Beyond the Paragraph: Teaching Writing in Middle School with Structure – Détails, épisodes et analyse
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Beyond the Paragraph: Teaching Writing in Middle School with Structure
Robin Mellom
Fréquence : 1 épisode/12j. Total Éps: 28
If you're tired of guessing how to teach writing in middle school, you're in the right place. Robin Mellom is a veteran ELA teacher and published author of over ten children’s books with Disney, HarperCollins, and Houghton Mifflin. She brings the clarity and structure you've been craving without the gimmicks.
Hosted by Robin Mellom, author, middle school teacher, and creator of the Structured Writer’s Workshop™, each episode delivers practical, classroom-tested strategies that work in grades 4–8.
Learn how to implement evidence-based writing routines, like CER (Claim, Evidence, Reasoning), build lasting writing habits, and engage students in meaningful work that actually sticks.
Best of all, they will learn how to write like the pros!
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Letting Students Use A.I. for Writing? Consider this... Ep. 21
Épisode 21
dimanche 16 novembre 2025 • Durée 24:31
There is no one correct way to handle A.I. use in the classroom. But let's have grace with each other as we grapple with this huge issue facing educators. There is so much to consider... and that's what I'm tackling today.
Here are some A.I. tools you may want to check out:
Class Companion: https://classcompanion.com/
Snorkl: https://snorkl.app/
🚨Grab my writing PD Crash Course for free here
📝 Looking for writing professional development? My 10-module video course will walk you through ALL the steps of an engaging writer's workshop. You'll see pictures of it in action, and I take a deep, deep dive into HOW to teach the 6 high-priority skills. A bonus module goes deep into the world of teaching essays in middle school. More details below
Thoughts? Questions? Send me a text message!
➡️ Learn more about the FULL Structured Writing training PD
📆 Grab my yearlong writing planner for free (it includes my eBook!)
🎥 Watch the teaching strategies in action on YouTube
📝 Read the latest blog posts for writing tips & ideas
HAVE A QUESTION? Email me at robin@structuredwritingteacher.com
Why Fun Writing Prompts Do Not = Engagement Ep. 20
Épisode 20
lundi 3 novembre 2025 • Durée 10:46
Sure, writing prompts are fun, but when it comes to true engagement, cute activities and digital games can only take your students so far. In this episode, I break down why short-term motivators are the “green tea diets” of writing instruction, and how to build something more sustainable. Learn what actually keeps students hooked all year long: ownership, structure, student leadership, and a workshop that feels like home.
Happy writing,
Robin
Thoughts? Questions? Send me a text message!
➡️ Learn more about the FULL Structured Writing training PD
📆 Grab my yearlong writing planner for free (it includes my eBook!)
🎥 Watch the teaching strategies in action on YouTube
📝 Read the latest blog posts for writing tips & ideas
HAVE A QUESTION? Email me at robin@structuredwritingteacher.com
The Science of Writing: My Hunt for Research-Based Writing Instruction in Middle School Ep. 11
Épisode 11
dimanche 13 juillet 2025 • Durée 21:50
This episode is the audio from one of my most popular YouTube videos, so if you hear me say “look at this” or reference something on screen, don’t worry! I've linked the full video below!
In this deep dive, I unpack what I discovered after listening to the Sold a Story podcast and asking myself a big question: Where’s the research on writing instruction? Spoiler alert: it’s complicated. But I share what I found, what’s missing, and what we can do right now to teach writing with more clarity and confidence.
You’ll also hear:
- What the 10 essential components of effective writing instruction are
- Why sentence combining is a powerhouse strategy
- The surprising research around grammar instruction (and what to do instead)
- And the one line from Mel Robbins that changed everything for me
🔗 Watch the full video with visuals on YouTube:
The Science of Writing - My Hunt for RESEARCH-based Writing Instruction in Middle School
Thoughts? Questions? Send me a text message!
➡️ Learn more about the FULL Structured Writing training PD
📆 Grab my yearlong writing planner for free (it includes my eBook!)
🎥 Watch the teaching strategies in action on YouTube
📝 Read the latest blog posts for writing tips & ideas
HAVE A QUESTION? Email me at robin@structuredwritingteacher.com
Don't Ask Comprehension Questions When Reading a Novel: The Brilliance of TRACKING Ep 10
Épisode 10
dimanche 6 juillet 2025 • Durée 23:25
Traditional comprehension questions are holding your students back. It’s time for a shift. This method flips the script on how we approach novel studies and writing in middle school, moving beyond recall questions and into deep, authentic engagement.
Instead of asking students to remember what happened, this strategy teaches them to track what matters. By gathering purposeful evidence on theme, characterization, world-building, and author’s craft as they read, students naturally build the foundation for high-level literary analysis. And the best part? It all connects seamlessly to evidence-based writing using the CER (Claim, Evidence, Reasoning) framework.
Use this approach to bring more meaning to your novel studies, elevate your writing instruction, and finally answer the question: how do you truly teach writing in middle school? You start here.
Want a closer look at the Literary Evidence Trackers? Go HERE.
Thoughts? Questions? Send me a text message!
➡️ Learn more about the FULL Structured Writing training PD
📆 Grab my yearlong writing planner for free (it includes my eBook!)
🎥 Watch the teaching strategies in action on YouTube
📝 Read the latest blog posts for writing tips & ideas
HAVE A QUESTION? Email me at robin@structuredwritingteacher.com
Stop Teaching Narrative Essays First: My Game-Changing Essay Sequence for Grades 4–8 Ep.9
Épisode 9
lundi 30 juin 2025 • Durée 30:00
What if the reason your students hate writing isn’t because they’re unmotivated but because you’re asking them to do too much, too soon?
In this episode, I’m breaking down why I stopped starting the year with narrative writing and how changing the order of essay instruction completely transformed my classroom. I’ll walk you through the exact essay sequence I use, why it works, and how each step builds skills (and confidence) without overwhelming students.
If you’ve ever felt like writing instruction just isn’t clicking... this might be the missing piece.
Need done-for-you essay lessons? Go HERE
Get my Literary Evidence Tracker for ANY novel HERE
Thoughts? Questions? Send me a text message!
➡️ Learn more about the FULL Structured Writing training PD
📆 Grab my yearlong writing planner for free (it includes my eBook!)
🎥 Watch the teaching strategies in action on YouTube
📝 Read the latest blog posts for writing tips & ideas
HAVE A QUESTION? Email me at robin@structuredwritingteacher.com
If You Teach Writing in THIS Order, Everything Will Click into Place Ep. 8
Épisode 8
mercredi 25 juin 2025 • Durée 21:22
If teaching writing feels like one long game of catch-up… this episode will flip your perspective.
In today’s episode, I’m revealing the six writing skills I teach first in my student-led writing workshop and why the order of instruction matters more than you think. You’ll learn how to teach skills that build on each other and give students instant momentum.
We’ll talk about:
✔️ The confidence-building skill you should always start with
✔️ Why “show, don’t tell” can wait
✔️ How to build writing fluency one layer at a time
If you’ve ever felt like your writing block is just… not clicking, this episode will give you the structure and strategy to change that.
🎧 Plus, I’ll share how to keep these six skills spiraling through everything you teach all year long.
Thoughts? Questions? Send me a text message!
➡️ Learn more about the FULL Structured Writing training PD
📆 Grab my yearlong writing planner for free (it includes my eBook!)
🎥 Watch the teaching strategies in action on YouTube
📝 Read the latest blog posts for writing tips & ideas
HAVE A QUESTION? Email me at robin@structuredwritingteacher.com
What Publishing Taught Me About Teaching Writing Ep. 7
Épisode 7
dimanche 22 juin 2025 • Durée 21:58
When I became a published author, I thought I understood revision...until I met my editor. And then my second editor. And my third.
In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what really happens in the publishing world, all the way from developmental edits to line edits to the final proofread. This changed everything about the way I teach writing.
You'll hear how authors revise in stages, why feedback is always focused (and never rushed), and how we can bring that same layered process into the classroom.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by student drafts and unsure when or how to give feedback, this episode will give you a fresh structure. Enjoy!
Robin
Thoughts? Questions? Send me a text message!
➡️ Learn more about the FULL Structured Writing training PD
📆 Grab my yearlong writing planner for free (it includes my eBook!)
🎥 Watch the teaching strategies in action on YouTube
📝 Read the latest blog posts for writing tips & ideas
HAVE A QUESTION? Email me at robin@structuredwritingteacher.com
Teacher Talk! How this Teacher Implemented a Structured Writer's Workshop in 8th Grade Ep 6
Épisode 6
mardi 17 juin 2025 • Durée 26:25
Meet Tisha, an 8th grade ELA teacher who implemented the structured writing workshop in her classroom. She shares what worked during her first year of implementation.
You'll learn:
✔️How to use BOTH physical and digital notebooks for writing
✔️organization strategies for student leaders
✔️how to incorporate AI successfully in the writing process
✔️how this workshop changed her 8th graders
An episode not to be missed. Share with other ELA teacher friends!
Thoughts? Questions? Send me a text message!
➡️ Learn more about the FULL Structured Writing training PD
📆 Grab my yearlong writing planner for free (it includes my eBook!)
🎥 Watch the teaching strategies in action on YouTube
📝 Read the latest blog posts for writing tips & ideas
HAVE A QUESTION? Email me at robin@structuredwritingteacher.com
From Acronyms to Autonomy: A Better Way to Teach Writing Ep 5
vendredi 13 juin 2025 • Durée 21:25
🏀 What does Steph Curry’s pregame warm-up have to do with writing instruction? Everything.
In this episode, I'm comparing the basketball legend’s unpredictable, skill-building practice routine with the way we should be preparing students to write. You’ll hear two stories...one courtside, and one from a humid gym in 1986... that illustrate exactly why rigid acronyms and overstructured templates can freeze young writers in their tracks.
If your students ask, "What do I do next?" every time they write, this episode breaks down:
- Why too many acronyms can backfire in the classroom
- How to build confident, intuitive writers using quick writes and daily reps
- What “joy points” and “sophistication” look like in middle school essays
- The two acronyms I do use (and why they actually work)
Whether you're a teacher or homeschool parent, this episode is a must-listen if you want to raise writers who can “shoot” from any direction...just like Steph.
Thoughts? Questions? Send me a text message!
➡️ Learn more about the FULL Structured Writing training PD
📆 Grab my yearlong writing planner for free (it includes my eBook!)
🎥 Watch the teaching strategies in action on YouTube
📝 Read the latest blog posts for writing tips & ideas
HAVE A QUESTION? Email me at robin@structuredwritingteacher.com
Fixing the Flaws in the Writing Workshop Model Ep. 4
Épisode 4
mardi 10 juin 2025 • Durée 30:04
Many teachers are abandoning writing workshop… but not because it failed. It’s because the structure was missing.
In this episode of Beyond the Paragraph, I’m sharing how you can reclaim the power of workshop with simple, transformative shifts that bring clarity, consistency, and calm to your writing block.
Whether you’re a former fan of Calkins-style instruction or just tired of chaotic, unproductive workshop time, this episode will help you:
- Identify why traditional workshop often falls apart
- Discover how structure with explicit instruction makes all the difference
- Reignite your love for writing time
Let’s bring back the workshop we actually wanted...the one where students truly have ownership, skills are clear, and everyone knows the plan.
Thoughts? Questions? Send me a text message!
➡️ Learn more about the FULL Structured Writing training PD
📆 Grab my yearlong writing planner for free (it includes my eBook!)
🎥 Watch the teaching strategies in action on YouTube
📝 Read the latest blog posts for writing tips & ideas
HAVE A QUESTION? Email me at robin@structuredwritingteacher.com
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