I usually post these lists of fantastic teaching books in June, July and August, for teachers to plan what to teach for their next school year.
But parents, you can use them too, to order books and keep your middle school students reading and learning through any extended school shut downs.
Now's a great time, when they may not have enough structured activities to keep them occupied for a 6-hour day, to get your student reading independently. Each post includes book recommendations and links to free, publisher-generated educator's and teaching guides for each book, so you can assess your students' reading progress.
Back-to-School Planning 1: Teaching Social Studies with Books. Teaching Resources for the American Revolution, Civil War, WWI, the Great Depression, WWII, the Cold War, Civil Rights, Vietnam and Immigration.
Back-to-School Planning 2: English Language Arts Resources. Novel Units, Short Stories, Poetry, and Bellwork.
Back-to-School Planning 3: Independent Reading Assignments by Quarter. Four independent reading assignments, with examples of student work, to set expectations for students.
Back-to-School Planning 4: Fun with Star Wars! Why not introduce iambic pentameter and enjoy Ian Doescher's William Shakespeare's Star Wars? Also, now includes materials for teaching Doescher's book, Much Ado About Mean Girls.
