I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! On today's Monday Mindset, I'm taking a moment to intimately reflect on how maintaining a positive outlook rather than chasing perpetual happiness will profoundly shape your life's journey! Join me as I traverse the emotional journey that life presents, from the peaks of joy to the valleys of sorrow. I'll candidly share how personal loss became a testament to resilience and the belief in a universe that conspires for our good. When we embrace the potent...
May 06, 2024•6 min
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! 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 ta...
Apr 30, 2024•20 min•Season 1Ep. 282
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! 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 ma...
Apr 29, 2024•6 min
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! 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 c...
Apr 23, 2024•39 min•Season 1Ep. 281
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! 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 oppor...
Apr 22, 2024•7 min
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! 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...
Apr 16, 2024•41 min•Season 1Ep. 280
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! 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....
Apr 15, 2024•5 min
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! 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 a...
Apr 09, 2024•17 min•Season 1Ep. 279
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! 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 n...
Apr 08, 2024•8 min
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! 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 innovativ...
Apr 02, 2024•20 min
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! 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 ...
Apr 01, 2024•7 min
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! On this episode of the Teaching Middle School ELA podcast, Megan sits down with acclaimed teacher coach and author of "Rooted in Joy," Dr. Deonna Smith! They're covering Dr. Smith's favorite secrets for cultivating a classroom experience that builds positivity and inclusivity while fostering strong relationships that encourage students to take ownership of their learning. Dr. Smith's focus presents us with the idea that the teacher's well-being sets the...
Mar 26, 2024•43 min•Season 1Ep. 277
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! In today's Monday Mindset, I am delving into the empowering concept of abundance and timing. I challenge the belief that missing out on certain opportunities means failure. Instead, it often signifies that we're not yet fully prepared for what we desire. Just because something didn't happen now doesn't mean it won't happen in the future or that it was what was best for us in this moment. By adopting a mindset of abundance and understanding that everythi...
Mar 25, 2024•6 min
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! Ever felt like the challenge of meeting each student's unique learning needs with ELA lessons was a puzzle with too many pieces? On this episode of the Teaching Middle School ELA podcast, Caitlin, Jessica, and Megan discuss a straightforward method to differentiate your ELA instruction using the scaffolding of Bloom's Taxonomy. You'll walk away with a simple hack that integrates differentiation smoothly into your teaching practice, and a freebie that pr...
Mar 19, 2024•20 min•Season 1Ep. 276
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! In today's Monday Mindset, I dive into the profound wisdom shared by Mel Robbins and explore the transformative power of paying attention to life's lessons. Drawing from Mel Robbins' inspiring words, I reflect on the importance of embracing every moment, even the toughest ones, as opportunities for growth and connection. As we navigate life's challenges and triumphs, it's crucial to ask ourselves: What is life trying to teach me? What am I not paying at...
Mar 18, 2024•6 min
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! On this episode of the Teaching Middle School ELA podcast, we are diving into the art of preparing middle school ELA students for state tests without losing engagement and purpose in our lessons. Megan joins Caitlin and Jessica for a conversation that explores strategies for striking that perfect balance between incorporating essential skills into our curriculum in ways that keep engagement high and stress low. They're serving up innovative strategies t...
Mar 12, 2024•21 min•Season 1Ep. 275
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! Get ready for a transformative Monday Mindset! Today, I'm diving into a fresh perspective on overcoming obstacles and seizing opportunities for growth. Join me as we reflect on how our perception of obstacles drastically impacts our approach to life. Instead of viewing obstacles as barriers, let's explore the idea of seeing them as detours in the right direction, guiding us toward our true purpose. Drawing inspiration from Gabby Bernstein's wisdom, I ch...
Mar 11, 2024•6 min
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! On this episode of the Teaching Middle School ELA podcast, our curriculum writer, Pat, joins us to discuss the seemingly impossible task of catering our lessons to every student's unique learning style. Consider this episode your peek behind the curtain into a classroom where differentiation doesn't mean chaos. After listening you'll have a full list of differentiation ideas that work with various learning preferences inside your classroom. You'll be ab...
Mar 05, 2024•32 min•Season 1Ep. 274
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! Get ready for a deep dive into self-reflection on today's Monday Mindset! In this episode, I'll be exploring the transformative power of self-compassion and the vital role it plays in our personal growth journey. Join me as I shine a light on the importance of putting an end to self-judgment. From our fitness aspirations to our personal commitments, I'll show you how every setback presents an opportunity for profound self-discovery and growth. It's trul...
Mar 04, 2024•6 min
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! On this episode of the Teaching Middle School ELA podcast, your hosts Caitlin, Jessica, and Megan are discussing additional takeaways from Jessica's recent visit to the Ron Clark Academy, specifically focusing on the impact a great teacher has on student growth. They're diving into the research behind the correlation of a teacher and their students' success, and exactly how you can ensure you're consistently working on developing your teaching methods i...
Feb 27, 2024•49 min•Season 2Ep. 273
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! In today's Monday Mindset episode, I am exploring the concept of living abundantly, regardless of your circumstances. I'm considering the idea of gratitude and the awareness of abundance in our lives. As you listen, consider the importance of being open to receiving and giving, as well as how the practice of letting go can invite more goodness into our lives. Tune in to this quick episode for the mindset shift you may not have known you needed! Here's t...
Feb 26, 2024•7 min
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! On this episode of the Teaching Middle School ELA podcast, we're diving into something that might not be talked about very often among educators. Can we actually learn to admire annoying student behaviors? Tune in as your hosts discuss practical strategies for handling challenging student behaviors in the classroom while drawing from their own experiences and research. They explore the concept of recognizing, reframing, and redirecting student behaviors...
Feb 20, 2024•24 min•Season 2Ep. 272
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! In today's Monday Mindset episode, I'm sharing a thought centered around the idea of proving yourself wrong. I want to challenge you and your beliefs around your limitations. I'll share a personal experience where I thought I could not accomplish a seemingly impossible task and the liberating feeling of proving myself wrong and overcoming my fears. This concept directly applies to educators and your perspective in the classroom. When we live intentional...
Feb 19, 2024•8 min
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! On this episode of the Teaching Middle School ELA podcast, Megan welcomed Sarah Levine and Chris Ma from Stanford University, who discussed an innovative approach to literature by integrating students' emotional responses into the heart of literary analysis. Together they unpacked how emotions play a pivotal role in enhancing students' connections to texts. Chris and Sarah guide us through their "funds of feeling" approach, where students explore litera...
Feb 13, 2024•34 min•Season 2Ep. 271
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! In today's Monday Mindset episode, I am discussing how we can actually redefine our relationship with time and harness its power to work in our favor. By exploring the concept of radical responsibility and embracing the idea that we are the source of time, I'll share practical strategies for making time for the things that truly matter to us. From setting non-negotiables to using constraints to eliminate constraints, I'll show you how easy it can be to ...
Feb 12, 2024•9 min
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! On this episode of the Teaching Middle School ELA podcast, Caitlin and Jessica welcome Patricia Abel, EB Academics' curriculum writer, and veteran ELA teacher, to discuss building reading comprehension with our middle school students. Reading comprehension is a large part of the Science of Reading that directly relates to your middle school classroom, and we are making sure you have practical strategies to easily implement inside your classroom. Tune in...
Feb 06, 2024•38 min•Season 2Ep. 270
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! In today's Monday Mindset episode, I'm taking a look into the idea of creating newness in our lives by embracing the process of letting go. We'll take a moment to reflect on how releasing old beliefs, friendships, and ways of being can open up space for new and rewarding opportunities. Join me as we discover the transformative power of embracing change and making room for newness in our lives. Here's to another day if living intentionally. Caitlin...
Feb 05, 2024•8 min
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! On this episode of the Teaching Middle School ELA podcast, Megan interviews Jessica to get all the exciting details from her visit to the legendary Ron Clark Academy. They're covering some seriously cool strategies to amp up your vocabulary and comprehension skills for middle schoolers. Everything from fun and engaging games to using tech for personalized learning, Jessica's got the inside scoop on all the awesome ideas she gathered while there. Tune in...
Jan 30, 2024•29 min•Season 2Ep. 269
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! In today's Monday Mindset episode, I present a thought-provoking topic that stemmed from a motivational speaker's presentation I witnessed at a recent business retreat. This presentation made me consider how often we anticipate the worst when things are going well, and what could happen if we shift our perspective by posing a simple yet profound question instead: "How much better can this get?" This question challenges the traditional mindset of waiting...
Jan 29, 2024•7 min
I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! On this episode of the Teaching Middle School ELA Podcast, we're tackling the hot topic of the Science of Reading and its place in the middle school ELA classroom. We know it can feel overwhelming and mysterious, especially for us, middle school ELA teachers. After receiving messages from teachers who are eager to understand and apply the science of reading in their classes, we knew it was time to break down the five pillars of reading instruction—phone...
Jan 23, 2024•26 min
