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Teaching Middle School ELA

Welcome to the Teaching Middle School ELA Podcast, where we help English Language Arts teachers create dynamic, engaging lessons while balancing the everyday responsibilities of teaching middle school.

I’m Caitlin Mitchell, a longtime ELA educator and curriculum creator, and I know firsthand how challenging it can be to manage grading, planning, and student needs—while still trying to have a life outside the classroom. That’s why every Tuesday and Thursday, I bring you practical strategies, curriculum inspiration, and innovative teaching ideas to help you feel confident, prepared, and energized.

Whether you’re looking to revamp your writing instruction, streamline your planning process, or engage even the most reluctant readers and writers, you’ll find actionable support here. You’ll also hear real classroom stories, fresh lesson ideas, and occasional interviews with other passionate educators.

If you teach reading and writing to middle schoolers and want to stay inspired and up-to-date with best practices in ELA education, you’re in the right place. Tune in every week and let’s transform your teaching—together.

Latest Episodes:

Episode 337: Why Templates Are the Key to Teacher Sanity Jul 15, 2025

Show notes

Tired of reinventing the wheel? In this episode, I'm diving into how templates can simplify your planning, reduce decision fatigue, and give you your time (and sanity!) back.

Book Study Information:

https://www.ebteacher.com/book-study

Classroom Management Strategy YouTube Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=5ZkdeEZL8rw

Enter to Win a Year in The EB Portal🎉
We’re treating ONE lucky teacher to a FREE 1-year subscription to the EB Teachers’ ELA Portal!

Here’s how to enter:
Leave a review for the Teaching Middle School ELA Podcast on iTunes. Please send us a quick email at hello@ebacademics.com to let us know you did.

Episode 336: How to Make Peer Review Work in Middle School Jul 10, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, we’re breaking down three practical strategies to transform peer review from a checkbox into a powerful teaching tool that improves writing—and helps you spend less time grading. We’ll also walk through the exact checklists and frameworks we use with our EB Teachers to help peer review stick.

Whether you’ve tried it before or you’re ready to give it a fresh start, this episode is packed with simple tips that work.

Enter to Win a Year in The EB Portal🎉
We’re treating ONE lucky teacher to a FREE 1-year subscription to the EB Teachers’ ELA Portal!

Here’s how to enter:
Leave a review for the Teaching Middle School ELA Podcast on iTunes. Please send us a quick email at hello@ebacademics.com to let us know you did.

That’s it!
Winner announced at the end of July—don’t miss out!

Episode 335: The Power of Weekly Routines in Your ELA Classroom Jul 08, 2025

Show notes

Feeling overwhelmed with lesson planning week after week? In this episode, we're digging into how simple, consistent weekly routines can completely transform your classroom. Learn how to save time, reduce stress, and build stronger engagement—all by putting a repeatable structure in place.

Enter to Win a Year in The EB Portal🎉
We’re treating ONE lucky teacher to a FREE 1-year subscription to the EB Teachers’ ELA Portal!

Here’s how to enter:
Leave a review for the Teaching Middle School ELA Podcast on iTunes. Please send us a quick email to let us know you did.

That’s it!
Winner announced at the end of July—don’t miss out!

Episode 334: What to Do When Students Still Can’t Write a Strong Paragraph Jul 03, 2025

Show notes

So, you’ve taught the structure. You’ve modeled examples. You’ve practiced together. And still... your students are struggling to write a strong paragraph. Sound familiar?

In today’s episode, I’m breaking down exactly what to do when your students still aren’t getting it — including practical strategies, mindset shifts, and scaffolds that actually work. Let’s dive in and take the frustration out of paragraph writing once and for all.

Join me: https://www.ebteacher.com/writing-workshop

Episode 333: Why the Evidence Tracker Is the Most Underrated Writing Tool Jul 01, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, I’m sharing a writing tool that’s often overlooked but absolutely transformative: the Evidence Tracker. This simple organizer helps students slow down, organize their thinking, and write stronger, clearer arguments. I’ll show you exactly how to use it—and how to shake it up with a few creative twists that your students will love. If you’ve ever struggled with students writing off-track paragraphs or vague justifications, this episode is for you. Let’s dive in!

Join me: https://www.ebteacher.com/writing-workshop

Episode 332: What I’d Do Differently with Writing Next Year (And What I’d Keep the Same) Jun 26, 2025

Show notes

Welcome back to Teaching Middle School ELA! In this episode, I share a behind-the-scenes reflection on what I’d keep—and what I’d change—with writing instruction if I were still in the classroom next year. I dive into our Evidence-Based Writing (EBW) Approach, showing you how a clear, repeatable framework can simplify instruction and build confident writers without the overwhelm. Plus, I offer actionable strategies for integrating writing into every lesson, and invite you to join my free 3-day writing workshop in July for even more hands-on tips.

Join me: https://ebteacher.com/writing-workshop

Episode 331: Batch Planning Grammar Mini-Lessons for a Month at a Time Jun 24, 2025

Show notes

Think you need to teach grammar daily to see results? Think again. In this episode, I share why less is more when it comes to grammar instruction—and how focusing on just two skills per month (using our 8-step EB Grammar Framework) leads to deeper understanding and stronger student writing. Tune in to learn how to make grammar meaningful, manageable, and impactful.

🎧 Listen now + grab your seat for the free writing workshop at ebteacher.com/writing-workshop!

Episode 330: The #1 Writing Skill to Focus on in the First Month of School Jun 19, 2025

Show notes

Welcome back to Teaching Middle School ELA! Today we’re diving into the #1 writing skill to focus on during the first month of school — and it’s probably not what you think. If you want your students to grow as confident, capable writers this year, this is where it all starts. Let’s simplify your writing instruction and set the foundation for success, without the overwhelm.

Save your spot at ebteacher.com/writing-workshop

Episode 329: How to Create Engaging Lessons That Don’t Take Hours to Plan Jun 17, 2025

Show notes

Planning engaging lessons shouldn’t take over your weekends. In today’s episode, I’m sharing our simple EB lesson planning framework—Into, Through, and Beyond—along with plug-and-play activities that save you time and help students master the standards. If you’re tired of starting from scratch each week, this one’s for you. Let’s dive in

Sign up for the free workshop here: ebteacher.com/workshop

🎯 Get on my newsletter, so you don't miss the info for my 3-Day Writing Workshop in July. You can do so by grabbing my free Mock Trial Murder Mystery at ebteacher.com/mysterytrial

Episode 328: Creating Student Buy-In for Writing Projects Jun 12, 2025

Show notes

Getting students excited about writing doesn’t start with the “perfect” prompt — it starts with purpose. In this episode, Caitlin dives into how to create real buy-in by helping students understand why writing matters, how to take ownership of their work, and what it means to see themselves as writers. You’ll walk away with tangible strategies to make writing more engaging, effective, and empowering — for both you and your students.

🎯 Get on my newsletter, so you don't miss the info for my 3-Day Writing Workshop in July. You can do so by grabbing my free Mock Trial Murder Mystery at ebteacher.com/mysterytrial

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