Teaching Middle School ELA

In this Monday Mindset, I want to discuss powerful strategies to infuse more joy, peace, and intentionality into your life. I'll guide you in identifying activities that fuel your inner soul. You know, like those activities that make you lose track of time! Let's consider the impact integrating more activities like these into your routine, and celebrating every little victory, can have o...

On this episode of the Teaching Middle School ELA podcast, we're taking a closer look at our proven lesson planning framework. You'll hear how we developed this framework and its different components: Into Lesson, Through Lesson, and Beyond Framework! Once we determined the ingredients needed in the recipe for a successful lesson plan, the entire planning process became much more simple...

What if your life's true purpose is linked to the positive impact you have on others? In this Monday Mindset, I explore the connection between living your purpose and making a meaningful difference. We'll consider how roles, like teaching and inspiring others, can lead to a more fulfilling life. We'll reflect on our impact and recognize our unique gifts to align with a purpose that...

On this episode of the Teaching Middle School ELA podcast, we're discussing what we call the "North Star" of lesson planning: your ELA standards! We're covering our most practical ways of utilizing your list of ELA standards to develop an outline of pacing for your scope and sequence. Once you have a "map" of standards to follow, then it becomes easier to pencil in un...

Ever feel weighed down by anger and frustration? In this Monday Mindset, discover practical steps to unburden yourself from negative emotions and foster positive relationships. By focusing on your own journey and not letting others' negativity affect you, you can build a more resilient and fulfilling life. I discuss the common frustration of unmet expectations and the futility of hoping other...

On this episode of the Teaching Middle School ELA podcast, we dissect the anatomy of a successful lesson plan — a captivating beginning, a standards-focused middle, and an impactful conclusion. This framework not only ensures your lessons flow effectively but also significantly cuts down planning time, allowing you to leave work at work and actually take back your personal time outside the classro...

In this Monday Mindset episode, I am exploring the question: Can an act of kindness truly transform your life? I believe that there is transformative power in serving others that will bring profound joy to your life! By shifting our focus from our own challenges to helping those around us, you will instantly foster gratitude, which assists in reducing any anxious feelings because you're focus...

On this episode of the Teaching Middle School ELA podcast,  your hosts Caitlin, Jessica, and Megan spend time breaking down their top 3 Must Do's to wrap up this school year and prepare for the fall! It can be very tempting to close up shop in May and leave the prep work for August, but in today's episode you'll learn our suggestions for simple things you can do now that your future...

Get ready for a moment of reflection in today's Monday Mindset! I'm taking this time to discuss the importance of shifting your focus from the relentless pursuit of what's ahead, to reflecting on the victories you've already achieved! Acknowledging achievements isn't just about giving ourselves a pat on the back—it's about laying the foundation of confidence and grati...

On this episode of the Teaching Middle School ELA podcast, we're encouraging you to shake the pressure of finding a magical new ELA unit to finish your school year with fun and engagement. Yep, you heard us right! While engagement and rigor are just as important at the end of the school year, we are challenging the idea that you need to search for something "brand new" to make that...

In today's Monday Mindset, I'm presenting the idea of tipping the scales from anxiety to optimism with a simple, yet profound mental shift! Imagine if, instead of fretting over the direst outcomes, you spent that energy picturing the best possible scenarios! Let's walk through the process of balancing your perspectives to foster a more hopeful approach to life's hurdles. By env...

On this episode of the Teaching Middle School ELA podcast, we're diving into a very opinionated topic: Grading. The majority of the team members that make up the behind-the-scenes of EB Academics were once educators themselves at a variety of different grade levels. So we thought it would be perfect to "poll the team" and gather their most helpful tips for managing the demands of gr...

Get ready for a fresh perspective on time and how it impacts our ability to be present with our surroundings in this Monday Mindset! I take a minute to unravel how getting lost in experiences that captivate us can warp our sense of time, leading us to a state of pure presence. What if you find something this week that will immerse you so deeply that time becomes irrelevant? It's an invitation...

On this episode of the Teaching Middle School ELA podcast, your hosts, Caitlin, Jessica, and Megan sat down to discuss a fresh method to try with your students when trying to give their creativity a boost! Tune in as they dive into the SCAMPER method and walk you through a unique example for you to see it in action. SCAMPER stands for: Substitute Combine Adapt Modify/Magnify Purpose/Put to other u...

On today's Monday Mindset, I'm taking a moment to intimately reflect on how maintaining a positive outlook rather than chasing perpetual happiness will profoundly shape your life's journey! Join me as I traverse the emotional journey that life presents, from the peaks of joy to the valleys of sorrow. I'll candidly share how personal loss became a testament to resilience and the...

On this episode of the Teaching Middle School ELA podcast, Jessica is joined by EB Academics' Curriculum Writer, Pat, and together they dive into an innovative use of ChatGPT for your middle school classroom! Pat presents this engaging concept by explaining how you can use ChatGPT to generate task cards that are fantastic to use with your students who seem to always finish their assignments e...

In today's Monday Mindset I'm giving you permission to want more out of life! In this episode, I challenge the idea that wanting more from your life means you are discontent or unhappy. Instead, I lean into the concept that wanting more is not only natural but necessary for a life full of intention and authenticity. So let's do away with the guilt and embrace the possibility that we...

On this episode of the Teaching Middle School ELA podcast, Jessica, Pat introduce Jay, EB's resident differentiation expert for ELL and SPED students! Together they host a conversation focused on effective teaching methodologies tailored to accommodate diverse learning needs. They take a deep dive into strategies such as fostering trust and community among students, implementing collaborative...

In today's Monday Mindset, I'm exploring a life mantra that can instantly break down the walls of a "stuck" mindset! Marie Forleo's infectious philosophy that 'everything is figureoutable' breathes new life into the way we tackle problems. I pay tribute to that mindset in this episode, reflecting on the belief that every challenge has a solution waiting to be unc...

On this episode of the Teaching Middle School ELA podcast, join your hosts Caitlin, Jessica, and Megan as they delve into the diverse approaches of teacher development programs across the globe. Drawing from conversations from a recent article titled, What the World Can Teach Us by Harry K. Wong, Ted Britton, and Tom Ganser, they uncover intriguing insights into how different countries support and...

Have you heard the old Julie Andrews quote, "When life shuts one door, another window opens." ? In today's Monday Mindset, I reflect on how those closed doors in our lives often nudge us toward paths we're meant to walk. By shifting our perspective of rejection to one of needed redirection, we can receive those circumstances in a whole new way! We'll explore the philosophy...

Get ready for an important episode of the Teaching Middle School ELA podcast! Listen in as your hosts, Caitlin, Jessica, and Megan tackle the topic of middle school ELA research units and exactly how you can make them engaging and memorable for your students. In this episode, we're sharing personal experiences and practical tips for creating research projects that your students will actually...

Are you ready to take a moment to consider whether or not you're living in the past, present, or future? In today's Monday Mindset, I reflect on the importance of self-reflecting on exactly where you are operating from. So often we choose to allow frustration or regrets from our past or the fear of the future to completely destroy our mindset and the choices we make today. I invite you t...

On this episode of the Teaching Middle School ELA podcast we're diving into the topic of making informational texts your students' new favorite genre! Navigating through the complexities of analyzing informational texts can often be a daunting task for our middle school students. In today's episode, we discuss the simple yet powerful trick we used time and time again to actually emp...

Get ready for a deep dive into self-reflection on today's Monday Mindset! In this episode, I present the question, "What defines a luxury in your life?". This conversation should challenge the status quo of what the world considers a "luxury" and really push you to consider what you personally value. Ramit Sethi, the author of "I Will Teach You to Be Rich," offer...