On this episode of the Teaching Middle School ELA podcast, our curriculum writer, Pat, joins us to discuss the seemingly impossible task of catering our lessons to every student’s unique learning style. Consider this episode your peek behind the curtain into a classroom where differentiation doesn’t mean chaos. After listening you’ll have a full list of differentiation ideas that work with various learning preferences inside your classroom. You’ll be able to save this list and reference it time and time again. The goal is for you to walk away with&n ..read more

On this episode of the Teaching Middle School ELA podcast, your hosts Caitlin, Jessica, and Megan are discussing additional takeaways from Jessica’s recent visit to the Ron Clark Academy, specifically focusing on the impact a great teacher has on student growth. They’re diving into the research behind the correlation of a teacher and their students’ success, and exactly how you can ensure you’re consistently working on developing your teaching methods in a way that avoids burnout and makes your career actually enjoyable for the long haul! Tune in as they spend time breaking it all down in this ..read more

On this episode of the Teaching Middle School ELA podcast, Megan welcomed Sarah Levine and Chris Mah from Stanford University, who discussed an innovative approach to analyzing literature by integrating students’ emotional responses into the heart of literary analysis. Together they unpacked how emotions play a pivotal role in enhancing students’ connections to texts. Chris and Sarah guide us through their “funds of feeling” approach, where students explore literature using a blend of emotional engagement and intellectual rigor. Listen in to learn strategies and sentence stems, which help stud ..read more

On this episode of the Teaching Middle School ELA podcast, Caitlin and Jessica welcome Patricia Abel, EB Academics’ curriculum writer, and veteran ELA teacher, to discuss building reading comprehension with our middle school students. Reading comprehension is a large part of the Science of Reading that directly relates to your middle school classroom, and we are making sure you have practical strategies to easily implement inside your classroom. Tune in as they spend time breaking it all down in this episode! Listen now! Tune in now to hear: [00:02:00] Caitlin kicks off this episode by introdu ..read more

On this episode of the Teaching Middle School ELA Podcast, we’re tackling the hot topic of the Science of Reading and its place in the middle school ELA classroom. We know it can feel overwhelming and mysterious, especially for us, middle school ELA teachers. After receiving messages from teachers who are eager to understand and apply the science of reading in their classes, we knew it was time to break down the five pillars of reading instruction—phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension—and share our best strategies for applying these in the classroom. We’ll talk ab ..read more

On this episode of the Teaching Middle School ELA podcast, we are diving into a topic presented to us by one of our EB Teachers! How do we actually prepare for the unexpected inside our classrooms? You’ll learn our best advice for handling student absences and unexpected situations in the classroom. From what to do when students miss speaking and listening activities to how to support students who miss out on group collaboration projects. We’re sharing a range of solutions for you to consider. Plus, stay tuned for a preview of the next episode, where we will delve into “The Science of Reading ..read more

Welcome back to another episode of Teaching Middle School ELA! On this episode, we’re going deep into the strategic use of prep-periods to do more than just stay afloat! You’ll meet our new co-host Megan Wyant, from Team EB, who will be joining Caitlin and Jessica this season to provide a fresh perspective on all things middle school ELA! Tune in to this episode and walk away with practical steps to transform your prep time and maximize grading efficiency. From tips on batch planning and boundary-setting to strategies for effective communication, this episode is packed ..read more

Join us as we revisit a past episode all about how to utilize batch lesson planning to help you move past overwhelm and take action in your lesson preparation. Caitlin and Jessica break down the process from a macro overview to a micro level, providing practical tips and examples to guide you through the process. Batch planning can truly transform your life as a teacher, making it possible to find the balance between your teaching life and your personal life. Listen now! Tune in now to hear: [00:01] Today’s episode is a past favorite all about batch planning your lessons! [06:04] Caitlin and J ..read more

Today’s episode is a past teacher favorite where we dive into a powerful concept that can revolutionize your lesson planning and help you reclaim your time as an educator. We’ll be exploring the practice of batch planning and how it can transform your teaching life for the better. Join us as we break down two simple steps to kick-start your batch planning journey, dive into the into, through, and beyond the lesson planning framework, and learn how to transform your planning process. Listen in to learn how batch planning can help you thrive both in and out of the classroom. Listen now! Tune in ..read more

In today’s episode, we revisit a favorite topic: using Publishing Parties in your ELA classroom! Listen in to hear why publishing parties are a critical part of any writing unit. We will discuss various ideas for hosting publishing parties and how they can create an authentic audience for student work. Publishing parties can be a fun way for students to showcase their writing and feel pride in the work they’ve completed.  Tune in now to hear: [00:02] Listen in as Calitin and Jessica discuss the value of using publishing parties in middle school ELA classrooms. [05:59]  Listeners will ..read more