I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! Today I’m delving into our expectations of others. Whether it's our partners, kids, or friends, we all have certain expectations. But what happens when these people let us down and fail to meet those expectations? Ultimately, people's behavior reveals their true selves, and it's important to let them be who they are. Remember, others' actions should not impact our own happiness or self-identity. Here’s to another week of living intentionally. Caitlin...
Jul 03, 2023•3 min
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! On this episode of Teaching Middle School ELA, we explore expert hacks for saving time and streamlining planning while maintaining quality instruction. We introduce Chat GPT, a tool that can save time on the front end of planning, and share hacks for finding a go-to place for lessons and creating a distraction-free environment. We also discuss the benefits of using timers and setting reasonable time limits for completing tasks. Are you enjoying the podc...
Jun 29, 2023•17 min•Season 1Ep. 234
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! On this episode of Teaching Middle School ELA, Caitlin and Jessica discuss the benefits of batch planning–a practice that involves lesson planning for a certain period of time to create lessons for an extended period. Successful batch planning can allow teachers to leave school on time and prevents teachers bringing work home. It also allows for more intentional planning to ensure high-quality, engaging lessons. Listeners are given tips for how to struc...
Jun 27, 2023•18 min•Season 1Ep. 233
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! Today I’m exploring the topic of embracing discomfort as a means of personal growth and change. Stepping out of your comfort zone and taking risks often leads to a more fulfilling life. Even in the classroom, teachers can bring in new ideas and methods that challenge them and bring positive results for students. By owning your discomfort and using it as a tool for growth, you can improve yourself and your classroom. Here’s to another week of living inte...
Jun 26, 2023•6 min
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! On this episode of Teaching Middle School ELA, Caitlin and Jessica discuss the EB Teachers’ Club and their mission to support, inspire, and empower teachers in their roles. This episode dives deep into the importance of creating a personal vision and the power of visualization. Caitlin and Jessica share unconventional approaches to achieving teaching goals and offer personal stories of how their visions manifested into reality. They also suggest creatin...
Jun 22, 2023•34 min•Season 1Ep. 232
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! On this episode of Teaching Middle School ELA, we explore the importance of having a classroom routine and planning framework to save time and aid classroom management. Caitlin and Jessica share practical tips and insights based on their experience, including the importance of using the standards as a guide for strategic lesson planning. They also stress the importance of starting class with a bell work activity that spiral reviews ELA standards, as eve...
Jun 20, 2023•33 min•Season 1Ep. 231
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! Today I’m exploring why it's important to take action towards your goals rather than just dreaming about them. The difference between those who succeed and those who do not are taking the leap and trying. Waiting to be "ready" will only hold you back, and failure is a valuable learning experience. Stop waiting and start doing whatever it is you desire, whether it's trying out a new thing or making a big change in your life. Here’s to another week of liv...
Jun 19, 2023•5 min
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! On this episode of Teaching Middle School ELA, Caitlin and Jessica explore how to maintain rigor in the classroom while engaging learners. Caitlin and Jessica share their structured approach to teaching ELA, which is offered to members of the EB Teachers’ Club. Listeners will hear about a fun and rigorous activity for teaching narrative writing using the game of MASH. These types of lessons and activities make teaching sustainable and enjoyable while al...
Jun 15, 2023•18 min•Season 1Ep. 230
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! On this episode of Teaching Middle School ELA, Caitlin and Jessica share with listeners the importance of developing a systematic curriculum. They dive into the EB Lesson Planning Framework: "Into, Through, and Beyond" lesson planning. Spiraling activities throughout the year is key to building students' skills and proficiency through repetition. Teachers are invited to attend a free PD workshop on strategies to fit everything in and engage students in ...
Jun 13, 2023•18 min
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! Today, I’m discussing how to live intentionally and make choices that serve us in our lives. The importance of having a supportive community around you is crucial for achieving your vision and dreams. Life is short, and it's imperative to make the most of it because there are no second chances. Take a moment to reflect on whether or not the people you spend your time with are helping you grow. If they don't, it's okay to let them go. Think about your ow...
Jun 12, 2023•4 min
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! On this episode of Teaching Middle School ELA, Caitlin and Jessica discuss intentional lesson planning and the benefits of an organized and systematic curriculum. Batch planning is a highly-effective way to organize teaching curriculum and maximize student learning. Caitlin and Jessica provide tips and strategies for effective batch planning and welcome teachers to join them for Batch Planning Live in June. Are you enjoying the podcast? Tag us on Instag...
Jun 08, 2023•20 min
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! On this episode of Teaching Middle School ELA, Caitlin and Jessica discuss the challenges that teachers face in fitting everything into their class periods. They share four strategies that can help teachers become more confident and in control of their lessons. They also offer tips for prioritizing responsibilities and time management to avoid burn-out. This episode is part of a series focused on professional development for middle school ELA teachers, ...
Jun 06, 2023•26 min•Season 1Ep. 227
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! Today, we’re diving into a discussion about becoming an unstoppable force in pursuing your dreams. I’m sharing my personal experience with how fitness has significantly changed my life and mindset, and how it is possible to harness the power of one's intangible qualities to pursue their vision for life. I’d like to encourage you to reflect on your own strengths and what makes them uniquely unstoppable, and to consider how these qualities can help you ac...
Jun 05, 2023•4 min
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! Let’s face it, teaching can feel overwhelming. There are so many hats that teachers wear, and juggling all those roles can feel unmanageable. Caitlin and Jessica hope to change that feeling for teachers! In today’s episode, they encourage listeners to focus their attention on improving one thing in the classroom: engagement. They list out nine positive effects that creating engaging lessons can have on students, as well as teachers. You won’t want to mi...
May 30, 2023•23 min•Season 1Ep. 226
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! Excuses. All they are is an argument for our limitations. They’re just a reason as to why we can’t hit our goals and grow. I think so many of us do this without even realizing it because it is so much a part of who we are. So, I want you to stop and think about all of the times you are saying,” Well, but…” Hold yourself to the fire, and watch yourself achieve all of your goals. You’re going to love the change that comes with it. Here’s to another week o...
May 29, 2023•6 min
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! In today’s episode, Caitlin and Jessica share the second part of their discussion on how to implement student-led and student-created escape rooms in your classroom. This type of activity is perfect to use at the end of the school year when everyone is needing a break from typical classroom activities. We hope you try this out with your students before the school year ends! Are you enjoying the podcast? Tag us on Instagram @ebacademics and let us know w...
May 23, 2023•14 min•Season 1Ep. 225
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! Have you noticed that as you grow and change over the years your friendships may change too? That’s okay. It’s important to remember that people are a part of our lives for certain seasons and for certain reasons. As we grow, change, and achieve our goals, it may be necessary to find new and different people who represent our new selves. Give yourself permission to do that. Here’s to another week of living intentionally. Caitlin...
May 22, 2023•4 min
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! Escape rooms have become all the rage, and they’re awesome for team-building and fun! They have also become popular as a classroom activity, and in today’s episode, Caitlin and Jessica share a unique spin on using escape rooms in the classroom. This is the first episode in a two-part series that you won’t want to miss as you motivate your learners at the end of the school year. Are you enjoying the podcast? Tag us on Instagram @ebacademics and let us kn...
May 16, 2023•15 min•Season 1Ep. 224
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! Goals are great, but as soon as we reach one we create another. So, we are always chasing a goal or a dream. There is no end result here; instead, it's about who we become in pursuit of that end result. So try looking at it as the journey of becoming. How are you changing along the way? Who are you developing into? Focus on how you are changing for the better. Here’s to another week of living intentionally. Caitlin...
May 15, 2023•5 min
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! As English teachers, seeing a word misused in a sentence can be cringe-worthy, and you probably catch mistakes in your students' writing where they have confused two words that sound similar but have very different meanings. Today’s podcast is all about helping your students get a grasp on these most commonly misused words, and this is a grammar lesson they won’t forget! Caitlin and Jessica share how to set up a rousing game of “Homophone Hit” that will...
May 09, 2023•12 min•Season 1Ep. 223
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! If you are always placing the blame on someone else, then you have a victim mentality. The problem is actually about you. There’s something underneath this surface issue that is coming up for you that you need to work through in order to move on. Once you have done the work and gone through the healing process, you’ll realize that you have control over your own thoughts and emotions. And what a freeing place that is! So, what do you think about taking s...
May 08, 2023•5 min
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! Teachers know just how important engagement is in a classroom. Not only do students need to be engaged to learn, but engaging lessons are also essential to successful classroom management. While there are TONS of strategies out there, Caitlin and Jessica offer listeners one very simple way to create engagement in the classroom: use music! We think these practical and fun ideas will be just what you need to add some spark and wonder to your lessons as th...
May 02, 2023•15 min•Season 1Ep. 222
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! When I’m doing something new, I usually have serious doubts. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to accomplish whatever the task may be. This belief system is super limiting, so I needed to start creating evidence for myself that I actually can do it. How do you do that? You show up everyday to prove to yourself that you can do it, and you are doing it. This evidence will then help us to create a new identity of who we are. This is when your beliefs about y...
May 01, 2023•5 min
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! Using games in the classroom can be an easy way to motivate students to review numerous concepts in ELA. To round out April’s four-part series discussing engagement in the classroom, Caitlin and Jessica share details about two of their favorite games to use with students. While these games are both easy to prep and fun, they also provide valuable review time for your learners as the school year winds down. Are you enjoying the podcast? Tag us @ebacademi...
Apr 25, 2023•13 min
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! If you struggle with anxiety, know that you're not alone. Many of us are dealing with it on a daily basis, including me, so when I heard this statement it really resonated with me. Anxiety is such a difficult place to be in when it feels like the sky is falling. If we allow our mind to go with the “what ifs,” we will continue to fall down the dark hole that is anxiety. However, if we choose to not stay in that state of being, we can focus on what is act...
Apr 24, 2023•5 min
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! The idea of a Genius Hour originated in some of today’s most innovative and groundbreaking companies, and it’s also a great activity to use in your classroom. As the school year comes to a close, and you and your students need fresh and interesting activities, we think implementing a Genius Hour in your classroom will be just the thing to motivate your students! By allowing learners to invest time in their own interests, we can encourage creativity and ...
Apr 18, 2023•21 min
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! Middle school is a tough time. There are so many things going on in the world and new challenges that our students are facing. High school is approaching, and oftentimes there are many big decisions that come with that. That may bring on anxiety or a nervous feeling. I think it’s important to discuss these things and realize that those feelings can be a “normal nervous” that everyone is dealing with. It helps to know that we are all in this together. He...
Apr 17, 2023•4 min
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! Have you ever struggled to keep your students motivated to learn at the end of the school year? Maybe you’ve been searching for ways to help your students master the standards but with an activity that appeals to them. In today’s episode, Caitlin and Jessica discuss a special research project called The Year I Was Born. Not only will your students be interested in the research, but the final project is a fun keepsake that they can enjoy for years to com...
Apr 11, 2023•17 min
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! This is so applicable to every aspect of our lives. Think of something that is hard for you. Maybe it's putting your child back to bed at 2 in the morning, or maybe you’re working on pushing yourself in the gym. These things may be extremely difficult now, but in a few months they will become easy. Doing the hard work is creating habits which will in turn create an easier life for us in the future. Here’s to another week of living intentionally. Caitlin...
Apr 10, 2023•5 min
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! Writing essays may not sound like the most exciting activity to your middle school students, but Caitlin and Jessica have a unique idea to freshen up that typical essay in your classroom! Today on the podcast, listeners will hear all about how to implement a visual essay. This is a creative assignment that will help your students practice and master the writing standards. They’re still writing an essay, but in a brand new way! As always, you’ll hear pra...
Apr 04, 2023•20 min
