Teaching Middle School ELA - TopPodcast.com

View Top 200 Chart

Back to Rankings Page

Teaching Middle School ELA — Courses
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:

Monday Mindset: Find Your Person Aug 26, 2024

Show notes

Do you believe you can do hard things?
The simple belief that you are capable has more power than you may realize.
In this Monday Mindset episode, I explore how self-belief can reshape your entire journey. I'll spend a little time recounting personal experiences, hoping to showcase how believing in yourself is the foundation of resilience and courage, helping you face life's challenges and pursue your dreams with determination. I'll discuss how it's actually possible to find peace and joy within yourself, even when the world doesn't affirm you.

True bravery is about showing up for yourself consistently. The most important believer in your journey is you.
Join me and discover how finding your strength starts from within.

Here's to another day of intentional living!

Episode 298: From Boring Review to Begging for More: Three Low Prep Games to Add to Your Lessons this Year Aug 20, 2024

Show notes

On this episode of The Teaching Middle School ELA Podcast your hosts Caitlin, Jessica, and Megan are sharing insights on turning mundane review sessions into exhilarating and interactive learning moments! You'll learn three low-prep, high-engagement games that are perfect for reviewing any concept in any subject time and time again. They begin by discussing the exhaustion from stale repetitive review methods like Jeopardy or Kahoot and introduce each game with details on exactly how you can easily implement them into your next lessons.

3 low-prep review lessons you'll love:

Hot Potato

Mystery Baskets

Silent Auction

These games not only reinforce academic concepts but also encourage strategic thinking and collaboration. The best part is how versatile these games will prove to be as you can utilize them with many different ELA reviews throughout the year. These engaging activities will have your classroom buzzing with energy and excitement. Tune in to energize your review sessions and create memorable moments for your students!

FREE RESOURCE: Curious about trying Batch Planning this summer? Simply click the link below to grab our 10 Tips to Get Started Batch Planning and take a look at how easy it can be to begin!

https://www.ebteacher.com/free-10-tips-for-Batch-Planning

Batch Planning is the ONE thing you can do now that will have the biggest impact on your entire school year!

Monday Mindset: Lessons Aug 19, 2024

Show notes

What if every challenge you faced was actually a hidden opportunity for growth? In this Monday Mindset episode, I uncover how adopting a transformative mindset can turn any experience—whether uplifting or daunting—into a valuable lesson.

By shifting your perspective and asking, "What is this trying to teach me?" you can build resilience, take control of your reactions, and master your journey. I also highlight the power of staying open-minded and ready to learn from unexpected sources, using these insights to make better decisions and foster personal growth. Tune in for practical tips to incorporate this mindset into your daily life and become the best version of yourself.

Here's to another day of intentional living!

Episode 297: Back To School Mini-Series| BTS Activities That Are Seriously Better Than Ice Breaker Bingo Aug 13, 2024

Show notes

On this episode of The Teaching Middle School ELA Podcast, your hosts Caitlin, Jessica, and Megan are outlining a lengthy list of creative activities that go beyond the usual icebreaker first day of school activities. They explore innovative ways to set a positive and interactive class culture from day one, helping you quickly learn about your students' unique interests and personalities.

Tune in to dive into five clever activities to help students connect and build relationships. These activities encourage interaction and offer chances for follow-up conversations, fostering deeper connections between you and your students. Plus, they'll highlight the importance of being sensitive to students' experiences while choosing activities that ensure inclusivity. The entire EB Team wishes you a fantastic back-to-school season and encourages you to continue to create a remarkable year inside your classroom walls!

(For additional Back-To-School activity ideas, check out episodes: 138, 187, 241, 295)

FREE RESOURCE: Curious about trying Batch Planning this summer? Simply click the link below to grab our 10 Tips to Get Started Batch Planning and take a look at how easy it can be to begin!

https://www.ebteacher.com/free-10-tips-for-Batch-Planning

Batch Planning is the ONE thing you can do now that will have the biggest impact on your entire school year!

Monday Mindset: Come Back to Love Aug 12, 2024

Show notes

What if you could transform your life simply by choosing love over fear or anger? In this Monday Mindset episode, let's explore the power of a love-focused perspective. Embracing love as your guiding principle can reduce stress, enhance relationships, and bring more joy to your daily life. I’ll share personal stories showing how small acts of love and kindness can create a ripple effect, impacting those around you. Challenge yourself to let love guide your week and witness the remarkable changes it brings.
Don’t miss this inspiring episode that invites you to live a life driven by love!
Here's to another day of intentional living!

Episode 296: Back To School Mini-Series| Blindfold Puzzles : A BTS Activity to Gain Info About Your Students Right from the Get-Go! Aug 06, 2024

Show notes

On this episode of The Teaching Middle School ELA Podcast, join host Megan Wyant and special guest, EB Team Member, Sarah Lang for an exciting jump start to our Back-to-School Mini-Series. They're unveiling a unique, collaborative puzzle challenge perfect for fostering communication, teamwork, and excitement among students on those first days back in your middle school ELA classroom. It's a fresh take on breaking the ice with your more reserved students, plus you'll learn practical tips for accommodating various student needs and managing group dynamics effectively.

In their discussion, they spend time emphasizing the importance of starting the school year with activities that not only captivate students but also establish classroom norms and routines. Sarah dives into the significance of linking these early activities to future projects and reflecting on their outcomes to reinforce essential skills like problem-solving and collaboration. By integrating such active learning experiences into your classroom, you will create a supportive classroom environment that resonates with students and parents alike. Don’t miss out on your chance to set the tone for a connected, collaborative, and memorable school year! Grab your flair pen and sticky notes then tune in today!

FREE RESOURCE: Curious about trying Batch Planning this summer? Simply click the link below to grab our 10 Tips to Get Started Batch Planning and take a look at how easy it can be to begin!

https://www.ebteacher.com/free-10-tips-for-Batch-Planning

Batch Planning is the ONE thing you can do now that will have the biggest impact on your entire school year!

Monday Mindset: Finding the Solution Instead of the Problem Aug 05, 2024

Show notes

Have you ever wondered how adopting a solution-focused mindset could change your teaching experience? Imagine tackling daily challenges with the belief that "everything is figureoutable." This simple yet powerful philosophy has the potential to empower you in ways you may not have considered before.

In this Monday Mindset , I share my personal journey with problem-solving and the importance of shifting from a victim mentality to a proactive, solution-oriented approach. This mindset isn't just about surviving tough situations; it's about thriving in them. I illustrate how this mindset can positively impact not just your professional life, but also your students' development, fostering an environment of collective growth and continuous reflection.

Here's to another day of intentional living!

Episode 295: The First Day of School Activity Your Students Will Go Home Talking About Jul 30, 2024

Show notes

On this episode of the Teaching Middle School ELA Podcast Megan breaks down an EB Teacher favorite that will have your students strategizing, debating, and writing with justification on a deserted island! (Don't worry, there's no plane crash involved!) Megan shares all the details of this engaging back-to-school activity in this episode, so that you can easily recreate this experience with your students! It's perfect for those first few days back in the classroom because it naturally fosters skills like justification, evidence-based thinking, and critical analysis while hooking student interests with its engaging theme, right from the start!

You'll first begin by setting the scene of a deserted island in your classroom. This can be done in a big way or in small ways, too! Your students will "buy in" to the fun simply based on your excitement as they enter the room. The core task for students to tackle in this activity is to analyze ten character bios and determine which five need to be rescued immediately and which five could survive a few more weeks on the island before the next rescue crew can make it.

Students will use justification from the character bios to support their choices and have a blast revealing their choices to their classmates! You'll have a blast, too, as you get to know your students personalities and learning levels during these first fun days back to school!

Tune in today, and rest easy knowing you have this engaging activity penciled into your back-to-school lessons! You won't regret it!

FREE RESOURCE: Curious about trying Batch Planning this summer? Simply click the link below to grab our 10 Tips to Get Started Batch Planning and take a look at how easy it can be to begin!

https://www.ebteacher.com/free-10-tips-for-Batch-Planning

Batch Planning is the ONE thing you can do now that will have the biggest impact on your entire school year!

Monday Mindset: Attitude Is a Little Thing That Makes a Big Difference Jul 29, 2024

Show notes

In today's Monday Mindset episode, I'm exploring how a positive attitude can transform setbacks into comebacks. Considering Winston Churchill's wisdom on attitude, I'll share a personal story about teaching my son resilience through a football loss, and draw inspiration from Steph Curry's optimism. You'll learn how a positive outlook can enrich relationships, attract uplifting connections, and foster greater happiness and success. I'll also discuss the power of choice in shaping a fulfilling life and highlight how our motivational talks go beyond academics to develop compassionate and capable individuals. Tune in for practical insights and heartfelt reflections on building resilience and positivity.

Here's to another day of intentional living!

Episode 294: Use These Four Words Everyday With Your Students and Watch Your Test Scores Skyrocket Jul 23, 2024

Show notes

On this episode of The Teaching Middle School ELA Podcast, Caitlin is revealing four terms that you can begin incorporating inside your ELA classroom that will directly impact your students' test scores. Yes - this is a HUGE promise to make, and she's not shying away from keeping it. Caitlin will break down this promise with confidence because she isn't only speaking from her personal experience. As a team, we hear from ELA teachers every single year who have seen their students' test data skyrocket after using EB Resources and Strategies consistently. So when Caitlin shares a strategy like the one featured in today's episode, we know it works based on the feedback of thousands of ELA Teachers.

After listening you'll learn how incorporating the use and application of four simple terms across your writing and reading lessons will bring cohesion to student learning and boost their comprehension!

So, what are these four words?

Claim

Premise

Evidence

Justification

Tune in to learn exactly what each of these terms means and how you can easily incorporate them into virtually every ELA lesson you use. Once you develop the habit of using these terms in your instruction, you might be shocked at how quickly your students will begin using them as well!

Your students' test scores will thank you for listening in on this episode!

FREE RESOURCE: Curious about trying Batch Planning this summer? Simply click the link below to grab our 10 Tips to Get Started Batch Planning and take a look at how easy it can be to begin!

https://www.ebteacher.com/free-10-tips-for-Batch-Planning

Batch Planning is the ONE thing you can do now that will have the biggest impact on your entire school year!

Related Podcasts