In today's Teaching Middle School ELA podcast, We share a practical before-during-after feedback framework built from real teacher tips across our staff. Before grading, we require a structured self-assessment using a rubric and checklist, plus simple labeling or colour coding so students prove where the claim, evidence, and justification live. That one shift removes a huge chunk of surface-level comments and lets us respond to the thinking, not the scavenger hunt.

If you want a grading system that is sustainable and still improves writing instruction, hit play, try one phase this week, and then subscribe, share with a teacher friend, and leave a quick review with what strategy you are starting with.