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
479 episodes
Episode 336: How to Make Peer Review Work in Middle School
In this episode, we’re breaking down three practical strategies to transform peer review from a checkbox into a powerful teaching tool that improves writing—and helps you spend less time grading. We’ll also walk through the exact check...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 336
•
12:39
Episode 335: The Power of Weekly Routines in Your ELA Classroom
Feeling overwhelmed with lesson planning week after week? In this episode, we're digging into how simple, consistent weekly routines can completely transform your classroom. Learn how to save time, reduce stress, and build stronger engagement—a...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 335
•
23:24
Episode 334: What to Do When Students Still Can’t Write a Strong Paragraph
So, you’ve taught the structure. You’ve modeled examples. You’ve practiced together. And still... your students are struggling to write a strong paragraph. Sound familiar?In today’s episode, I’m breaking down exactly what to do when your...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 334
•
24:42
Episode 333: Why the Evidence Tracker Is the Most Underrated Writing Tool
In this episode, I’m sharing a writing tool that’s often overlooked but absolutely transformative: the Evidence Tracker. This simple organizer helps students slow down, organize their thinking, and write stronger, clearer arguments. I’ll...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 333
•
13:00
Episode 332: What I’d Do Differently with Writing Next Year (And What I’d Keep the Same)
Welcome back to Teaching Middle School ELA! In this episode, I share a behind-the-scenes reflection on what I’d keep—and what I’d change—with writing instruction if I were still in the classroom next year. I dive into our Evidence-Based Writing...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 332
•
14:55
Episode 331: Batch Planning Grammar Mini-Lessons for a Month at a Time
Think you need to teach grammar daily to see results? Think again. In this episode, I share why less is more when it comes to grammar instruction—and how focusing on just two skills per month (using our 8-step EB Grammar Framework) leads to dee...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 331
•
22:32
Episode 330: The #1 Writing Skill to Focus on in the First Month of School
Welcome back to Teaching Middle School ELA! Today we’re diving into the #1 writing skill to focus on during the first month of school — and it’s probably not what you think. If you want your students to grow as confident, capable write...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 330
•
22:06
Episode 329: How to Create Engaging Lessons That Don’t Take Hours to Plan
Planning engaging lessons shouldn’t take over your weekends. In today’s episode, I’m sharing our simple EB lesson planning framework—Into, Through, and Beyond—along with plug-and-play activities that save you time and help...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 329
•
20:32
Episode 328: Creating Student Buy-In for Writing Projects
Getting students excited about writing doesn’t start with the “perfect” prompt — it starts with purpose. In this episode, Caitlin dives into how to create real buy-in by helping students understand why writing matters, how to take owne...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 328
•
26:41
Episode 327: How the 80/20 Rule Can Transform Your ELA Classroom
Feeling overwhelmed by everything you’re expected to plan, prep, and grade as a middle school ELA teacher? You’re not alone — but there is a better way.In this episode, Caitlin breaks down the 80/20 Rule (aka the Pareto Principl...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 327
•
27:59
326: Writing Engagement Starts Day One—Here’s How I Hook Them
In this episode of Teaching Middle School ELA, Caitlin flips the script on traditional first-day activities by making the case for launching your writing unit on day one — yes, really! While students may still be groggy and navigating ...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 326
•
11:47
Episode 325: Why Planning Ahead Saves You Time (and Sanity) in the Long Run
In this episode of Teaching Middle School ELA, Caitlin tackles a topic many teachers may feel tempted to brush off—planning ahead. With the end-of-year chaos in full swing, thinking about next school year might seem impossible. ...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 325
•
26:53
Episode 324: Mini Lessons That Actually Stick (and Take Less Than 10 Minutes)
In this upbeat episode of the Teaching Middle School ELA podcast, Caitlin shares how short and sweet can still be powerful! Discover how mini lessons can make a big impact—especially during the busy end-of-year days—while giving you mo...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 324
•
16:32
Episode 323: What to Focus On This Summer to Set Yourself Up for a Stress-Free Fall
In this episode of the Teaching Middle School ELA podcast, Caitlin shares how you can make the most of your summer without letting school take over. Learn which planning tasks are truly worth your time, what you can skip, and ...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 323
•
26:06
Episode 322: Mic Drop Moments: 3-Sentence Speeches for the Last Day of School
In this short but powerful episode of the Teaching Middle School ELA podcast, Caitlin shares a meaningful, low-prep activity to help students reflect and find closure at the end of the year: the 3-sentence speech. It’s a simple way to ...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 322
•
10:24
Bonus Episode: How to Turn a Mystery into a Full-Class Mock Trial
How to Turn a Mystery into a Full-Class Mock TrialWant to teach argument writing in a way your students will actually love? In this episode, I'm walking you through how to pair a murder mystery narrative ...
•
17:15
Episode 321: Closing Time: End-of-Year Routines to Wrap Up Your Classroom, Grades, and Sanity
In today’s episode of the Teaching Middle School ELA podcast, Caitlin shares simple, effective end-of-year routines to help you wrap up the school year with clarity and calm. If May feels like a whirlwind, this is your guide to finishi...
•
20:17
Episode 320: Creative End-of-Year Reflections That Stick
The final weeks of school don't have to be a countdown to summer filled with movies and worksheets. This pivotal time offers a golden opportunity to help your students reflect on their journey and recognize just how far they've come in your cla...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 320
•
16:17
Episode 319: How Prepping on Fridays Can Change Your Life
Imagine this: It’s Friday afternoon, the classroom is finally quiet, and you’re standing at a crossroads—do you take a little extra time to prep for next week, or do you head out and deal with it later? If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone...
•
14:23
Episode 318: Low-Prep Ways to End the Year with Deep Thinking
In this episode, you’ll discover simple yet powerful strategies to spark curiosity and connection in your classroom—all while keeping things manageable for you. Let’s flip the script on end-of-year burnout and finish strong with purpose, clarit...
•
17:11
Episode 317: How to Plan Smarter, Not Harder: Mapping Out a Month of ELA in One Afternoon
If May has you running on empty and juggling all the things, this episode is for you. We're diving into a powerful mindset shift that will help you take back your time—starting with your lesson plans. Imagine sitting down for one afternoon and ...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 317
•
30:21
Welcome Back: A New Season, A New Chapter
After four months away, the podcast is back—and so am I. In this solo episode, I’m sharing the story behind the pause, what I’ve walked through personally and professionally, and the deep lessons I’ve learned on the other side. This season is a...
•
18:40
An Important Update for the Podcast
As the New Year dawns, we're embracing a transformative journey at EB Academics. After over 300 episodes of enriching the lives of ELA teachers, we're hitting pause on the Teaching Middle School ELA podcast to focus on something monumental. Our...
•
4:00
Mindset Favorite: Protecting Your Energy
Let’s take a moment to revisit one of our favorite Monday Mindset episodes!Your energy has the power to transform every interaction—are you elevating those around you? Learn practical strategies to protect and project positiv...
•
5:24
Re-Air Transform Your Planning Process and Take Back Your Time
Let's listen once again to one of our Podcast Favorites. This episode empowers middle school ELA teachers to plan an entire month or semester of lessons in advance, transforming the weekly grind into a streamlined, stress-free process. Learn to...
•
14:31