Teaching Middle School ELA

Welcome to Part 2 of our Writer’s Workshop series. In our first episode, we discuss all of the issues with a writer’s workshop and why we are not big fans of using them in the classroom. In today’s episode, we move on to discuss how to effectively implement a workshop with a writing framework while incorporating rigorous and engaging lessons to achieve student growth. Are you enjoying the podcast?...

Our thoughts really do control our actions. Our minds are so much more powerful than we realize. So whether you think you can or can’t, you’re probably right. I invite you to think about your mindset the next time you attempt to do something. See if you can notice the difference your thoughts make.  Here’s to another week of living intentionally.  Caitlin

If you are only using a writer’s workshop model with your classes, you are probably running into a few problems. Your students may be having a “social hour” during independent writing time, be lacking the skills of giving effective criticism, or a few students may even be dominating the class discussions while others are completely tuned out. You probably can’t give your students the individual at...

What is something that you are scared, nervous, or worried about? If we let it stop us, fear will hold us back from life experiences. It’s important to move forward despite the fear. Take a moment and face that fear. How will you feel if you don’t do it? How will you feel if you do? Here’s to another week of intentional living.  Caitlin

It’s so difficult to get some students actively engaged in silent reading time. They’ll either stare at the book shelf for what feels like hours, or continuously pick a book and immediately return it back to the shelf. If you’re experiencing this in your classroom, then it’s time to give your silent reading time a burst of energy and some new life. In today’s video I walk you through an amazing Bl...

Remember life isn’t always about you. Your decisions impact others. YOU get to be a motivator and set a positive example to those around you, even when you aren’t trying to. It’s about those around you. It’s not about you. Here’s to another great week of living intentionally.

General education teachers often struggle with how to best utilize a paraprofessional in their classroom. Today Jennifer Hofferbe,r from Sped Prep Academy, joins us to help fill in the gaps. Are you enjoying the podcast? Tag us @ebacademics and let us know which episode you're listening to! Make sure to Subscribe and leave us a Review! Your review helps us reach even more middle school ELA te...

You have to be intentional when focusing on the speaking and listening standards. Your middle school students probably use a lot of “ums”, “likes”, or awkward pauses when speaking. You may even have a hard time getting them to construct arguments when they give a presentation or participate in a class discussion. In this episode we're going to walk you through 3 effective strategies that you...

Sometimes it's difficult to take a good hard look at ourselves, but it’s vital if we want to make changes. It’s important to be fully honest with ourselves in order to be called into the next best version of who we are. This is how we get to make changes and receive the parts of ourselves that we want to be. What part of yourself do you truly want to be honest about? Here’s to another week of...

Are you just assuming that you are covering the speaking and listening standards every time your students participate in a class discussion? If so, you are not alone. However, we need to spend more time intentionally addressing the nuances of these standards. Today, I’m going to walk you through an engaging activity that will have your students truly practicing the speaking and listening standards...

In this episode, I explore the concept of "going after it" vs "receiving" when it comes to abundance in our lives. I discuss the idea that constantly pushing and striving for more can actually block us from receiving the abundance that is already present in our lives. Whether you're looking to improve your finances, relationships, or overall well-being, this Monday Mindset...

It’s such a waste of time to use an amazing activity in an ELA lesson and then forget about it. Why spend all of that time and energy creating it, only to use it once? Not to mention the time you spend explaining the process to your students. Why not reuse the activity all year long? We like to call this process rinsing and repeating. It is a super effective way to keep your students engaged while...

Most of us start the new year with a resolution or an intentional word to live by. We start off strongly motivated, but that tends to drop off quickly. How do we stay highly motivated throughout the year? I like to ask myself if my future self will thank me for this decision. This helps to keep me accountable and trust myself with future decisions. I invite you to ask yourself this same question w...

Are you finding it tougher than usual to get motivated to teach? Are you struggling to get your students excited about ELA class? Try implementing short stories to help make the weeks go by a little faster and help keep students on their toes. In today’s episode, I’m going to share 3 short stories with amazing activities that you can rinse and repeat all year long.  Are you enjoying the podcast? T...

Decision making can be very difficult as a teacher. We are constantly making decisions that will ultimately affect our students’ success. The constant stress of decision making can be exhausting. Here’s an easy framework for you to consider to help with decision fatigue. Always come back to your “why” and your values. Don’t make decisions when you’re emotional. Ask yourself questions. What is my i...

Please note that this episode originally aired December 2021, and we are sharing it again this week as the kickstart to our Batch Planning Series for the month of December! This is leading up to our January 7-8th Batch Planning Live Event! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This episode is very special because we’re tackling one...

Seasonal changes are not just about the weather. They're also about our mindset and how we handle what life throws at us. There are seasons in our life that make us feel challenged, uninspired, or lonely, but like winter, it's not going to last forever!

Please note that this episode originally aired October 2021, and we are sharing it again this week as the kickstart to our Batch Planning Series for the month of December! This is leading up to our January 7-8th Batch Planning Live Event! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This episode is very special because we’re tackling one...

Discipline is what separates the good from the great. It's what keeps us focused, humble and persistent. In this Monday Mindset episode, we're going to talk about how fundamental discipline is to becoming a better version of ourselves personally and professionally. Sustain Your Game:  https://www.amazon.com/Sustain-Your-Game-Performance-Stagnation/dp/0306926253/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_...

Please note that this episode originally aired in December 2021, and we are sharing it again this week as the kickstart to our Batch Planning Series for the month of December! This is leading up to our January 7-8th Batch Planning Live Event! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This episode is very special because we’re tackling...

While it's ironic to suggest to ELA teachers to read more, I think expanding into different kinds of reading material, such as books about happiness, upping your game, avoiding burnout, and elevating ourselves will help us from feeling the monotony of doing the same things over and over. One book I highly suggest reading is called Sustain Your Game by Alan Stein Jr. which talks a lot about th...

The other day a friend was helping me with something I was working on. She really gave me so much of her time, feedback, and soul. She showed up for me in such a huge way that caused me to be immensely filled with gratitude. I asked her how I could repay her, and she told me about this concept of radical generosity. It's all about the way we inherently treat each other and show up for others...

Please note that this episode originally aired May 2021, and we are sharing it again this week as the kickstart to our Batch Planning Series for the month of December! This is leading up to our January 7-8th Batch Planning Live Event! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This episode is very special because we’re tackling one of o...

Writing conferences are a great way to bring your students’ focus back to writing with the content you want and how you want to accomplish it. In this episode, Caitlin and our guest Chad Pettit discuss how to use writing conferences successfully in your classroom, how they can enhance student learning, and why they should be on your radar if you want your students to write more and learn more. Lin...

In the past 24 hours, I swear I've seen this concept of "Quiet Quitting" everywhere. It's this idea that staff does the "bare minimum" as a way to push against the system that's not valuing them or their work. And I find this fascinating, especially in education. Because, let's be honest, education is not in a great spot right now to say the least. Something...