Top 5 Middle School ELA Lessons for After State Testing

 

During and after state testing, it can be tempting to just let those middle schools hang out but you know the saying about idle hands, right?

Over the years I have tried many things and these were the top 3 fan favorites:

1. After State Testing, We Read a Novel with Audio

There's something relaxing about just listening to a book. And asking students to follow along or just listen without anything else to do (no notes etc.) can give them that break they need.

After the reading, complete a summary of the text with a game.  I used fill in the blanks summaries when my students read The Outsiders and gave small rewards to anyone who was paying attention and could offer answers.  It became a kind of competition that engaged even the most reluctant learners.

             

2.  After State Testing, We Completed Some PBL

PBL stands for project based learning and one of the students' favorite was planning a summer vacation for their mascot.  These "mascots" were pine cones on which I glued googly eyes.  The students really got into it and made various outfits for their mascot that he/she would wear while on vacation.

Each team researched the location, the sites to see, the ways to get there and then had to fit everything in within a budget.  They presented their PowerPoints (Google Slides) on the last days before school was out.  Everyone loved this project because they could be creative and it got them excited about summer.

               

3.   After State Testing, We Prepared For Summer Reading

First, we had a book tasting of all the books that were recommended for the summer.

We conducted this book tasting with our media specialist who not only told the most tantalizing stories about the books but then played a kind of Jeopardy-style game about the books that the students loved!

Afterward, we made some emoji bookmarks for our summer reading books.  See a free video about how to make these by clicking here.

4.  After State Testing, We Made Our Own Books

Narrative writing can be tons of fun and there never seems to be enough time during the regular school year with so much emphasis on the formal writing of essays.  So students love having the opportunity to be creative and write their own stories.

We start by thinking about who our intended audience will be.  One year we decided that we wanted to write children's books and give them away for summer reading for elementary students.  So we did a little pen pal type of connection and asked them what they wanted books about.

Once we received the notes back, each student chose a note and wrote a book for that child.  We went through the entire writing process and then finally published our books using Blurb.com.

One the books came back, we went to the elementary school and each of my students had a "buddy" for whom they wrote the book.  Then the buddies read the books together and finally, the younger students were gifted with the books.

It was a great learning experience and community service experience all in one!

5.  After State Testing, We Created Our Own Businesses

One year, we received a grant from BizWorld.org and began our own companies selling friendship bracelets.

Students learned the basics - how companies are formed, all about expenses, profit, and revenue, as well as how to talk to others to present themselves and their products.

Everyone took on a job and everyone was responsible for the success of the companies.  It incorporated informational reading, writing, language as well as speaking and listening skills.  Students were fascinated by how businesses really work and how to make them profitable!

We used the profits to take a local field trip to visit another kind of business - a farm!  Here they could see that business isn't just manufactured products.  And they could see how food doesn't just appear at a store!

These are the top 5 favorite after state testing lessons from over the years!  Try one or more with your students and let me know how it goes!

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