In today's Teaching Middle School ELA podcast episode, Caitlin shares why evidence-based writing is the one writing genre every middle school ELA teacher should prioritize. Discover how focusing on literary analysis can build confident writers, strengthen critical thinking, and create transferable skills that benefit students across every subject—all while making writing instruction simpler and more effective. Join us this July for our FREE Writing Workshop: https://www.ebteacher.c...
Jul 1
14 min
That moment when you open a brutal parent email before sunrise, or realise your admin still doesn’t see how hard you’re working, can hijack your whole day. We’re sharing a simple mindset that cuts through the noise: “Let them.” Two words, but they can change how you carry the job. We talk through the “Let Them” theory (popularised by Mel Robbins) and why so much teacher burnout comes from the mental, emotional, and energetic load of fighting what we can’t control. If you want a practical te...
Jun 30
15 min
In today's Teaching Middle School ELA podcast episode. I walked through four concrete ways to cut your lesson planning time in half without cutting corners. First, I talked about building a truly distraction-free planning block so you can get back into deep focus and actually finish. Then I used Parkinson’s law to your advantage by setting a timer you honor for planning and grading, including a realistic approach to essay feedback that prioritizes targeted comments over marking every mistake....
Jun 25
16 min
In today's Teaching Middle School ELA Podcast episode, I tackled the three beliefs that keep middle school ELA teachers stuck: the idea that you cannot plan until you know your students, the fear that batch planning takes too much time up front, and the frustration that schedules always change anyway. You will hear why planning foundations early makes differentiation easier, why one focused planning stretch beats constant week to week planning, and how floating days keep your scope and sequen...
Jun 23
20 min
Our Monday Mindset Episode for today is about Discomfort is not your enemy, it’s your evidence. We open with a raw teaching memory: a first day in front of students, every word scripted, terrified of getting it wrong and being exposed. If you’ve ever tried a new lesson, a new routine, or a new approach and immediately thought, “That was messy, so I should never do it again,” you’ll feel seen here. We dig into why our brains chase certainty, how perfectionism sneaks into classroom decisions, a...
Jun 22
12 min
If you have ever looked up at the clock and realized you are still in your classroom at 6 PM, we want you to hear this clearly: the real problem is not your to-do list. It is the belief underneath it. I walk through the story so many teachers live, the custodian making rounds while we are still grading, planning, and convincing ourselves that this is just “what good teachers do.” To make it practical, I give a simple three-step framework built for middle school ELA teachers who want re...
Jun 18
17 min
In today's Teaching Middle School ELA Podcast episode, I stopped blaming short periods and long blocks and show how a simple daily framework makes any middle school ELA schedule feel doable. I explained why predictable starts and calm endings beat cramming every ELA skill into every day, then shared sample pacing moves for 50, 75, and 90 minutes. • reframing the “not enough time” problem as a missing structure • building a three-part class period with strong bookends • using daily bell ri...
Jun 16
13 min
In today's Monday Mindset episode, I talked through the mindset shift that changes the game for teachers and for anyone chasing a bigger life: Ready isn’t a feeling, it’s a Decision. I share what I told a friend who asked how I went from an idea to building EB Academics, and why the real “secret” isn’t a magic checklist. It’s the willingness to take the first step and keep taking micro steps, even when the outcome is unclear. We also get practical about the mid-June to August spiral: you prom...
Jun 16
9 min
In today's Teaching Middle School ELA podcast episode, Caitlin gets real about teacher burnout and the challenges middle school educators face every day. She challenges common myths about lesson planning, rigor, and engagement, while sharing practical ways to protect your energy and mindset. You'll also learn a simple spiraling strategy that helps students build mastery over time—with a fun, MASH-inspired writing activity that keeps engagement high without adding more work to your plate. ...
Jun 11
31 min
Do your students struggle to retain skills from one unit to the next? You're not alone. In this episode, I explored why standards mastery often feels out of reach for middle school ELA teachers and uncovered the planning habits that may be standing in the way. I discussed three common beliefs that prevent students from achieving true mastery and introduced the Into, Through, and Beyond Framework—a simple but powerful approach to curriculum design that prioritizes retention over coverage. You'...
Jun 9
22 min
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