This article discusses alternatives to the lecture-style teaching that remains a fundamental practice for many middle school classrooms. Information was accumulated by pre-service middle school language arts teachers, who interviewed their mentor for their student teaching experience, focusing on how each teacher attempts to foster lifelong learning through facilitating learning rather than directing it. To do so, respondents stated that they attempt to provide more choices for students based on students' interests or experiences, promote collaboration among students, and model or guide the learning by providing clear examples. These methods of communication attempt to inspire learning with the use of visual, auditory, tactile, or kinesthetic instructional techniques. Teachers provide students with the digital environment to foster research skills, making students much more autonomous learners. It is hoped that by reading this article teachers will be able to facilitate the learning of students so as to promote students' own interests, creating lifelong learners as a result.