Teaching Middle School ELA

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 exactly how to set it up, play it, and customize it for any ELA topic. Get ready to turn quiet review time into pure, focused fun—and watch your students beg to play again!

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 high-energy Plot Structure Showdown, moving into an interactive escape room challenge, and ending with a rigorous Response to Literature.

Forget the stress of planning for Halloween week. Grab your free Haunted Forest Escape Room, https://www.ebteacher.com/haunted-forest press play, and discover how to make this spooky season both fun and academically meaningful!

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, you can find a ready-to-use version of Digging for Treasure in our Grammar Program under Low-Prep Games!

If your students usually dread review days, this game will change that forever — guaranteed. ⚓💎

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 can empower both you and your students.

If you’ve ever scrolled through social media and felt that “not enough” feeling — this one’s for you. 💛

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 cards (or just your imagination) and tune in. This is hands-down one of the most fun ways to mix engagement with real academic impact!

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. You’ll discover how tiny victories—whether it’s finishing one lesson plan or simply drinking your coffee while it’s still hot—can transform your mindset and your classroom.

Tune in and get inspired to stop chasing perfection and start celebrating progress—one micro-win at a time.

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 again.

Tune in to learn exactly how to set it up, play, and differentiate it for your students. It’s easy, low-prep, and guaranteed to make ELA fun! 🎉

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 

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 treat narrative writing as a skill-builder, not a time-sink
 ✅ Quick, practical strategies to streamline your instruction
 ✅ A sample two-week timeline that actually works

Give yourself permission to simplify while still giving your students the creativity, structure, and voice they need. 🎉

👉 Tune in now and take back your instructional time!

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’ll walk away with practical strategies that save time and reduce stress. Best of all, you’ll see how AI can handle the heavy lifting so you can focus on what matters most: connecting with your students.

👉 Tune in and discover how to make differentiation sustainable, effective, and—dare we say—joyful!