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 21, 2025 • 23min
Episode 343: You’re Probably Already Doing This—But It’s the Secret to a Strong Reading Culture
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!So many teachers want to build a strong reading culture in their classrooms—but the truth is, you’re probably already doing one of the most important things without even realizing it! In today’s episode, I pull back the curtain on the “secret” to fostering a love of reading and shows you how to amplify what you’re already doing to make an even bigger impact. Whether you’re working with reluctant readers or looking for fresh ways to spark excitement around books, this conversation will give you practical, encouraging steps to strengthen your classroom reading community.
Aug 19, 2025 • 22min
Episode 342: The Secret to a Thriving Classroom Culture
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!What if your classroom didn’t run on a long list of rules, but on a few powerful core values that shape how everyone shows up each day? In this episode, let's explore why core values inspire more ownership than rules, how to choose the right ones for your students, and simple ways to bring them to life daily. You’ll walk away with a clear framework for creating a classroom culture rooted in respect, responsibility, and growth—so you’re not just managing behavior, you’re building community and character. Links mentioned that will help you with Classroom Management Strategy:The Perfect Classroom Management Strategy for Middle School ➡️https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZkdeEZL8rwEpisode 139: The Single Most Effective Classroom Management System ➡️https://www.buzzsprout.com/2071023/episodes/11544768FREE EB CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT TOOL ➡️https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Wsr8zLchYD1-4esUfuNS5dB8RLT0SKYmzEH4zYfZm84/edit?slide=id.g12989d373b6_2_75#slide=id.g12989d373b6_2_75
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
