Mrs. Beers Language Arts Classroom

Bud, Not Buddy Novel Study: Lesson Plans and Character Activities for Teachers

Erin Beers — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 19:40:04 +0000

Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis is one of those perfect middle school novels that teaches character resilience while keeping kids engaged page after page. The Great Depression setting gives you a built-in angle for teaching historical fiction, which is something many teachers struggle ...

Earth Day Activities for Middle School: Reader’s Theater, Crafts, and ELA Lessons

Erin Beers — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:14:23 +0000

Earth Day is one of those school days that can come and go without much fanfare. State testing is often in full swing, and the schedule is jam-packed with only a month or so left of instruction. Earth Day is important, though, and students are ...

April ELA Activities: Poetry Month, Earth Day, and Spring Break Writing for Middle School

Erin Beers — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 22:05:34 +0000

April is packed with teaching opportunities like Poetry Month, Earth Day, and spring break reflections. As teachers, we need April ELA activities that engage our middle school students but don't cost us more hours of lesson planning. I've pulled together my favorite print-and-go April activities ...

Wonder by RJ Palacio: Lesson Plans and Character Analysis Activities

Erin Beers — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 17:33:52 +0000

Wonder by R.J. Palacio is one of my favorite books to teach in middle school because it sparks authentic discussions about empathy, perspective, and acceptance. If you're looking for Wonder lesson plans that are ready to teach, I've got you covered. In this post, I'll ...

Freak the Mighty Novel Study: The Perfect Novel for Struggling Readers

Erin Beers — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 16:14:57 +0000

Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick is one of those perfect middle school novels that can motivate even your most reluctant readers. Your 5th/6th graders will love the friendship between Max and Kevin, and your intervention-level 7th and 8th graders will see themselves reflected in ...

Love That Dog Novel Study: How to Teach Poetry to Reluctant Middle School Writers

Erin Beers — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 15:18:49 +0000

If your middle school poetry unit feels flat, you're not alone. Most students see poetry as irrelevant, difficult, and frankly, boring. But Love That Dog by Sharon Creech changes everything. This novel teaches poetry analysis through a relatable character, Jack, a reluctant poet who starts ...