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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:

Mindset Favorite: You'll Regret What You Didn't Do Nov 04, 2024

Show notes

Let’s take a moment to revisit one of our favorite Monday Mindset episodes!

Ever faced a life-changing choice and wondered whether to take the leap? Join us on Monday Mindset as we dive into my brother's bold move to France—a story of courage, curiosity, and embracing the unknown. I explore the power of risk-taking and how saying "yes" to the unfamiliar can lead to lasting fulfillment. Tune in for an inspiring conversation that might just spark your own journey to transform fear into opportunity!

Here’s to another day of living intentionally.

Caitlin

Episode 308: Literary Shuffle Activity Oct 29, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, we're shaking things up with the Literary Shuffle Activity—a fun and interactive way to get students diving deeper into any story. Whether they’re on their feet or staying put, this game makes story review a blast.
You'll walk away from this episode with all the information you'll need to implement this game using any novel or short story that your students are reading. Take a listen and try it out!

Mindset Favorite: Be About It Oct 28, 2024

Show notes

What if small changes could align your life with your deepest values? Today’s Monday Mindset is one of our listeners’ favorite past episodes all about moving from dreaming to purposeful action, inspired by a lesson from the CEO of a basketball camps company. I discuss breaking the cycle of endless ideas and taking real steps toward your goals—especially in teaching. Tune in for actionable strategies to create space for your passions and live in alignment with your values.

Here’s to another day of living intentionally.

Caitlin

Episode 307: Navigating the Science of Reading Part 8: Sight Recognition Oct 22, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of The Teaching Middle School ELA Podcast, Caitlin, Jessica, and Megan conclude their Science of Reading series by focusing on sight recognition, the final strand in Scarborough’s Reading Rope. Discover why sight recognition is key to fluent reading and explore practical strategies to help your middle school students instantly recognize and remember words. From engaging word wall activities to interactive games, you’ll walk away with actionable ideas to reinforce sight recognition in your classroom. Tune in for this important episode and help your students take their reading skills to the next level!

Mindset Favorite: Feeling Unmotivated Oct 21, 2024

Show notes

What if staying motivated all year could be as simple as asking yourself one question: "Will your future self thank you for this choice?" Today we’re airing a past Monday Mindset episode where I discuss how forward-thinking can keep your drive alive, offering practical examples and personal stories that show how this mindset can help you stay committed to healthy habits, classroom goals, and positive daily decisions. Tune in for actionable advice to sustain motivation and create lasting positive change, both for yourself and your students!

Here’s to another day of living intentionally.

Caitlin

Episode 306: Navigating the Science of Reading Part 7: Decoding Oct 15, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of The Teaching Middle School ELA Podcast, Caitlin, Jessica, and Megan guide you through decoding, the next strand of Scarborough’s Reading Rope. You’ll learn how decoding fits into the bigger picture of word recognition and why it’s essential for your middle school students. Discover two engaging activities that focus on prefixes, suffixes, and root words, designed to make decoding practice both interactive and effective. Whether your students need a high-energy relay or a more focused, stationary activity, you’ll walk away with practical strategies to implement right away. Tune in to enhance your students’ decoding skills and help them unlock the meaning behind the words they read!

Mindset Favorite: Read More Oct 14, 2024

Show notes

Can reading more books help prevent burnout? This week on another re-air episode of one of the Monday Mindset Favorites, I explore how choosing the right books, like "Sustain Your Game" by Alan Stein Jr., can shift your perspective and reignite your passion for teaching. It’s about selecting literature that uplifts, challenges, and inspires personal growth.

Join me as I discuss how insights from personal growth books can transform both your teaching and mindset. Check out the show notes for a curated list of must-reads, and let’s embark on this journey of self-improvement together!

Here’s to another day of living intentionally.

Caitlin

Episode 305: Navigating the Science of Reading Part 6: Phonological Awareness Oct 08, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of The Teaching Middle School ELA Podcast, Caitlin, Megan, and Jessica continue their Science of Reading series by tackling phonological awareness, a key component of the Word Recognition section of Scarborough’s Reading Rope. Join your hosts as they demystify phonological awareness for middle school teachers, explaining why it's vital for older students and how it can tie into the study of poetry. You'll walk away with ten simple, creative strategies to help students develop their phonological awareness through sound patterns, rhymes, and more. Whether you're new to the concept or looking to deepen your understanding, this episode is filled with practical ideas that you can use in your classroom tomorrow!

Mindset Favorite: Compassionate Emptiness Oct 07, 2024

Show notes

Let’s take a moment to revisit one of our favorite Monday Mindset episodes! In this episode, Can listening transform your teaching? Discover "compassionate emptiness," a concept from former Starbucks president Howard Baer, in this week's Monday Mindset podcast. Learn how shifting from problem-solving to truly hearing your students, colleagues, and administrators can revolutionize your classroom and foster a culture of empathy and understanding.

Join me as I explore tips for living with intention and creating spaces for open conversation and growth. Let's commit to listening with empathy and watch how small changes lead to big transformations.

Here’s to another day of living intentionally.

Caitlin

Episode 304: Navigating the Science of Reading Part 5: Literacy Knowledge Oct 01, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of The Teaching Middle School ELA Podcast, Caitlin, Megan, and Jessica continue their journey through the Reading Rope with a focus on literacy knowledge. Discover how understanding text features is key to comprehension, and why it’s crucial to teach these skills explicitly—even to older students. Your hosts will walk you through a cross-disciplinary Text Features Scavenger Hunt that’s simple to set up and highly effective in boosting students' awareness of how texts are organized. Tune in to learn practical strategies to enhance your students' literacy knowledge and make your ELA instruction even more impactful!

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