Best practices for teaching middle school students online

A free guide for junior high teachers on creating structured, engaging virtual classrooms

Middle school is a time of rapid growth, for students and educators alike. Teaching grades 6-8 means juggling academic rigor, social-emotional development, and the ever-shifting energy of pre-teens. And when you’re teaching online, structure and engagement are key to helping students succeed.


This guide shares effective strategies for managing middle school classrooms in virtual or blended settings. It focuses on building routines, encouraging collaboration, and supporting student independence - without sacrificing creativity or connection.

 

Middle School Guide-2

What’s inside

You’ll find classroom-tested tips and strategies for:

  • Setting expectations and routines that students actually follow
  • Managing transitions and keeping group work on track
  • How to promote digital literacy in your students
  • Encouraging participation from all students, not just the talkative ones
  • Using polls, chat prompts, and reaction tools to check understanding
  • How to support both peer collaboration and independent learning
  • Creating a consistent, focused learning environment online

These strategies are flexible enough to work with any setup, and they align with what middle school students need most: structure, variety, and a sense of belonging.

Who it’s for

This guide is for middle school teachers, instructional coaches, and tech leads looking to make virtual or blended instruction more engaging and effective. Whether you’re just getting started with online learning or already using platforms like Engageli, the strategies inside are practical, adaptable, and built for real classrooms.

Each tip is rooted in developmental needs and teacher feedback, and includes simple setup instructions so you can get started right away.

 

Download the guide

Get practical ideas you can start using right away to support your junior high students online.