Megan Mariano
Dec 27, 20225 min read
1,737 views
6 comments
Historical Fiction in Middle School: Making Connections and Deepening Understanding
Historical fiction...I've found this section of my library to be less frequented than most other sections. Truth be told, I don't ever...
Megan Mariano
Sep 26, 20226 min read
6,362 views
13 comments
My First Unit in 7th Grade: Investigating Characterization
At the date of this posting, it's summer after my first year teaching a 7th grade section of E.L.A. I've always taught 6th (and 5th grade...
Megan Mariano
Jul 19, 20225 min read
7,579 views
5 comments
My First Year in 7th Grade: How it Went, What I Did, and What Will Change
Read about how my first year in teaching 7th grade went.
Megan Mariano
May 31, 20227 min read
4,027 views
14 comments
Social Issues Books for Middle School
As many know who follow me, I find it to be super important for students to CHOOSE books. I typically plan units in my classroom and I...
Megan Mariano
Feb 16, 202210 min read
4,734 views
8 comments
Using "Controversial" Texts: Why We Need Them and How to Use Them
We are living in a very divided time. Parents are at board meetings screaming about critical race theory and are trying to ban books left...
Megan Mariano
Dec 9, 20219 min read
3,550 views
14 comments
Everything You Need for Back-to-School in Middle School E.L.A.
As I write this, we are going in full-time, normal (masked) in September. I really hope that remains true. This post will outline all the...
Megan Mariano
Aug 14, 20216 min read
2,573 views
2 comments
Essays in 6th Grade: A Basic Format that Elevates the Standard 5-Paragraph Structure
6th grade is such a funny year. Funny haha and funny weird. Student writing levels are all over the map. You will have students coming to...
Megan Mariano
Mar 24, 20215 min read
40,857 views
22 comments
Mood vs. Tone in E.L.A.: Activities to Help Middle Schoolers
Mood and tone are two key literary elements that start popping up a lot more in middle school. I've found that students often have a...
Megan Mariano
Feb 17, 20214 min read
57,152 views
8 comments
Dystopian Literature in 6th Grade: Opening Minds and Critical Thinking
Dystopian literature is by far my favorite genre. I'll dabble in other genres, but always find myself right back into this genre. When I...
Megan Mariano
Jan 21, 20217 min read
7,118 views
7 comments
bottom of page