Homeschool Teacher Series – How Do You Know What Middle School ELA Standards to Teach?

If you’re homeschooling a middle schooler, one of the first big questions you might face is: How do I know what middle school ELA standards to teach?

It can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re not using a traditional classroom curriculum. 

Do you need a giant stack of textbooks? 

Hours of prep time? 

A perfectly mapped-out pacing guide?

The good news… You don’t.

With the right resources, you can stick closely to grade-level standards while keeping things simple, flexible, and stress-free.

What Middle School ELA Standards To Teach Your

Homeschool Student

Even if you’re homeschooling, standards are your roadmap. They outline the skills your child should develop in reading, writing, language, and speaking/listening between grades 6–8.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the different standard categories and what they focus on:

• Reading Literature & Informational Texts (RL & RI): Analyze theme, tone, structure, and point of view. Compare different mediums (like text vs. film).
• Writing (W): Write arguments, informative essays, and narratives. Use evidence and follow a clear structure.
• Language (L): Grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and word nuance (think roots, affixes, figurative language).
• Speaking & Listening (SL): Discussion, presentation, and using evidence in conversations.

The standards grow in depth each year: 6th grade builds foundations, 7th adds complexity, and 8th requires independence.

Don’t Overcomplicate It

You don’t need to spend hours piecing together a curriculum from scratch. That’s where many homeschool parents get stuck: trying to cover every base without clear direction.

Instead, focus on print-and-go or digital-ready lessons that align with the standards. This way, you’ll know exactly what’s covered, and you won’t waste energy reinventing the wheel.

For example:

• Our Standards-Based Units break down one standard at a time, including lessons, practice, and assessments.
• Our Full-Year Bundles cover all middle school ELA standards for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade, so you don’t have to guess what to teach or when.

Everything is ready to print or can be used digitally, which means fewer supplies and less stress. Click on the grade-level you need below to see all the units inside each bundle.

• 6th Grade Standards-Based Units Bundle
• 7th Grade Standards-Based Units Bundle
• 8th Grade Standards-Based Units Bundle

Check for Gaps

Pacing guides can be really helpful for making sure that your student is on track and getting through all the standards.

In this blog post, we go over “What is a Pacing Guide, Exactly?” You can use the post and resources available there to make sure that you are quickly identifying any gaps in your students’ learning.

Final Thoughts

Homeschooling middle school ELA doesn’t have to feel like guesswork. Stick to the standards, use print-and-go resources, and double-check to make sure that you aren’t missing anything.

Want everything in one place? Explore our Standards-Based Bundles for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade ELA—they’re your no-fuss roadmap to covering it all.