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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:

Monday Mindset: Your Purpose is NOT for you Jun 17, 2024

Show notes

What if your life's true purpose is linked to the positive impact you have on others? In this Monday Mindset, I explore the connection between living your purpose and making a meaningful difference. We'll consider how roles, like teaching and inspiring others, can lead to a more fulfilling life.

We'll reflect on our impact and recognize our unique gifts to align with a purpose that enriches both our lives and those around us. Celebrating others' successes and reflecting on the growth of those you've helped can be a powerful source of inspiration and fulfillment.

Here's to another day of intentional living!

Episode 288: Summer Lesson Planning Series: Standards: Doctors Don't Wing it and Neither Should You Jun 11, 2024

Show notes

On this episode of the Teaching Middle School ELA podcast, we're discussing what we call the "North Star" of lesson planning: your ELA standards!

We're covering our most practical ways of utilizing your list of ELA standards to develop an outline of pacing for your scope and sequence. Once you have a "map" of standards to follow, then it becomes easier to pencil in units that effectively cover those standards! After you've matched units to the standards you've outlined on your scope and sequence, you'll find you are left with a roadmap of lessons for your entire school year!
We'll show you exactly how simple this process can be in 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!

BIG NEWS: The EB Teachers' ELA Portal will officially be open for enrollment this summer! If having access to ALL of the items below sounds helpful to you, then we invite you to take a quick moment to add your name to our priority list today! Are you ready for:

Hundreds of ready-to-go ELA lessons
A robust Core ELA Curriculum that includes reading, writing, grammar, and vocabulary covering all of the ELA standards
Innovative digital lesson planning software
Hours of on-demand PD videos
A community of thousands of supportive ELA teachers from around the world

Pretty incredible, right? Click the link below to add your name to the priority list today:

https://www.ebteacher.com/ebtc-priority-list

Monday Mindset: The Only Person You Can Control is You Jun 10, 2024

Show notes

Ever feel weighed down by anger and frustration? In this Monday Mindset, discover practical steps to unburden yourself from negative emotions and foster positive relationships. By focusing on your own journey and not letting others' negativity affect you, you can build a more resilient and fulfilling life.

I discuss the common frustration of unmet expectations and the futility of hoping others will change. Instead, I urge you to consider the power you have over your own actions and emotions. Accepting people as they are and taking responsibility for your own well-being can transform your life. Learn how to redirect your energy from frustration and judgment towards self-improvement and personal development.

Here's to another day of intentional living!

Episode 287: Lesson Planning is So 2010 (Just Like Printing Boarding Passes) Jun 04, 2024

Show notes

On this episode of the Teaching Middle School ELA podcast, we dissect the anatomy of a successful lesson plan — a captivating beginning, a standards-focused middle, and an impactful conclusion. This framework not only ensures your lessons flow effectively but also significantly cuts down planning time, allowing you to leave work at work and actually take back your personal time outside the classroom.

After we cover the components of a successful lesson, we spend time guiding you in the steps to take to effectively string together those lessons throughout your entire academic year. We call this process developing your scope and sequence. Once you follow this process and nail down your scope and sequence, you'll find that everything else seems to fall into place extremely easily. You'll even hear from an EB Teacher who tells us how she was able to actually "Kiss the Sunday Scaries goodbye!"

Of course, we want this feeling for every single middle school ELA teacher!

Tune in to this episode to hear more details about how you can easily begin building your scope and sequence now so that you don't have to spend your summer with the weight of back to school on your shoulders!

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!

BIG NEWS: The EB Teachers' ELA Portal will officially be open for enrollment this summer! If having access to ALL of the items below sounds helpful to you, then we invite you to take a quick moment to add your name to our priority list today! Are you ready for:

Hundreds of ready-to-go ELA lessons
A robust Core ELA Curriculum that includes reading, writing, grammar, and vocabulary covering all of the ELA standards
Innovative digital lesson planning software
Hours of on-demand PD videos
A community of thousands of supportive ELA teachers from around the world

Pretty incredible, right? Click the link below to add your name to the priority list today:

https://www.ebteacher.com/ebtc-priority-list

Monday Mindset: Serve Others Jun 03, 2024

Show notes

In this Monday Mindset episode, I am exploring the question: Can an act of kindness truly transform your life? I believe that there is transformative power in serving others that will bring profound joy to your life! By shifting our focus from our own challenges to helping those around us, you will instantly foster gratitude, which assists in reducing any anxious feelings because you're focused on being thankful. I also challenge you to consider the impact incorporating simple acts of service into your daily routine could have on your life and those within your circle! I hope you'll accept this challenge and join me in serving others and experiencing a positive energy boost each and every day!

Here's to another day of intentional living!

Episode 286: 3 Must Do's to Close Out this School Year and Prepare for Next Year May 28, 2024

Show notes

On this episode of the Teaching Middle School ELA podcast, your hosts Caitlin, Jessica, and Megan spend time breaking down their top 3 Must Do's to wrap up this school year and prepare for the fall!

It can be very tempting to close up shop in May and leave the prep work for August, but in today's episode you'll learn our suggestions for simple things you can do now that your future self will definitely thank you for!

Our top three tips include:

1. Reflect on what worked and what didn't work - this will be extremely helpful with batch planning your lessons for next year.

2. Celebrate your student wins - find creative ways to celebrate your students during this time of the year.

3. Organize and declutter - whether you do this on your own or you recruit student helpers during those slow days that last week of school, leaving your classroom cleaned out and organized for August will be a weight lifted off your shoulders before summer break!

Incorporating these 3 strategies into your end of year routine will be the key to a summer break where you can truly rest, relax, and recharge!

Tune in today to hear these tips explained in this helpful episode!

BIG NEWS: The EB Teachers' ELA Portal will officially be open for enrollment this summer!If having access to ALL of the below sounds helpful to you, then we invite you to take a quick moment to add your name to our priority list today!Are you ready for:

Hundreds of ready-to-go ELA lessons
A robust Core ELA Curriculum that includes reading, writing, grammar, and vocabulary covering all of the ELA standards
Innovative digital lesson planning software
Hours of on-demand PD videos
A community of thousands of supportive ELA teachers from around the world

Pretty incredible, right?Click the link below to add your name to the priority list today:

https://www.ebteacher.com/ebtc-priority-list

Are you enjoying the podcast?

Make sure to subscribe to our channel and leave us a review! To leave a review in iTunes, click HERE by scrolling down our show page, selecting a star rating, and tapping “Write a review.” Let us know how this podcast is helping you in your ELA classroom!

Monday Mindset: Take Time for Appreciation May 27, 2024

Show notes

Get ready for a moment of reflection in today's Monday Mindset! I'm taking this time to discuss the importance of shifting your focus from the relentless pursuit of what's ahead, to reflecting on the victories you've already achieved! Acknowledging achievements isn't just about giving ourselves a pat on the back—it's about laying the foundation of confidence and gratitude that will support our future endeavors. By shining a spotlight on our past victories, we're actively boosting our resilience and empowering ourselves for the challenges ahead. Without gratitude for our experiences and the people who've helped us along the way, we risk missing the true value of our endeavors. So join me, as I take a much-needed breath to appreciate the past and prepare to face the future!

Here's to another day of intentional living!

Episode 285: Why You Should Ditch New Lessons at the End of the Year May 21, 2024

Show notes

On this episode of the Teaching Middle School ELA podcast, we're encouraging you to shake the pressure of finding a magical new ELA unit to finish your school year with fun and engagement. Yep, you heard us right! While engagement and rigor are just as important at the end of the school year, we are challenging the idea that you need to search for something "brand new" to make that happen inside your classroom! Perhaps hitting the "rewind" button to review activities your students already know and love could be just as interesting!

We're giving you two ideas in this episode that will not only add a little sparkle to your end-of-year lessons, but they also provide a natural way to review multiple ELA concepts at once! Your students will love showing off what they've learned and have fun while doing it!

You'll hear about:

- Using hexagonal thinking to give students the opportunity to connect various ELA skills and concepts

- Using the "sticky note" method for students to collaborate and reflect on what they've learned

Grab a pen and paper to jot down these ideas as you listen in!

BIG NEWS: The EB Teachers' ELA Portal will officially be open for enrollment this summer! If having access to ALL of the below sounds helpful to you, then we invite you to take a quick moment to add your name to our priority list today! Are you ready for:

Hundreds of ready-to-go ELA lessons
A robust Core ELA Curriculum that includes reading, writing, grammar, and vocabulary covering all of the ELA standards
Innovative digital lesson planning software
Hours of on-demand PD videos
A community of thousands of supportive ELA teachers from around the world

Pretty incredible, right?Click the link below to add your name to the priority list today:

https://www.ebteacher.com/ebtc-priority-list

Are you enjoying the podcast?

Make sure to subscribe to our channel and leave us a review! To leave a review in iTunes, click HERE by scrolling down our show page, selecting a star rating, and tapping “Write a review.” Let us know how this podcast is helping you in your ELA classroom!

Monday Mindset: Change the Way You Worry May 20, 2024

Show notes

In today's Monday Mindset, I'm presenting the idea of tipping the scales from anxiety to optimism with a simple, yet profound mental shift! Imagine if, instead of fretting over the direst outcomes, you spent that energy picturing the best possible scenarios! Let's walk through the process of balancing your perspectives to foster a more hopeful approach to life's hurdles. By envisioning the brightest outcomes, you'll lay the groundwork for a more proactive and solution-oriented mindset—preparing yourself to not only dream of success but to achieve it. Why not give visualization a try? You might just be surprised by the outcome!

Here's to another day of intentional living!

Episode 284: Team EB's Favorite Grading Hacks May 14, 2024

Show notes

On this episode of the Teaching Middle School ELA podcast, we're diving into a very opinionated topic: Grading.

The majority of the team members that make up the behind-the-scenes of EB Academics were once educators themselves at a variety of different grade levels. So we thought it would be perfect to "poll the team" and gather their most helpful tips for managing the demands of grading work in the ELA classroom.

We breakdown the tips below and more:

- Use TeacherMade or Google Forms to turn those hard copies digital and foster faster grading

- Allow students to select which in-class essay they most want you to grade

- Allow students to revise essays for a higher grade but only after they've met for a 1:1 conference with you

- Staggering your units between classes so your grading doesn't pile up at once

- Grading as you go through a unit or essay

- Resist the urge to grade the full essay; focus on improvements in a specific part of their essay

-Randomly select items that will be graded rather than grading every piece of work

- Lock your door during grading sessions to prevent interruptions

- Shake the guilt of not grading everything

- Always use rubrics and even consider letting students self-grade

- Batch Plan so your prep periods can be used for grading instead of planning

After listening in, you're sure to have a few tips to add to your routine to shave off those very valuable minutes you spend grading!

Get ready for an incredibly practical and helpful episode!

BIG NEWS: The EB Teachers' ELA Portal will officially be open for enrollment this summer! If having access to ALL of the below sounds helpful to you, then we invite you to take a quick moment to add your name to our priority list today! Are you ready for:

Hundreds of ready-to-go ELA lessons
A robust Core ELA Curriculum that includes reading, writing, grammar, and vocabulary covering all of the ELA standards
Innovative digital lesson planning software
Hours of on-demand PD videos
A community of thousands of supportive ELA teachers from around the world

Pretty incredible, right?Click the link below to add your name to the priority list today:

https://www.ebteacher.com/ebtc-priority-list

Are you enjoying the podcast?

Make sure to subscribe to our channel and leave us a review! To leave a review in iTunes, click HERE by scrolling down our show page, selecting a star rating, and tapping “Write a review.” Let us know how this podcast is helping you in your ELA classroom!

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