3 Tips for Creating Middle School Reading Curriculum

By creating a reading curriculum for middle school students that is challenging, sets high expectations and provides effective instruction, teachers are able to encourage students to strive harder and achieve greater results. Reading curriculum is an important part of English literacy, and teachers need to select materials carefully based on the grade level.

Here are three simple tips that can set the foundation for your middle school reading curriculum.

Set goals

The only way to create effective reading curriculum for middle school is with a goal. Teachers need to set goals based on the standards and guidelines while keeping in mind the students within the class.

The goal of middle school reading curriculum is to build on the lessons learned in elementary school and extend literary knowledge for improvements in reading and writing skills.

Each school year, teachers need to set goals for the different lesson plans, the entire year and the different categories of learning students are expected to know before standardized testing. The goals should focus on small steps, the intermediate steps and the final expectations that students must meet by the end of the year. By working from smaller to larger goals, teachers can develop effective lesson plans that help students achieve each step.

Set aside time for class discussions

Reading curriculum is not only about the actual skill of reading a book. Teachers need to instruct middle school students in the basics of evaluating the information presented in the book and then work on improving their abilities.

Effective reading programs for middle school students use cooperative learning by breaking students up into groups or providing class discussion. By having students discuss the different ideas in the reading content, teachers are able to encourage the entire class to think about the materials.

Include fun activities

Creating reading curriculum for middle school is not limited to the technical details and lessons. Students are still young enough to enjoy activities that incorporate comprehension and ideas from reading assignments that are designed for fun.

Activities that can help improve student performance, comprehension and evaluation skills can range from finding the poetry in favorite songs to playing card games that are designed around lessons like cause and effect found in literary works.

The goal of middle school reading is to develop new ideas, understand materials after reading and improve on skills that were developed at a younger age. Activities can help improve comprehension, analysis and vocabulary skills.