Teaching Resources for Middle School & ELA
Stop spending your weekends planning and start teaching with confidence. Leveraging over 25 years of classroom experience, Taking Grades provides standards-aligned, ready-to-use teaching resources designed to engage students and simplify your prep time.
Why Choose Taking Grades Teaching Resources?
Our teaching resources aren’t just worksheets; they are comprehensive tools built on decades of real-world classroom success. We focus on creating materials that foster critical thinking and deep comprehension, ensuring that every lesson plan or novel study you download is both academically rigorous and easy to implement.
- Teacher-Created, Teacher-Tested → Every resource is developed by a classroom teacher who understands real-world challenges.
- Engaging & Student-Friendly → Interactive, age-appropriate activities that help keep students motivated.
- Standards-Aligned → Designed to match curriculum goals and support measurable outcomes.
- Time-Saving for Teachers → Downloadable, ready-to-use materials mean less planning and more teaching.
- Affordable & Accessible → Wide selection of cost-effective bundles and free teaching resources.
Browse Resources by Category
Featured Favorites
From our signature intensive Novel Study Guides to our quick-start Bell Ringers, these teacher-favorites have been tested in thousands of classrooms nationwide. These resources are specifically crafted for Grades 4-8, helping you bridge the gap between core curriculum and genuine student interest.
Free Printable Teaching Resources
We know that seeing is believing. Explore our collection of free teaching resources to experience the quality and depth of our materials firsthand. Download a sample today and see how our ‘no-prep’ philosophy can transform your daily teaching routine.
Who Benefits from Our Resources?
- Elementary & Middle School Teachers looking for ready-made lesson plans
- Homeschool Parents who want structured, high-quality learning tools
- Substitute Teachers needing quick, effective classroom activities
- Tutors & Intervention Specialists providing targeted student support
About the Author
Margaret Whisnant spent more than two decades in the middle school classroom, seeing firsthand the challenges of keeping students focused and motivated. Today, she pours that expertise into every resource at Taking Grades, helping teachers find the perfect balance between high standards and classroom-tested practicalities.
Yes, our materials are designed with Common Core and state-specific standards in mind, focusing on rigorous reading and writing skills.
Many of our top-rated resources are available in digital formats, making them perfect for both traditional and 1-to-1 Google Classrooms.
Absolutely. Our ‘no-prep’ philosophy makes these resources ideal for homeschool parents looking for structured, high-quality ELA and reading curriculum support.