Skip to main content

Teacher Tips *Bonus Content* Discovering Middle Grade Magic

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 homelessness. The events character Joe Oak encounters help readers understand the struggle of others. 



This novel fosters critical thinking by addressing complex issues such as anxiety and OCD, as well as living with a grandparent with Alzheimer’s. A dash of humor makes this book great for adult readers, too! 



This middle grade novel about a Chinese American tween who attends a Boston-based Chinese cultural overnight camp does very well what most middle grade novels work to accomplish: balance engaging content and make content accessible for fluency and comprehension. 


Tips for Teachers


Start a Book Club

Create a classroom book club to spark discussions and encourage collaborative analysis. 


Integrate Across Subjects

Use historical fiction to complement history lessons or nonfiction to spark STEM-related discussions. 


Invite Student Choice

Let students choose books based on interests to empower their learning. This is an excellent strategy to engage readers during independent reading. 


Use as Mentor Texts

Highlight well-crafted characters, vivid settings, or creative plot structure to teach literacy skills. 


Middle grade books provide a transformative journey. By integrating these stories into your teaching, you can meet curricular goals, as well as inspire students to become thoughtful, compassionate, and curious. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Middle Grade Mondays: A Weekly Adventure in Books

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,...
1 comment
Read more

‘24 Greatest Hits You Might Have Missed

According to Goodreads , I read 432 books in 2024. I am ranked as a Top 1% reviewer. My top genres: children’s fiction, middle grade fiction, and historical fiction. The books on this list include those genres and more.  In reality, I read hundreds of more books than that (I serve on a national book committee, and I don’t rate books that fall in that category until after the awardees are named each November). During the past year I was reintroduced to comics – specifically, those with a Western focus – thrillers, and speculative fiction. Poetry is always a favorite, and I am always trying to read more nonfiction.  If you’re looking to catch up on some middle grade reads that were released in 2024, then check out this list. The best part – these are titles you might have missed.  I will also dip a bit into children’s and young adult fiction, because a good book is a good book, and I want to share those, too. The list is categorized by genre and not ranked in any particular...
Post a Comment
Read more

This Thing Called Wrestling: A Poem for Moms (Version B, no pictures)

A wrestling poem for our daughters and sons In the arena of strength and might,  Warriors clash with all their fight,  Moms stand as guardians, guiding lights,  Moms of wrestlers, hearts take flight.  Singlets donned and shoes laced tight,  Our children step forth into the wrestlers' fight.  Warriors on the mat, relentless and bright, Moms cheer from the stands, with all our might.  Grueling practices and endless drills, A wrestler’s determination never stills.  With every takedown, pin, and win,  Moms witness their passion, their spirit within.  Wrestling rooms – sweat-soaked and tough, Wrestlers learn resilience, discipline, and all is enough.  Moms watch them grow, fierce and kind, True embodiment of body and mind.  Moms bandage their wounds, seen and not, With tender care, moms tend a lot. A mother’s love knows no bounds, Supporting their dreams, hearing wrestling sounds. In the face of setbacks and moments of doubt, Moms o...
Post a Comment
Read more