Beyond the Paragraph: Teaching Writing in Middle School with Structure
by Robin Mellom
Latest episode
Are you Using Graphic Organizers? Consider this | Ep. 34
Are you Using Graphic Organizers? Consider this | Ep. 34
About this podcast
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!
Episodes
The newest 20 of 35 episodes
- Are you Using Graphic Organizers? Consider this | Ep. 34 · 11 min · Episode 34We might be over-scaffolding. Here are my thoughts... Thoughts? Questions? Send me a text message! ➡️ Learn more about the FULL Structured Writing training PD 📆 Grab my yearlong…
- How I Taught Writing My First Year of Teaching (so embarrassing) Ep. 33 · 13 min · Episode 33My first year of teaching was a hot mess!! But we had fun. :) Now I've changed and grown and here's how I teach writing to get RESULTS. Need full year writing curriculum? Look…
- Planning Your First Week of Writing Instruction grades 4-8 Ep. 32 · 6 min · Episode 32You'll learn what I assign the first week of school when it comes to writing! Need a full year curriculum? Look for your grade level here. Thoughts? Questions? Send me a text…
- How to Build Writing Stamina in Your Students (Grades 3–8) Ep. 31 · 9 min · Episode 31I'm breaking down writing stamina — what it actually is, why it's the missing piece in most writing instruction, and the simple daily habits that build it. Stamina isn't just…
- How To Teach Writing Even if You Haven't Been Trained Grades 3-8 Ep. 30 · 8 minCan you teach writing well even if you feel like you're "not a writing person"? Yes. And in this 5-Minute Flash Training, I want to take that worry off your shoulders, whether…
- How To Get Kids to WANT to Write Teaching Writing in Grades 3-8 Ep. 29 · 7 minHow do I get students to actually want to write? It's the question every ELA teacher and homeschool parent runs into, and it's where I start this brand-new 5-Minute Flash…
- Before Planning in the Fall, Give This a Listen Ep. 28 · 15 min · Episode 28It's a Deep Thoughts day, and I want to push on something most of us have never stopped to question: the order we plan our ELA year in. In this episode I get into how to…
- Why Grammar Isn't Transferring to Student Writing (And How To Fix It) Ep. 27 · 43 minGrammar instruction is one of those topics that sounds simple… until you’re actually in the classroom trying to make it stick. You’ve probably heard “teach grammar in context” a…
- Writing Test Prep That Actually Works: CER + Collaboration Ep. 26 · 25 minState testing season is coming… but test prep doesn’t have to mean endless practice tests. In this video, I share some of the most effective ways to prepare students for the…
- RACE Writing Strategy vs C.E.R.: Which Strategy Works Better? Ep. 25 · 22 min · Episode 25In this episode, I compare the RACE writing strategy and the CER (Claim, Evidence, Reasoning) framework to help you decide which approach works better for students. I explain why…
- How to Teach Writing with a "Skills First" Approach Ep. 24 · 18 min · Episode 24In this episode, I explain how I teach writing using a skills-first approach, and why strong writing instruction shouldn’t start with essays. Instead of working backward from…
- Curriculum Changes Coming in 2026 for Structured Writing (Grades 4–8) Ep. 23 · 23 min · Episode 23In this episode, I’m sharing what’s changing, what’s staying the same, and what’s evolving in my Structured Writing program for 2026. After a short break, I reflect on where…
- How to Refresh Your Mid-Year Writing Routine Ep. 22 · 14 min · Episode 22If 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 here to grab your free month…
- Letting Students Use A.I. for Writing? Consider this... Ep. 21 · 25 min · Episode 21There 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…
- Why Fun Writing Prompts Do Not = Engagement Ep. 20 · 11 min · Episode 20Sure, 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…
- Why October Is the Secret Weapon for Your Writing Workshop Ep. 19 · 14 minOctober 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 month (and not just because it’s…
- Teaching Hooks: I'm Sharing the Secret! Ep. 18 · 23 minIn 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’ll hear my philosophy on why…
- "The UNICORN of Writing" Ep. 17 · 20 min · Episode 17In 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 writing instruction so often feels…
- Are You Teaching Essays The Wrong Way? Ep. 16 · 16 min · Episode 16What if your students could experience essay structure instead of just being told about it? In this episode, I introduce The Rebuild Relay, which is a constructivist teaching…
- The Structured Writer’s Workshop™ CRASH COURSE! Learn how to make writing instruction structured and engaging in under 60 minutes Ep.15 · 53 min · Episode 15In this 60-minute audiobook, you’ll learn the complete framework behind the Structured Writer’s Workshop™, a structured approach that helps students in grades 4–8 become…
