Tiff4Tat

Suggestions for middle grade teaching tips like Blackout Poetry, an Escape Room, and much more I don’t write enough about nonfiction, especially for upper elementary and middle grade readers. At NCTE’s 2024 convention – Heart, Hope, & Humanity – I had the great fortune to listen to authors and educators share great books and teaching tips around three nonfiction books.  Why Longform Nonfiction?  Excellent middle grade nonfiction acts in certain ways for readers. It invigorates readers, it provides interactive opportunities for students, and it’s often personal and gritty for readers of all ages.  When the writing is really good, it gets to the point quickly, which is something young readers can engage with immediately. The great books are invitations into other worlds and the topics get kids excited about concepts and reading.  What follows are three books for any reader interested in courageous nonfiction that offers tons of information. Educators: read to the e...

Lovers of middle grade books know their transformative power.  Geared toward readers ages 8-12, middle grade stories create a bridge for readers between early chapter books and young adult novels (for more about differences between the types of books, read this Writer’s Digest article).  While the age range does not equate to middle schoolers, purposes behind middle grade books and what middle school students might learn are often the same: encourage empathy, boost literacy skills, and foster critical thinking.  Recent Middle School Gems to Explore At the 2024 National Council of Teachers of English annual convention, the award committee of the Charlotte Huck Award for Outstanding Fiction for Children named a winner, five honor books, and eight recommended books. What follows are three middle grade Honor books. ( Link HERE for the complete list of winners ).  Middle Grade Honor Books This novel-in-verse fosters empathy by addressing topics of poverty, hunger, and ho...

Lovers of middle grade books know their transformative power.  Geared toward readers ages 8-12, middle grade stories create a bridge for readers between early chapter books and young adult novels (for more about differences between the types of books, read this Writer’s Digest article).  While the age range does not equate to the age of middle schoolers, the purposes behind middle grade books and what middle school students might learn are often the same: encourage empathy, boost literacy skills, and foster critical thinking.  Recent Middle School Gems to Explore At the 2024 National Council of Teachers of English annual convention, the award committee of the Charlotte Huck Award for Outstanding Fiction for Children named a winner, five honor books, and eight recommended books. What follows are three middle grade Honor books. ( Link HERE for the complete list of winners ).  Middle Grade Honor Books This novel-in-verse fosters empathy by addressing topics of poverty,...

Annnnd, we have a winner!  The Charlotte Huck Award for Outstanding Fiction for Children Committee, which focuses on children’s and middle grade fiction, named an award-winning book for 2025! If you're in Boston, plan to attend the Children’s Book Award Luncheon on Saturday at 12:30 to hear the news or look for an announcement on this blog.  The 2024 winner , The Probability of Everything by Sarah Everett ( Clarion Books ), is a middle grade novel. Kemi, an 11-year-old aspiring scientist who loves facts and stats, navigates grief and loss. Follow the link to see Honor and Recommended books to read or use in your classroom.  There are countless benefits to serve on a national book committee: camaraderie, shared passions, critical thinking, and (of course!) free books. As we dialogued and discussed our final 40 books (we read more than 1,000 over the course of the year), I was reminded of the qualities of a text and of the decisions teachers, librarians, and other educati...

I walked into the Westin Seaport in Boston on Wednesday and saw author Ruta Sepytys who was stepping off the elevator (I fangirled). At the bottom of the escalator, educator Penny Kittle was talking with a teacher.  Ruta Sepytys and me (NCTE, 2023) Columbus, Ohio These sightings are just an example of the humanity that exists within the National Council of Teachers of English ( NCTE ) organization. This year’s theme, Heart, Hope, and Humanity, is sure to capture all the greatness among English teachers.  Can’t be with us at the annual convention? Missed a session because you are double- triple- quadruple-booked (because there are so many amazing sessions?). Follow along this weekend for a recap of the sessions and events I will attend.  This is my 17th NCTE conference (and the second in Boston!). NCTE does many things for its members. The annual convention reminds me about three of those things: it opens doors, provides access, and makes available great minds and heart...