Beyond the Paragraph: Teaching Writing in Middle School with Structure

What if the reason your students hate writing isn’t because they’re unmotivated but because you’re asking them to do too much, too soon? In this episode, I’m breaking down why I stopped starting the year with narrative writing and how changing the order of essay instruction completely transformed my classroom. I’ll walk you through the exact essay sequence I use, why it works, and how each step bu...

If teaching writing feels like one long game of catch-up… this episode will flip your perspective. In today’s episode, I’m revealing the six writing skills I teach first in my student-led writing workshop and why the order of instruction matters more than you think. You’ll learn how to teach skills that build on each other and give students instant momentum. We’ll talk about:  ✔️ The confidence-bu...

When I became a published author, I thought I understood revision...until I met my editor. And then my second editor. And my third. In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what really happens in the publishing world, all the way from developmental edits to line edits to the final proofread. This changed everything about the way I teach writing.  You'll hear how authors revise in stag...

Meet Tisha, an 8th grade ELA teacher who implemented the structured writing workshop in her classroom. She shares what worked during her first year of implementation.  You'll learn: ✔️How to use BOTH physical and digital notebooks for writing ✔️organization strategies for student leaders ✔️how to incorporate AI successfully in the writing process ✔️how this workshop changed her 8th graders An...

🏀 What does Steph Curry’s pregame warm-up have to do with writing instruction? Everything. In this episode, I'm comparing the basketball legend’s unpredictable, skill-building practice routine with the way we should be preparing students to write. You’ll hear two stories...one courtside, and one from a humid gym in 1986... that illustrate exactly why rigid acronyms and overstructured templat...

Many teachers are abandoning writing workshop… but not because it failed. It’s because the structure was missing . In this episode of Beyond the Paragraph , I’m sharing how you can reclaim the power of workshop with simple, transformative shifts that bring clarity, consistency, and calm to your writing block. Whether you’re a former fan of Calkins-style instruction or just tired of chaotic, unprod...

🎯 In this episode, I’m walking you through the daily structure that keeps students engaged and independent without constant redirection. You’ll hear exactly how I: ✅ Use student-led routines to minimize off-task behavior ✅ Reinforce expectations without micromanaging ✅ Turn workshop into a powerful classroom management tool ✅ Build a classroom culture where students lead, collaborate, and sta...

In this episode of Beyond the Paragraph , I’m pulling back the curtain on what real writers do and how we can finally start teaching like that. As a middle school ELA teacher and children’s book author with Disney, HarperCollins, and Houghton Mifflin, I’ve lived both worlds.  You’ll learn: What real authors actually do (and what we don’t) 4 things writers do that students should too A simple shift...

In this first episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on why traditional writing instruction isn’t working and what you can do instead. I’ll walk you through the simple shift I made that completely transformed my classroom (and made teaching writing way more fun for everyone involved). I’m sharing: Why most students sound like robots when they write (and how to fix it) What “structured writing” real...

Meet your host, Robin Mellom, middle school ELA teacher and author of ten children’s books with Disney, HarperCollins, and Houghton Mifflin . In this quick trailer, you’ll hear why she rebuilt her entire approach to writing instruction and how this podcast will help you do the same.  🎙️ Beyond the Paragraph is for teachers and homeschool educators who are ready to:  Move past rigid, formulaic writ...