Teaching Middle School ELA

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 about truth, healing, and coming home to what matters most. To stay connected with us about promotions, freebies, events, and professional development opport...

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 curriculum is under review by Ed Reports, and we're laser-focused on ensuring it meets and exceeds expectations, transforming it into an eve...

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 positivity, reflect on your energy levels, and align your actions with your best self. Surround yourself with uplifting individuals and discover the profound impact of intentional...

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 map out units, align with standards, and categorize lessons into 'into,' 'through,' and 'beyond' for maximum impact. Say...

What if embracing honesty and vulnerability could transform your life? Let's listen one more time to one of our Monday Favorite episodes, I explore how truthfulness fosters self-love and personal growth. Learn how honest feedback—whether from yourself or others—can spark meaningful change and help you align with your true aspirations. Dive into practical exercises and inspiring reflections to...

Grammar lessons don’t have to be dull or disconnected from what students are reading! In this episode, we share three engaging strategies to teach grammar concepts through the sentences in your class's stories and books. You’ll hear all about using mentor sentences, setting up scavenger hunts for grammar elements, and exploring nonstandard dialects to enrich students’ understanding of languag...

This is a flashback from one of our favorite Monday Mindset episodes! Imagine facing a challenge you once thought impossible—then conquering it with encouragement and the right mindset. This week, we explore how our beliefs shape our capabilities and the power of support in pushing past limits. Discover how shifting self-talk and embracing accountability can open doors to growth in all areas of li...

Join host Megan in this insightful episode as she welcomes back Dr. Deonna Smith, an inspiring advocate for educational equity. With experience as both a teacher and an administrator, Dr. Smith now collaborates with educators and school leaders to build vibrant, inclusive learning environments that support students from all backgrounds, especially those who are often marginalized. In today’s conve...

Let’s take a moment to revisit one of our favorite Monday Mindset episodes! Facing fear can lead to unexpected joys and personal growth. Caitlin recounts a spontaneous UTV ride through the Arizona desert that challenged her preference for predictability and taught her the power of embracing the unknown. This adventure mirrors the daily challenges we all face, from tackling daunting tasks to having...

In this episode, Jessica and Megan tackle the challenge of helping middle school students strengthen their reading fluency. Although students begin building these skills in elementary school, the complexity of middle school texts often requires extra support. Tune in as they share three powerful methods—choral reading, echo reading, and paired reading—plus a creative twist for making individual re...

Ever feel like you're always chasing the next goal? Let's have a recap on our Monday Mindset favorite episode, Caitlin shared a revelation from a mastermind interview that changed her perspective on success. For years, she thrived on drive and determination, but this year, she embraced the word "receive." This shift opened her eyes to the beauty of balancing hustle with accepta...

Ready to have a ball during story and book discussions? In this episode, learn how to use a soccer or beach ball to create dynamic, engaging discussion experience with your students. We’ll walk you through all the steps, from creating prompts to guiding student conversations with discussion stems. Plus, hear about the researched benefits of adding movement to your lessons, like improving focus and...

Let’s take a moment to revisit one of our favorite Monday Mindset episodes! In this episode, we tackle self-doubt and the path to intentional living. If you've ever felt held back by insecurities despite the success around you, you're not alone. I'll share strategies and stories to turn small wins into big breakthroughs, building a "bank of evidence" that you’re more capab...

In Episode 311 , Jessica and Megan explore the benefits of using collaborative writing in the classroom. They will also tackle common concerns teachers have when assigning group projects. You'll learn how collaborative writing boosts communication skills, builds confidence, and encourages peer learning. Plus, you'll pick up practical tips on setting up group writing tasks, managing group...

Life's seasons mirror our own cycles of growth and stillness. In this another past Monday Mindset episode, I share a personal story of navigating through busyness and loss, highlighting the value in both vibrant summers and quiet winters. As I reflect on my journey, I uncover the power of mourning, connecting, and finding purpose in every phase. Join me as we explore how embracing vulnerabili...

In this episode of The Teaching Middle School ELA Podcast , Caitlin, Jessica, and Megan explore how to plan lessons with English language learners in mind. You'll take away practical strategies for the beginning, middle, and end of your lessons, with tips that can benefit every student in your classroom. Whether you have one ELL student or many, these strategies will help you create lessons t...

Transform your mornings and reclaim over four weeks of your year! Let's have a recap on our Monday Mindset favorite episode, inspired by Mel Robbins, which reveals the hidden costs of hitting the snooze button. Discover how just 26 extra minutes in bed can rob you of precious time for growth and calm. I challenge you to reshape those minutes into a powerful start to your day with the mantra:...

In this special episode of The Teaching Middle School ELA Podcast , Megan interviews Trevor Aleo, a high school language arts teacher and co-author of Learning That Transfers: Designing Curriculum for a Changing World . Trevor talks about the strategies he used to help his 8th graders engage in multimodal composing projects, as you can read about in his English Journal article “‘What Would Other S...

Let’s take a moment to revisit one of our favorite Monday Mindset episodes! Ever faced a life-changing choice and wondered whether to take the leap? Join us on Monday Mindset as we dive into my brother's bold move to France—a story of courage, curiosity, and embracing the unknown. I explore the power of risk-taking and how saying "yes" to the unfamiliar can lead to lasting fulfillme...

In this episode, we're shaking things up with the Literary Shuffle Activity—a fun and interactive way to get students diving deeper into any story. Whether they’re on their feet or staying put, this game makes story review a blast. You'll walk away from this episode with all the information you'll need to implement this game using any novel or short story that your students are read...

What if small changes could align your life with your deepest values? Today’s Monday Mindset is one of our listeners’ favorite past episodes all about moving from dreaming to purposeful action, inspired by a lesson from the CEO of a basketball camps company. I discuss breaking the cycle of endless ideas and taking real steps toward your goals—especially in teaching. Tune in for actionable strategi...

In this episode of The Teaching Middle School ELA Podcast , Caitlin, Jessica, and Megan conclude their Science of Reading series by focusing on sight recognition, the final strand in Scarborough’s Reading Rope. Discover why sight recognition is key to fluent reading and explore practical strategies to help your middle school students instantly recognize and remember words. From engaging word wall...

What if staying motivated all year could be as simple as asking yourself one question: "Will your future self thank you for this choice?" Today we’re airing a past Monday Mindset episode where I discuss how forward-thinking can keep your drive alive, offering practical examples and personal stories that show how this mindset can help you stay committed to healthy habits, classroom goals,...

In this episode of The Teaching Middle School ELA Podcast , Caitlin, Jessica, and Megan guide you through decoding, the next strand of Scarborough’s Reading Rope. You’ll learn how decoding fits into the bigger picture of word recognition and why it’s essential for your middle school students. Discover two engaging activities that focus on prefixes, suffixes, and root words, designed to make decodi...

Can reading more books help prevent burnout? This week on another re-air episode of one of the Monday Mindset Favorites, I explore how choosing the right books, like "Sustain Your Game" by Alan Stein Jr., can shift your perspective and reignite your passion for teaching. It’s about selecting literature that uplifts, challenges, and inspires personal growth. Join me as I discuss how insig...