Think centers are just for elementary classrooms? Think again. In this episode, I’m joined by Rachel from Uniquely Upper to explore how learning stations—or centers—can be a game-changer in middle and high school ELA. We discuss how centers promote differentiation, increase student engagement, and help teachers target skill gaps in a manageable, meaningful way.

Rachel shares tips for getting started, ideas for designing centers that support various learning styles and ability levels, and how to make stations feel age-appropriate for older students. Whether you’re new to centers or looking to make them work at the secondary level, this episode will show you how to boost independence, collaboration, and targeted learning—all within your existing classroom structure.

Read more in the show notes. 

Get to Know Rachel from Uniquely Upper

Rachel is a busy mom of four who works full-time on creating grammar resources and providing teaching tips to help busy teachers. She taught for over 10 years before stepping out of the classroom full-time. She spent 2 of those years as an ELA interventionist for upper elementary, where she worked with students and teachers to bridge learning gaps. 

Rachel's passion for teaching grammar began when she recognized her students' struggles with skill mastery early on in her teaching career. Year after year, students seem to struggle with grasping the many skills within the grammar realm. This passion was amped up when her daughter (10th grade at the time) expressed concern about not knowing how to identify the various parts of speech.  She recognizes the importance of bringing change that helps teachers and students. Through her resources and tips, Rachel hopes to bridge the gap between learning and time.

Connect with Rachel

• Uniquely Upper
• Connect with Rachel
• Monthly Grammar Centers

Be sure to listen to all the episodes in the Summer Series. 

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