
Teaching Middle School ELA
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.
Latest episodes

Aug 16, 2022 • 25min
The Only Vocabulary System You’ll Ever Want to Use - 189
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!If you know anything about Caitlin, you know that she believes in working smarter, not harder. Years ago, after not seeing evidence of student growth, she decided to make some small tweaks to how she was teaching vocab. These small tweaks became a system that made a major impact, and today she is sharing her method with listeners! Links mentioned in this episode: http://ebacademics.com/membership https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Yearlong-Vocabulary-Unit-for-Middle-School-Part-1-DIGITAL-and-PRINT-8359812 Are 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 Feedback Mini Literary Analysis Writing PD: H

Aug 15, 2022 • 3min
Monday Mindset: Commitment to Being
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!Have you ever sat for a minute and thought to yourself, "Who do I want to BE in this life?" Maybe a little too deep and philosophical,... but I believe this is the starting point and question for you to think about if you're feeling stagnant, unfulfilled, overwhelmed, or quite frankly, just unhappy and going through the motions of the day-to-day of life. Listen to this short 3 min audio that will help you start to define who you want to be and also inspire you toward creating a Commitment Statement for yourself that will guide you throughout your daily interactions. Like I said last week in our Monday Mindset, it's time to start enjoying each little moment of your life and stepping into the most empowered version of yourself (not just as a teacher, but as a human being). After listening, reply with your commitment to yourself! You've got this! Caitlin P.S. It might even be worth sharing with your students and asking them to create Commitment Statements as well ❤️

Aug 9, 2022 • 19min
Build Classroom Culture with These 3 Activities - 188
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!Heading into the school year, teachers everywhere are thinking about how to build and support classroom culture from day one. Caitlin and Jessica are responding with 3 great activities that teachers can use to start off the school year with an environment that is safe, kind, and productive. Links mentioned in this episode: http://ebacademics.com/membership Are 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 Feedback Mini Literary Analysis Writing PD: H

Aug 8, 2022 • 1min
Monday Mindset: Courage
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!We're currently on a super special family vacation on Maui ... a vacation which I almost didn't go on because of my fear of flying. Take a listen in as I explore what courage has come to mean to me, and perhaps will help you when you're facing your own fears head on.

Aug 2, 2022 • 15min
The Back to School Activity That Pays Off All Year Long - 187
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!Email is a ubiquitous mode of communication these days, yet few teachers pause to teach this important writing genre with students. From writing an effective subject heading, to using an appropriate and professional tone, to keeping the message clear and comprehensible, this activity will set your students up for success in this genre that transcends classroom writing. Links mentioned in this episode: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Email-Etiquette-DIGITAL-and-PRINT-Activities-6300038 http://ebacademics.com/membership Are 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 Feedback Mini Literary Analysis Writing PD: H

Aug 1, 2022 • 3min
Monday Mindset: Creating Moments
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! Have you ever considered the power a single moment can have? Taking the space to decide to do something a little different that you normally would can truly have a lasting impact on you and those around you. How can you "create a moment" for you students, yourself, or your family this week? Are 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 Feedback Mini Literary Analysis Writing PD: H

Jul 26, 2022 • 41min
The Masks We Wear – Ashanti Branch from Branch Speaks - 186
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!In this special episode, Caitlin talks with Ashanti Branch, an educator seeking to help people remove their metaphorical masks in order to show up as their true, authentic selves. He will teach listeners that we all have shared human needs, and that by bridging the gap between the masks we wear and our real selves, we can make more meaningful connections, healthier communication, and deeper engagement with others. Links mentioned in this episode: http://everforwardclub.org http://millionmask.org Are 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 Feedback Mini Literary Analysis Writing PD: H

Jul 21, 2022 • 15min
BONUS EPISODE: Why Literary Analysis is the Most Important Type of Writing
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!To find out more about our FREE Live Workshop, click the following link: https://writinginstruction.lpages.co/july-2022-workshop-registration-page/ The best learning takes place when students are having fun and feeling challenged at the same time. Of course, it can be tough coming up with ideas for engaging, rigorous lessons. Listen as Caitlin and Jessica give you an overview of an awesome narrative writing activity to help you spiral your standards, challenge your students, and have a lot of fun at the same time. Links mentioned in this episode: ebacademics.com/literaryanalysis Are 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 Feedback Mini Literary Analysis Writing PD: H

Jul 19, 2022 • 20min
3 Things ALL Great Writing Teachers Already Do - 185
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!What do great writing teachers have in common? They all engage in these three practices! Listen to see which of these methods you already use, and which you could start adopting today. Links mentioned in this episode: ebacademics.com/literaryanalysis https://www.ebteacher.com/eb-teachers-club-2021 Are 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 Feedback Mini Literary Analysis Writing PD: H

Jul 14, 2022 • 28min
BONUS EPISODE: The Best Way to Spiral Your Writing Lessons to Ensure Mastery
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!To find out more about our FREE Live Workshop, click the following link: https://writinginstruction.lpages.co/july-2022-workshop-registration-page/ Caitlin and Jessica will walk you through two simple but critical steps to use in your lesson planning, so you can intentionally incorporate spiraled lessons into your school year and really make sure your students master the learning they need! Links mentioned in this episode: http://ebacademics.com/membershipwaitlist https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Narrative-Writing-Game-and-Lesson-MASH-6971817 Are 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 Feedback Mini Literary Analysis Writing PD: H