In our middle school English literacy program, students continue to engage in small group reading sessions with advanced texts, but middle schoolers also participate in more independent reading and deeper debate and discussion. Works widely regarded as “classics” and written by authors such as Mark Twain, George Orwell, and O. Henry are introduced. Writing expectations increase significantly—students write to inform, persuade, and entertain through structured essays, literary analysis, and narrative projects. With a focus on clarity, voice, and argument, students learn to express themselves with precision and purpose.