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Teaching Middle School ELA

Caitlin Mitchell

513 episodes

3 days ago

If your students seem “allergic” to writing — or if teaching writing feels like it’s eating your entire prep time — today's Teaching Middle School ELA episode will completely shift how you see the problem. Caitlin breaks down the simple structure-behind-choice system that skyrockets engagement, eliminates chaos, and actually saves you time. If you’ve ever tried choice boards and felt overwhelmed, this new approach will change everything about the way your students write (and how you teach it)...

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All content for Teaching Middle School ELA is the property of Caitlin Mitchell and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

If your students seem “allergic” to writing — or if teaching writing feels like it’s eating your entire prep time — today's Teaching Middle School ELA episode will completely shift how you see the problem. Caitlin breaks down the simple structure-behind-choice system that skyrockets engagement, eliminates chaos, and actually saves you time. If you’ve ever tried choice boards and felt overwhelmed, this new approach will change everything about the way your students write (and how you teach it)...

Show more...

Episodes (20/513)

Teaching Middle School ELA

Episode 368: Still Using This Simple Idea from 2015 in Your Writing Lessons?

If your students seem “allergic” to writing — or if teaching writing feels like it’s eating your entire prep time — today's Teaching Middle School ELA episode will completely shift how you see the problem. Caitlin breaks down the simple structure-behind-choice system that skyrockets engagement, eliminates chaos, and actually saves you time. If you’ve ever tried choice boards and felt overwhelmed, this new approach will change everything about the way your students write (and how you teach it)...

4 days ago

14 minutes

Teaching Middle School ELA

Episode 367: Monday Mindset: Burnout Isn’t a Badge of Honor

If you’ve ever felt the slow creep of burnout — the shrinking energy, the growing to-do list, the joy that quietly slips away — this episode is going to hit home. Caitlin opens up about her own “burnout wake-up call” in the classroom and the simple but powerful non-negotiables that helped her reclaim her time, energy, and purpose. Whether you’re a teacher feeling stretched too thin or a student pushing toward perfection, this episode will help you identify the boundaries you need before you h...

5 days ago

12 minutes

Teaching Middle School ELA

Episode 366: How to Teach Writing With Confidence (Even If You Feel Like a Fraud)

Teaching writing doesn’t have to feel hard — it just takes one mindset shift and a clear framework. In today's Teaching Middle School ELA podcast episode, Caitlin shares how to trust yourself, your system, and your students so teaching writing feels calm, confident, and easy. Tune in and discover how to step into your power as a writing teacher!

1 week ago

25 minutes

Teaching Middle School ELA

Episode 365: Monday Mindset: Feeling Stuck? This Episode Will Help You See Why That’s a Good Thing.

You know that uncomfortable middle space — where you can see the vision of who you’re becoming, but you’re not quite there yet? That’s what today’s episode is all about. Caitlin opens up about her own season of “in-between,” where growth felt slow and uncertain — and how she learned to see that space not as wasted time, but as sacred ground for transformation. If you’re in a chapter that feels unfinished — whether it’s in your classroom, your career, or your personal life — this episode is yo...

1 week ago

6 minutes

Teaching Middle School ELA

Stop Using RACE: The Better Writing Framework Students Actually Understand

In today’s episode, Caitlin dives into why the RACE formula falls short for essay writing—and how the EBW Approach takes students from “answering questions” to thinking like real writers. You’ll learn how to recognize when your students are ready to level up, and what simple steps to take to help them move from summary to true analysis. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 👉YouTube Video on How to Grade an Essay Quickly: https://www.youtube.com/wat...

2 weeks ago

16 minutes

Teaching Middle School ELA

Episode 364: Make Writing Feel Easy Again: 3 Simple Systems That Actually Work

Today, on the Teaching Middle School ELA podcast, Caitlin breaks down exactly why writing feels overwhelming — and how the problem isn’t you, it’s the system. You’ll discover three simple, teacher-tested frameworks that will help you: ✅ Simplify writing instruction without reinventing the wheel ✅ Give faster, more meaningful feedback ✅ Bring fun (and confidence!) back into your students’ writing If you’re ready to feel calm, confident, and joyful teaching writing again...

2 weeks ago

29 minutes

Teaching Middle School ELA

Episode 363: Monday Mindset: What Courage Looks Like in the Classroom (Hint: It’s Not Loud)

When we think of courage, we often picture grand, dramatic moments — standing up to someone, taking a huge leap, or making a bold change. But in today’s Monday Mindset episode, we’re exploring a different kind of courage — the quiet, everyday kind that often goes unseen. Caitlin shares her own story of rebuilding confidence and identity after a long recovery, and how real courage sometimes looks like simply showing up — doing the small, hard things no one else notices. This episode is a power...

2 weeks ago

9 minutes

Teaching Middle School ELA

Episode 362: The Mystery Basket Game That Turns Any Lesson Into a Competition

Ready to turn ordinary review time into pure excitement? In today’s episode of The Teaching Middle School ELA Podcast, we’re bringing you another hit from our Classroom Games Series: Mystery Baskets 🧺✨ This activity works with any ELA concept—grammar, vocabulary, comprehension, root words, you name it—and adds just the right amount of suspense and competition to get your students hooked. They’ll be answering questions, placing their “bets,” and holding their breath to see which basket holds t...

3 weeks ago

10 minutes

Teaching Middle School ELA

Episode 361: How to Fix Classroom Culture Fast (Without Starting Over)

Your classroom culture starts with you. 💛 In this week’s episode, Caitlin shares three powerful mindset shifts that can completely transform how you show up—for yourself and your students. Tune in to discover how small inner changes can create big outer results. From Mark Traver's article: A Psychologist Shares The ‘90-Second Rule’ To Survive Emotional Waveshttps://www.forbes.com/sites/traversmark/2025/03/10/a-psychologist-shares-the-90-second-rule-to-surv...

3 weeks ago

43 minutes

Teaching Middle School ELA

Episode 360: The Knockout Game That Makes Review Days 10x More Fun

Welcome back to our Games Series! Today, we’re bringing the energy with one of the most exciting review games you’ll ever play in your ELA classroom—Knockout. This game transforms any concept—whether it’s text structures, grammar, or figurative language—into a high-stakes, fast-paced classroom battle. Students aren’t just answering questions; they’re defending their spaces, protecting their wins, and trying to knock each other out as they review key skills. In this episode, you’ll learn exact...

4 weeks ago

9 minutes

Teaching Middle School ELA

The Free Halloween Escape Room Your Students Will Freak Out Over

Halloween week in middle school can feel like complete chaos—costumes, candy, and zero focus. But what if you could channel that energy into something productive and fun? In this special bonus episode, Caitlin shares a free, done-for-you Haunted Forest Escape Room that keeps your students engaged, practicing key ELA skills, and (miraculously!) on task during one of the wildest weeks of the year. You’ll learn how this activity follows our signature Into–Through–Beyond framework—starting with a...

1 month ago

10 minutes

Teaching Middle School ELA

Episode 359: The Treasure Hunt Review Game That Keeps Students Begging for More

Welcome back to our Games Series! Today’s episode is all about Digging for Treasure — a review game that brings all the excitement of Battleship straight into your ELA classroom. With every correct answer, students get to “dig” for hidden treasures on their grids, turning grammar, vocabulary, and figurative language practice into a fast-paced, strategy-packed adventure. This game is fun, competitive in the best way, and completely customizable to any ELA topic. Plus, if you’re an EB Teacher, ...

1 month ago

9 minutes

Teaching Middle School ELA

Episode 358: How to Stop Comparing Yourself to Other Teachers

In this episode, we’re tackling something every teacher faces — comparison. Whether it’s classroom decor, lesson ideas, or student success stories, it’s so easy to look at others and feel like we’re falling short. But here’s the truth: your classroom doesn’t need to look like anyone else’s. Your journey doesn’t have to match another teacher’s path. Join me as we unpack how comparison quietly steals our joy, how to shift from comparison to celebration, and how embracing your own teaching style...

1 month ago

27 minutes

Teaching Middle School ELA

Episode 357: The Game That Turns Vocabulary, Grammar, and More Into Student Obsessions

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! In this episode, Caitlin breaks down exactly how to bring this hilarious, energy-packed game into your ELA classroom — from simple icebreakers and vocabulary swaps to full-on academic reviews. You’ll learn creative ways to adapt the rules, sneak in rigorous practice, and keep your students begging for “just one more round.” So if you’re looking for a way to make learning stick — and have your students obsessed with vocabulary and grammar — grab your ...

1 month ago

8 minutes

Teaching Middle School ELA

Episode 356: Stop Staring at the Mountain in Front of You: Do This Instead

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! Feeling overwhelmed by everything on your plate—lesson planning, grading, or just making it through the week? You’re not alone. In this Tuesday episode, Caitlin shares a powerful mindset shift that can completely change how you approach both teaching and life: the power of micro-wins. Instead of staring at the mountain in front of you and feeling stuck, learn how to take small, meaningful steps that build momentum, confidence, and joy in your work. Y...

1 month ago

25 minutes

Teaching Middle School ELA

Episode 355: ELA Games Series: Why Bluffing Might Be the Most Fun Way to Practice ELA

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! Today on the Teaching Middle School ELA Podcast, we’re bringing you one of our favorite high-energy classroom activities: The Bluff Game – Language Arts Edition! 🙌 This fast-paced game is perfect for practicing vocabulary, grammar, reading skills, and more—all while keeping your students on their feet (literally!) and fully engaged. Whether they truly know the answer or are just bluffing, your kids will be laughing, learning, and begging to play agai...

1 month ago

6 minutes

Teaching Middle School ELA

Episode 354: ChatGPT Series: 3 ChatGPT Shortcuts Every ELA Teacher Needs to Save Hours on Prep

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! Tired of spending endless hours planning, grading, and creating materials? In today’s episode, Caitlin shares three powerful ways to use ChatGPT to cut prep time in half—without sacrificing quality or your unique teaching style. From drafting discussion questions to batch-prepping warm-ups, you’ll walk away with practical shortcuts you can start using right away. Tune in and reclaim your time

1 month ago

19 minutes

Teaching Middle School ELA

Episode 353: The Shortcut Narrative Unit: How to Get Powerful Stories in Just 10 Days

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! Narrative writing is such an important skill for middle schoolers—but let’s be honest, it often feels like it takes forever to teach. Before you know it, weeks (or even months!) are gone, and you’re scrambling to fit in argument and informational writing. In this episode, I discussed how to make narrative writing powerful and effective—without letting it hijack your calendar. You’ll learn: ✅ Why narratives don’t have to take six weeks ✅ How to ...

1 month ago

23 minutes

Teaching Middle School ELA

Episode 352: ChatGPT Series: Differentiation Without the Extra Work

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! Differentiation doesn’t have to mean staying up late making three different versions of the same lesson. In this week’s Teaching Middle School episode, I shared how you can use ChatGPT to quickly create scaffolds, extensions, and tiered questions—so every student has a way into the learning without you doubling your workload. From rewriting texts at multiple levels, to generating leveled questions, to modifying assignments without losing rigor, you’l...

2 months ago

14 minutes

Teaching Middle School ELA

Episode 351: Balancing Creative and Academic Writing in the Middle School Classroom

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! How do we strike the right balance between fun, engaging creative writing and the academic writing skills our students need to succeed? In this episode, let's dive into why both matter, how to weave them together, and practical strategies you can start using right away. Tune in to discover how creativity and rigor can go hand in hand to help your students grow into confident writers.

2 months ago

14 minutes