Monthly Discussion and Writing Prompts for Middle School & More
Coming up with engaging writing and discussion prompts all year long can be surprisingly difficult. It’s easy to fall back on familiar topics, only to find that students aren’t inspired by the prompt or have trouble thinking of what to say.
That’s exactly why I created my Monthly Discussion & Writing Prompts series.
Instead of relying on one type of prompt, each monthly collection offers a wide variety of engaging topics that encourage students to think, discuss, imagine, debate, and write — all while giving them the power of choice.
What Makes These Prompts Different?
Each monthly collection includes 25 themed prompt pages, and every page features 2–3 prompt choices centered around a common topic or theme.
Rather than assigning every student the same prompt, students choose the one that interests them most. Giving students that choice often leads to greater engagement, more thoughtful responses, and richer classroom discussions.
You’ll find a balanced mix of prompt styles throughout the year, including:
- Opinion and persuasive writing
- Creative and imaginative writing
- Story starters
- Seasonal themes
- Fun and unusual holidays
- Debate topics
- Quotes
- Pros and cons
- Hot takes
- And many more unique categories!
The variety keeps writing fresh all year long while making it easy to find prompts that fit your students and your teaching style.
Perfect for Middle School and Beyond
These prompts were designed with middle school and older students in mind. Students choose from unique and high-interest topics. The questions encourage students to think critically, explain their ideas, justify opinions, and make personal connections.
They’re also flexible enough to work in a variety of settings, including upper elementary enrichment classes, high school, and adult ESL conversation classes.
So Many Ways to Use Them
One of my favorite things about this resource is its flexibility.
These prompts are perfect for:
- Bell ringers
- Daily journal writing
- Class discussions
- Quick writes
- Early finisher activities
- Sub plans
- Small-group conversations
- ESL conversation starters
For even more flexibility, it comes with printable & digital options. My favorite way to use these is to project a slide for students to choose the prompt they’d like to answer. But you can also print individual prompt pages for students, or even assign a digital slide for a completely paperless writing activity.
Why Student Choice Matters
I’ve found that even small choices can make a big difference.
When students have multiple prompt options, they’re more likely to find one that sparks an idea or connects to their interests. Instead of spending time trying to think of something to write, they can jump right into developing their ideas.
Student choice also naturally supports differentiation. Some students gravitate toward creative prompts, while others prefer opinion or discussion topics. Everyone can participate while working toward the same writing objective.
A Full Year of Fresh Topics
The complete series includes 10 monthly collections (August through May).
Each month introduces seasonal and additional themes while bringing back favorite categories in fresh ways, so students enjoy familiar routines without seeing the same questions repeated.
Whether it’s debating unusual “Would You Rather” scenarios, imagining impossible situations, responding to seasonal quotes, or discussing quirky holidays, there’s always something new waiting each month.
Try a Free Sample!
If you’d like to see how the prompts work in your own classroom, I’ve created a free August sampler that you can use right away.
The sampler includes 7 prompt pages featuring several different categories, giving you a chance to experience the student-choice format before exploring the complete collection.
Click the image below to grab your free 7-day sample from the August collection.
Flexibility for Teachers; Choice for Students
One of my favorite features of this series is that it offers choice at every level.
Across the 10-month collection, you’ll have access to 250 themed prompt pages, each featuring 2–3 prompt options. That means you’ll never feel locked into a single type of writing prompt.
Some days you might want a quick opinion question. Other days you may prefer a creative story starter, a seasonal topic, a fun holiday, or a lively classroom discussion.
With so many categories and themes, it’s easy to find prompts that match your students, your classroom goals, and your teaching style.
Once you’ve chosen the page, your students make the final choice by selecting the prompt that interests them most. It’s a simple feature that encourages engagement while giving every student an opportunity to connect with the writing.
Take Advantage of the Growing Bundle!
The bundle is currently available as a growing bundle at 50% off. Purchase now to lock in the lowest price, and you’ll automatically receive all future monthly additions at no extra cost.
Click the image below to take a peek at the types of prompts you’ll see each month. And be sure to grab your free sample from the August collection.
Looking for even more ways to bring student choice into your classroom?
Be sure to check out my Monthly Choice Boards, another flexible resource designed to keep students engaged while giving them meaningful options for learning. Like these writing prompts, they’re inspired by seasonal themes and fun holidays. However, the activities are completely different, making the two resources a perfect complement throughout the school year.
Whether you’re looking to add more discussion, more writing, or simply more student choice to your classroom, I hope these resources help make planning a little easier. Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you enjoy the free August sample!