Middle school can be tough — even for a future superstar like Taylor Swift.

Before she sold out stadiums, she sat alone at lunch, faced teasing for liking country music, and wondered if she’d ever fit in. Your students will instantly connect with her story while building essential reading and writing skills.

Many 6th graders struggle to connect with nonfiction reading because it feels dry and irrelevant. Traditional passages don’t speak to their experiences, especially the social and emotional challenges of middle school.

This high‑interest nonfiction passage uses Taylor Swift’s real middle school experiences to spark curiosity, inspire perseverance, and teach critical ELA skills. Students learn that being different can be a strength while practicing state‑test‑aligned reading comprehension.

What’s Included:

• 570‑word nonfiction article at a 6th‑grade reading level

• 10 high‑quality multiple‑choice questions with plausible distractors

• ✏ 2 short‑answer reflections with sentence stems for writing support

• Scaffolded writing prompt connecting the theme to students’ own lives

• Teacher answer key with quick‑reference and detailed explanations

• Covers key skills: main idea, inference, cause/effect, author’s purpose, and text structure

Why Teachers Love It:

Relatable content – Inspires and motivates even reluctant readers

Engaging + rigorous – High‑interest topic with test‑aligned questions

SEL‑friendly – Supports conversations about confidence and perseverance

Ready to use – 5 student pages, print‑and‑go or assign digitally

Differentiation built‑in – Sentence stems help struggling writers

Perfect For:

• Whole‑class reading lessons

• Small‑group instruction

• Independent work

• State test prep warm‑ups

• Early finishers

• Sub plans

Format:
PDF — 5 student pages + teacher answer key

Standards Alignment:
Supports 6th Grade ELA Common Core Standards for Reading Informational Text & Writing:

• RI.6.1, RI.6.2, RI.6.3, RI.6.5, RI.6.6

• W.6.2, W.6.9, W.6.10

©2025 Light Up Literature. All rights reserved. For classroom use only. This resource may not be distributed or uploaded to public/shared drives.