Podcast
Teaching Middle School ELA
Hosted by Caitlin Mitchell · EN
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.
67episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
BONUS: How to Run a March Madness Poetry Bracket in Any Classroom
Feb 1900:30:31Tap to summarizeMarch can bring some unpredictable classroom energy… but what if you could channel it into something that boosts engagement and hits reading, writing, and discussion standards all at once? In this week’s Teaching Middle school ELA podcast episode, we’re walking you through exactly how to run a March Madness Poetry Bracket in any classroom. From choosing poems and setting up your bracket to building powerful justification skills through authentic voting, this strategy turns poetry into something students actually look forward to. If you’ve ever wanted a way to make poetry feel exciting, competitive, and deeply instructional — this is it. Resources Mentioned:Poetry: A New Perspective YouTube Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhKSG3-joAwJanuary Bonus Podcast Episode: BONUS: How to Use EB Resources With Your District Curriculum (Without Getting Behind or Overwhelmed)
Transcribe →Episode 391: The Friday Whiteboard Planning System That Gives You Your Evenings Back
Feb 1700:09:58Tap to summarizeFor today's Teaching Middle School ELA podcast episode, I share the Friday whiteboard planning system that moves next week’s decisions out of your head and onto a public board, cutting mental load and Sunday dread. A simple grid creates clarity, closure, and accountability for you and your students.• naming the Friday whiteboard planning system• why visibility beats memory for planning• the grid setup across days and classes• writing concise daily actions instead of full plans• reducing student questions through public plans• creating closure energy before leaving on Friday• delegating board updates to students over time• starting small and ignoring perfection• three core benefits: clarity, closure, cognitive reliefPlease take pictures of your Friday whiteboard, post them in the EB Teacher community if you’re an EB Teacher, or share them with us on Instagram @EBAcademics
Transcribe →Episode 390: Monday Mindset: The Real Reason Teachers Burn Out (And What You Can Do Today)
Feb 1600:11:13Tap to summarizeIn today's Monday Mindset, We call out the myth that you must fill your cup before you care for others, and replace it with a practical plan to refill while you pour. Simple, repeatable habits make space for rest, boundaries, sleep, and help so you can show up steady and human.• naming the soul-level exhaustion many teachers feel• why “fill your cup first” becomes an impossible standard• shifting the script from future okay to present okay• designing micro-refills into the school day• five minutes of silence to regulate your nervous system• saying no to one nonessential task this week• going to bed thirty minutes earlier for real recovery• asking for help before crisis and normalising support• building sustainability to increase patience and creativity• picking one small practice to start todayYour challenge this week is to maybe just pick one of those things, one small way that you're gonna take care of yourself that is sustainable, that's not some crazy thing. Five minutes of silence, saying no to one thing, go to bed 30 minutes earlier, ask for help. Just pick one and just do it.
Transcribe →Episode 389: 5 Easy Steps to Create a Virtual Field Trip
Feb 1000:17:41Tap to summarizeVirtual field trips don’t need to be fancy to be powerful. In today’s Teaching Middle School ELA podcast episode, I have once again, Pat from Team EB, we're walking you through five simple steps for creating a virtual field trip that actually builds skills—using nothing more than a purposeful slide deck. We’ll talk about choosing a destination, pairing it with the right reading skill, keeping it manageable, and ending with meaningful student writing. Easy to plan, engaging for students, and perfect for building background before reading.
Transcribe →Episode 388: Two Grammar Games That Replace Worksheets Without Losing Rigor
Feb 300:13:44Tap to summarizeToday’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.
Transcribe →Episode 387: Monday Mindset: Trust Your Decisions (Even When Everyone Else Has Opinions)
Feb 200:13:02Tap to summarizeToday'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
Transcribe →Episode 340: Avoiding Burnout by Letting Go of Perfection in Your Lesson Plans
Aug 12, 202500:23:38Tap to summarizeI’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.”
Transcribe →Episode 339: What to Do When Self-Doubt Creeps In
Jul 29, 202500:24:12Tap to summarizeI’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!
Transcribe →Episode 338: How to Feel More Confident Teaching Writing (Even If You Don’t Love It)
Jul 22, 202500:15:21Tap to summarizeI’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!
Transcribe →Episode 337: Why Templates Are the Key to Teacher Sanity
Jul 15, 202500:24:59Tap to summarizeI’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.
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