Middle School Read Alouds by Jennifer Hertzog

 Middle School Read Alouds by Jennifer Hertzog

In preparation for the 2021-2022 school year, the English teacher on my team and I brainstormed how to increase the love of reading with our middle school students. The book that inspired us to even start thinking about this concept in middle school was The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller.

By the time students are in 7th grade, it is more difficult to instill a love of reading in them if they haven’t already found their love of books. So many times, projects are assigned, and it takes away the love of the actual reading. As a mom of three children, I thought about how much fun my kids and I have reading aloud. We enjoy using inflection and different voices and having those moments of connection with characters. I thought to myself: I can easily do this with my middle school students. 

I set aside 10 minutes every day for students to read independently, and 2-3 times a week I read to them for the first 10 minutes (sometimes longer). This time spent reading together was amazing. It got everyone settled and calmed down, and they were so excited when they knew I was reading to them. Specifically, when I was reading aloud A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz, one student said they loved the way I read since there was some sarcasm and humor in the text. She said I was the perfect teacher to read the book. She also threatened to (jokingly) drop out of the musical if she had to miss a day of me reading for rehearsal. Needless to say, I worked around her schedule to make it all work. 

Over the course of the school year, I read aloud Eleven by Tom Rogers , I read Resist by Alan Gratz for a shorter option, I read some creepy tales, and I also read A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz, and half of The Giver by Lois Lowry. The students finished that book in small groups. The students loved all of these books, and their eyes were glued to me as I read. Next year, I plan on reading these and finding a few more to read as well. There were short periods of time I didn’t read to them and they simply read independently. As a middle school teacher, I think there was always that thought that being read aloud to was “childish,” but not all children have grown up being read to, and it truly is something that all ages can enjoy. 

At first I thought this would be challenging while also getting through the required curriculum, but once I saw the enjoyment and interest in the students, I learned to slow down the pace for the curriculum. There were weeks I was only able to read one day a week based on my curriculum needs and others that I was able to read three days a week for the same reason. 

Overall, adding read alouds and independent reading to the beginning of every class has created a sense of calmness in the room.  Each child comes in and knows the expectations; there is not a rush to start class and no materials are needed right away.  I feel this has helped students that are anxious in school or anxious about Literature class if it is not their strongest subject. 

Jennifer Hertzog is a 7th grade Literature teacher. She is entering her 19th year of teaching and has been married to her husband James for 18 years. Jennifer has three children: Carys is in 6th grade and plays basketball, Sawyer is in 4th grade and plays dek hockey and ice hockey, and Koen is in 1st grade and also plays dek hockey. Outside of school, Jennifer travels a lot with her family for sports and loves going to the beach in the summer. She and her family are avid animal lovers and have two older cats and just added 2 new kittens to the family.