Middle Grades Literature Study

The Middle Grades Literature Study is project that convenes educators with a range of roles and geographic locations into a virtual learning community to meet monthly and discuss current middle grade texts (book-length fiction and non-fiction for grades 3-6). Together, the group practices “reading like a teacher” in order to ensure students are meeting grade-level standards, while developing an understanding of text complexity and the need for diverse texts. For each of the six monthly meetings, the group studies a set of texts curated from the recommended Choices from the Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC). For each text, we create a resource page that identifies what we loved about each book, ideas for the classroom, specific standards that can be taught with the book, other texts that can be paired, and a text complexity rubric.

18 members | 5 affiliated resources

A Scarf for Keiko by Ann Malaspina

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The Middle Grades Literature Study practiced “reading like a teacher” in order to use high-quality, current and diverse middle grade texts within instructional materials to ensure students are meeting grade-level reading standards, can read and comprehend a variety of complex literary and informational texts, while better understanding themselves and others and experiencing the joy of reading. The resources provided include ideas for meeting grade-level standards in grades 3-6, completed text complexity analyses, and additional resources and texts to consider. We hope these might serve as a model for literacy leaders and teachers to replicate at the local level.

Material Type: Teaching/Learning Strategy

Authors: 2023-24 Middle Grades Literature Study, Marvina Thao

Berry Song by Michaela Goade

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The Middle Grades Literature Study practiced “reading like a teacher” in order to use high-quality, current and diverse middle grade texts within instructional materials to ensure students are meeting grade-level reading standards, can read and comprehend a variety of complex literary and informational texts, while better understanding themselves and others and experiencing the joy of reading. The resources provided include ideas for meeting grade-level standards in grades 3-6, completed text complexity analyses, and additional resources and texts to consider. We hope these might serve as a model for literacy leaders and teachers to replicate at the local level.

Material Type: Teaching/Learning Strategy

Author: Robin Bindrich

Your Place in the Universe

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The Middle Grades Literature Study practiced “reading like a teacher” in order to use high-quality, current and diverse middle grade texts within instructional materials to ensure students are meeting grade-level reading standards, can read and comprehend a variety of complex literary and informational texts, while better understanding themselves and others and experiencing the joy of reading. The resources provided include ideas for meeting grade-level standards in grades 3-6, completed text complexity analyses, and additional resources and texts to consider. We hope these might serve as a model for literacy leaders and teachers to replicate at the local level.

Material Type: Teaching/Learning Strategy

Authors: Robin Bindrich, Tracy Preece, Meghan Retallick

The Callers by Kiah Thomas

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Overview: The Middle Grades Literature Study practiced “reading like a teacher” in order to use high-quality, current and diverse middle grade texts within instructional materials to ensure students are meeting grade-level reading standards, can read and comprehend a variety of complex literary and informational texts, while better understanding themselves and others and experiencing the joy of reading. The resources provided include ideas for meeting grade-level standards in grades 3-6, completed text complexity analyses, and additional resources and texts to consider. We hope these might serve as a model for literacy leaders and teachers to replicate at the local level.

Material Type: Teaching/Learning Strategy

Authors: Robin Bindrich, Abigail Kreisa

A Rover's Story by Jasmine Warga

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Overview: The Middle Grades Literature Study practiced “reading like a teacher” in order to use high-quality, current and diverse middle grade texts within instructional materials to ensure students are meeting grade-level reading standards, can read and comprehend a variety of complex literary and informational texts, while better understanding themselves and others and experiencing the joy of reading. The resources provided include ideas for meeting grade-level standards in grades 3-6, completed text complexity analyses, and additional resources and texts to consider. We hope these might serve as a model for literacy leaders and teachers to replicate at the local level.

Material Type: Teaching/Learning Strategy

Authors: Robin Bindrich, Mary Ann Feutz