On this episode of the Teaching Middle School ELA podcast, Jessica is joined by EB Academics' Curriculum Writer, Pat, and together they dive into an innovative use of ChatGPT for your middle school classroom! Pat presents this engaging concept by explaining how you can use ChatGPT to generate task cards that are fantastic to use with your students who seem to always finish their assignments early! They showcase the ease with which you can tailor your task cards to different types of learners and how simple they can be to create with the help of AI. You'll learn how to create task cards that are flexible to meet the diverse needs of your students while fostering creativity and engagement in the classroom. With practical tips and insights, Jessica and Pat demonstrate how ChatGPT can enhance lesson planning and student learning experiences, making it a valuable tool for educators seeking to boost their efficiencies and support student growth.

Get ready for an exceptionally helpful episode!

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In today's Monday Mindset I'm giving you permission to want more out of life! In this episode, I challenge the idea that wanting more from your life means you are discontent or unhappy. Instead, I lean into the concept that wanting more is not only natural but necessary for a life full of intention and authenticity.

So let's do away with the guilt and embrace the possibility that we can aspire to chase our dreams no matter what age or circumstance we may currently find ourselves in. I'm excited for you to tune in and hold space for the brightness your future has in store for you.

Here's to another day of intentional living!

On this episode of the Teaching Middle School ELA podcast, Jessica, Pat introduce Jay, EB's resident differentiation expert for ELL and SPED students! Together they host a conversation focused on effective teaching methodologies tailored to accommodate diverse learning needs.

They take a deep dive into strategies such as fostering trust and community among students, implementing collaborative group work, and employing ongoing assessment methods. Their conversation underscores the importance of personalized instruction for different levels of learning. They explore ways to involve students in their own learning journey through honest prompts, student choice, and individualized check-ins, all while emphasizing the significance of leveraging available resources and collaborative efforts to create inclusive and supportive learning environments.

Get ready for an episode full of practical strategies that will benefit every level of learner in your classroom!

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Make sure to subscribe to our channel and leave us a review!  To leave a review in iTunes, click HERE by scrolling down our show page, selecting a star rating, and tapping “Write a review.” Let us know how this podcast is helping you in your ELA classroom!

In today's Monday Mindset, I'm exploring a life mantra that can instantly break down the walls of a "stuck" mindset! Marie Forleo's infectious philosophy that 'everything is figureoutable' breathes new life into the way we tackle problems. I pay tribute to that mindset in this episode, reflecting on the belief that every challenge has a solution waiting to be uncovered.

I want you to take a moment to consider that every obstacle can actually be an opportunity to grow in more ways than one! You'll notice the positive impact of altering our deep-seated beliefs to see that everything—from scheduling snafus to larger life hurdles—is, indeed, figureoutable. Listen in and learn how to weave this mindset into the fabric of your daily life, guaranteeing that no matter what comes your way, you'll have the tools and the tenacity to figure it out.

Here's to another day of intentional living!

On this episode of the Teaching Middle School ELA podcast, join your hosts Caitlin, Jessica, and Megan as they delve into the diverse approaches of teacher development programs across the globe. Drawing from conversations from a recent article titled, What the World Can Teach Us by Harry K. Wong, Ted Britton, and Tom Ganser, they uncover intriguing insights into how different countries support and nurture their educators.

They discuss how the approaches found in countries like China, New Zealand, Japan, and France, are used for continuous improvement of their teachers and should inspire similar initiatives in US schools.

Throughout the episode, your hosts identify three key themes: structured and comprehensive induction programs, a focus on lifelong learning, and the importance of collaboration among educators. You'll be encouraged to consider how these international models could even be incorporated into teacher support systems in your schools.

Tune in to gain fresh perspectives on teacher development and discover practical insights for enhancing professional growth in education.

You may even feel motivated to share this episode with your administrator!

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Make sure to subscribe to our channel and leave us a review!  To leave a review in iTunes, click HERE by scrolling down our show page, selecting a star rating, and tapping “Write a review.” Let us know how this podcast is helping you in your ELA classroom!

Have you heard the old Julie Andrews quote, "When life shuts one door, another window opens." ? In today's Monday Mindset, I reflect on how those closed doors in our lives often nudge us toward paths we're meant to walk. By shifting our perspective of rejection to one of needed redirection, we can receive those circumstances in a whole new way! We'll explore the philosophy of embracing the open doors and recognizing the closed ones as gifts in disguise. Tune in and consider how this perspective can inspire confidence in the face of life's unexpected circumstances and ultimately lead us exactly where we are meant to be!

Here's to another day of intentional living!

Get ready for an important episode of the Teaching Middle School ELA podcast! Listen in as your hosts, Caitlin, Jessica, and Megan tackle the topic of middle school ELA research units and exactly how you can make them engaging and memorable for your students.

In this episode, we're sharing personal experiences and practical tips for creating research projects that your students will actually enjoy. From key components like crafting essential questions and finding reliable sources to organizing evidence and creating works cited pages, we've got you covered with fresh ideas.

You'll also hear a unique and fun research unit idea that will have your students hooked from the start. Imagine inviting them to "Camp Explore" where they embark on a fictional camping adventure and must research and budget for essential camping supplies. It's hands-on, practical, and most importantly, engaging!

We'll provide step-by-step instructions on how to set up this research unit, and we've even got tips on incorporating games and activities to wrap up the unit with a celebration of your students' hard work.

Listen now and get inspired to take your research units to a whole new level!

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Make sure to subscribe to our channel and leave us a review!  To leave a review in iTunes, click HERE by scrolling down our show page, selecting a star rating, and tapping “Write a review.” Let us know how this podcast is helping you in your ELA classroom!

Are you ready to take a moment to consider whether or not you're living in the past, present, or future? In today's Monday Mindset, I reflect on the importance of self-reflecting on exactly where you are operating from.

So often we choose to allow frustration or regrets from our past or the fear of the future to completely destroy our mindset and the choices we make today. I invite you to consider taking your thoughts captive and reflect on whether or not they're helpful or actually having a negative impact on your life. It's very likely that those thoughts and emotions that do not serve you are stemming from something in your past or a fear of the unknown.

It can be a challenging cycle to break, but it is definitely one that is worth your focus and effort. I'm excited for you to take a quick moment to listen in today!

Here's to another day of intentional living!

On this episode of the Teaching Middle School ELA podcast we're diving into the topic of making informational texts your students' new favorite genre!

Navigating through the complexities of analyzing informational texts can often be a daunting task for our middle school students. In today's episode, we discuss the simple yet powerful trick we used time and time again to actually empower our students when tackling a new informational text.

This innovative tool was crafted to guide students through the intricate process of summarizing, analyzing, and reflecting on their reading. Tune in as we break down each component of analyzing informational text by using the visual of an inverted triangle. We start with the expansive top section where students craft a tag and summary of the text, then transition to the middle section, where students condense their summary using the SWBST method, and finally, we arrive at the pinnacle of the triangle, where students distill their analysis into a succinct main idea!

You'll also grab great classroom discussion starters and thought-provoking questions to encourage students' critical thinking through each stage of the process! (So be sure to grab a pen and paper to take quick notes!)

Whether you've taught informational texts for 1 year or 30 years, this episode will leave you with fresh tools and strategies to invigorate your classroom instruction!

Tune in for an episode full of actionable takeaways!

Link mentioned: https://www.ebteacher.com/infotext

Are you enjoying the podcast?

Make sure to subscribe to our channel and leave us a review!  To leave a review in iTunes, click HERE by scrolling down our show page, selecting a star rating, and tapping “Write a review.” Let us know how this podcast is helping you in your ELA classroom!

Get ready for a deep dive into self-reflection on today's Monday Mindset! In this episode, I present the question, "What defines a luxury in your life?". This conversation should challenge the status quo of what the world considers a "luxury" and really push you to consider what you personally value.

Ramit Sethi, the author of "I Will Teach You to Be Rich," offered a fresh perspective on crafting a rich life beyond financial success. I'll take a moment to reflect on his point of view which places a focus on a balance between saving diligently for the future and savoring the present's priceless moments. I explore how a weekend bike ride or a cherished family tradition can be as fulfilling as any material possession and encourage you to intentionally integrate what you define as "luxury" into your everyday life. I hope this episode can be your inspiration to shape a life brimming with personalized luxuries that set you apart from what your feed may want you to think is luxury.

Here's to another day of intentional living!