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In this episode of Teaching Middle School ELA, Caitlin flips the script on traditional first-day activities by making the case for launching your writing unit on day one — yes, really! While students may still be groggy and navigating the chaos of a new school year, Caitlin shares how to spark curiosity and get them excited about writing right from the start. You’ll learn a simple yet powerful strategy to build engagement and confidence before diving into structure and essays, setting the tone for meaningful writing all year long.

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In this episode of Teaching Middle School ELA, Caitlin tackles a topic many teachers may feel tempted to brush off—planning ahead. With the end-of-year chaos in full swing, thinking about next school year might seem impossible. But Caitlin shares why carving out just a bit of time now to plan can make a huge difference come August. Drawing on her own classroom experience and insights from thousands of ELA teachers, she walks you through simple, manageable strategies to ease your future workload, reduce stress, and set yourself up for a smoother, more enjoyable start to the new school year.

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In this upbeat episode of the Teaching Middle School ELA podcast, Caitlin shares how short and sweet can still be powerful! Discover how mini lessons can make a big impact—especially during the busy end-of-year days—while giving you more breathing room and keeping students engaged.

Make sure you're on our email list, so you know when/if I host a Writing Workshop in July! You can grab our free Batch Planning Guide at the link below, and you'll automatically be added to our list! https://www.ebteacher.com/free-10-tips-for-Batch-Planning

To stay connected with us about promotions, freebies, events, and professional development opportunities, Please join our EB Teacher's ELA Portal Priority List: ebteacher.com/portal

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In this episode of the Teaching Middle School ELA podcast, Caitlin shares how you can make the most of your summer without letting school take over. Learn which planning tasks are truly worth your time, what you can skip, and how batch planning can set you up for a smooth fall—while still enjoying your well-deserved break!

Join me for my June workshop focused on the EB Batch Planning Approach! This is a workshop you do NOT want to miss. Reserve your free spot here: ebteacher.com/workshop

YouTube Links Mentioned:

The Perfect Classroom Management Strategy for Middle School: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZkdeEZL8rw&t=13s

How to Improve Student Behaviors in Middle School: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBzAqEiOsgk&t=53s

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In this short but powerful episode of the Teaching Middle School ELA podcast, Caitlin shares a meaningful, low-prep activity to help students reflect and find closure at the end of the year: the 3-sentence speech. It’s a simple way to honor growth, celebrate the journey, and give every student a voice.

To stay connected with us about promotions, freebies, events, and professional development opportunities, Please join our EB Teacher's ELA Portal Priority List: ebteacher.com/portal

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How to Turn a Mystery into a Full-Class Mock Trial

Want to teach argument writing in a way your students will actually love? In this episode, I'm walking you through how to pair a murder mystery narrative with a full mock trial experience—no extra planning required.

You'll learn:

• How to launch The Bountiful Case mystery in your classroom
• How to guide students through claim, premise, evidence, and justification using our Case Report
• How to set up and run a full mock trial (including tips for large classes!)
• Ways to keep it simple—or totally zhuzh it up

This lesson is one of my favorite ways to build writing, speaking, and critical thinking skills—and you can get the full resource bundle completely free.

🎁 Download the Mystery + Mock Trial Kit here:
ebteacher.com/mysterytrial

💡 Want even more ideas like this? Join me for my free Summer Engagement Workshop, where I’ll show you how to bring this kind of energy and purpose to every part of your school year.
Register here: ebteacher.com/workshop

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In today’s episode of the Teaching Middle School ELA podcast, Caitlin shares simple, effective end-of-year routines to help you wrap up the school year with clarity and calm. If May feels like a whirlwind, this is your guide to finishing strong—without the stress. Let’s make the last few weeks feel a little more doable and a lot more intentional.

Caitlin's Journaling Spotify Playlist:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6NTHZhBj1LwIvfRF5gAFd8?si=368bcb58b9084045

📋 Closing Time Checklist
Use this checklist to simplify your end-of-year systems and finish strong—without losing your mind:

🧼 CLASSROOM WRAP-UP

• ☐ Pick one zone to clean each day (desk, supply area, library, etc.)
• ☐ Recruit your "Classroom Closing Crew" to help with specific jobs
• ☐ Label, store, and pack materials with next year in mind

📝 GRADES + ASSESSMENTS

• ☐ Set your final due dates and communicate them clearly
• ☐ Only grade assignments that reflect meaningful learning
• ☐ Use student self-assessment and simple rubrics to save time
• ☐ Batch-grade using 25-minute time blocks (Pomodoro method)
• ☐ Write 2–3 quick reflection notes about each student’s growth

🧠 YOUR SANITY

• ☐ Schedule a “Final Friday” solo work block to close out loose ends
• ☐ Make a “Start of Next Year” checklist and save it in your planner
• ☐ Give yourself permission to pause—don’t plan next year just yet

✅ Pro Tip: Print this checklist, highlight what works for you, and tuck it somewhere visible for the final two weeks of school. Small steps = a smoother finish.

To stay connected with us about promotions, freebies, events, and professional development opportunities, Please join our EB Teacher's ELA Portal Priority List: ebteacher.com/portal

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The final weeks of school don't have to be a countdown to summer filled with movies and worksheets. This pivotal time offers a golden opportunity to help your students reflect on their journey and recognize just how far they've come in your classroom.

Ready to finish your year strong? Listen now to discover how intentional reflection can create the perfect bookend to your students' ELA journey.

Caitlin's Journaling Spotify Playlist:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6NTHZhBj1LwIvfRF5gAFd8?si=368bcb58b9084045

📗 6-Word Memoirs Examples:

• “Wrote an essay. Survived. Barely.”
• “I found my voice in writing.”
• “Books changed my brain this year.”
• “Started shy, ended loud and proud.”
• “I read. I wrote. I grew.”
• “Grammar still haunts my dreams. Help.”
• “I never liked reading… until now.”

📝 Example Prompts to Use in Hexagons:

• “A time I felt proud of my work…”
• “Something I learned about myself as a reader…”
• “One writing skill I improved this year…”
• “A story or book that stuck with me…”
• “A challenge I faced and overcame…”
• “What I’ll remember most about ELA…”
• “I used to think ___, but now I know ___.”
• “This year in one word: ____”

To stay connected with us about promotions, freebies, events, and professional development opportunities, Please join our EB Teacher's ELA Portal Priority List: ebteacher.com/portal