A Non-Boring Way to Go Over Your Middle School Syllabus

If you’re planning for the new school year and dreading the part where you stand up front and read your middle school syllabus word for word… let me stop you right there.

Middle school students? They tune out fast. Especially during that first week of school activities when they’re overloaded with schedules, supply lists, and procedures in every class.

But your syllabus includes important information—your course description, expectations for late work, contact information, and necessary materials they’ll need for your class. So how do you actually make it stick?

Here’s the great way I do it.

My Favorite Way to Teach the Syllabus: Puzzle + Quiz

This is part scavenger hunt, part critical thinking activity, and it’s become one of my favorite first-week traditions.

Instead of reading the syllabus aloud, I turn it into a syllabus puzzle that middle schoolers complete with a partner. Here’s how it works:

• Make a class set of your syllabus, one for every two students.

• Print them on two different colors (like pink and green) to keep things organized by pair.

• Cut each syllabus into random shapes—like a puzzle. Each section should be a chunk of the important information (think grade level, expectations for late work, your email address, how to access your Google Drive, etc.).

• Put each “puzzle” into a labeled Ziploc bag and hand them out.

Students work in pairs to put the pieces together. Once complete, they use it to answer a syllabus quiz with questions like:

• What are the consequences for being tardy?

• What’s the required contact information for this class?

• What materials do we need to bring daily?

This works for any subject area—whether you teach English Language Arts, high school math, 6th grade, or even world language.

CYA: Send a Copy Home To Be Signed by Parents

Once they’ve finished the quiz and turned it in, I give them a clean (not chopped-up!) copy of the syllabus. We quickly review the answers together, which reinforces the expectations and routines without me turning into a talking head.

Then I send the syllabus home to be signed by a parent or guardian and returned. After that, it lives in their binder all year long.

How to Make a Middle School Syllabus: PowerPoint, Google Slides, or Canva

I create my syllabus using Microsoft PowerPoint, but it can also be easily built in Google Slides or Canva. If you’re someone who prefers storing everything in Google Drive, you can even link it to your weekly newsletter or lesson slides.

You can even create two versions: one in English and one in Spanish, if your middle school students or their families require language support.

Pro Tip for New Teachers

If this is your first year teaching or your first time creating a middle school syllabus, don’t overthink it. You don’t need to make it fancy—just functional.

Here’s what I would include:

• Brief overview of your course (I list out my units)

• Your grading policy

• Clear expectations for behavior and consequences

• Late Work, Homework, and Absent Policy

• Your email address and how contact you

• A short list of necessary materials aka your supply list

• Instructions for how students or families can access your lesson plans or weekly newsletter

And don’t forget: with the right syllabus templates, you can save yourself a ton of time each back-to-school season.

Want to Try My Editable Syllabus Template?

If you want to skip the setup and grab my ready-to-use editable syllabus template, I’ve got one that works for middle school, high school, and even higher education classes. It’s fully customizable in Google Slides or PowerPoint, and it’s a great way to kick off your year with less stress.

Looking for more ideas for the first week of school, check out this post next!