.png "Review for your big essay test with one or all 3 of these ideas!")
Every year we take a state essay writing test. Obviously, we will want to review but what are the best ways to prep for an essay test? It's not necessarily all that easy -- or is it?
Here are my Top 3 Essay Prep Ideas for Middle School:
1. The Essay Challenge
Students are given a prompt, texts, and a checklist to write an essay. Each successfully completed step from the checklist earns a puzzle piece. On the appointed day, students are awarded whatever their puzzle shows that they earned!
In my class, students earned a "mudpie" - a pudding cup with all sorts of things to go with it like chocolate chips, gummy bears, and sprinkles. Another time, students earned a popcorn "party". ;)
.png "Create an essay challenge to motivate your middle school students to review for the state writing test!")
Unfortunately, some students only earned their straw (for the popcorn party) or their spoon (for the mudpies). I think they thought I would just give in on the day of the reward, but I didn't. This was a lesson inside of a lesson!
However, this also told me that there were students who still needed more review.
2. The Collaborative Essay
We read a prompt and text set as a class. Then in groups, students had to work together to answer task cards - but not any task cards - each card represented one sentence in the essay based on the prompt and text set!
Students worked together, debated, and even referred to classroom resources to prove each other right or wrong! Through the struggle, they learned why certain answers were indeed correct. Then they wrote out the entire answer on special paper.
Once they had answered all the task cards, they had an essay that they needed to re-write in its proper format.
I heard so many great conversations! Many students said "Now I get it" after having to work things out with their classmates. And you know what? They really did get it - as my students (33% of whom were ELL) had the highest essay scores in the school!
3. The Essay Game Show
My students love a game! And when they can team up with their friends, it makes for some great engagement!
I made 25 questions about informative and argumentative essays with categories of:
Introduction paragraphs
Body paragraphs
Conclusion paragraphs
Counterclaim paragraphs
Miscellaneous
Not only was this good, interactive fun in the classroom, but when I posted it on Canvas (our learning management system), students could use it to review at home too!
You can make each one of these things yourself but all the work is done - save tons of time with these ready-to-use resources:
I hope you use one or more of these ideas to help your middle school students review for your state essay tests and that they work as well for you as they did for me!
Thanks for stopping by!
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