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
Aug 14, 2025 • 18min
Episode 341: Mini Socratic Seminars: Big Impact in Small Groups
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!If you’ve ever tried a Socratic seminar and ended up with just a handful of students dominating the conversation while the rest stayed silent, you’re not alone. In this episode of Teaching Middle School ELA, I’m sharing my favorite twist on the classic format—Mini Socratic Seminars—that get every student engaged, thinking deeply, and building real discussion skills.You’ll learn: ✅ How to set up smaller, safer discussion groups that encourage all voices. ✅ The self-tracking strategy that shifts students’ focus from “just talking” to contributing meaningfully. ✅ Tips for prepping the right kinds of questions and leading a smooth whole-class debrief.Whether you’re prepping for an upcoming essay, assessing comprehension, or just wanting richer conversations about your texts, this strategy works—and your students will actually enjoy it.📚 Listen now and discover how a simple format shift can transform classroom discussions into authentic, student-driven learning moments.
Aug 12, 2025 • 24min
Episode 340: Avoiding Burnout by Letting Go of Perfection in Your Lesson Plans
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!Here’s the truth: your lesson plans don’t need to be perfect to be effective—and chasing “perfect” is one of the quickest ways to burn out as a teacher.In this episode, I am talking directly to all the teachers who spend hours tweaking slides, rewriting already-great handouts, and second-guessing every plan. You’ll learn why perfectionism doesn’t actually make you a better teacher, how it can work against you (yep, research backs this up), and practical strategies to plan smarter, not harder.From setting time limits for planning to reusing templates without guilt, I will help you create engaging, student-centered lessons without draining your energy—or your evenings.💡 Mantra for the week: “My students need my presence, not my perfection.”
Jul 29, 2025 • 24min
Episode 339: What to Do When Self-Doubt Creeps In
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!Every teacher has those “Am I doing enough?” moments. In this episode, I'm talking through how to quiet the doubt and reconnect with your purpose, because you are making a difference. 🎉 Just a Few More Days Left! 🎉 Have you entered our Podcast Giveaway yet? We’re treating ONE lucky teacher to a FREE 1-year subscription to the EB Teachers’ ELA Portal! Here’s how to enter:Leave a review for the Teaching Middle School ELA Podcast on iTunes. Please send us a quick email at hello@ebacademics.com to let us know you did.Don’t miss your chance—drop your review this week and you might be the lucky teacher we surprise at the end of the month!
Jul 22, 2025 • 15min
Episode 338: How to Feel More Confident Teaching Writing (Even If You Don’t Love It)
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!Not a fan of teaching writing? You’re not alone—and this episode is for you. Tune in for simple mindset shifts + practical tips to help you teach writing with more confidence (and less stress)Grab The Case of the Stolen Pearls Unit here: https://www.ebteacher.com/pearls 🎉 Just a Few More Days Left! 🎉 Have you entered our Podcast Giveaway yet? We’re treating ONE lucky teacher to a FREE 1-year subscription to the EB Teachers’ ELA Portal! Here’s how to enter:Leave a review for the Teaching Middle School ELA Podcast on iTunes. Please send us a quick email at hello@ebacademics.com to let us know you did.Don’t miss your chance—drop your review this week and you might be the lucky teacher we surprise at the end of the month!
Jul 15, 2025 • 25min
Episode 337: Why Templates Are the Key to Teacher Sanity
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!Tired of reinventing the wheel? In this episode, I'm diving into how templates can simplify your planning, reduce decision fatigue, and give you your time (and sanity!) back. Book Study Information: https://www.ebteacher.com/book-studyClassroom Management Strategy YouTube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=5ZkdeEZL8rwEnter to Win a Year in The EB Portal🎉We’re treating ONE lucky teacher to a FREE 1-year subscription to the EB Teachers’ ELA Portal! Here’s how to enter:Leave a review for the Teaching Middle School ELA Podcast on iTunes. Please send us a quick email at hello@ebacademics.com to let us know you did.
Jul 10, 2025 • 13min
Episode 336: How to Make Peer Review Work in Middle School
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!In this episode, we’re breaking down three practical strategies to transform peer review from a checkbox into a powerful teaching tool that improves writing—and helps you spend less time grading. We’ll also walk through the exact checklists and frameworks we use with our EB Teachers to help peer review stick.Whether you’ve tried it before or you’re ready to give it a fresh start, this episode is packed with simple tips that work.Enter to Win a Year in The EB Portal🎉We’re treating ONE lucky teacher to a FREE 1-year subscription to the EB Teachers’ ELA Portal! Here’s how to enter:Leave a review for the Teaching Middle School ELA Podcast on iTunes. Please send us a quick email at hello@ebacademics.com to let us know you did.That’s it!Winner announced at the end of July—don’t miss out!
Jul 8, 2025 • 23min
Episode 335: The Power of Weekly Routines in Your ELA Classroom
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!Feeling overwhelmed with lesson planning week after week? In this episode, we're digging into how simple, consistent weekly routines can completely transform your classroom. Learn how to save time, reduce stress, and build stronger engagement—all by putting a repeatable structure in place.Enter to Win a Year in The EB Portal🎉We’re treating ONE lucky teacher to a FREE 1-year subscription to the EB Teachers’ ELA Portal! Here’s how to enter:Leave a review for the Teaching Middle School ELA Podcast on iTunes. Please send us a quick email to let us know you did.That’s it!Winner announced at the end of July—don’t miss out!
Jul 3, 2025 • 25min
Episode 334: What to Do When Students Still Can’t Write a Strong Paragraph
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!So, you’ve taught the structure. You’ve modeled examples. You’ve practiced together. And still... your students are struggling to write a strong paragraph. Sound familiar?In today’s episode, I’m breaking down exactly what to do when your students still aren’t getting it — including practical strategies, mindset shifts, and scaffolds that actually work. Let’s dive in and take the frustration out of paragraph writing once and for all.Join me: https://www.ebteacher.com/writing-workshop
Jul 1, 2025 • 13min
Episode 333: Why the Evidence Tracker Is the Most Underrated Writing Tool
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!In this episode, I’m sharing a writing tool that’s often overlooked but absolutely transformative: the Evidence Tracker. This simple organizer helps students slow down, organize their thinking, and write stronger, clearer arguments. I’ll show you exactly how to use it—and how to shake it up with a few creative twists that your students will love. If you’ve ever struggled with students writing off-track paragraphs or vague justifications, this episode is for you. Let’s dive in! Join me: https://www.ebteacher.com/writing-workshop
Jun 26, 2025 • 15min
Episode 332: What I’d Do Differently with Writing Next Year (And What I’d Keep the Same)
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!Welcome back to Teaching Middle School ELA! In this episode, I share a behind-the-scenes reflection on what I’d keep—and what I’d change—with writing instruction if I were still in the classroom next year. I dive into our Evidence-Based Writing (EBW) Approach, showing you how a clear, repeatable framework can simplify instruction and build confident writers without the overwhelm. Plus, I offer actionable strategies for integrating writing into every lesson, and invite you to join my free 3-day writing workshop in July for even more hands-on tips. Join me: https://ebteacher.com/writing-workshop
