How to Better Support Middle and High School Students With Dyslexia 

Dyslexia is a neurological disorder that affects reading skills. It is a common problem, affecting about 10 percent of the population. Dyslexia can make learning to read difficult and may lead to problems in other areas of a student’s life. There is no one answer to solve the problems of dyslexia. However, there are several things schools and families can do to help students with the disorder.

One of the first things schools can do is designate a teacher or specialist to work with students with dyslexia. This teacher can help students learn to read and understand the text better. In addition, teachers can provide extra help and support by providing step-by-step instructions and accommodations, such as having students take notes during class or having them work in groups. They can also assist with homework and other classroom activities.

The school should also provide accommodations for students with dyslexia. These accommodations can include modified classes, extra time on tests, and other adjustments. The school should also make sure that all students have access to the necessary accommodations. They may also let students take notes during class, work in groups, or have them work on more challenging texts.

Moreover, supporting students outside school can help them improve their reading skills. It might include providing books and texts that are more challenging, providing extra help during homework, and providing support during standardized tests.

Families can also help their children with dyslexia by acting as their main support system. Families can help their children learn to read easier by helping them with their homework and providing them with reading materials. Families can also encourage their children during their school years. By providing these tips, teachers and parents can help students with dyslexia succeed in school.

Lively Christmas Music for Middle School

Christmas is a time for family, friends, and joy. For many, this holiday is celebrated with festive music and cheerful sounds. Whether you’re a middle school student looking for some lively holiday music to enjoy or you’re just looking for something to add some cheer to your day, here are some of our favorite festive tracks.

1. “Joy to the World” by Pentatonix

This powerful and soulful track is sure to uplift your spirits on Christmas morning. It features a spectacular vocal performance by Pentatonix, as well as catchy instrumentals and a powerful drum beat.

2. “All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey

This classic holiday track is a must-listen for any Christmas playlist. It features soaring vocals by Mariah Carey, delicate instrumentals, and a festive beat.

3. “Feliz Navidad” by Los Lonely Boys

This upbeat track will have you dancing in the streets on Christmas Day. It features a catchy beat and festive lyrics that will make you feel like a festive Mexican ballerina.

4. “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby

This classic holiday track is a must-listen for any Christmas playlist. It features comforting vocals by Bing Crosby, beautiful instrumentals, and a festive beat.

5. “O Holy Night” by Celine Dion

This enchanting and passionate track will transport you to a warm Christmas market. It features a soaring vocal performance by Celine Dion, delicate instrumentals, and a festive beat.

Whether you’re looking for festive music to enjoy on your own or you’re looking to add some cheer to your middle school classroom, these five tracks are sure to make your holiday season merry and bright.

Engaging Middle School Easter Activities

There is no one definitive way to engage middle school students during Easter, as the holiday is a personal and individual celebration. However, many Easter activities can be adapted to fit the interests and personalities of your students.

One popular way to celebrate Easter is by baking Easter cookies. This can be a fun activity that allows students to share their creative skills, and it can also be a great way to get students excited for Easter dinner. Another great way to engage middle school students is by hosting an egg hunt. This can be a fun and interactive activity that can also serve to teach students about Easter traditions. Finally, Easter can be celebrated with an Easter egg hunt.   

When it comes to Easter, there is no one right way to celebrate. For some, Easter egg hunts are the ultimate activity. For others, Easter sunrise services are a favorite. But whatever your favorite Easter activity, there is no harm in incorporating some middle school Easter activities into your celebrations.

Here are five fun and engaging ways to engage and entertain middle school Easter guests:

1. Host an Easter party! This is a great way to get your students excited about Easter and to have a lot of fun together. You can have a themed party, or let the kids choose what they want to wear and bring to the party. There are plenty of ideas online, or you can get creative and come up with your own.

2. Have an Easter egg hunt! This is one of the oldest and most popular Easter activities. It is a wonderful way to get the kids active and excited about Easter. You can set up a traditional Easter egg hunt, or try a different version. For example, have the kids hunt for eggs hidden in creative places, or try a treasure hunt.

3. Create an Easter scavenger hunt! This is a great way to get the kids thinking and working together. You can create a simple Easter scavenger hunt, or make it more complicated. For example, have the kids search for Easter eggs hidden in various places around the house, or look for Easter eggs that are related to a specific topic.

4. Make Easter baskets! This is a fun and easy way to get the kids involved in Easter preparations. You can make Easter baskets for the kids in your class, or for the whole school. You can also make Easter baskets for the Easter Egg Roll.

5. Have an Easter egg hunt contest! This is a great way to get the kids involved in Easter celebrations. You can have a simple Easter egg hunt contest, or make it more complicated. For example, have the kids hunt for Easter eggs hidden in different places around the school, or look for Easter eggs that are related to a specific topic.

22 Fun Morning Meeting Ideas for Middle School

Engaging in morning meetings is a great way for middle school students to start the day. It can be an opportunity for students to connect with each other, practice public-speaking, and review important information. Here are 22 fun morning meeting ideas for middle schoolers:

1. Appreciation Circle: Each student takes a turn sharing something they appreciate about someone else in the group.

2. Show and Tell: Each student brings in something from home to share with the group.

3. Problem Solving: Pick a problem facing the school and have students come up with potential solutions.

4. Current Events: Have students discuss a current event or news story.

5. Brainteasers: Challenge students to solve a variety of brainteasers.

6. Inspirational Quotes: Have each student share an inspirational quote.

7. Writing Exercise: Have students write a short story or poem in a specific amount of time.

8. Word of the Day: Introduce a new vocabulary word each day and have students discuss its definition and usage.

9. Matching Game: Give students a list of items that must be matched up in a certain way.

10. Interpersonal Skills: Have students practice different interpersonal skills such as active listening, non-verbal communication, and conflict resolution.

11. Team Building: Engage students in team-building activities that can help strengthen their relationships.

12. Icebreakers: Introduce different icebreaker activities to help students get to know each other better.

13. Job Interviews: Have students practice job interview techniques with each other.

14. Book Reviews: Have students discuss a book they recently read.

15. Debate: Choose a topic and have students debate the opposing sides of an issue.

16. Movie Reviews: Have students share their thoughts on a movie they recently watched.

17. Cultural Exchange: Have students share different cultural customs and traditions.

18. Charades: Have students take turns acting out different words or phrases.

19. Guess Who: Give clues about a famous personality and have students guess who it is.

20. Science Experiments: Introduce a science experiment and have students work together to complete it.

21. Geography: Challenge students to identify countries, capitals, and other geographical features.

22. Games: Choose a variety of different games that students can play together.

These morning meeting ideas can help make the start of the school day more enjoyable and engaging for middle school students. Letting students participate in activities like these can help them learn important skills while also having fun.

36 Educational Websites for Middle School

For middle school students, the internet is an invaluable tool for learning and expanding their knowledge. With the right resources, students can explore their world, build skills, and discover new interests. To help students make the most of their time online, we’ve compiled a list of 36 educational websites for middle schoolers.

1. Khan Academy – Offers free online courses on a variety of topics, from math and science to art and humanities.

2. National Geographic Kids – Fun and educational resources for students, including videos, quizzes, and other interactive learning activities.

3. Discovery Education – Provides educational tools and materials, including virtual field trips, lesson plans, and activities.

4. BrainPop – A subscription-based platform with animated videos and activities that teach students about science, math, social studies, and other subjects.

5. EasyBib – A citation tool that helps students create bibliographies in MLA, APA, and Chicago formats.

6. Education World – A website that offers resources and lesson plans for teachers and students, including study tips and advice.

7. Science Kids – A website devoted to educational science activities, experiments, and games.

8. National Geographic Education – A website with interactive maps, activities, and lesson plans to teach students about geography and history.

9. NoodleTools – A research platform that offers templates and tools to help students write and cite sources.

10. Smithsonian Education – A website with interactive activities and lesson plans about art, history, and culture.

11. BBC Education – A website with videos, games, and interactive activities about science, history, and more.

12. Time for Kids – A subscription-based website that offers articles and resources about current events, history, and science.

13. Code.org – A website with tutorials and activities to help students learn computer programming.

14. ABCya – A website with educational games and activities for students in grades K-5.

15. CoolMath – A website with math games, puzzles, and activities.

16. MathGoodies – A website with free math lessons and activities for students in grades K-8.

17. Scholastic – A website with interactive activities, games, and book recommendations for students in grades K-8.

18. National Geographic Learning – A website with educational games, activities, and resources for students in grades K-12.

19. Common Sense Media – A website with reviews, ratings, and resources to help families find age-appropriate media and activities.

20. Discovery Education Streaming – A subscription-based website with videos, games, and activities about science, history, math, and more.

21. Teen Health & Wellness – A website with articles, activities, and resources about health, safety, and relationships.

22. NASA Kids’ Club – A website with educational games, activities, and resources about space and astronomy.

23. PBS Kids – A website with educational games and activities about literature, science, and math.

24. Prodigy Math Game – A website with an interactive math game designed to help students practice and improve their math skills.

25. IXL – A subscription-based website with math and language arts activities for students in grades K-12.

26. Brain Chase – A website with interactive math and language arts activities for students in grades K-8.

27. National Geography Xpeditions – A website with interactive maps, activities, and resources for students in grades K-12.

28. BrainPOP Jr. – A subscription-based website with educational videos and activities for students in grades K-3.

29. FunBrain – A website with math, reading, and thinking activities for students in grades K-8.

30. Sheppard Software – A website with educational games and activities about science, math, geography, and other topics.

31. KidzSearch – A search engine designed specifically for kids, with age-appropriate resources and activities.

32. CoolMath4Kids – A website with math and logic games, puzzles, and activities for students in grades K-8.

33. MathPlayground – A website with math games, puzzles, and activities for students in grades K-8.

34. ReadWriteThink – A website with lesson plans, activities, and resources to support reading and writing skills.

35. Starfall – A website with educational games and activities to help students learn to read.

36. Adventure Academy – A subscription-based website with educational games and activities about science, math, and language arts.

Theme Activities for Middle School

Theme activities can be a great way to engage middle school students in the classroom. Whether it’s a geography lesson or a history lesson, incorporating a theme can help students make connections and see how different topics relate to one another. Here are some ideas for middle school theme activities that you can use to make learning fun and engaging.

1. Geography Scavenger Hunt: Divide the class into teams and give each team a map of the world. Ask them to find certain geographical points on the map, such as rivers, mountains, cities, and countries. To make the activity more challenging, have them identify certain features of a geographical point, such as the population or the type of terrain.

2. Science in Nature: Take the students outside and have them observe different parts of nature. Ask them to identify plants and animals, and then use the information they gather to talk about different scientific concepts, such as the food chain, ecosystems, and environmental protection.

3. Historical Art: Have the students create art inspired by a particular historical event or person. Ask them to research the event or person and then use the information they gather to create a painting, drawing, sculpture, or another type of artwork that is inspired by the event or person. This can be a great way to help them understand different aspects of history.

4. Culture Through Music: Play a variety of cultural music for the students and have them listen to the different sounds. Ask them to identify the culture that the music comes from, and then have them research the culture and its history. This activity can help them gain a deeper understanding of different cultures around the world.

5. Math Through Movies: Have the students watch a movie with a mathematical theme, such as The Imitation Game or The Big Short. Ask them to identify different mathematical concepts that are used in the movie, such as statistics, probability, and calculus. Then, have them use the concepts to solve a problem related to the movie.

Theme activities can open up a whole new world of learning for middle school students. By engaging them in activities that are both fun and educational, you can help them make connections between different subjects and gain a deeper understanding of the topics they are studying.

5 Fun Food Chain Activities for Middle School

Middle school students can enjoy a variety of food chain activities. Here are some examples:

1. This video is great; it introduces a lot of key vocabulary related to the study of the food chain. It discusses the flow of energy, beginning with photosynthesis and moving all the way up the chain. Use this video at the very beginning of your unit to open up discussions about food chains.

More Information: Learn Bright

2. Food Webs Crash Course

This 4-minute video discusses ecosystems and how all plants and animals within that ecosystem are part of a food web. It investigates what happens when an animal species is taken out of a healthy ecosystem.

More Information: Crash Course Kids

3. Food Chains: As Told By the Lion King

This is a great short video to reinforce the concepts about food chains covered in your unit–from primary consumers to secondary consumers; everyone is covered in this quick video using the Lion King as a reference that almost all students will recognize.

More Information: Madison Thompson

4. Food Web Worksheet

This ten-page packet of food chain worksheets has everything you need for a food chain unit! From defining basic food chain vocabulary to discussion questions, this packet will both assess your students’ knowledge and keep them engaged.

More Information: Crooks Ville

5. Crossword Puzzle

After students understand the concepts of food chains, give them this crossword to test their knowledge. If you want easier or more complex crosswords, you can create your own crossword online using a crossword maker.

More Information: Teachers Pay Teachers

Middle School Teachers: Everything You Need to Know

They usually educate students in sixth through eighth grades. These teachers have precise subjects they teach. Teachers in middle school are usually employed based on their knowledge of a particular subject. In middle school, a teacher could be employed to teach mathematics, social studies, science, English, or history. They typically teach their specialized subjects to various students all through the day, but a few teach a particular classroom of students all their subjects.

Some of these teachers may even teach multiple courses. For example, a middle school teacher, who specializes in science, could teach natural science and biology courses. The responsibilities of middle school teachers may vary but usually include creating classroom rules, preparing courses, assigning lessons, grading tests and homework, and meeting parents to discuss students’ academic progress and behavior issues. Additionally, these teachers may spend extra time with struggling students, often tutoring and mentoring them after hours.

Since middle school is the link between elementary school and high school, teachers in middle school lead a review of concepts the students have learned in elementary school and build on them with more comprehensive information to prepare students for the upcoming high school years.

Kids in middle school are at a formative stage. They are usually at the point in their life where they are finding their interests, finding themselves, and dealing with all sorts of emotions. At this stage, social interaction becomes a bit more complex for them as well. Hence, their teachers become their role models, facilitators, and coaches. They are still delicate at this stage, and the things they learn go a long way in shaping who they become.

It is not strange to see the teachers in middle schools in different classes per time. This makes them spend a limited amount of time with these students, compared to how much time they spend with those in elementary schools. However, these teachers take up other duties, such as being a coach or a counselor for the students. These duties come with some extra compensation.

Typically, middle school teachers must possess at least a bachelor’s degree. Additionally, public school teachers must hold a state-issued license or certification. The BLS anticipates the employment of middle school teachers to grow 7% from 2020 to 2030, almost as swiftly as the average for all occupations. Approximately 48,400 job openings for middle school teachers are projected yearly, on average, over the decade.

Argumentative Essay Topics for Middle School Students

As a middle school student, you are probably starting to learn about the art of persuasive writing. Argumentative essays provide you with a way to share your thoughts and opinions on a specific topic with your readers. These essays require you to analyze, evaluate and convince the reader to accept your point of view. When choosing an argumentative essay topic, it’s essential to select a subject that interests you and allows you to express your thoughts. Here are some exciting argumentative essay topics for middle school students.

1. Should students be allowed to use mobile phones in school?

A popular debate that has continued for years is whether or not students should be allowed to use mobile phones in school. Some believe that phones should be banned because they can be a distraction, while others argue that they can be used for educational purposes.

2. Is homework helpful or harmful?

Homework is a topic that many middle school students have strong opinions about. Some believe that homework helps students learn, while others believe that it’s a waste of time and causes unnecessary stress.

3. Are standardized tests an accurate measure of student learning?

Standardized tests are often used to evaluate student performance, but many argue that they don’t accurately measure a student’s knowledge or abilities. Some believe that such tests put too much pressure on students, while others think it’s an essential part of the education system.

4. Is social media good or bad for middle school students?

Social media has become an essential part of many middle school students’ lives. Some argue that it helps students connect with friends and family, while others believe that it’s a time-wasting and negative influence.

5. Should school uniforms be mandatory?

School uniforms are a topic that has been debated for years. Some believe that they are an essential part of school culture and help to foster a sense of unity and equality, while others argue that they stifle individual expression.

6. Should parents limit screen time for their middle school students?

Screen time is a hot topic for parents and teachers. Some argue that it’s essential to limit screen time to help students focus on other activities like reading and exercise, while others believe that it’s a personal choice and should not be limited.

7. Should middle school students be allowed to have a part-time job?

Some children start working when they’re in middle school, but others believe that it interferes with academics and causes unnecessary stress. This topic is controversial, as it depends on the individual student’s work ethic and ability to balance schoolwork and work duties.

8. Should middle school students learn a second language?

Many believe that learning a second language is essential in today’s global economy, while others argue that it’s not necessary and takes time away from core subjects.

9. Should middle school students be required to perform community service?

Community service is often required in high school or college, but some believe that it should start in middle school. Advocates say that it teaches students the value of volunteering and helps them develop empathy and compassion.

10. Should middle school students be allowed to select their own classes?

Some schools allow students to choose their classes, while others have a predetermined course schedule. Those in favor of choice argue that it allows students to pursue subjects they are passionate about, while others believe it can lead to a lack of focus and wandering attention.

In conclusion, choosing an argumentative essay topic is critical for middle school students, as it can affect the quality of their essays and their grades. It’s always important to select an issue that interests you, but also considers the opinions of others. By doing so, you’ll have an easier time finding research and making your argument. With these exciting argumentative essay topics, you can hone your skills and become a persuasively articulate writer.     

17 Cooking Activities To Teach Middle Schoolers How To Cook

Cooking is a life skill that everyone should learn, and it’s never too early to start teaching your children how to cook. Middle school is a perfect age to begin teaching children how to cook, as they are old enough to follow instructions and understand safety procedures but still curious and excited about new challenges. Here are 17 cooking activities to teach middle schoolers how to cook.

1. Start with safety first. Teach children the proper techniques and safety procedures, such as washing hands, using a sharp knife correctly, and handling hot items.

2. Make Homemade Pizza. This activity will teach children how to work with dough and let them get creative using their favorite toppings.

3. Make Pancakes. Teach students how to make different types of pancakes: savory, sweet, and traditional.

4. Baking cookies. Teach children how to make their favorite cookies to share with friends and family.

5. Make fruit salad. This activity will teach children how to slice fruit and mix ingredients to make a delicious treat.

6. Stir-Fry Meal. Teach children how to prepare and cook a stir-fry meal using fresh vegetables, noodles, and protein.

7. Spaghetti and Meatballs. This activity will teach children how to cook pasta, make meatballs, and create a flavorful sauce.

8. Grilled Cheese. Children love grilled cheese sandwiches, and it is easy to make. Teach children how to make a nutritious and delicious sandwich from scratch.

9. Rice Pudding. This delicious dessert requires children to measure, add ingredients, and cook rice into a sweet treat.

10. Omelets. Teach children how to create the perfect omelet with their favorite ingredients.

11. Veggie wrap. This healthy wrap is a fun way to teach children how to make a tasty, nutritious meal.

12. Quesadillas. Children will love learning how to make cheesy quesadillas, and they can add their favorite ingredients for a personalized touch.

13. Smoothies. Teach children how to make a healthy and delicious smoothie with fresh ingredients.

14. Chicken Fajitas. Teach children how to marinate and cook chicken and create flavorful fajitas with vegetables.

15. Lasagna. This classic Italian meal will teach children how to layer ingredients and cook pasta for a delicious homemade meal.

16. Baked Mac and Cheese. Teach children a classic comfort food recipe and how to make a roux and create a cheese sauce.

17. Sheet Pan Dinner. This activity will teach children how to cook and mix up flavors of vegetables, protein, and carbs on a sheet pan for a simple and quick meal.

In conclusion, cooking is a valuable skill that middle schoolers can learn and master with the right guidance. These seventeen cooking activities for middle schoolers will teach children useful skills and allow them to gain confidence in the kitchen. Cooking also provides children with knowledge about healthy and fresh ingredients, exciting flavor combinations, and how to prepare meals that will nourish them for the rest of their lives.