Teaching Middle School ELA

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!Let’s take a moment to revisit one of our favorite Monday Mindset episodes! In this episode, I dive into the powerful impact our surroundings have on our mindset and overall happiness. I explore how intentionally surrounding ourselves with “A+ players” can lead to personal growth and a more fulfilling life.By carefully choosing the company we keep and fostering a positive environment for ourselves and our students, we can create a ripple effect of positivity in our lives.Here’s to another day of living intentionally.Caitlin

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!On this episode of The Teaching Middle School ELA Podcast, Caitlin, Jessica, and Megan are breaking down how a well-defined learning target can actually move your classroom from confusion and chaos to clarity and engagement. You'll learn from many of their personal journeys and impactful experiences, illustrating how setting clear and specific goals will boost student growth and your teaching methods. Listen in to hear how learning targets can also create a unified front among educators working with the same students.After listening, you'll understand exactly how to break down broad educational standards into precise learning objectives that heighten student mastery and make teaching a more intentional endeavor. You'll also hear inventive strategies to involve students in this process in creative ways. Tune in for these valuable insights and practical tips for crafting learning targets that are both impactful and enjoyable!FREE RESOURCE: Curious about trying Batch Planning this school 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!

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!Do you believe you can do hard things?The simple belief that you are capable has more power than you may realize. In this Monday Mindset episode, I explore how self-belief can reshape your entire journey. I'll spend a little time recounting personal experiences, hoping to showcase how believing in yourself is the foundation of resilience and courage, helping you face life's challenges and pursue your dreams with determination. I'll discuss how it's actually possible to find peace and joy within yourself, even when the world doesn't affirm you.True bravery is about showing up for yourself consistently. The most important believer in your journey is you. Join me and discover how finding your strength starts from within.Here's to another day of intentional living!

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!On this episode of The Teaching Middle School ELA Podcast your hosts Caitlin, Jessica, and Megan are sharing insights on turning mundane review sessions into exhilarating and interactive learning moments! You'll learn three low-prep, high-engagement games that are perfect for reviewing any concept in any subject time and time again. They begin by discussing the exhaustion from stale repetitive review methods like Jeopardy or Kahoot and introduce each game with details on exactly how you can easily implement them into your next lessons.3 low-prep review lessons you'll love:Hot PotatoMystery BasketsSilent AuctionThese games not only reinforce academic concepts but also encourage strategic thinking and collaboration. The best part is how versatile these games will prove to be as you can utilize them with many different ELA reviews throughout the year. These engaging activities will have your classroom buzzing with energy and excitement. Tune in to energize your review sessions and create memorable moments for your students!FREE RESOURCE: Curious about trying Batch Planning this summer? 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!

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!What if every challenge you faced was actually a hidden opportunity for growth? In this Monday Mindset episode, I uncover how adopting a transformative mindset can turn any experience—whether uplifting or daunting—into a valuable lesson.By shifting your perspective and asking, "What is this trying to teach me?" you can build resilience, take control of your reactions, and master your journey. I also highlight the power of staying open-minded and ready to learn from unexpected sources, using these insights to make better decisions and foster personal growth. Tune in for practical tips to incorporate this mindset into your daily life and become the best version of yourself.Here's to another day of intentional living!

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!On this episode of The Teaching Middle School ELA Podcast, your hosts Caitlin, Jessica, and Megan are outlining a lengthy list of creative activities that go beyond the usual icebreaker first day of school activities. They explore innovative ways to set a positive and interactive class culture from day one, helping you quickly learn about your students' unique interests and personalities.Tune in to dive into five clever activities to help students connect and build relationships. These activities encourage interaction and offer chances for follow-up conversations, fostering deeper connections between you and your students. Plus, they'll highlight the importance of being sensitive to students' experiences while choosing activities that ensure inclusivity. The entire EB Team wishes you a fantastic back-to-school season and encourages you to continue to create a remarkable year inside your classroom walls!(For additional Back-To-School activity ideas, check out episodes: 138, 187, 241, 295)FREE RESOURCE: Curious about trying Batch Planning this summer? 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!

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!What if you could transform your life simply by choosing love over fear or anger? In this Monday Mindset episode, let's explore the power of a love-focused perspective. Embracing love as your guiding principle can reduce stress, enhance relationships, and bring more joy to your daily life. I’ll share personal stories showing how small acts of love and kindness can create a ripple effect, impacting those around you. Challenge yourself to let love guide your week and witness the remarkable changes it brings.Don’t miss this inspiring episode that invites you to live a life driven by love! Here's to another day of intentional living!

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!On this episode of The Teaching Middle School ELA Podcast, join host Megan Wyant and special guest, EB Team Member, Sarah Lang for an exciting jump start to our Back-to-School Mini-Series. They're unveiling a unique, collaborative puzzle challenge perfect for fostering communication, teamwork, and excitement among students on those first days back in your middle school ELA classroom. It's a fresh take on breaking the ice with your more reserved students, plus you'll learn practical tips for accommodating various student needs and managing group dynamics effectively.In their discussion, they spend time emphasizing the importance of starting the school year with activities that not only captivate students but also establish classroom norms and routines. Sarah dives into the significance of linking these early activities to future projects and reflecting on their outcomes to reinforce essential skills like problem-solving and collaboration. By integrating such active learning experiences into your classroom, you will create a supportive classroom environment that resonates with students and parents alike. Don’t miss out on your chance to set the tone for a connected, collaborative, and memorable school year! Grab your flair pen and sticky notes then tune in today!FREE RESOURCE: Curious about trying Batch Planning this summer? 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!

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!Have you ever wondered how adopting a solution-focused mindset could change your teaching experience? Imagine tackling daily challenges with the belief that "everything is figureoutable." This simple yet powerful philosophy has the potential to empower you in ways you may not have considered before.In this Monday Mindset , I share my personal journey with problem-solving and the importance of shifting from a victim mentality to a proactive, solution-oriented approach. This mindset isn't just about surviving tough situations; it's about thriving in them. I illustrate how this mindset can positively impact not just your professional life, but also your students' development, fostering an environment of collective growth and continuous reflection.Here's to another day of intentional living!

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!On this episode of the Teaching Middle School ELA Podcast Megan breaks down an EB Teacher favorite that will have your students strategizing, debating, and writing with justification on a deserted island! (Don't worry, there's no plane crash involved!) Megan shares all the details of this engaging back-to-school activity in this episode, so that you can easily recreate this experience with your students! It's perfect for those first few days back in the classroom because it naturally fosters skills like justification, evidence-based thinking, and critical analysis while hooking student interests with its engaging theme, right from the start!You'll first begin by setting the scene of a deserted island in your classroom. This can be done in a big way or in small ways, too! Your students will "buy in" to the fun simply based on your excitement as they enter the room. The core task for students to tackle in this activity is to analyze ten character bios and determine which five need to be rescued immediately and which five could survive a few more weeks on the island before the next rescue crew can make it.Students will use justification from the character bios to support their choices and have a blast revealing their choices to their classmates! You'll have a blast, too, as you get to know your students personalities and learning levels during these first fun days back to school!Tune in today, and rest easy knowing you have this engaging activity penciled into your back-to-school lessons! You won't regret it!FREE RESOURCE: Curious about trying Batch Planning this summer? 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!