Beyond the Paragraph: Teaching Writing in Middle School with Structure
Episodes
How to Refresh Your Mid-Year Writing Routine Ep. 22
30 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you teach writing in grades 4-8, you know the mid-year engagement slump is real! Here are 3 ways to get them energized again and back on track!Go h...
Letting Students Use A.I. for Writing? Consider this... Ep. 21
16 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 e...
Why Fun Writing Prompts Do Not = Engagement Ep. 20
03 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 epi...
Why October Is the Secret Weapon for Your Writing Workshop Ep. 19
13 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
October is pure magic for writing teachers...if you use it right. 🕯️In this episode, I’m sharing why you should lean into spooky writing this m...
Teaching Hooks: I'm Sharing the Secret! Ep. 18
28 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I start with a student story that proves just how powerful a hook can be, and then we dig into the real work of teaching them. You’...
"The UNICORN of Writing" Ep. 17
21 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I share the story behind one teacher’s phrase “the unicorn of writing” and unpack what that really means.We’ll explore why wr...
Are You Teaching Essays The Wrong Way? Ep. 16
14 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if your students could experience essay structure instead of just being told about it? In this episode, I introduce The Rebuild Relay, which is...
The Structured Writer’s Workshop™ CRASH COURSE! Learn how to make writing instruction structured and engaging in under 60 minutes Ep.15
31 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this 60-minute audiobook, you’ll learn the complete framework behind the Structured Writer’s Workshop™, a structured approach that helps stud...
Revolutionizing Student Writing: Beyond the 4x4 Classroom
17 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The writing crisis in American classrooms isn't due to lack of teacher effort, it's our instructional model. When the Nation's Report C...
THIS is The Secret Ingredient for Better Writing Across All Subjects Ep. 13
27 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I’m diving into why CER (Claim, Evidence, Reasoning) is the ultimate pivot skill. It’s not just for ELA. Students can use it in s...
Before the Rubrics: What to Teach the FIRST WEEK of Writing Ep. 12
20 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to writing instruction, the first week can make or break your year. In this episode, I’m walking you through exactly how I start the s...
The Science of Writing: My Hunt for Research-Based Writing Instruction in Middle School Ep. 11
13 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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’...
Don't Ask Comprehension Questions When Reading a Novel: The Brilliance of TRACKING Ep 10
06 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Traditional comprehension questions are holding your students back. It’s time for a shift. This method flips the script on how we approach novel stu...
Stop Teaching Narrative Essays First: My Game-Changing Essay Sequence for Grades 4–8 Ep.9
30 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
If You Teach Writing in THIS Order, Everything Will Click into Place Ep. 8
25 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 writ...
What Publishing Taught Me About Teaching Writing Ep. 7
22 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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’...
Teacher Talk! How this Teacher Implemented a Structured Writer's Workshop in 8th Grade Ep 6
17 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
From Acronyms to Autonomy: A Better Way to Teach Writing Ep 5
13 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
🏀 What does Steph Curry’s pregame warm-up have to do with writing instruction? Everything.In this episode, I'm comparing the basketball lege...
Fixing the Flaws in the Writing Workshop Model Ep. 4
10 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Many teachers are abandoning writing workshop… but not because it failed. It’s because the structure was missing.In this episode of Beyond the Par...
Classroom Management in a Student-Led Writing Workshop Ep 3
08 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
🎯 In this episode, I’m walking you through the daily structure that keeps students engaged and independent without constant redirection. You’ll...
The Truth About Real Writers (And What It Means for Your ELA Class) Ep 2
07 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Beyond the Paragraph, I’m pulling back the curtain on what real writers do and how we can finally start teaching like that. As a ...
Structured Writing: A Better Way to Teach Writing Ep 1
04 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this first episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on why traditional writing instruction isn’t working and what you can do instead. I’ll walk ...
Welcome to Beyond the Paragraph!
29 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Meet your host, Robin Mellom, middle school ELA teacher and author of ten children’s books with Disney, HarperCollins, and Houghton Mifflin. In this...