Teaching Middle School ELA
Caitlin Mitchell
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
Mentioned books
Mar 30, 2026 • 6min
Episode 399: Monday Mindset: The One Thing That Makes the End of the Year So Much Harder Than It Has to Be
Today's Monday Mindset, We challenge ourselves to teach for the “May us” by making choices now that reduce end-of-year stress and strengthen student skills. We unpack why readiness and motivation rarely show up first, and how holding the line on routines builds future peace for us and a foundation for our students.• picturing the “May you” and making March and April decisions with the end in mind• rejecting the myth of feeling ready before taking action• naming common temptations like shortening writing tasks or skipping justification• holding steady on policies, routines, and writing frameworks to make grading and the final stretch easier• balancing survival days with consistent expectations most days• remembering students watch what we reinforce and carry those skills forward
Mar 26, 2026 • 11min
Episode 398: Why Students Don't Apply Grammar in Their Writing — And How to Fix It Part 2
Today's episode is Part 2 of Episode 397. Your students can label sentence types on a worksheet, crush the grammar game, and still hand in an essay packed with run-ons and fragments. That disconnect is not laziness. It is transfer, and it is one of the biggest pain points in middle school ELA. Today we talk about the moment teachers care about most: when grammar moves off the quiz and into real student writing.We break down the third pillar of the EB Grammar Framework, application to writing, and why it has to come after direct instruction and engaging practice. You will hear exactly why “apply everything you have learned” overloads student brains during drafting, and how narrowing the target helps grammar stick during authentic writing tasks like literary analysis and argument essays.
Mar 24, 2026 • 15min
Episode 397: Why Your Grammar Lessons Keep Falling Flat (And the Fix That Actually Works) Part 1
If your grammar lessons feel like they’re going in one ear and out the other… You are not alone.In today’s Teaching Middle School ELA podcast episode, we’re breaking down why traditional grammar instruction just isn’t sticking—and what’s actually happening in your students’ brains during those lessons. More importantly, we’re diving into a simple, practical shift you can make that gets students engaged and applying grammar in their writing.If you’ve ever thought, “Why aren’t they getting this?!”—this episode is for you
Mar 23, 2026 • 9min
Episode 396: Monday Mindset: What to Do When Everything Starts to Slip
In today's Monday Mindset, March and April can feel like the point where everything starts slipping at once. You’re running on fumes, your students are restless, and the pull of summer makes every small task feel bigger than it should. We’re talking about that exact moment and the counterintuitive fix that actually makes the rest of the year easier: leaning into structure instead of letting it slide.We unpack why loosening routines, expectations, and boundaries doesn’t bring relief, it creates more chaos. The key mindset shift is simple but powerful: what’s hard now is easy later, and what’s easy now is hard later. When your classroom management stays clear, your late work policy stays firm, and your routines stay steady, students stop negotiating and testing. That consistency isn’t rigidity. It’s a signal that says, “You don’t have to guess. I’ve got this, and I’ve got you.”
Mar 19, 2026 • 24min
BONUS: Silent Discussions—How to Get Every Student Thinking (Without Anyone Saying a Word)
In this bonus episode, we’re joined by our very own EB Membership Manager, Genevieve, to talk about one of the most powerful (and underrated) strategies in the classroom—silent discussions.If you’ve ever struggled to get every student engaged or wished for deeper thinking without the pressure of speaking out loud, this episode is for you. Genevieve shares how silent discussions can transform participation, boost student confidence, and get every learner involved—no talking required.
Mar 10, 2026 • 14min
Episode 395: A 5-Minute Women’s History Month Writing Routine
Want to honor Women’s History Month without adding another unit to your already packed schedule? In today's Teaching Middle School ELA podcast episode, Caitlin shares a simple five-minute writing routine that helps students practice essential ELA skills while learning about remarkable female athletes like Simone Biles, Chloe Kim, and Katie Ledecky. It’s quick, meaningful, and easy to fit into your existing warm-up time—no extra planning required. If you’re looking for a way to bring real-world inspiration into your classroom while strengthening writing skills, this routine might be the perfect place to start.
Mar 3, 2026 • 25min
Episode 394: Whole-Group Differentiation: 5 Strategies You Can Use Tomorrow
Hello, March and welcome back to the Teaching Middle School ELA podcast. So today, I shared five simple, whole-group strategies that make differentiation workable and sustainable without adding extra lesson plans. The focus stays on one learning target while offering many entry points so every student can think, speak, and succeed.• redefining differentiation as access to the same skill• using mini experts to preview and build confidence• writing key steps and stems on the board• offering choice questions at varied depths• adding question extensions for early finishers• using wait time plus write time for equity• starting with one tactic twice a week, then layeringIf you're interested in learning more, simply go to: ebacademics.comYouTube Episode mentioned: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQzWh_EBU0U
Mar 3, 2026 • 9min
Episode 393: Monday Mindset: “March Is Not for Reinventing Yourself”
March is not the month for reinventing yourself. It's the month for trusting what's already working. The routines feel heavy, testing looms ahead, and suddenly the urge to reinvent your classroom creeps in. But what if this isn’t the season for drastic change? In today’s Monday Mindset, we’re talking about why March isn’t about starting over — it’s about staying steady. If you’ve been tempted to overhaul your systems or try something completely new, this episode is your reminder to trust what’s already working and finish the year with clarity and confidence.
Feb 24, 2026 • 12min
Episode 392: The Easiest Way to Add Informational Texts Without Adding More Work
In today's Teaching Middle School ELA podcast episode, we break the myth that informational text requires a massive unit and replace it with a quiet, repeatable five-minute Friday habit. One short passage, one clear skill, four or five questions, and clean data you can act on without extra planning.• Shifting from big nonfiction units to small weekly habits• Five-minute Friday routine with single-skill passages• Sources for short, skills-based informational texts• Using repetition to build durable reading skills• Collecting clean data to target instruction• Keeping directions consistent to lower friction• Balancing literature-heavy units with standards coverage• One-month trial plan and quick adjustmentsFor any suggestions or comments, please follow and message us on Instagram @EBAcademics
Feb 19, 2026 • 31min
BONUS: How to Run a March Madness Poetry Bracket in Any Classroom
March can bring some unpredictable classroom energy… but what if you could channel it into something that boosts engagement and hits reading, writing, and discussion standards all at once? In this week’s Teaching Middle school ELA podcast episode, we’re walking you through exactly how to run a March Madness Poetry Bracket in any classroom. From choosing poems and setting up your bracket to building powerful justification skills through authentic voting, this strategy turns poetry into something students actually look forward to. If you’ve ever wanted a way to make poetry feel exciting, competitive, and deeply instructional — this is it. Resources Mentioned:Poetry: A New Perspective YouTube Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhKSG3-joAwJanuary Bonus Podcast Episode: BONUS: How to Use EB Resources With Your District Curriculum (Without Getting Behind or Overwhelmed)
