ELA Unlimited brings you creative strategies, classroom management tips, and inspiring ideas to make teaching English Language Arts easier and more engaging for middle school teachers. Whether you’re a seasoned teacher or new to the classroom, join us weekly for insights on everything from lesson planning and student engagement to standards-based instruction and assessment. With practical tips and real-life classroom stories, this podcast is your go-to resource for elevating your middle school ELA classroom. Get ready to save time, boost student success, and love teaching ELA even more!
How to Help Your Students Focus on Growth Over Grades
In this quick-bite episode, Savannah shares a powerful strategy she uses in her classroom to help students focus on growth rather than grades. She introduces a goal-setting assessment form that encourages students to take ownership of their learning, make actionable plans, and celebrate their progress. This episode is packed with actionable tips and motivational insights to transform your approach to assessments!
Growth Flower Freebie:
Download the Growth Flower template to celebrate student achievements. (links to a blog post. Scroll to the bottom for the free PDF download)
Click here to get the freebie! (https://www.teachingintentionally.com/blog/2024/12/3/a-strategy-for-focusing-on-growth-over-test-grades)
ELA Unlimited: (https://www.teachingintentionally.com/ela-unlimited-main-page-1)
Explore Savannah’s membership site with engaging, standards-based resources for middle school ELA teachers. Unlimited downloads of no-prep activities, including the goal-setting form shared in this episode.
Email Savannah: Have questions or feedback? savannah@teachingintentionally.com
Join ELA Unlimited: (https://www.teachingintentionally.com/ela-unlimited-main-page-1) Explore resources to transform your ELA classroom.
Thank you for tuning in! If you found this episode helpful, share it with a fellow teacher and let’s keep celebrating growth! See you next week! 🌟
Episode Highlights:Form Questions:Resources Mentioned:Key Takeaway:Stay Connected:
26 Nov 2024
Transform Your Standards-Based Teaching with a Mentor Text Strategy
In this episode, Savannah dives into an effective, transformative strategy for teaching standards in middle school ELA: using a common mentor text. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the pressure to cover every text in your curriculum or struggled to connect standards to your teaching, this episode is for you!
Savannah shares her personal experience with the novel Ghost by Jason Reynolds and how it has become a cornerstone of her classroom strategy. Learn how using a common text simplifies teaching, supports student understanding, and allows you to focus on deeper learning of standards like plot, theme, and annotation strategies.
What You'll Learn in This Episode:
How to introduce a common mentor text and build it into your classroom routines.
Strategies for teaching plot, theme, and annotation through the lens of a shared book.
Why a shorter, engaging text like Ghost can be a game-changer for student understanding.
How to connect new concepts and standards to an existing text for better comprehension.
Tips for involving students in read-alouds, character roles, and interactive discussions.
Resources Mentioned:
Ghost by Jason Reynolds (Savannah’s go-to mentor text for middle school ELA)
Annotation Strategies (https://youtu.be/Z-w93Z88eeg)
RTQT Response Method (https://youtu.be/TmMgC6avLYs)
ELA Unlimited Resources: (https://www.teachingintentionally.com/ela-unlimited-main-page-1) Your one-stop shop for standards-based activities, annotation guides, and more.
Join the Conversation:
Do you have a go-to mentor text in your classroom? Share your experiences and thoughts! Email Savannah using the link below or leave a comment to let us know how this strategy is working for you.
Additional Resources:
Check out ELA Unlimited for all your standards-based teaching needs (https://www.teachingintentionally.com/ela-unlimited-main-page-1)
Email Savannah at savannah@teachingintentionally.com (#)
19 Nov 2024
How to Lighten Your Grading Load
Grading can be one of the most time-consuming and overwhelming parts of teaching ELA, but it doesn’t have to be!
In this episode, I’m sharing a game-changing strategy that transformed how I approach grading. From ditching full notebook checks to using targeted tools like fill-in-the-blank notes and quizzes, you’ll learn how to save time, reduce stress, and focus on what matters most—your students’ learning.
What You’ll Learn:
Why grading entire notebooks might not be the best use of your time.
How switching to weekly notebook paper submissions simplifies grading.
The benefits of using fill-in-the-blank notes for mini-lessons.
How quizzes can double as accountability tools.
Links and Resources Mentioned:
ELA Unlimited Membership: (https://www.teachingintentionally.com/ela-unlimited-main-page-1)Access all the tools I mentioned in this episode—lesson plans, notes, quizzes, and more.
Free Notebook Setup Blog Post: (https://www.teachingintentionally.com/blog/2019/1/7/ela-class-notebook-set-up) Get more details on how I organize my students’ work.
Let’s Connect:
Follow me on TikTok for daily tips and behind-the-scenes moments.
Share your thoughts! Leave a review or email me at savannah@teachingintentionally.com
Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe and share it with your fellow ELA teachers! Let’s make teaching a little easier—together.
12 Nov 2024
The Power of Partner Quizzes
I stumbled upon this idea one day in my classroom and have been using it ever since! It's an instant way to increase excitement and engagement.
Want unlimited downloads of creative and engaging resources? Join us at ELA Unlimited! Check it out here! (https://www.teachingintentionally.com/ela-unlimited-main-page-1)
Quizizz (https://quizizz.com)
12 Nov 2024
Frustration #5: Students not turning stuff in
Are the mounds of missing work driving you crazy?
Here are some tips and strategies you can use to help manage it and encourage students to turn some stuff in!
Want more classroom management ideas? Check out Managing Middles! (https://www.teachingintentionally.com/classroom-management-1)
While you're there, make sure to download the Expectations Work Kit!
12 Nov 2024
Frustration #4- Students lack of focus and motivation
Here are some simple ways you can help increase student motivation and focus!
Want more classroom management ideas? Check out Managing Middles! (https://www.teachingintentionally.com/classroom-management-1)
While you're there, make sure to download the Expectations Work Kit!
12 Nov 2024
Frustration #3- Students Talking While You're Teaching
Frustration #3- Students Talking While You're Teaching
Do students try to talk while you’re teaching? Like they’re too cool to hear what you have to say.
Here are some things I do in my classroom to curb those impulses.
Here are some tips and strategies you can use to help manage these!
Want more classroom management ideas? Check out Managing Middles! (https://www.teachingintentionally.com/classroom-management-1)
While you're there, make sure to download the Expectations Work Kit!
12 Nov 2024
Frustration #2 - Constant Interruptions
Are you tired of the CONSTANT student interruptions while you're teaching?
Here are some tips and strategies you can use to help manage these!
Want more classroom management ideas? Check out Managing Middles! (https://www.teachingintentionally.com/classroom-management-1)
While you're there, make sure to download the Expectations Work Kit!
12 Nov 2024
Frustration #1- Students Breaking Rules
Are you frustrated with your middle schoolers breaking the rules you have set up in your classroom?
Hopefully these tips and tricks I have picked up along the way will help ease your frustrations.
Want more strategies? Check out Managing Middles! (https://www.teachingintentionally.com/classroom-management-1)
While there, download the Expectation Work Kit!
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