From COVID to teacher strikes, students around the world have faced many unexpected interruptions to their learning in the past few years. These interruptions are more than just an inconvenience, they can contribute to ‘learning loss’ in the short or even long term. But there’s no need to panic! There are solutions in sight, and they aren’t as difficult or complicated to implement as you may think. How parents can help children with learning loss There are two main types of learning loss: learning loss due to interrupted studies (pandemic learning loss, interrupted learning, and summer learnin ..read more

Hello! Today’s free middle school writing lesson is based on a short piece of writing by a mountain climber that describes a moment high up on a rockface. This writing activity focuses on relating a story in the third person. Students can follow the instructions to write their own version of what happened. This lesson can be used by substitute teachers or as a constructive exercise to help students improve their writing and story-telling skills. Simple exercises like this, which involve accurately relating facts and events, are also helpful as students begin to develop essay writing skills. Ke ..read more

Hello! Today’s free middle school writing lesson focuses on developing self-awareness, in particular, on encouraging students to notice something they are good at. Students will read a short piece of writing in which the author expresses their own ability to be a good listener. They will answer some questions that help them take a closer look at the text, then follow the instructions to complete a short writing assignment in which they describe something they have noticed they, themselves, can do well. This lesson includes basic instructions for Language Arts teachers of Grades 6 to 8 – how yo ..read more

When learning the fine art of essay writing, there comes a time when a student needs to bridge the gap between a simpler middle school paper and a more complex high school essay. This is a challenge all students face, regardless of whether they are learning in a classroom, being tutored or learning in a homeschool. While making the transition from middle school essay writing to high school essay writing can be difficult, there are many ways teachers and homeschool parents can help young people get through this awkward stage successfully. Let’s look at a few solutions for making essay writing l ..read more

Hello! Today’s free 8th grade middle school writing lesson focuses on a description of someone who gets angry, and whose friend calms them down. Students can read the excerpt, answer some questions to guide them in noting important points, then follow the instructions to complete a writing assignment in which they describe someone becoming angry and being calmed down, in their own words. This lesson includes basic instructions for Language Arts teachers of Grades 8 and up – how you use these materials is up to you. Let’s get started! (Click here to download the lesson in a Word file.) Downloa ..read more

Hello! Today’s free middle school writing lesson is based on a spine-tingling poem about imaginary friends. Cultivating imagination is important to developing awareness of self and surroundings during the teen years. Students will read the poem, answer some questions to help them notice important points, and follow the instructions to complete a creative writing assignment in which they imagine how they feel sitting in a room – with or without imaginary ‘company’. This lesson includes basic instructions for Language Arts teachers of Grades 6 to 8 – how you use these materials is up to you. Let ..read more

Hello! Today’s free middle school writing lesson focuses on two beautiful poems about the sea. Students will read the poems, answer some questions to help them notice the important points, then follow the instructions to complete a creative writing assignment focused on the rhythms of the sea. This lesson includes basic instructions for Language Arts teachers of Grades 6 to 8 – how you use these materials is up to you. Let’s get started! Keep reading, or download the lesson in Word format: Download Grade 6 Creative Writing Lesson: Sea Poetry and Rhythm Here are two poems about the sea. The f ..read more

Many people have special memories linked with rainy day activities. From a magical moment eating a cookie and looking out the window as a very young child, to a special moment of true calm as a beautiful piece of music mingles with the sound of the rain, rainy day activities have a unique quality no matter what your age. In fact, rainy day activities don’t only apply to rainy days – there are cold days, hot days, days when there is too much ice to get around easily, and days when you are recovering from a head cold and don’t know what to do. Any one of these occasions begs for the perfect ‘rai ..read more

Hello! Today’s free middle school “heroism writing lesson” focuses on a thoughtful poem about the qualities of a hero. Students can read the poem, answer some questions to guide them in noting important points, then follow the instructions to complete a writing assignment in which they explain some elements of heroism in their own words. This lesson includes basic instructions for Language Arts teachers of Grades 6 to 8 – how you use these materials is up to you. Let’s get started! Keep reading, or download the lesson in a Word file! Download Grade 8 Expository Writing Lesson: Heroism This po ..read more

Hello! Today’s free middle school writing lesson focuses on two beautiful excerpts of descriptive writing set in Fall. Students can read the excerpts, answer some questions to help them notice the important points, then follow the instructions to complete a creative writing assignment focused on describing Autumn. This lesson includes basic instructions for Language Arts teachers of Grades 6 to 8 – how you use these materials is up to you. Let’s get started! Keep reading, or download the lesson in a Word file! grade-7-writing-lesson-autumn-story-beginnings-canadian-winter-homeschool-materials ..read more