Episode 406: Step-by-Step Approach for Implementing "Genius Hour" in Middle School

Teaching Middle School ELA · Apr 28, 2026 · 18:34

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In today's Teaching Middle School ELA podcast episode, I share Step-by-Step Approach for Implementing "Genius Hour" in Middle School. The last few weeks of school can feel like you’re holding your classroom together with tape and sheer willpower. I’m sharing a smarter option: Genius Hour, a structured way to give middle school students real autonomy without turning your class into a free-for-all. When kids get to pursue something they genuinely care about, engagement changes fast and the learning gets deeper, even when the topics stretch beyond ELA standards.

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