Annotated ELA

Have you ever made the mistake of jumping straight into writing with your students without proper preparation?

In this episode we explore effective strategies to prepare middle school students for argument writing. In this episode, we'll dive into a series of activities designed to lay a strong foundation and help students find their voice as writers before delving into the world of argumentative writing.

Discover how "Argument Writing Activities Middle School" can equip your students for success. From analyzing mentor texts to informal debates and eventually diving into more formal debates, each step of this process is carefully crafted to enhance writing skills. 

Mentor texts play a crucial role in shaping the path to effective argument writing. They serve as exemplary models to evaluate different aspects of writing. 

The journey doesn't stop at analyzing mentor texts. The podcast delves into the power of casual debates in building students' confidence. These low-stakes debates allow students to express their opinions, make claims, and explore various reasons without the need for extensive research.

As students become more comfortable with making claims, they transition into a more formal debate setting. The podcast walks you through the process of providing topics, conducting research, and ultimately drafting structured arguments supported by evidence from texts. 

We'll also introduce the "Philosophical Chairs" activity, where students engage in verbal discussions with a structured written framework to support their claims. This activity serves as a bridge between informal and formal arguments.

With the foundation firmly in place, it's time to introduce the argument writing assignment. Students are now well-prepared to tackle the writing process with confidence, using the skills and knowledge they've acquired through these activities.

If you're a middle school teacher looking for a casual way to engage your students in making claims and practicing argument writing skills, don't forget to grab the free "Which One? Bell Ringers" resource mentioned in the podcast. It's a valuable tool to kickstart the journey to strong argumentative writing skills.

Tune in to this podcast and discover how to prepare your middle school students for success in argument writing through a structured and engaging approach. Your students will thank you for it, and you'll see the results in their writing skills!

Show notes: annotatedela.com/episode28

Grab the free resource Which One? Bell Ringers

Want more support on tracing arguments? Grab the Trace an Argument Middle School resource

Follow along on Instagram @annotatedela

Do your students struggle to trace and evaluate an argument? You and your students will love this fun and engaging solution. Students will become proficient at tracing and evaluating arguments and identifying and analyzing claims, reasons, and evidence using the podcast Smash, Boom Best. 

Smash, Boom, Best is a funny, smart debate show for kids. Every episode takes two cool things, smashes them together and lets you decide which is best: Pikachu vs. Mario, Lollipops vs. Popcorn, Flamingos vs. Axolotls, Mermaids vs. Bigfoot, Cats vs. Dogs, Spiderman vs. Batman, Refrigerators vs. Toilets, Minecraft vs. Lego… the list goes on. 

Not to mention, you don’t have to worry about mature content or language with this podcast and your students will love the silly topics. 

Want to give Smash, Boom, Best a try? Grab Trace an Argument Middle School and pair the listening sheets with the podcast. Students will be engaged the entire time. 

Three Ways to Use Smash, Boom, Best in the Classroom

1. Students write their own arguments using topics from the podcast

1. Students determine the winner of the episode and debate or argue in pairs or groups. 

1. Listen for types of arguments and evidence andeEvaluate it

Show notes: annotatedela.com/episode27

Want more support on tracing arguments? Grab the Trace an Argument Middle School resource

Visit the blog for more on Smash, Boom, Best and tracing arguments: 

Trace and Evaluate an Argument Middle School Using Smash, Boom, Best 

Listen to Smash, Boom, Best

Follow along on Instagram @annotatedela

It’s the time of year when I want to watch Gilmore Girls and gear up for all the cheesy Hallmark movies, all while I’m planning our children’s Halloween costumes and one of my favorite units. 

And one of my favorite units is spooky stories for literary analysis. 

Spooky stories are always a hit in the middle school classroom and I love using them to teach literary analysis. Students are engaged and eager to respond to the literature. 

I’m excited to share 5 spooky stories (bonus for 10 total) and the elements of literature we focus on when preparing for our literary analysis. 

1. “Monsters Are Due on Maple Street” Rod Serling
2. “The Tell-Tale Heart” Edgar Allan Poe
3. “Lamb to a Slaughter”  Roald Dahl
4. “The Monkey’s Paw” W.W. Jacobs
5. “The Landlady” Roald Dahl

Show notes: annotatedela.com/episode26

Want more support on teaching literary analysis? 

Grab the Literary Analysis: Spooky Stories Resource. 

Visit the blog for more spooky story suggestions: 

Ten Spooky Stories for Literary Analysis to Engage Middle Schoolers

Follow along on Instagram @annotatedela

Are you looking for vocabulary tools? Are you feeling stuck when it comes to vocabulary instruction? Maybe you’re a vocabulary rockstar and you’re looking for something different to engage students. 

Whatever your vocabulary status, these vocabulary tools are a great addition to your literacy toolbox.  

Seven Vocabulary Tools

Word Walls

Concept Circles

Possible Questions

Vocab-O-Gram

Contextual Redefinition

Word Sorts

Survival of the Fittest

Show notes: annotatedela.com/episode25

Vocabulary Template | Vocabulary Instruction Tools

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It’s a fantastic guest episode today! Join us as we talk all things Vocabulary with Liz Puma from Vocabulicious. She is the “Vocabulary Queen!”

Liz began her career as a 4th and 5th grade teacher in Vermont. After seven years in the classroom, she transitioned to Educational Technology. She was first a Professional Development Trainer, then an Instructional Coach, and now a Curriculum Consultant. Liz is the founder and author of the blog and TPT Store Vocabulicious: An upper elementary teacher’s guide to creating a word-conscious classroom, where she shares low-investment, high-return ways to incorporate vocabulary instruction across the whole school day. Liz holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and Mathematics and a Master’s Degree in Literacy Education from Saint Michael’s College.

Find Liz on her Blog

Shop Liz’s resources: TPT Vocabulicious

Show notes: annotatedela.com/episode24

Follow along on Instagram @annotatedela

Finding time to teach vocabulary can feel impossible, but it doesn’t have to be. Let’s explore four tips for creating a rich verbal environment that will fit into your daily classroom routine. 

Because not everything has to be perfectly planned and curated. Sharing an interest in words with students can spark a new level of motivation and learning in the classroom. 

Join me to explore:

Paying Attention to Words

Using Mature Language

Word Resources

Exploring Within and Across Words

Show notes: annotatedela.com/episode23

Follow along on Instagram @annotatedela

I don’t know about you, but the number of times I have been told to have students use context clues would make me a millionaire, and the number of times I have used the phrase myself would double that fortune. 

The problem was that my students didn’t know how to use context clues, and I didn’t know how to help them! Can you relate?

Join me to explore:

The Problem with Context Clues

The Process of Using Context

Instructional Sequence

Working with Students

Show notes: annotatedela.com/episode22

Follow along on Instagram @annotatedela

Vocabulary acquisition strategies go beyond providing a list of words and defining them. As teachers, we want students to have word ownership. We want students to be word wizards because a verbal rich environment opens the doors to comprehension and critical thinking. 

How do we encourage word ownership and develop an environment where students use the words they are learning?

1. Frequent encounters with the word
2. Richness of instruction
3. Extension of word use beyond the classroom

Let’s dive into vocabulary acquisition strategies and how we can help students with word meaning after words have been introduced.

Show notes: annotatedela.com/episode21

Follow along on Instagram @annotatedela

Asking a student to narrow a topic is like asking them to explain quantum physics. Fortunately, there are simple strategies you can use to quickly identify and focus on relevant ideas and topics. 

Having students consider their topic on a smaller scale helps them realize what tier focus is and stay on that narrow topic while they write. 

How to Narrow a Topic: 7 Strategies

1. Craft a Title
2. Zoom In
3. Consider Audience and Purpose
4. Pick the Most Important Line 
5. Visualize
6. Draft the Thesis
7. Summarize  

Show notes: annotatedela.com/episode20

Follow along on Instagram @annotatedela

“Is writing important?” A common question at the beginning of the year in my classroom. Many students dread writing and don’t understand why writing is so important. So I spend the first weeks of school (and the entire year) showing students why writing is so important. 

As ELA teachers, we have the task of guiding students through the writing process to be effective communicators and successful writers in all other subjects and life! Writing is such an essential skill, so students need to understand why writing is so important.   

Show notes: annotatedela.com/episode19

Follow along on Instagram @annotatedela