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.
Teaching Middle School ELA
Episode 347: From Summary to Justification: Teaching Students to Go Beyond the Obvious
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Today’s episode tackles a challenge every ELA teacher knows well: getting students to move beyond simply summarizing a text and into true analysis.
This episode, From Summary to Justification: Teaching Students to Go Beyond the Obvious, is all about helping students answer the big “So what?”—why their evidence matters, how to justify their thinking, and what it takes to turn plot retellings into meaningful insights.
Caitlin will walk you through why students often default to summary, practical scaffolds you can use to push them deeper, and classroom activities—like color-coding exercises and even a game called “Justification Jumble”—that will make analysis feel approachable, engaging, and doable for every student.
And don’t forget—our free 3-Day Writing Workshop is coming up soon on September 23–25 at 5 PM PT. If you’re ready to transform your writing instruction and give your students the tools to write with clarity and confidence, head to www.ebteacher.com/writing-workshop
to save your spot.