If your students stare blankly at rubrics or ignore them altogether, this episode is for you.

In this episode of Two Middle School ELA Teachers, Shannon shares a fun, low-stakes, and unforgettable way to introduce students to what a rubric really is—by blowing bubbles. You'll hear how she uses a bubble-blowing challenge to teach the two essential parts of a rubric (criteria and levels) and how that experience gives students the confidence to understand and use the SC READY argumentative writing rubric.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How to set up the bubblegum rubric activity

• How to transition into the real writing rubric using student-friendly language

• How to run a fishbowl scoring activity that helps students internalize rubric expectations

• Why rubrics give students power—and how to make that message stick

Grab our free bubble gum rubric here!

Get ready for a frightfully fun October in your ELA classroom! In this episode, Shannon shares how to host a One-Sentence Spooky Story Week to teach sentence structure, punctuation, and style in a way that feels creative and seasonal. Learn how to help students start sentences in new ways, weave in clauses and phrases, and build suspense in just one chilling line. Then, discover how a Dead Word Funeral sets the perfect stage for stronger word choice all month long. Packed with mentor examples, teaching tips, and Halloween classroom magic — this one's a must-listen for ELA teachers who love a good scare and great writing.

Check out our Weak Words Dead and Gone Activity Pack in our TPT store!

Every teacher has those days—when behaviors feel overwhelming, the lesson doesn't land, or you leave school wondering if you're really making a difference. In this episode, I open up about the reality of defeated days in the classroom and share five practical ways to reset. You'll also hear encouragement to remind you that one hard day doesn't define your calling. Tomorrow is a brand-new chance, and your presence matters more than you know.

Are you accidentally making behavior problems worse in your middle school classroom? In this episode, Shannon and Tammy break down five common teacher defense mechanisms—from lagging on lessons to fisheye syndrome—that feel easier in the moment but slowly wreck classroom climate. You'll hear real examples from our classrooms, practical strategies to use instead, and encouragement to step into behavior management with confidence.

Want more help with classroom management? We have a Classroom Management Playbook that you can check out in our TPT store. This resource is also included in our ELA Core Club!

Ready to purchase all of the systems in the ELA Core Club and have coaching calls with us? Click here!

If you prefer to purchase on TPT, we offer a bundle for each grade level that's very similar to the ELA Core Club. The only difference is that it doesn't include the coaching piece (two calls and unlimited email support). You can grab the Yearlong ELA Curriculum: Everything You Need for 6th, 7th, or 8th grade by clicking the links below.

6th Grade Yearlong ELA Curriculum

7th grade Yearlong ELA Curriculum

8th grade Yearlong ELA Curriculum

In this episode, I'm sharing a quick, engaging vocabulary activity you can try tomorrow in your middle school ELA class and an update that will make your planning life easier.

Be sure and download our FREE sample of the ELA Core Club! Just click the link below.

https://bit.ly/elaclubfreebie

Ready to purchase all of the systems in the ELA Core Club and have coaching calls with us? Click here!

If you prefer to purchase on TPT, we offer a bundle for each grade level that's very similar to the ELA Core Club. The only difference is that it doesn't include the coaching piece (two calls and unlimited email support). You can grab the Yearlong ELA Curriculum: Everything You Need for 6th, 7th, or 8th grade by clicking the links below.

6th Grade Yearlong ELA Curriculum

7th grade Yearlong ELA Curriculum

8th grade Yearlong ELA Curriculum

In today's episode of Two Middle School ELA Teachers by ELA Core Plans, Shannon shares one of her all-time favorite middle school ELA classroom activities! This isn't just fun and games—it's powerful ELA instruction wrapped in courtroom drama. If you want the complete mock trial resource for Rikki-tikki-tavi that is discussed in this episode, you can download it on TPT by clicking this link!

Also.. we've got a free gift just for YOU, our listeners. You can now download a free sample of the ELA Core Club for 6th, 7th, or 8th grade. It's packed with ready-to-use resources:

✔️ Two weeks of Core Chomp and Standard Start bell ringers ✔️ Unit 1 of grammar ✔️ Unit 1 of vocabulary ✔️ Free handouts from our Best Practices and Mini Lesson folders

Grab yours here: https://bit.ly/elaclubfreebie

This isn't just a sneak peek—it's a full-on jumpstart to running your middle school ELA classroom with confidence and consistency. If you love the sample, the full ELA Core Club is a one-time purchase you can use for years. Plus, it comes with unlimited email support for a year and two personal coaching calls with us!

Also, if you haven't had a chance to grab your free first week lessons, you can visit this link to grab those: bit.ly/ELAFreeWeek

If you love the freebie, and you're ready to start using all of the resources in the ELA Core Club, click here to purchase and use the code ELAInsiders for a discount (good through Sept. 8, 2025)!

Whether you're a new teacher or a seasoned pro looking for a streamlined system, this episode—and the freebie—are for you.

Classroom management doesn't have to be a trial-by-fire experience. In this episode of Two Middle School ELA Teachers, Shannon and Tammy get real about the rookie behavior mistakes they made—and still see others making—in middle school classrooms.

Whether you're a brand new teacher or a veteran who's feeling the midweek burnout, this heart-to-heart will leave you with practical behavior tips you can use tomorrow.

Bonus Resources Mentioned:

• Grab your FREE back-to-school printables for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade: bit.ly/elafreeweek

• Want the full Classroom Behavior Playbook? It's inside the ELA Core Club—a one-time purchase packed with systems that help you manage your classroom and fit everything in. Use the code ELAINSIDER for a discount until September 8th!

Let's reflect together:

• What rookie behavior mistake are you still making?

• What's one small habit you can shift this week?

• Who's in your corner when you need support?

In this episode of Two Middle School ELA Teachers, we're announcing the three amazing winners of our ELA Core Club Giveaway. We're thrilled for these teachers to experience the full power of the ELA Core Club Year-long curriculum!

But that's not all... we've got a free gift just for YOU, our listeners. You can now download a free sample of the ELA Core Club for 6th, 7th, or 8th grade. It's packed with ready-to-use resources:

✔️ Two weeks of Core Chomp and Standard Start bell ringers ✔️ Unit 1 of grammar ✔️ Unit 1 of vocabulary ✔️ Free handouts from our Best Practices and Mini Lesson folders

🎁 Grab yours here: https://bit.ly/elaclubfreebie

This isn't just a sneak peek—it's a full-on jumpstart to running your middle school ELA classroom with confidence and consistency. If you love the sample, the full ELA Core Club is a one-time purchase you can use for years. Plus, it comes with unlimited email support for a year and two personal coaching calls with us!

Also, if you haven't had a chance to grab your free first week lessons, you can visit this link to grab those: bit.ly/ELAFreeWeek

If you love the freebie, and you're ready to start using all of the resources in the ELA Core Club, click here to purchase and use the code ELAInsiders for a discount (good through Sept. 8, 2025)!

Whether you're a new teacher or a seasoned pro looking for a streamlined system, this episode—and the freebie—are for you.

Start your school year with laughter, connection, and classroom community! In this episode of Two Middle School ELA Teachers by ELA Core Plans, we're sharing engaging icebreakers that are perfect for Day 1 in your ELA classroom. From team-building challenges to creative communication games, you'll find activities that help students bond—and make your first day fun and memorable. Plus, don't miss our giveaway! Go take a look at our newest product - ELA Core Club and use the discount code to save today!

Mentioned in this episode:

• Freebie + Giveaway: bit.ly/ELAFreeWeek

• Discount Code: ELAInsiders (good through Sept 8)

Want to start the school year strong with a classroom full of motivated, respectful, and engaged middle schoolers? In this episode of Two Middle School ELA Teachers, we dive into one of the most important (yet often overlooked) ingredients for classroom success: classroom climate.

You'll walk away with ideas you can use right away to create a space your students will love walking into—and that you'll love teaching in.

Don't forget to grab your free week of ELA lessons to kick off the year with confidence! Get entered into the ELA Core Club giveaway when you download. Link below.

💬 Mentioned in this episode:

• TikTok Teacher: Misty Brock, and us ~ ELA Core Plans!

• Freebie + Giveaway: bit.ly/ELAFreeWeek

• Discount Code: ELAInsiders (good through Sept 8)