Teaching Middle School ELA

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!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.Links mentioned in this episode:https://www.ebteacher.com/EBTC-TMSELAAre 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 teachers just like you! It would mean so much to us. To leave a review in iTunes, click HERE and scroll down to Rating and Reviews. Click on "Write a Review" and let us know how this podcast is helping you in your ELA classroom!Other episodes you might enjoy:Constructive Criticism: How to Change Your Mindset and Be Open to FeedbackMini Literary Analysis Writing PD: H

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!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 (or rather, lots of things) has to deeply and fundamentally change.And while this email isn't here to discuss that - it's here to support you and your own mental health - I just want to acknowledge that what many of you are facing as educators right now is a system that is flawed, that doesn't value and support teachers they way that they should be ... the list could go on.But all of this got me thinking about what's called the CTFAR Method that I learned from Neill Williams that goes as such:C = CircumstanceT = ThoughtsF = FeelingsA = ActionsR = ResultsAnd while this concept won't be for all of you, I think it will serve many of you - especially those of you stuck in a position that isn't positive, but who still want to find a way to be happy ... this is your life, after all.While you can't control all aspects of CTFAR - right, we can't control our circumstance ... we can control everything else.We get to be in charge of our thoughts around a circumstance, which lead to our feelings, our actions, and ultimately our results, or the reality we experience in our lives.It essentially takes that old adage of "Life is 10% what happens to you, 90% how you react" but in a much clearer, concrete way.So my thought for you around this is the following:While you can't control your circumstance at all, you do get to control your thoughts around those circumstances, which means you get to control your happiness.And this isn't an either/or situation. This is a both/and.You can be mad at the system, frustrated to no end at unsupportive admin, or left in disbelief with bad student behavior AND empower yourself to control the narrative of your life.In fact, in a recent podcast episode I listened to with Ed Mylett and Dean Graziosi, they were talking about using the pain or pleasure we face as humans to kickstart us in propelling ourselves forward to control that exact narrative, with the ultimate goal of using pleasure to take inspired action toward a different life.I'm happy to share the link to this episode if you're interested - just hit "reply" and let me know.And while I know this concept isn't for everyone, I have found it to be extremely powerful in every aspect of my life - from work to relationships to personal growth.The gist? We can't control our circumstances, but we can control everything else.Here's to another great week, living intentionally.Caitlin

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!Today we're going to share three strategies for setting yourself up for success during the holiday season so you can walk out the door with a smile on your face knowing that you have plans throughout the year that will make December a wonderful time to spend with family and friends.Links mentioned in this episode:https://www.ebteacher.com/EBTC-TMSELAAre 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 teachers just like you! It would mean so much to us. To leave a review in iTunes, click HERE and scroll down to Rating and Reviews. Click on "Write a Review" and let us know how this podcast is helping you in your ELA classroom!Other episodes you might enjoy:Constructive Criticism: How to Change Your Mindset and Be Open to FeedbackMini Literary Analysis Writing PD: H

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!Last week, someone shared this concept with me, and it was so fascinating and inspiring that I just knew it was going to get to be our Monday Mindset for the week.Here's to another great week, living intentionally.Caitlin EBTC $1 Trial: https://www.ebteacher.com/EBTC-TRIAL-TMSELA

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!There are times when something just does not go the way we expected it. That instantly creates a tiny bubble of frustration that grows inside as other things start going sideways too. Like a normal human being, some days are just bad days. It’s important that we acknowledge that but more importantly, building an attitude of gratitude despite the negative things you can count that happened.Links mentioned in this episode:https://www.ebteacher.com/EBTC-TMSELAhttps://ebacademics.com/2021/08/ep-139-the-single-most-effective-classroom-management-system.htmlAre 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 teachers just like you! It would mean so much to us. To leave a review in iTunes, click HERE and scroll down to Rating and Reviews. Click on "Write a Review" and let us know how this podcast is helping you in your ELA classroom!Other episodes you might enjoy:Constructive Criticism: How to Change Your Mindset and Be Open to FeedbackMini Literary Analysis Writing PD: H

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!The other day I was listening to a short snippet from the CEO of a basketball camps company about "being about it."And the premise was this.All too often we sit in thinking mode. We have an idea or something we want to go do or a dream we want to accomplish, but we don't ever act.And it got me thinking about you, as a teacher.As teachers, it can be incredibly challenging to "be about it" because we don't have very much time in the day to dedicate to much else beyond teaching - especially with all of the extra things you have to do as a teacher.And I wonder how life could be different if that wasn't the case.What would life look like for you if you did have time to do what you wanted to do?What would you be about?What actions would you take and put into place to create a different life for yourself - one that aligns with your deepest values?Because when our values, actions, and results all align ... that's when many of us will find true inner happiness.And I wonder, too, if you want to be about that, what could you do this week differently that would allow you the space to do so?Would it be rinsing and repeating a lesson? Or surrendering and letting things be easy? Or prepping a week in advance to set your future self up for success?Because as I see it, we all have options in life - even when it's hard and it really might not seem like it.So, what will you "be about" this week?To another week, living intentionally,CaitlinEBTC $1 Trial: https://www.ebteacher.com/EBTC-TRIAL-TMSELA

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!Caitlin and Jessica will be talking about hosting Publishing Parties to celebrate your students’ written work at the end of each major writing unit. We will spill all the details you need to set this up and pitch in ideas you can use in your own classroom!Links mentioned in this episode:https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Publishing-Party-Toolkit-8747298?utm_source=EB%20Email&utm_campaign=Publishing%20Party%20ToolkitAre 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 teachers just like you! It would mean so much to us. To leave a review in iTunes, click HERE and scroll down to Rating and Reviews. Click on "Write a Review" and let us know how this podcast is helping you in your ELA classroom!Other episodes you might enjoy:Constructive Criticism: How to Change Your Mindset and Be Open to FeedbackMini Literary Analysis Writing PD: H

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!As teachers, we are problem solvers.It’s just a natural part of what we do and who we are.But the other day, I heard this concept called “Compassionate Emptiness” from former President of Starbucks, Howard Behar.The idea is that what most people need (and I immediately thought of students) is someone to just listen.To be there to listen to them with compassion - and nothing else. Hence, the emptiness.That instead of listening and trying to figure out a solution while the other is speaking, we’re simply there to listen.That’s it.I’d be willing to bet that more often than not, this is simply what our students need (and perhaps even what you need as a teacher right now).Someone who listens.So this week, my invitation to you is to share this concept with your students. Remind them that you are there for them if they need someone who will listen.And perhaps even share the concept with your colleagues and admin.I mean, really … imagine a work setting where people simply listened to each other with compassion. And actually, truly listened.Something to think about.If you plan to share this or this landed for you, please hit “reply” and let me know. I love hearing from you every week!Here's to another great week, living intentionally.Caitlin

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!The RACE writing formula simply stands for “restate, answer, cite, and explain”. This is widely used by middle school ELA teachers teaching writing as it makes a great tool to help learners construct their answers in a clear, logical format. However, this formula proves to be challenging when students need to move into essay writing.FREE RESOURCE: Curious about trying Batch Planning this year? Simply click the link below to grab our 10 Tips to Get Started Batch Planning and take a look at how easy it can be to begin!https://www.ebteacher.com/free-10-tips-for-Batch-PlanningBatch Planning is the ONE thing you can do now that will have the biggest impact on your entire school year!Other episodes you might enjoy:Constructive Criticism: How to Change Your Mindset and Be Open to FeedbackMini Literary Analysis Writing PD: H

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!I'm sure you know the old adage that we are who we surround ourselves with.Meaning, when we surround ourselves with A+ players in life, we inherently and subconsciously get elevated to their level.And vice versa.If we're constantly surrounding ourselves with negative thinkers or people who always complain and aren't living the 100% version of their life ... we will eventually get sucked in and stoop down to that level of living.It reminds me of a specific basketball game during my senior year of high school.Our team was the best in the county. In fact, the girls varsity team had won the California state title just two years prior. This team was good.And there was just one final game between us and a perfect season.It was against the worst team in the league, and we had this thing in the bag. We were going to go undefeated yet another year and head to the CIF North Coast Section Playoffs.I'm sure you can guess where this is going.We lost that game.And we did so because we played down to their level.The team who we showed up as on the court that night was not the team that had blown out every other team that season.We became who we surrounded ourselves with, and we paid for it by missing out on a perfect season.While this example is trivial at best compared to how important this concept is to our lives and our happiness, I think it's a perfect illustration of just how much of an impact our surroundings can have on us.So my invitation this week to you is this:Stop spending your precious time around people who bring you down and make you miserable.(Not even just in person ... stop wasting your time consuming negativity in the online space. Consider getting off of TikTok or Instagram or FB Groups where you are bombarded with negative messages that will subconsciously mold a negative narrative of your life.)Find the A+ player at your school, at home, amongst your friend group, and intentionally spend more time with them.And if you have someone in your life that you can't let go of, but they are bringing you down, perhaps consider how YOU get to be their A+ player in their life. How can you bring them up to your level in your way of being?Anyhow, just some food for thought this week.Are you game and ready to join me? If so, just hit "reply" and let me know that you'll be consciously finding that A+ player ... perhaps even message me back with their name ❤️Here's to another great week, living intentionally.Caitlin