Best Ela Curriculum Podcasts (2025)

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Massachusetts' Big Move on Elementary History | History Matters Podcast 17:03

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1h ago17:03

17:03

In Medford, Massachusetts, “social studies is a subject to be valued,” fifth-grade teacher Jennifer Lindsey explains in this episode. “It’s the place to teach kids how to talk to each other and negotiate conversations and digest information and form an opinion—but also listen to others’ opinions and back that up with evidence,” she says. This conte…

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Episode 361: The Secret to Classroom Culture? It Starts With Your Mindset 43:30

2h ago43:30

43:30

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! Your classroom culture starts with you. 💛 In this week’s episode, Caitlin shares three powerful mindset shifts that can completely transform how you show up—for yourself and your students. Tune in to discover how small inner changes can create big outer results. From Mark Traver's article: A Psychologist S…

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Episode 360: From Quiet Review to Total Chaos: Knockout, the Game Students Can’t Stop Playing 9:30

4d ago9:30

9:30

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! Welcome back to our Games Series! Today, we’re bringing the energy with one of the most exciting review games you’ll ever play in your ELA classroom—Knockout. This game transforms any concept—whether it’s text structures, grammar, or figurative language—into a high-stakes, fast-paced classroom battle. Stud…

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TEACHING DYSTOPIA: Our NEW Favorite Stories & Protagonists [Ep 274] 32:19

4d ago32:19

32:19

Think you’ve seen all the dystopia books out there? Think again! In part three of our “Teaching Dystopia” series, we share hidden gems, fresh picks, and classics, from middle grade survival stories to YA novels exploring climate change and government control. We highlight favorites like Alone and Station Eleven, plus TV and movie options like The S…

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History Can’t Wait Until High School | History Matters Podcast 17:19

6d ago17:19

17:19

In the typical American high school, 9th-grade history students are expected to dive into the historical content, grapple with complex ideas, and engage in deep inquiry. But teenage students often lack the historical knowledge such tasks require. If you haven’t learned much about the Civil War, for example, you won’t be ready to discuss whether the…

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Bonus Halloween Episode: Don’t Plan a Thing for Halloween Week—Grab This Free Escape Room Instead 10:32

6d ago10:32

10:32

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! Halloween week in middle school can feel like complete chaos—costumes, candy, and zero focus. But what if you could channel that energy into something productive and fun? In this special bonus episode, Caitlin shares a free, done-for-you Haunted Forest Escape Room that keeps your students engaged, practici…

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Building Better Readers with Short Stories [Ep. 63] 11:25

7d ago11:25

11:25

Short stories are quick to read but powerful when used with purpose. In this episode, we’ll look at how short texts can strengthen reading skills, spark discussion, and build confidence for even the most hesitant readers. You’ll discover how these smaller pieces can fit naturally into your curriculum, giving students frequent opportunities to think…

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Episode 359: This Simple Treasure Hunt Game Will Change How You Do Review Forever 9:29

11d ago9:29

9:29

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! Welcome back to our Games Series! Today’s episode is all about Digging for Treasure — a review game that brings all the excitement of Battleship straight into your ELA classroom. With every correct answer, students get to “dig” for hidden treasures on their grids, turning grammar, vocabulary, and figurativ…

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TEACHING DYSTOPIA: A Spotlight for Juxtaposition [Ep 273] 28:04

11d ago28:04

28:04

Have you ever felt like dystopia is the genre that just keeps on giving? In part two of our dystopia series, we focus on the essential skills that make these texts come alive in your classroom, showing why depth beats covering everything superficially. We explore how teaching students to notice author moves like juxtaposition helps them analyze ten…

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The Power of Historical Knowledge | History Matters Podcast 16:55

13d ago16:55

16:55

The more history young students know, the more they want to know. That’s one of the joyful discoveries that elementary teachers are making in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana. In this episode, guests Angela Barfoot and Lauren Cascio describe the rewards of using Bayou Bridges, a content-rich, knowledge-building social studies curriculum, in combination w…

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Episode 358: Letting Go of Comparison — Your Journey, Your Classroom 27:30

14d ago27:30

27:30

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! In this episode, we’re tackling something every teacher faces — comparison. Whether it’s classroom decor, lesson ideas, or student success stories, it’s so easy to look at others and feel like we’re falling short. But here’s the truth: your classroom doesn’t need to look like anyone else’s. Your journey do…

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What Makes Great Elementary History Curriculum | History Matters Podcast 15:40

14d ago15:40

15:40

Teaching history involves balance: too many facts and it’s boring, too few and students don’t have enough information to make sense of what they’ve learned. In this episode, host Barbara Davidson speaks with Sean Dimond, a former middle-school teacher and Louisiana state social studies director who is now senior social studies editor at the Core Kn…

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Episode 357: The Game That Turns Vocabulary, Grammar, and More Into Student Obsessions 8:46

19d ago8:46

8:46

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! In this episode, Caitlin breaks down exactly how to bring this hilarious, energy-packed game into your ELA classroom — from simple icebreakers and vocabulary swaps to full-on academic reviews. You’ll learn creative ways to adapt the rules, sneak in rigorous practice, and keep your students begging for “jus…

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TEACHING DYSTOPIA: New Essential Questions to Try [Ep 272] 30:16

18d ago30:16

30:16

Ready to refresh your dystopia unit? In this episode, we explore how to make the genre feel fresh, relevant, and engaging for today’s students by rethinking essential questions and diving deeper into structure, theme, and skill connections. From moving beyond the classic “Is America a dystopia?” debate to exploring what it means to rebuild a broken…

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Ten More … Film and the History of Slavery 21:31

19d ago21:31

21:31

Film historian Ron Briley returns with more suggestions for teaching through film — from thought-provoking documentaries and feature films to miniseries. Spanning productions from the works of Ken Burns to the blockbuster Black Panther, this episode offers essential background information and practical strategies. Join host Hasan Kwame Jeffries, Ph…

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Episode 356: Stop Staring at the Mountain in Front of You: Do This Instead 25:35

21d ago25:35

25:35

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Boost Student Focus with Reading Sprints for Independent Reading [Ep. 62] 10:25

20d ago10:25

10:25

By Carolyn Wahl - Middle School ELA

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5 Engaging Autumn Classroom Activities for Middle School ELA - Podcast 14:01

23d ago14:01

14:01

Halloween is the perfect time to get students excited about reading—stories with a little creep, mystery, and imagination are ideal for middle schoolers. Listen here for 5 Halloween books that strike just the right balance between spooky and engaging. We will discuss: 5 great "spooky" books Ideas for using them in the classroom Activities to go alo…

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Episode 355: ELA Games Series: Why Bluffing Might Be the Most Fun Way to Practice ELA 6:51

26d ago6:51

6:51

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! Today on the Teaching Middle School ELA Podcast, we’re bringing you one of our favorite high-energy classroom activities: The Bluff Game – Language Arts Edition! 🙌 This fast-paced game is perfect for practicing vocabulary, grammar, reading skills, and more—all while keeping your students on their feet (lit…

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Inside Olean High’s Library with Brionna Howard: How “Book Tastings” Lit a Spark and Quadrupled Checkouts 14:27

27d ago14:27

14:27

A quiet library turned into a buzzing café of curiosity—and it changed how students read. We sit down with Olean High School librarian Brianna Howard to unpack the “book tasting” that quadrupled circulation in a month, the power of visible mentorship, and the small choices that make reading feel irresistible instead of required. Starting as a socia…

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A Case for Teaching History in Elementary School | History Matters Podcast 15:44

27d ago15:44

15:44

Elementary schools spend almost no time teaching history. How did we get here, and how can we reprioritize this crucial foundation for literacy and knowledge? Host Barbara Davidson begins the eight-part “History Matters” podcast with a reflective and forward-looking conversation with guest Robert Pondiscio, an author and former fifth-grade teacher …

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Episode 354: ChatGPT Series: 3 ChatGPT Shortcuts Every ELA Teacher Needs to Save Hours on Prep 19:10

29d ago19:10

19:10

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! Tired of spending endless hours planning, grading, and creating materials? In today’s episode, Caitlin shares three powerful ways to use ChatGPT to cut prep time in half—without sacrificing quality or your unique teaching style. From drafting discussion questions to batch-prepping warm-ups, you’ll walk awa…

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Quick Wins for Helping Students Pick a Just-Right Book [Bonus] 8:36

29d ago8:36

8:36

September brings an extra Tuesday, which means you get a bonus episode! In this short and practical episode, I’m sharing quick wins to help your students pick out the just-right book for right now. Whether you’re planning your very first library visit of the year or heading back for another round, these strategies will make sure students walk out w…

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Episode 353: The Shortcut Narrative Unit: How to Get Powerful Stories in Just 10 Days 23:21

1M ago23:21

23:21

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! Narrative writing is such an important skill for middle schoolers—but let’s be honest, it often feels like it takes forever to teach. Before you know it, weeks (or even months!) are gone, and you’re scrambling to fit in argument and informational writing. In this episode, I discussed how to make narrative …

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Episode 352: ChatGPT Series: Differentiation Without the Extra Work 14:30

1M ago14:30

14:30

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! Differentiation doesn’t have to mean staying up late making three different versions of the same lesson. In this week’s Teaching Middle School episode, I shared how you can use ChatGPT to quickly create scaffolds, extensions, and tiered questions—so every student has a way into the learning without you dou…

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5 Engaging Autumn Classroom Activities for Middle School ELA 15:57

1M ago15:57

15:57

Autumn is the perfect season to bring fresh energy into your middle school ELA classroom. With cooler weather, colorful leaves, and plenty of seasonal inspiration, it’s an ideal time to spark creativity and keep students engaged in reading and writing. In this post, we’ll explore five engaging autumn classroom activities for middle school ELA. Each…

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Episode 351: Balancing Creative and Academic Writing in the Middle School Classroom 14:17

1M ago14:17

14:17

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! How do we strike the right balance between fun, engaging creative writing and the academic writing skills our students need to succeed? In this episode, let's dive into why both matter, how to weave them together, and practical strategies you can start using right away. Tune in to discover how creativity a…

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Film and the History of Slavery 46:39

1M ago46:39

46:39

Film has long shaped our nation's historical memory — for good and bad. Film historian Ron Briley offers ways to responsibly use films in the classroom to more accurately frame the narrative of American slavery and Reconstruction. Join host Hasan Kwame Jeffries, Ph.D., and Learning for Justice, a project of the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). (…

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Episode 350: ChatGPT Series: Communication & Admin Tasks Made Easier 17:46

1M ago17:46

17:46

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a text! Emails, newsletters, behavior documentation… oh my! Communication and admin tasks can easily eat up hours of your week—but they don’t have to. In today’s episode of Teaching Middle School ELA, I shared how ChatGPT can act like your personal assistant for the behind-the-scenes work of teaching. From draftin…

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10 Easy Ways to Encourage Student Book Recommendations in Your Classroom [Ep. 61] 10:58

1M ago10:58

10:58

Peer recommendations are one of the most effective ways to spark interest in reading. Students are much more likely to pick up a book when a classmate suggests it. In this episode, I share ten practical ways you can bring student voices into your classroom and help create a living TBR list that students will actually use. These ideas make reading f…

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5 Inspiring Books for Middle Schoolers: September Reading for Hispanic Heritage Month 16:22

1M ago16:22

16:22

September is the perfect time to refresh your classroom reading list, especially as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Middle school students can gain empathy, cultural understanding, and inspiration through stories that reflect diverse experiences. In this episode, we will discuss 5 books that are perfect for September reading. There are ideas …

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Episode 349: Scaffolding Evidence: How to Help Students Choose Quotes That Actually Work 15:11

2M ago15:11

15:11

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 powerf…

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Episode 348:ChatGPT Series: Planning Support Without the Overwhelm 19:42

2M ago19:42

19:42

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 look…

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5 Best Bell Ringer Ideas for Middle School ELA That Students Will Love 17:37

2M ago17:37

17:37

Join me for season 3! One podcast a month will focus on 5 activities that you can easily implement in your middle school classroom for this month/season. In this episode, we will discuss 5 engaging bell ringers for your students. We will discuss bell ringers for: Seasonal activities Vocabulary Grammar Poetry Reading Skills Let's connect! Membership…

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Episode 347: From Summary to Justification: Teaching Students to Go Beyond the Obvious 24:19

2M ago24:19

24:19

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 evid…

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Diverse Experience of the Enslaved 35:35

2M ago35:35

35:35

The experiences of enslaved people varied greatly based on a variety of factors, including time, location, crop, labor performed, size of slaveholding and gender. Yet, most students leave school thinking enslaved people lived like the biased representation in Gone With the Wind. Deirdre Cooper Owens, Ph.D., discusses how the lived experience of sla…

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Episode 346: ChatGPT Series: Brainstorming & Lesson Hooks Made Simple 14:07

2M ago14:07

14:07

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’r…

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How to Keep Reading Energy Alive Beyond the First Month [Ep. 60] 13:56

2M ago13:56

13:56

The first few weeks of school often bring a real buzz around reading—students are exploring the shelves, setting goals, and diving into new books. But as the back-to-school excitement fades, that momentum can slip, and independent reading starts to feel more like just another assignment. In this episode we share fresh, practical strategies to keep …

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Episode 345: Teaching Grammar in the Flow of Writing 21:35

2M ago21:35

21:35

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 s…

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Episode 344: ChatGPT Series: How to Train ChatGPT to Create Rubrics and Feedback 20:50

2M ago20:50

20:50

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 stru…

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Episode 343: You’re Probably Already Doing This—But It’s the Secret to a Strong Reading Culture 23:26

2M ago23:26

23:26

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 wha…

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Episode 342: The Secret to a Thriving Classroom Culture 22:02

2M ago22:02

22:02

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 dai…

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How to Reduce Reading Anxiety: 6 Strategies for Confident Readers [EP. 59] 14:19

2M ago14:19

14:19

In this episode, we are talking about reading anxiety, how to recognize it, why it holds students back, and six practical reading strategies you can start teaching right away to help move students past it. You’ll hear ideas for creating a safe, supportive classroom environment, giving students concrete steps to try when they get stuck, and building…

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Back to School Reading: 5 Amazing Books for Middle School Students 15:41

2M ago15:41

15:41

Join me for season 3! One podcast a month will focus on 5 books that are perfect for this month/season. In this episode, we will discuss 5 books that are perfect for the back-to-school season. There are ideas to go along with each novel, plus a link to my YouTube channel where I read these books as part of my "First Chapter Friday" series. The book…

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Resistance Means More Than Rebellion 1:07:02

2M ago1:07:02

1:07:02

For a more complete picture of enslaved people's experiences, we need to expand our understanding of resistance. Kenneth S. Greenberg, Ph.D., examines the numerous ways enslaved African Americans incorporated resistance into every aspect of their lives, offering a lens to help students see how enslaved people fought back against the brutality of sl…

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Episode 341: Mini Socratic Seminars: Big Impact in Small Groups 18:12

3M ago18:12

18:12

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 e…

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BACK TO SCHOOL: State of the BNT Union + Reading Update [Ep 271] 46:44

2M ago46:44

46:44

In this “State of the BNT Union” episode, we’re sharing where the Brave New Teaching podcast is headed next, from a new focus on YouTube and refreshed dystopia content to better-organized resources for teachers...plus a peek at the projects we’re most excited about this year. Along the way, we’re swapping back-to-school recommendations, current rea…

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Episode 340: Avoiding Burnout by Letting Go of Perfection in Your Lesson Plans 23:38

3M ago23:38

23:38

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 pl…

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INDEPENDENT READING: Breaking Down the Backwards Design for ELA Classrooms [Ep 270] 41:03

3M ago41:03

41:03

We’re calling it: independent reading is the back-to-school move of the year! In this episode, we’re getting honest about what it takes to build a reading culture that actually sticks, without burning you (or your students) out by October. We share the real talk on what’s worked, what hasn’t, and how our thinking has shifted post-COVID to make inde…

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Easy Ways to Start Peer-to-Peer Academic Conversations [Ep. 58] 10:27

3M ago10:27

10:27

Getting students to talk to each other in meaningful ways is harder than it sounds—but it’s a crucial part of building classroom community and engagement. In this episode, I’m diving into practical strategies you can use at the beginning of the year to help students feel safe and confident sharing their ideas in class. From low-risk warm-ups and si…