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
Feb 3, 2026 • 14min
Episode 388: Two Grammar Games That Replace Worksheets Without Losing Rigor
Today’s Teaching Middle School ELA episode is all about grammar games that actually work. Not the chaotic, overcomplicated kind—but the print, pass out, play, done kind. I’m sharing two of my favorite low-prep grammar games that feel like recess to students while secretly delivering serious skill practice. Easy to reuse, simple to set up, and engaging enough that kids forget they’re doing grammar. Let’s go.
Feb 2, 2026 • 13min
Episode 387: Monday Mindset: Trust Your Decisions (Even When Everyone Else Has Opinions)
Today's Monday Mindset episode, we explore how to quiet outside noise and trust our professional judgment, especially when admin directives and social media trends collide with what we know works. We share a simple pause-and-align framework, a real classroom example, and a weekly challenge to build self-trust.• why trusting our own decisions matters• how social media erodes confidence• recognizing advice as context-bound opinion• the pause, align, decide framework• integrating mandates without losing your method• using evidence from your own classroom• the weekly challenge to notice second guessing• living and teaching with alignmentLet us know over on our Instagram at @ebacademics
Jan 27, 2026 • 17min
Episode 386: Forget Spiraling Everything: The One Skill Your Students Actually Need Before Testing
We trade cram-heavy test prep for a focused plan that teaches test literacy so students think clearly under pressure. You’ll learn how to coach two-part multiple choice, structure short answers with EBW, decode vocabulary in context, and spot direction and critical words that change meaning.• why spiraling everything can backfire• what test literacy is and why it matters• two-part multiple choice feedback loop• short answer structure using EBW• vocabulary from context using cues• direction words that define the task• critical words that flip the question• simple routines that lower stress• resources to implement strategies fastTest Prep Sweets Stations Activity: https://www.ebteacher.com/test-prep
Jan 20, 2026 • 12min
Episode 385: A Test Prep Strategy Students Actually Enjoy (And You’ll Reuse Every Year)
We share a station-based routine that keeps rigor high, lowers stress, and makes ELA test prep engaging with short passages about sweets from around the world. Students rotate, gather evidence, and solve an acrostic puzzle using a traveling candy journal while we model test-aligned questions.• why drill-and-kill test prep hurts engagement• what students actually need for test readiness• how Sweet Stations are set up and rotated• using short informational texts with test-style stems• building a candy journal for answers and keywords• solving an acrostic puzzle to drive accuracy• leveraging ChatGPT to draft passages and questions• keeping pressure low while preserving rigor• options to recreate or grab the done-for-you pack• preview of next week’s skill-focused episodeGrab Sweet Stations at 40% off during testing season via this link: https://www.ebteacher.com/test-prepIf you try this with your students, tell us inside the EB Teacher community or message us on Instagram @EBAcademics
Jan 19, 2026 • 12min
Episode 384: Monday Mindset: Why “Keeping It Simple” Makes You a Stronger Teacher
The belief that “more equals better” can quietly run your classroom and your life. We challenge that script with a fresh, practical look at simplicity—how lean lesson plans, streamlined grading, and tight routines can boost learning while giving you back time and calm. If January feels heavy, this is your nudge to stop feeding the plan book and start focusing on what truly moves the needle.Ready to try it? Pick one simplification and commit to it this week. Then tell us how it goes—we’re cheering you on. If this resonated, subscribe, share it with a colleague who needs the reminder, and leave a quick review so more teachers can find the show.
Jan 15, 2026 • 27min
BONUS: How to Use EB Resources With Your District Curriculum (Without Getting Behind or Overwhelmed)
If you’ve ever felt like you’re being told to “do more writing” without anyone actually showing you where it fits, this episode is for you. Today, Caitlin is joined by a familiar voice—our membership manager, Genevieve and a real classroom teacher using a district-mandated curriculum and EB Academics side by side. We share a simple, three-layer framework for using EB resources with district-mandated ELA curricula without losing alignment, pacing, or sanity. • Keeping district texts while upgrading activities• Replacing weak writing lessons with the EB writing approach• Using writing as a thinking framework for discussion• Adding grammar games, vocabulary, and quick routines• Mapping the year around assessments and standards• Leveraging graphic organizers, sentence stems, and checks• Aligning with admin priorities and showing results• Low-risk pilot option for campus or team trialsGet all the details on our pilot program: https://www.ebteacher.com/pilot-program Join us now!
Jan 13, 2026 • 9min
Episode 383: Fix Chaotic Transitions With One Simple Procedure
Today’s Teaching Middle School ELA podcast episode is all about turning chaos into calm. If transitions in your middle school classroom feel loud, rushed, or all over the place, this episode is for you. We’re breaking down one simple, repeatable procedure you can put in place to bring clarity, consistency, and calm to your transitions—without adding more to your plate. Small shift, big impact. Let’s get into it.
Jan 6, 2026 • 10min
Episode 382: The First Writing Routine You Should Teach After Break (It Makes Everything Easier)
Coming back from break can feel overwhelming—for you and your students. In today’s Teaching Middle School ELA podcast episode, we’re sharing the very first writing routine you should teach when you return, and why this one simple shift makes everything feel easier. If you’re looking for a calm, confidence-building way to reset your writing block and set the tone for the weeks ahead, this episode is for you. 🎧✨
Jan 5, 2026 • 9min
Episode 381: Monday Mindset: The Truth About “Feeling Behind” (And Why You’re Probably Ahead)
It’s our first podcast episode of the year, and we’re starting with a message so many of us need right now. If you’ve been stepping into the new year feeling behind, this Monday Mindset is for you. We’re talking about why that feeling shows up, what it really means, and how you might actually be far more ahead than you think. A grounding, encouraging reset to kick off the year. 🎧✨
Dec 30, 2025 • 34min
Episode 380: How We Actually Create EB Resources (You'll Never Guess the Last Step)
Today’s episode is a special one because we’re welcoming back a familiar face—our very own Pat from the EB Team 🎉You’ve heard Pat before, and since then, we’ve gotten so many questions about how EB resources actually come to life. So today, we’re pulling back the curtain. From the first spark of an idea, to collaboration, revisions, teacher feedback… and yes—the step at the very end that almost no one guesses 👀If you’ve ever wondered what really goes on behind the scenes at EB (or why our resources feel so thoughtfully built), this episode is for you. Let’s dive in! 🎧USC Program mentioned: https://rossier.usc.edu/programs/find-compare-programs/equity-educators-certificateFor any comments or suggestions, please message us on Instagram @ebacademics
