In today's Teaching Middle School ELA podcast episode, Grammar shouldn’t live on a worksheet and die on a quiz. We want middle school writers who can actually use conventions, sentence structure, and punctuation to communicate clearly, with purpose, and for a real audience. That’s what drives this part two breakdown of our grammar mini-series: practical, classroom-ready moves that make grammar transfer into student writing. If you’re ready for grammar instruction that shows up in draft...
Aug 11
22 min
We start August with a Monday Mindset that pulls the focus back where it belongs, on you as a human being with limited energy. We walk through a simple but uncomfortable question: who got the best of you last year, and who got the scraps? From there, we reframe energy as a finite resource and talk about why “self care” is not the point. The point is protecting what refills you, so you can be more patient, more creative, and more present in the classroom and at home. You will leave with a cle...
Aug 10
8 min
In today's Teaching Middle School ELA Podcast episode, we're tackling one of the most common classroom frustrations: teaching grammar in a way that actually sticks. We discuss why students often forget grammar rules when it comes time to write and share a simple three-part framework that helps them understand, practice, and apply grammar with confidence. If you're looking for a more effective approach to grammar instruction this school year, this episode is for you. Want to learn more a...
Aug 4
18 min
In today's Teaching Middle School ELA Podcast episode, we're talking all about bell ringers—and why so many of them end up feeling like busy work instead of meaningful learning. Curriculum writer Pat shares a simple weekly framework that helps students build reading, writing, grammar, and vocabulary skills in just the first few minutes of class. You'll also learn how to plan purposeful bell ringers, avoid grading overload, and create routines that actually stick. If you're ready to make...
Jul 28
27 min
What if the only thing standing between you and a productive week is waiting until you "feel like it"? This Monday Mindset episode is a reminder that your mood doesn't get to dictate your movement. We talk about why motivation is unreliable, how action creates momentum, and share a simple challenge to help you stop procrastinating and start making progress—just five minutes at a time. Here's to a week of living intentionally.
Jul 27
6 min
In today's Teaching Middle School ELA Podcast episode, we're talking about one of the biggest challenges in teaching literary analysis: helping students write strong evidence-based responses before they tackle a full essay. You'll learn how a simple mini Response to Literature routine can strengthen students' claims, evidence, and justification throughout an entire novel unit—making the final essay feel much more manageable. If you're looking for a practical way to improve both reading compre...
Jul 23
15 min
In today's Teaching Middle School ELA Podcast episode, we're diving into one of the biggest challenges middle school ELA teachers face: finding enough time to teach writing without spending hours grading. We'll explore why these two struggles are actually connected and share two practical strategies to help students become stronger writers while making your writing instruction more consistent, efficient, and easier to manage. If you're ready to spend less time reteaching and more time seeing ...
Jul 21
14 min
Your life gets loud fast: notifications, inbox urgency, endless content, and the constant pressure to keep up. Then a real moment hits and suddenly the only questions that matter rise to the surface: What am I doing with my life? What do I actually want? Am I living the way I want to be living? Today’s Monday Mindset is a quiet, honest pause for middle school ELA teachers who feel pulled in every direction and want their time and attention back. Here's to another week of living intentionally...
Jul 20
9 min
In today's Teaching Middle School ELA podcast episode, Your next writing unit might not be “too hard” or “too time-consuming” at all. The real problem could be the way we use model essays and the way we test our writing prompts before students ever touch the page. We start with a candid question many middle school ELA teachers are afraid to answer: do you dread teaching writing? If you’ve ever felt your stomach drop when a writing unit shows up in the plan book, you’re not alone. Between 47-...
Jul 16
13 min
Another Teaching Middle School ELA Podcast episode, Most students can pull a quote. The hard part is explaining why that quote proves anything. We’re tackling the #1 skill gap middle school ELA teachers keep naming again and again: justification (also known as analysis or explanation) and we’re doing it with one of my favorite high-energy writing activities. Grab the free download at ebteacher.com/pearls and join our FREE 3-day writing workshop at ebteacher.com/writing-workshop. If this help...
Jul 14
14 min
Load more