It seems too good to be true.

Or maybe it’s just too overwhelming.

And I understand both of those sentiments.

Just because something is on sale doesn’t mean it’s worth your time, your money, or your lesson plans.

I also know that it is pretty much impossible to really preview what you’re getting when you are deciding which one to purchase. I’ve been in your position. So I tried to do it for you. And also got overwhelmed. Ha!

It has taken me until the half-way point of this sale to come up with this blog post. But I am finally here, writing to you about which bundle I WOULD BUY. Specifically, I looked for what matters if you’re trying to align your middle school ELA classroom with the Science of Reading.

Here’s what I prioritized:

Sentence-Level & Syntax Resources

Because syntax is SOOOOO important to comprehension. If your students struggle with meaning, they’re probably struggling with sentence structure. I looked for resources in the bundles that focused on:

Mentor sentences
Sentence expansion activities
Grammar that goes beyond identification
Opportunities for students to write intentionally at the sentence level

Background Knowledge Builders

Scarborough’s Reading Rope, among other studies, tells us that building background knowledge is absolutely necessary for comprehension.
Our students need context to analyze arguments, make inferences, and understand what they read. Period. So, I searched for:

Historical context around anchor texts that you might teach
Thematic units that connect to real-world knowledge
Supplemental nonfiction readings
Big questions that activate background knowledge

Smart Vocabulary Work

No more “word of the week” with no transfer or random word lists. I wanted resources that:

Focus on morphology (prefixes, suffixes, Greek/Latin roots)
Provide practice using context
Offer repeated exposure across reading and writing tasks

And, lastly, I also looked for the most Round Curriculum Option

Yes, I made that phrase up. But here’s what I mean:
I looked at the bundles as whole curriculum options that have the opportunity to connect grammar, reading, writing, vocabulary, and speaking in meaningful ways, not just random, one-off resources. A well-rounded curriculum reinforces the same skills across formats, genres and activity types.

So… Which Bundle Should You Grab?

I actually asked ChatGPT to help me with this because it really was overwhelming. I fed all of the resource titles into my chat and asked it to grade the bundles based on the above SoR parameters. Here’s how the middle school bundles stacked up:

📘 8th Grade ELA Bundle: Rigor, Depth, and Academic Challenge

If you want high-impact materials that support literary analysis, writing across genres, and academic discourse — this one’s the winner.

✅ Why It’s The Top Pick for your SoR parameters:

Sentence-Level Work: Verbals, appositives, sentence types, and syntax visuals
Background Knowledge: WWII (Anne Frank), They Called Us Enemy, debates on AI and the environment, Gothic and dystopian themes
Vocabulary: Embedded in meaningful tasks (writing, discussion, close reading)
Cohesion: Argument, narrative, speech, Socratic seminars, research — all connected

📗 7th Grade ELA Bundle: Variety, Voice, and Academic Growth

This bundle is all about balance. It blends figurative language and creative writing with real writing instruction, reading comprehension, and themed engagement.

✅ What Makes It Strong:

Syntax Support: Color-by-number sentence types, editable tests, sentence writing tools
Background Knowledge: Hindenburg nonfiction, MLK Day, Poe, dystopian short stories
Vocabulary: Denotation/connotation, word clues, roots review
Engagement: Music-based activities, interactive projects, digital + seasonal options

🎒 6th Grade ELA Bundle: Skills, Engagement, and Flexibility

This is your go-to if you need foundational literacy skills + high engagement — especially for reluctant readers and Tier 2 interventions.

✅ Where It Shines:

Vocabulary: Idioms, affixes, word work choice boards, graphic organizers
Background Knowledge: Greek myths, nonfiction passages (coffee, camels, vampire bats), accessible context
Sentence Practice: Sentence types, grammar mazes, scaffolded support
Variety: Test prep, movement-based games, sub plans, and seasonal writing

My chatbot also noted that 6th grade would be best for an intervention class because it is the clear winner for foundational skills resources AND activities meant to engage your students.

Final Thoughts

If you’re trying to teach reading and writing with intention, grounded in what we actually know about how the brain learns to comprehend these bundles offer way more than just “filler.” They can definitely be used to find a random, filler activity on a day that you need an unexpected sub or have a surprise shortened class period. BUT you can also buy the bundle that meets your needs in the best way possible.

Whether you want the bundle to help supplement your current curriculum or you’re going to use one to build your year from scratch, any of them will give you the tools to: build sentence-level fluency, build and reinforce knowledge, expand vocabulary in context and support transfer of knowledge across modalities.

BUT my pick is the 8th Grade Bundle because it is the most SoR-aligned, but if you’re teaching a different grade level, you can’t go wrong with 7th or 6th. Just choose the one that fits your teaching style and goals the best.

And hey, don’t sleep on the sale. It’s halfway over. 😉

Also, note that I am an affiliate of this sale. I contributed resources to all of these bundles.

Mrs. McManus ELA