Middle School ELA Curriculum for Private and Independent Schools
Private and independent schools that need a complete grades 6–8 English language arts course can use ELA Complete – Middle School: 100+ resources on reading comprehension, text analysis and narrative, informative and argumentative writing. It replaces the patchwork of novel guides and old handouts many small schools rely on, and it downloads instantly so the ELA teacher or head of school can review the full year right away.
See the ELA curriculum →ELA Complete – Middle School, from $149.90, is a no-prep English language arts curriculum for grades 6–8. It teaches reading of fiction and nonfiction, short stories, excerpts, articles and speeches, with lessons on plot, character, theme, conflict, point of view and text structure. Writing units cover narrative, informative and argumentative essays from planning through editing, using textual evidence. Private schools should check it against their own program goals; no outside approval is claimed.
The curriculum
ELA Complete – Middle School, Grades 6–8
Start with the full curriculum. The other resources below are optional add-ons. Open any cover for the full contents and price.
The real problem
The ELA patchwork at small independent schools
Small private schools often build middle school English around a reading list. Each grade has its beloved novels, and the teacher writes discussion questions and an essay prompt for each. That approach produces good readers of those particular books, but the skills underneath can be uneven. A student may finish grade 8 able to discuss a favorite novel but unable to write a clear argumentative paragraph using evidence, or explain how text structure shapes an informational article. Nonfiction tends to disappear entirely. Without a district scope and sequence, nobody checks whether narrative, informative and argumentative writing are each taught deliberately across three years. Parents notice. When students apply to competitive high schools or sit placement tests, families start asking how writing is taught. Heads of school want a written program they can explain. And the ELA teacher, often responsible for all three grades, has no time to rebuild everything. What is missing is a skill spine: sequenced reading and writing instruction that runs underneath whatever literature you love to teach, so your class novels stay and the gaps close.
Why it fits
How it fits alongside your reading list
You do not have to give up your favorite novels. The curriculum supplies the structure around them.
- Lessons on plot, character, theme and conflict transfer directly to the novels your school already reads.
- Nonfiction units on articles, speeches and informational texts fill a common gap in literature-heavy programs.
- Argumentative writing with textual evidence prepares students for high school entrance essays.
- Planning, drafting, revising and editing lessons give every writing assignment the same clear process.
- Differentiated worksheets help a small class with both avid readers and reluctant ones.
- Units used individually let you slot a skill lesson in before each class novel.
Getting started
Your first two weeks with it
Here is one way to bring the curriculum into an existing private school ELA program.
- List your current novels by gradeWrite down the books each grade reads. Then match each one with the reading lessons on character, theme or point of view that fit it best.
- Find the writing gapsCheck which writing types each grade already practices. Most literature-based programs are light on informative or argumentative writing, so schedule those units first. Note them in your plan.
- Teach one nonfiction unit earlyAn article or speech unit in the first weeks shows students that analysis applies outside fiction. It also gives you a quick read on comprehension levels.
- Adopt one writing processUse the curriculum's planning, drafting, revising and editing steps for every essay this year. Students in all three grades learn one shared routine. Grading gets faster as well.
- Show the head of school the spinePrepare a one-page summary of reading and writing skills per grade. It documents the program for admissions and parent conferences. Update it as you add texts.
Which version
Which version to choose
The $149.90 version, with 100+ resources, covers a full middle school ELA year. The $189.90 version adds Teach-Life-Balance, a digital course with planner, guides and templates focused on saving teacher time. English teachers often lose evenings to essay grading, so it can be worth it if that describes you, but it adds no ELA content. If your school also has a high school English section you teach, adding ELA Complete – High School with code TEACHMORE15 gives 15% off and keeps the writing process consistent from grade 6 to 12.
Honest limits
What it does not do
Full-length novels are not included; you keep supplying your class books. It was written with U.S. middle school classrooms in mind; your school still decides what its ELA program must include, so compare it with any admissions, accreditation or testing goals you have. Sharing it with other teachers at your school needs a short message to Teach Lessons first. If it does not fit, you can exchange it within 7 days for store credit of equal value. It is not a cash refund.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Is it aligned to Common Core or approved for accredited schools?
Teach Lessons does not claim alignment with Common Core or any state standards, and no accreditor has endorsed it. It is written for U.S. middle school ELA classrooms. If your school needs to document standards coverage, compare the reading and writing units with those requirements and confirm with your administration.
Does it include novels or novel studies?
It works with short stories, excerpts, articles, speeches and informational texts, and its lessons on plot, character, setting, theme and conflict apply to any book. It does not supply full novels, so your school's existing reading list stays in place. A short passage from a class novel can serve as practice text.
Will it prepare students for high school entrance tests?
It builds reading comprehension and essay writing, including argumentative writing with evidence, which are skills those tests draw on. It is not test prep for any specific admissions exam, so check what each target school requires and add practice where needed. Timed writing practice can be added from the argumentative essay lessons.
How does it handle grammar and vocabulary?
There is a language and communication strand alongside reading and writing, and the editing stage of the writing process gives a natural place to address grammar. If your school wants a separate grammar program, you may still use one next to it. Common errors are easy to address during peer editing.
Can it serve a combined grade 7–8 class?
Yes. Units can be taught in sequence or individually, and worksheets are differentiated. In a combined section, many teachers use the same text for everyone and assign different writing tasks by readiness. Rotating the reading texts by year prevents a seventh grader from repeating material in eighth grade.
Our school pays for curriculum. How do we buy?
Purchase is online, with instant download. Questions about school purchasing or about the licence for several teachers can go to Teach Lessons before buying so the business office has answers ready. The business office can then pay with confidence, and you get the files the same day.
Give your ELA program a clear skill spine
Look at the list of what ELA Complete – Middle School includes, choose a version and download it today.
See the ELA curriculum →