Middle School Classroom Chronicle

The bridge from elementary school to middle school can be daunting, so it is helpful for students to find familiarity in something they already know, like narrative writing. Starting the year with this type of writing allows me to get to know students through their stories, as they are often more comfortable sharing about themselves in writing.          

From a teaching perspective, starting with the fundamentals of the writing process is essential. The goal is to set students up for success by guiding them through each stage: brainstorming, drafting, revising, editing, and revising again. This is not a one and done writing assignment, but the start of building strong writing habits that will carry them through the year.