Two Middle School ELA Teachers

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)

Prime Day is here, and we're sharing some of our favorite classroom tools, organizational must-haves, and a few fun teacher splurges that make the school year smoother. In this episode, we're walking you through our top Amazon picks—things we use (and love!) in our middle school ELA classrooms to stay calm, collected, and ready to teach.

From color-coded folders and dry erase boards to our dream ice maker and a pencil dispenser that actually works, we're talking practical meets fun—and we've got a full wish list you can browse!

PLUS: Don't forget—every teacher who downloads a free week of plans from the ELA Core Club is automatically entered to win a complete Core Club for their grade level (6th, 7th, or 8th). One-time purchase, lifetime calm.

Links from the Episode:

• Our Amazon Prime Day Wish List

• Free Week + Giveaway Entry: bit.ly/elafreeweek

• Use code ELAINSIDERS for 25% off the Core Club through Sept 8!

Take what helps, skip what doesn't, and treat yourself to something that makes teaching a little easier. You deserve it!

In this episode, we're talking about the three systems every middle school ELA teacher should have in place before school starts — systems that save time, reduce stress, and actually work all year long!

Plus, we'll show you how to grab everything we mention (and then some!) inside the ELA Core Club — and how to get started with our free First Week ELA Launch Kit!

Grab your free week of lesson plans here!

When you download, you'll automatically be entered to win the full ELA Core Club for your grade level!

Let's make this your smoothest school year yet — systems first, stress-free planning second.

In today's episode, I'm sharing how I'm spending my summer—and it's not just about relaxing! From reading a powerful book to exploring creative outlets, I'm discovering some exciting ways to bring new ideas into my world, and I want to share how you can do this too! Plus, I've got a special offer for those of you looking to make a move this summer. Tune in to hear how you can start building something incredible and why now is the perfect time to take action.

Links mentioned in the show: ChatGPT Quick Course

Ready to secure your 25% discount on our upcoming resource for new middle school ELA teachers? Fill out the form below to be one of the first 25 teachers to get this exclusive offer. Don't miss out!

Click here to sign up for your discount!

2 End-of-Year ELA Activities Your Students Will Actually Enjoy

It's May, the end of the school year, and we all know what that means – restless students, tired teachers, and a countdown to summer break. But before you toss your gradebook in the air and head for the beach, I've got two creative, low-prep ELA activities that will keep your students engaged and laughing through the final days of school.

In this episode, I'll share: ✅ The Year in Review Skit Challenge – a high-energy, creative way to wrap up the year and review characters, themes, and conflicts. ✅ Plotline Pictionary – a fast-paced, student-generated game that's perfect for reinforcing key scenes and literary elements.

Plus, I'll give you a sneak peek at how I'm using ChatGPT to survive these last days of school – and how you can too.

So if you're ready to keep your students learning (and keep your sanity intact) through the last days of the year, this episode is for you.

Links Mentioned in the Show: 🎯 Freebie – Your First 10 Minutes with ChatGPT (Teacher Edition) 🎯 AI for Teachers Course – Learn to use ChatGPT to save hours every week

Happy teaching, and thanks for listening!

Are you unknowingly teaching to just a few students while the rest fade into the background? In this solo episode of Two Middle School ELA Teachers, Shannon dives into two hidden classroom challenges—fisheye syndrome and the classic case of hogs and logs.