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8th grade sub plans: writing

One writing lesson for every period of an 8th grade day, with no prep: a five-minute quick write, then an argument prompt on the board (today's is “Should students be graded on effort, on results, or on both? Take a position and defend it.”) with a plan to copy, a claim, two reasons with examples, and the other side answered, about 25 minutes of writing, a partner check and an exit ticket at the door. The timetable runs 7 periods of 50 minutes.

Checked October 30, 2026. Made from Peabody Teach's own passages, worksheets and brain break cards.

Make the whole day at 8th grade ▸

The lesson, every period

Writing: an argument

  1. First 5 minutes, the quick write: students write without stopping, in full sentences, on this: “Should students help choose the school lunch menu? Argue your position with reasons and examples.”
  2. Next 5 minutes, the prompt: write it on the board and read it aloud, “Should students be graded on effort, on results, or on both? Take a position and defend it.” Beside it, draw the plan as boxes: Claim / Reason 1 and an example / Reason 2 and an example / The other side, and your answer to it / Ending.
  3. Partners get two minutes to say their claim and one reason out loud to each other before anyone writes.
  4. Next 25 minutes: students copy the boxes and fill them in (about 5 minutes), then write three paragraphs from the plan. Keep the room quiet; walk it, and point to the plan rather than fixing sentences.
  5. Then the partner check: partners swap papers, underline the claim, and put a check beside each reason that has an example. They write one thing to fix in the margin.
  6. Last 5 minutes, the exit ticket: students copy their best sentence onto a scrap of paper with their name and say in a few words why it works. They hand it to you at the door.
  7. Collect the work for each period in its own pile, with the period written on top.

On the projector: Writing prompts by grade

Subbing 8th grade

Eighth graders are the oldest in a middle school and respond to being told the plan and trusted with it. They can read a passage alone, answer with evidence from it, and check a partner's work against the key.

  • Say the whole period's plan in the first minute, including what to do when finished.
  • Offer a small choice (which question to share, where to start) rather than a reward.
  • If work comes back unfinished, note who and why in the note to the teacher, without a lecture in the room.

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