Many teachers face the same challenge of making language arts exciting and relevant. With the right approach and resources, you can transform your classroom into a vibrant learning environment. But that is easier said than done when battling budget and time restraints that impede your ability to have a meaningful impact on your students. Luckily, reinforcements have arrived in the form of FREE language arts lessons. 

At the Congressional Medal of Honor Society (CMOHS), we offer the Character Development Program (CDP), a unique blend of education and inspiration that will turn your students into future leaders. From how to make language arts fun to innovative language arts lesson plans for 6th grade to 12th grade, here is how CDP can revolutionize your classroom. 

How to Make English Class Fun for High School and Middle School Students

To maximize your impact as a teacher during an ELA class, you need to ensure students are having fun learning English. If your students are enjoying the lessons, they won’t feel like it’s schoolwork, and they will be substantially more engaged. 

But how can you make English language arts classes more engaging? 

At the core of understanding how to make English class fun for your high school or middle school students is making real-world connections that draw on your students’ interests, experiences, and knowledge through diverse texts and activities. 

Provide plenty of interactive, hands-on activities, including writing workshops, debates, and creative projects that nurture their independence and critical thinking. You should also incorporate interactive activities and take advantage of the technology available. 

For teachers like you facing time and budget limitations, it can be challenging to find or even create resources for students that cater to their needs, nurture creative and inquiry-based learning, incorporate technology, and truly motivate students. 

Luckily, we have you covered with CDP’s cutting-edge  FREE language arts lessons. Here is how they can turn your classroom into a true arena of growth and development. 

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CDP: FREE Language Arts Lessons that Inspire Students

CDP offers free, adaptable, and innovative ELA resources for teachers like you. These FREE language arts lessons instill valuable character traits and can be seamlessly integrated into virtually all language arts lesson plans for high school and middle school. 

Access Our FREE Language Arts Lessons Here!

CDP offers supplemental language arts activities that combine academic success and character development. These FREE language arts lessons cater to various learning styles and revolve around the values that define the heroes who have received the Medal of Honor:

• Courage
• Commitment
• Integrity
• Sacrifice
• Citizenship
• Patriotism

These interactive middle school and high school English lessons promote self-guided self-discovery and spark captivating discussions and debates by making real-world connections with the material that draws on students’ interests, experiences, and existing knowledge. 

Revolving around military and civilian stories, CDP’s engaging FREE language arts lessons provide real-life applications that help them in and outside the classroom. 

Whether you need homeschooling material or even lessons that nurture improved decision-making, you can find it all on this student platform, making it one of the best ELA websites for middle school and high school. 

For example, the Portrait of a Service Member modules (ACCESS HERE) will help students develop insightful questions they cannot easily research online to ask service members, conduct interviews, and more. 

Alternatively, the Integrity in Decision-Making modules (ACCESS HERE) will help students determine how a single decision made at an inflection point impacts the lives of countless others while recognizing the importance of practicing empathy and making ethical decisions. 

These skills and values are what you can provide your high school or middle school ELA students with CDP’s FREE language arts lessons. Now, let’s dive into how they work!

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How Do CDP’s FREE Language Arts Lessons Work?

With over 70 FREE lesson plans for English teachers, you will have an endless supply of inspiration to deliver to your students! Ready-made and created for teachers by teachers, you can rest assured that these English language arts lessons are more than battle-tested.

If you are struggling with effectively teaching English, this resource will be your best friend. It comes with everything you need to create a student experience like no other. These courses include:

• Objectives
• How to prepare your students for each lesson
• Materials needed (e.g., worksheets that you can download for free!)
• Video materials
• An introductory activity
• A small group activity
• Whole group activities
• A concluding activity
• An assessment

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Are Language Arts and English the Same?

Before we get into the importance of language arts, let’s address the difference between language arts vs. English, because people often use them interchangeably. In many parts of the United States, they may be the same. 

Language arts is a broader term that encompasses various forms of communication, including reading, writing, speaking, and listening. It often involves the study of literature, grammar, and composition. 

English class, on the other hand, typically refers to a specific course within a language arts curriculum that focuses on the English language, including:

• Reading and analyzing literature to understand different genres and develop critical thinking skills.
• Crafting various forms of writing, such as essays, stories, and poetry, while learning the grammar mechanics. 
• Developing practical communication skills through discussions, presentations, and debates.

It is not hard to see why there is considerable overlap. Often, these two concepts are conflated into what is called English language arts (ELA), which is what many people know English and language arts courses to be. 

Another distinguishing characteristic is that in some school districts, “language arts” refers to middle school courses, while “English” refers to high school classes. However, this largely depends on where you teach in the country. 

Before we dive into how CDP’s FREE language arts lessons can help you, let’s explore how these lessons can help your students. Because, after all, they’re the stars of your classroom!  

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Why is Language Arts Important? 

Language arts is an invaluable subject for your students because it helps them take in the thoughts and ideas of others to express their own. These courses challenge students by asking questions that push them to refer back to what they read.

English language arts improve students’ writing, speaking, and vocabulary, nurture their creativity, and help them develop cultural understanding and empathy. It also teaches them to form their own thoughts, better grasp concepts, and perform better across subjects. 

Because language arts lays a strong foundation for learning, it is no exaggeration to wonder: Why is language arts the most important subject? As you can see, one of the reasons is that it has such broad applications outside the classroom. 

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Why is ELA Important Outside of School?

As a teacher, you are tasked with equipping your students with the values and skills they need to succeed in and outside the classroom and realize their full potential. You are forging the heroes and leaders their communities and our nation need. 

Effective leaders can understand the needs and situations of others, accept and unpack complex ideas, and communicate their ideas in a way that inspires their communities. A well-devised ELA class creates more active citizens who are adept at collaborating. 

Especially in today’s tumultuous and divisive climate, effective communication is more important than ever, and English language arts will help your students bridge the gaps between their peers from different backgrounds and better understand their POV.

On a more individual level, the skills they learn during these classes will instill a love of lifelong learning and development while helping with career advancement and the ability to create strong personal relationships. 

This subject is vital for every student, so it is essential to learn how to make English class more engaging so your material resonates meaningfully. Here’s how to achieve this and how our FREE language arts lessons can be your secret weapon!  

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Are You Interested in FREE Language Arts Lessons? Register Today for Language Arts Resources & More!

Helping your students learn language arts is more than just helping them earn a good grade – it’s equipping them with a full arsenal of skills they need to succeed in life. CDP’s FREE language arts lessons provide you with invaluable middle school and high school English teacher resources that will catalyze true growth in each of your students. 

Register for CDP today for lessons that can be seamlessly integrated into your existing curriculum to transform it into something that transcends the classroom.