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: Feeling Unmotivated Jan 09, 2023

Show notes

Most of us start the new year with a resolution or an intentional word to live by. We start off strongly motivated, but that tends to drop off quickly. How do we stay highly motivated throughout the year? I like to ask myself if my future self will thank me for this decision. This helps to keep me accountable and trust myself with future decisions. I invite you to ask yourself this same question when faced with a choice that will help you meet your goals.

Here's to another great week, of intentional living!

Engaging Activities to Add to Short Story Units - 205 Jan 03, 2023

Show notes

Are you finding it tougher than usual to get motivated to teach? Are you struggling to get your students excited about ELA class? Try implementing short stories to help make the weeks go by a little faster and help keep students on their toes. In today’s episode, I’m going to share 3 short stories with amazing activities that you can rinse and repeat all year long.

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: Decision Making Jan 02, 2023

Show notes

Decision making can be very difficult as a teacher. We are constantly making decisions that will ultimately affect our students’ success. The constant stress of decision making can be exhausting. Here’s an easy framework for you to consider to help with decision fatigue.

Always come back to your “why” and your values.

Don’t make decisions when you’re emotional.

Ask yourself questions.

What is my intuition telling me?

Remind yourself that you can learn from this decision whether it is “right” or “wrong”.

Don’t be afraid of the what if’s in life. They will only hold you back.

Here's to another great week, of intentional living!

BONUS Episode: Best Unit for After Winter Break Dec 27, 2022

Show notes

Please note that this episode originally aired December 2021, and we are sharing it again this week as the kickstart to our Batch Planning Series for the month of December!
This is leading up to our January 7-8th Batch Planning Live Event!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This episode is very special because we’re tackling one of our all-time favorite topics–batch lesson planning (without losing your mind).
Links mentioned in this episode:
BATCH PLANNING LIVE WINTER 2023: https://www.ebteacher.com/Winter2023BPL
CODE: BPLWINTER2023
Learn more about the EB Teachers' Club Here: https://www.ebteacher.com/EBTC-TMSELA
FREE DETECTIVE LESSON: https://ebacademics.mykajabi.com/eb-detective-free-lesson

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: Seasons Dec 26, 2022

Show notes

Seasonal changes are not just about the weather. They're also about our mindset and how we handle what life throws at us. There are seasons in our life that make us feel challenged, uninspired, or lonely, but like winter, it's not going to last forever!

BONUS Episode: Please Stop Staying at School Past Your Contracted Hours Dec 20, 2022

Show notes

Please note that this episode originally aired October 2021, and we are sharing it again this week as the kickstart to our Batch Planning Series for the month of December!
This is leading up to our January 7-8th Batch Planning Live Event!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This episode is very special because we’re tackling one of our all-time favorite topics–batch lesson planning (without losing your mind).
Links mentioned in this episode:
BATCH PLANNING LIVE WINTER 2023: https://www.ebteacher.com/Winter2023BPL
CODE: BPLWINTER2023
Learn more about the EB Teachers' Club Here: https://www.ebteacher.com/EBTC-TMSELA
FREE DETECTIVE LESSON: https://ebacademics.mykajabi.com/eb-detective-free-lesson

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: Discipline Dec 19, 2022

Show notes

Discipline is what separates the good from the great. It's what keeps us focused, humble and persistent. In this Monday Mindset episode, we're going to talk about how fundamental discipline is to becoming a better version of ourselves personally and professionally.
Sustain Your Game: https://www.amazon.com/Sustain-Your-Game-Performance-Stagnation/dp/0306926253/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_...

BONUS Episode: Excerpt from The Empowered ELA Teacher All About Mindset and Planning Dec 13, 2022

Show notes

Please note that this episode originally aired in December 2021, and we are sharing it again this week as the kickstart to our Batch Planning Series for the month of December!
This is leading up to our January 7-8th Batch Planning Live Event!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This episode is very special because we’re tackling one of our all-time favorite topics–batch lesson planning (without losing your mind).
Links mentioned in this episode:
BATCH PLANNING LIVE WINTER 2023: https://www.ebteacher.com/Winter2023BPL
CODE: BPLWINTER2023
Learn more about the EB Teachers' Club Here: https://www.ebteacher.com/EBTC-TMSELA
FREE DETECTIVE LESSON: https://ebacademics.mykajabi.com/eb-detective-free-lesson

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: Read More Dec 12, 2022

Show notes

While it's ironic to suggest to ELA teachers to read more, I think expanding into different kinds of reading material, such as books about happiness, upping your game, avoiding burnout, and elevating ourselves will help us from feeling the monotony of doing the same things over and over. One book I highly suggest reading is called Sustain Your Game by Alan Stein Jr. which talks a lot about the feeling of being stuck in a rut and not wanting to push ourselves to level up, to finding inspiration and discovering what more we're capable of.

https://www.amazon.com/Sustain-Your-Game-Performance-Stagnation-ebook/dp/B09BN3ZTCG

Monday Mindset: Radical Generosity Dec 05, 2022

Show notes

The other day a friend was helping me with something I was working on. She really gave me so much of her time, feedback, and soul. She showed up for me in such a huge way that caused me to be immensely filled with gratitude. I asked her how I could repay her, and she told me about this concept of radical generosity.
It's all about the way we inherently treat each other and show up for others while giving kindness and expecting nothing in return. The idea of radical generosity has totally changed how I look at everything in my life.
As I've started to show up this way for other people, I've seen a world of abundance show up for me. It's so fascinating to see what you get in return when you pour your heart and soul into other people.
Think about what radical generosity may look like for you as a partner, teacher, or friend.
Here's to another great week, intentional living.
Caitlin

Related Podcasts