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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: What’s Hard Now is Easy Later Apr 10, 2023

Show notes

This is so applicable to every aspect of our lives. Think of something that is hard for you. Maybe it's putting your child back to bed at 2 in the morning, or maybe you’re working on pushing yourself in the gym. These things may be extremely difficult now, but in a few months they will become easy. Doing the hard work is creating habits which will in turn create an easier life for us in the future.
Here’s to another week of living intentionally.
Caitlin

Visual Essays: A Writing Assignment Your Students will Actually Like - 218 Apr 04, 2023

Show notes

Writing essays may not sound like the most exciting activity to your middle school students, but Caitlin and Jessica have a unique idea to freshen up that typical essay in your classroom! Today on the podcast, listeners will hear all about how to implement a visual essay. This is a creative assignment that will help your students practice and master the writing standards. They’re still writing an essay, but in a brand new way! As always, you’ll hear practical tips and tricks for implementing this unique activity in your own classroom.
Are you enjoying the podcast?
Tag us @ebacademics and let us know which episode you're listening to!

Make sure to Subscribe and leave us a Review!

Your review helps us reach even more middle school ELA teachers just like you! It would mean so much to us. To leave a review in iTunes, click HERE and scroll down to Rating and Reviews. Click on "Write a Review" and let us know how this podcast is helping you in your ELA classroom!

Other episodes you might enjoy:

Monday Mindset: Rejection is Protection Apr 03, 2023

Show notes

Oftentimes things don’t go our way, and we feel like things aren’t working out for us. Instead of feeling like a failure, try switching your mindset. Sit in the knowing that something better is coming. What if that “no” you received was actually protecting you and opening you up to the possibility of something greater? So, consider where you are experiencing this type of protection in your life and realize that something better is on the way.
Here’s to another week of living intentionally.
Caitlin

Two-Voice Poetry (You're Going to Want to Try This!) - 217 Mar 28, 2023

Show notes

In this final episode in our four-part series about poetry, Caitlin and Jessica discuss Two Voice Poetry. This activity will help your students practice several ELA standards, and as always, you’ll hear practical steps for setting this lesson up in your own classroom in the episode. We think you’ll definitely want to try this special activity with your students!

Are you enjoying the podcast?
Tag us @ebacademics and let us know which episode you're listening to!

Make sure to Subscribe and leave us a Review!

Your review helps us reach even more middle school ELA teachers just like you! It would mean so much to us. To leave a review in iTunes, click HERE and scroll down to Rating and Reviews. Click on "Write a Review" and let us know how this podcast is helping you in your ELA classroom!

Other episodes you might enjoy:

Monday Mindset: Our Thoughts Mar 27, 2023

Show notes

Our thoughts are harmless unless we believe them to be true. If we can look at thoughts as neither being negative or positive, we can decide if we want to entertain them. Once we believe our thoughts, they will dictate our response and the reality we create for ourselves in our lives. So, try to notice your thoughts and get to know them. Ask yourself if they are serving you. If not, move on and offer your brain something else. Food for thought.
Here’s to another week of living intentionally.
Caitlin

Bonus Episode: Write Sample Essays with Chat GPT Mar 23, 2023

Show notes

One of the best ways to help improve your students’ writing is to provide them with solid mentor texts. When students examine a well-written sample essay, it gives them something to strive for in their own writing. Sounds great, except many teachers don’t have the extra time to write sample essays for each of their writing units. In today’s podcast, Caitlin and Jessica solve that problem and share how you can use AI to help you draft sample essays that will support your students without taking up all your time and energy.
Are you enjoying the podcast?
Tag us @ebacademics and let us know which episode you're listening to!

Make sure to Subscribe and leave us a Review!

Your review helps us reach even more middle school ELA teachers just like you! It would mean so much to us. To leave a review in iTunes, click HERE and scroll down to Rating and Reviews. Click on "Write a Review" and let us know how this podcast is helping you in your ELA classroom!

Other episodes you might enjoy:

Hook Your Students with Interactive Poetry Analysis - 216 Mar 21, 2023

Show notes

While some students (and even teachers) may consider reading poetry to be like watching paint dry, it doesn’t have to be! Caitlin and Jessica share a unique “Into” lesson with listeners that is sure to hook your students, preparing them for a successful and enjoyable experience with poetry.
Are you enjoying the podcast?
Tag us @ebacademics and let us know which episode you're listening to!

Make sure to Subscribe and leave us a Review!

Your review helps us reach even more middle school ELA teachers just like you! It would mean so much to us. To leave a review in iTunes, click HERE and scroll down to Rating and Reviews. Click on "Write a Review" and let us know how this podcast is helping you in your ELA classroom!

Other episodes you might enjoy:

Monday Mindset: Margin for Miracles Mar 20, 2023

Show notes

We all have something that holds us back in life such as control or perfectionism. However, if you feel called to live up to being your higher self, you must release that tendency. Once you do that you create space for something beautiful to happen. So, reflect on the way of being that is holding you back from being your best self and think about what could happen when you do.
Here’s to another week of living intentionally.
Caitlin

Bonus Episode: Create Essential Questions with Chat GPT Mar 16, 2023

Show notes

Do you struggle to differentiate writing for your students? It can be tough and certainly time-consuming to create multiple essential questions to differentiate in your classroom. AI could be just the solution you’re looking for! In this episode, Caitlin and Jessica discuss how you can use Chat GPT to craft essential questions, engaging each student at their level of learning.

Are you enjoying the podcast?
Tag us @ebacademics and let us know which episode you're listening to!

Make sure to Subscribe and leave us a Review!

Your review helps us reach even more middle school ELA teachers just like you! It would mean so much to us. To leave a review in iTunes, click HERE and scroll down to Rating and Reviews. Click on "Write a Review" and let us know how this podcast is helping you in your ELA classroom!

Other episodes you might enjoy:

March Madness Poetry Brackets - 215 Mar 14, 2023

Show notes

There’s nothing wrong with a little competition, right? In today’s episode, Caitlin and Jessica share a super-engaging March Madness Poetry activity that you can use in your classroom to inspire your students to analyze and enjoy poetry! As always, the lesson ideas are both rigorous and engaging, helping your students to not only learn the standards but enjoy the process of learning.
Are you enjoying the podcast?
Tag us @ebacademics and let us know which episode you're listening to!

Make sure to Subscribe and leave us a Review!

Your review helps us reach even more middle school ELA teachers just like you! It would mean so much to us. To leave a review in iTunes, click HERE and scroll down to Rating and Reviews. Click on "Write a Review" and let us know how this podcast is helping you in your ELA classroom!

Other episodes you might enjoy:

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