Episode 340: Avoiding Burnout by Letting Go of Perfection in Your Lesson Plans

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!Ever had a student pick a random quote just because it “sounded good”? 😅 You’re not alone! In today’s episode of Teaching Middle School ELA, I talked about practical scaffolds to help students go beyond guessing and actually choose evidence that supports their claims.From curated quote banks to our powerful Evidence Tracker, color-coding strategies, and the simple “Evidence Test,” you’ll walk away with tools to make literary analysis less overwhelming—and way more effective.Tune in and learn how to turn weak, random quotes into strong, meaningful evidence your students can confidently defend!

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!Planning doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. In today’s episode of Teaching Middle School ELA, I am sharing how ChatGPT can be your planning partner—helping you brainstorm, differentiate, and save hours each week without sacrificing quality. Whether you’re an EB teacher already using the Portal or just looking for ways to cut down on prep time, this episode will show you how to plan smarter, not harder. 

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!Today’s episode tackles a challenge every ELA teacher knows well: getting students to move beyond simply summarizing a text and into true analysis.This episode, From Summary to Justification: Teaching Students to Go Beyond the Obvious, is all about helping students answer the big “So what?”—why their evidence matters, how to justify their thinking, and what it takes to turn plot retellings into meaningful insights.Caitlin will walk you through why students often default to summary, practical scaffolds you can use to push them deeper, and classroom activities—like color-coding exercises and even a game called “Justification Jumble”—that will make analysis feel approachable, engaging, and doable for every student.And don’t forget—our free 3-Day Writing Workshop is coming up soon on September 23–25 at 5 PM PT. If you’re ready to transform your writing instruction and give your students the tools to write with clarity and confidence, head to www.ebteacher.com/writing-workshop to save your spot.

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!Welcome back to Teaching Middle School ELA! Today, we’re continuing our ChatGPT Series with an episode called Brainstorming & Lesson Hooks Made Simple.If you’ve ever found yourself staring at your planner, wondering how to start a lesson in a way that actually captures your students’ attention—or if you’re just tired of running out of creative ideas week after week—this episode is going to feel like a breath of fresh air.We’re talking about how to use ChatGPT as your brainstorming partner: from creating lesson hooks that immediately spark curiosity, to generating fresh, student-centered ideas you can adapt for your classroom. You’ll walk away with practical strategies to save your energy, keep lessons engaging, and maybe even have a little more fun planning.So, let’s dive into how ChatGPT can make brainstorming and lesson hooks simple, stress-free, and way more effective.

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!Have you ever taught a grammar skill on Friday, only to watch your students completely forget it by Monday? You’re not alone. Grammar taught in isolation rarely sticks—but when it’s woven into the flow of writing instruction, everything changes.In today’s episode, I’m sharing the EB Grammar Framework, a simple 3-pillar approach that makes grammar instruction clear, memorable, and connected to real student writing. You’ll learn how to: ✅ Use direct instruction to lay a strong foundation ✅ Reinforce skills with fun, low-prep grammar games ✅ Help students immediately apply grammar to their own writingBy the end of this episode, you’ll see how grammar can move from “boring and disconnected” to “meaningful and empowering”—for both you and your students.🔗 Free Resource: Golden Grammar Lesson 📅 Mark your calendars! Don’t miss my 3-Day Writing Workshop, happening September 23–25.

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!Grading doesn’t have to steal your weekends anymore! 🎉 In this brand-new series, I’m showing you how to train ChatGPT to become your teaching assistant—saving you time, reducing stress, and giving you space to focus on what matters most: your students.In this first episode, we’re tackling the grading struggle head-on. You’ll learn how to train ChatGPT to: ✅ Create clear, student-friendly rubrics in minutes ✅ Generate consistent, growth-focused feedback for assignments ✅ Streamline the grading process without losing the personal touchIf you’ve ever spent hours buried under essays or dreaded writing the same feedback over and over, this episode is for you. By the end, you’ll have practical prompts, strategies, and tips to help you reclaim your time—while still giving your students the support they need to grow as writers and thinkers.

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!So many teachers want to build a strong reading culture in their classrooms—but the truth is, you’re probably already doing one of the most important things without even realizing it! In today’s episode, I pull back the curtain on the “secret” to fostering a love of reading and shows you how to amplify what you’re already doing to make an even bigger impact. Whether you’re working with reluctant readers or looking for fresh ways to spark excitement around books, this conversation will give you practical, encouraging steps to strengthen your classroom reading community. 

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!What if your classroom didn’t run on a long list of rules, but on a few powerful core values that shape how everyone shows up each day? In this episode, let's explore why core values inspire more ownership than rules, how to choose the right ones for your students, and simple ways to bring them to life daily. You’ll walk away with a clear framework for creating a classroom culture rooted in respect, responsibility, and growth—so you’re not just managing behavior, you’re building community and character. Links mentioned that will help you with Classroom Management Strategy:The Perfect Classroom Management Strategy for Middle School ➡️https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZkdeEZL8rwEpisode 139: The Single Most Effective Classroom Management System ➡️https://www.buzzsprout.com/2071023/episodes/11544768FREE EB CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT TOOL ➡️https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Wsr8zLchYD1-4esUfuNS5dB8RLT0SKYmzEH4zYfZm84/edit?slide=id.g12989d373b6_2_75#slide=id.g12989d373b6_2_75

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!If you’ve ever tried a Socratic seminar and ended up with just a handful of students dominating the conversation while the rest stayed silent, you’re not alone. In this episode of Teaching Middle School ELA, I’m sharing my favorite twist on the classic format—Mini Socratic Seminars—that get every student engaged, thinking deeply, and building real discussion skills.You’ll learn: ✅ How to set up smaller, safer discussion groups that encourage all voices. ✅ The self-tracking strategy that shifts students’ focus from “just talking” to contributing meaningfully. ✅ Tips for prepping the right kinds of questions and leading a smooth whole-class debrief.Whether you’re prepping for an upcoming essay, assessing comprehension, or just wanting richer conversations about your texts, this strategy works—and your students will actually enjoy it.📚 Listen now and discover how a simple format shift can transform classroom discussions into authentic, student-driven learning moments.

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text!Here’s the truth: your lesson plans don’t need to be perfect to be effective—and chasing “perfect” is one of the quickest ways to burn out as a teacher.In this episode, I am talking directly to all the teachers who spend hours tweaking slides, rewriting already-great handouts, and second-guessing every plan. You’ll learn why perfectionism doesn’t actually make you a better teacher, how it can work against you (yep, research backs this up), and practical strategies to plan smarter, not harder.From setting time limits for planning to reusing templates without guilt, I will help you create engaging, student-centered lessons without draining your energy—or your evenings.💡 Mantra for the week: “My students need my presence, not my perfection.”