Michelle Boyd Waters's Blog

It's only the middle of July, but I'm already seeing my teacher-friends post their wish lists in my social media feeds. Some of these teachers include those who've been in the classroom for decades, newer teachers I've helped supervise, and a couple who stepped out of the classroom for a short time and decided to […]

I’m thrilled to share a powerful read-aloud of Marta Salinas' short story, "The Scholarship Jacket." This compelling narrative is an excellent addition to any secondary ELA classroom, sparking vital discussions and deep engagement with students. "The Scholarship Jacket" centers on Martha, a dedicated Mexican-American eighth-grader whose dream of earning the prestigious scholarship jacket is threatened […]

Teaching in today's climate is undeniably challenging, and it's increasingly difficult to gauge the tangible impact we're making on our students' lives. The demands are immense, the resources often scarce, and the moments for reflection can feel nonexistent. In such an environment, it’s easy to lose sight of the profound difference we strive to create. […]

Ever get that email from your principal asking for research to justify silent reading time? That’s what happened to a reThink ELA teacher and she sent that request directly to my inbox. Her request was just one line — but it unveiled a deeper issue: Are we really getting the most out of independent reading, […]

There’s something electric about watching students connect with poetry that feels real, relevant, and alive. Slam poetry has a way of breaking down barriers, inviting students to speak their truth in ways that traditional forms often can’t.If you’ve ever had a student say, “I don’t get poetry” or “Poetry’s boring”—slam poetry might be the spark […]

For years, traditional secondary ELA teachers have relied on the “one novel per quarter” model—pacing students through a single canonical text with occasional supplemental worksheets or isolated nonfiction articles. I remember this model from my days as a student — and we’re not going to talk about how long ago that was. But as teachers […]

At the 2024 ALAN Workshop, I had the unexpected pleasure of meeting Kate Messner. We shared a table, and she spoke briefly about her forthcoming novel The Trouble with Heroes. As she described Finn Connelly's journey of healing and finding strength in the Adirondack Mountains, an unexpected wave of emotion washed over me.I had the […]

Are you struggling to ignite a passion for writing in your middle school students? You're not alone! Many of us face the challenge of getting students excited about putting their thoughts on paper. I'm excited to share that I recently recorded my interview for the 2025 MSELA Summit—the premier virtual event for Middle School English […]

One would think, after spending 10 years teaching English language arts in secondary schools and 13 years writing about the topic, I would have defined the term somewhere. But “ELA” is one of those acronyms that represents a term everyone thinks they understand. But if there is anything that I’ve learned from my PhD program, […]