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.
Episodes
Episode 370: The Gratitude Writing Activity Your Students Will Actually Love
Episode 369: Monday Mindset: The Hard Truth You Need to Hear
Episode 368: Still Using This Simple Idea from 2015 in Your Writing Lessons?
Episode 367: Monday Mindset: Burnout Isn’t a Badge of Honor
Episode 366: How to Teach Writing With Confidence (Even If You Feel Like a Fraud)
Episode 365: Monday Mindset: Feeling Stuck? This Episode Will Help You See Why That’s a Good Thing.
Stop Using RACE: The Better Writing Framework Students Actually Understand
Episode 364: Make Writing Feel Easy Again: 3 Simple Systems That Actually Work
Episode 363: Monday Mindset: What Courage Looks Like in the Classroom (Hint: It’s Not Loud)
Episode 362: The Mystery Basket Game That Turns Any Lesson Into a Competition
Episode 361: How to Fix Classroom Culture Fast (Without Starting Over)
Episode 360: The Knockout Game That Makes Review Days 10x More Fun
The Free Halloween Escape Room Your Students Will Freak Out Over
Episode 359: The Treasure Hunt Review Game That Keeps Students Begging for More
Episode 358: How to Stop Comparing Yourself to Other Teachers
Episode 357: The Game That Turns Vocabulary, Grammar, and More Into Student Obsessions
Episode 356: Stop Staring at the Mountain in Front of You: Do This Instead
Episode 355: ELA Games Series: Why Bluffing Might Be the Most Fun Way to Practice ELA
Episode 354: ChatGPT Series: 3 ChatGPT Shortcuts Every ELA Teacher Needs to Save Hours on Prep
Episode 353: The Shortcut Narrative Unit: How to Get Powerful Stories in Just 10 Days
Episode 352: ChatGPT Series: Differentiation Without the Extra Work
Episode 351: Balancing Creative and Academic Writing in the Middle School Classroom
Episode 350: ChatGPT Series: Communication & Admin Tasks Made Easier
Episode 349: Scaffolding Evidence: How to Help Students Choose Quotes That Actually Work
Episode 348:ChatGPT Series: Planning Support Without the Overwhelm