TOP 5 ELA OPPSFOR MIDDLESCHOOLERS

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1 . IDEASComing up with many and variedideas can be challenging forsome students.

Take some class time tobrainstorm just for ideas practice!You could turn it into a regulargame.

2. PLANNINGMany kids hate to plan becausethey think planning has to be apage-long Venn diagram, butwriting plans can be simple.

Encourage students to createshort, jot-list style plans as well aspracticing longer plans.

3.PARAGRAPHINGStudents don't always see thevalue in using paragraphs, sowriting can appear on the page asa giant blob.

Practice sorting ideas into"buckets." Each bucket shouldbe its own paragraph. Teachindention and block paragraphing.

4.CAPS + COMMASAs might be expected amongtext-messaging teens, manyyoung writers stylistically avoidcapitalization and forget commas--especially those in compoundsentences.

Give each error its own color code. Havestudents color code their practice writingsfor these errors before submitting.

5.DETAILSWhether the details come in theform of imagery in a narrative orapplicable evidence in a literaryresponse or expository essay,many students struggle to includeenough details.

In groups, let students pick a scenario from a cup. Give groups 5-minutes to list as many details orbits of relevant evidence as possible.

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