Beyond the Paragraph: Teaching Writing in Middle School with Structure
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!
Beyond the Paragraph: Teaching Writing in Middle School with Structure
How to Teach Writing with a "Skills First" Approach Ep. 24
In 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 essay types alone, I focus on building foundational writing skills that transfer to every genre, every subject, and every state test. I break down how I structure writing instruction across the year so students practice what matters most before essays ever begin.
I share:
- What a skills-first writing program actually looks like in grades 4–8
- The six core writing skills my students practice all year (and why the first three matter most)
- How daily sentence combining improves grammar, sentence structure, and clarity
- Why quick writes eliminate writer’s block and build writing stamina
- How I use CER (Claim, Evidence, Reasoning) instead of RACE across ELA, science, and social studies
- How I teach essay structure by deconstructing student writing, not memorizing formulas
- Why short, focused essay cycles lead to stronger writing and less grading
- How this approach builds real confidence before state testing
I also share one of my favorite end-of-year moments, when students rewrite a piece from the first week of school and see just how much their writing has changed.
If you’re looking for a clearer, more effective way to teach writing in upper elementary or middle school, this episode walks you through the structure, routines, and mindset behind a skills-first writing classroom.
Recommended for:
Grades 4–8 teachers, ELA teachers, writing coaches, and homeschool educators
Ready to dive into my full year curriculum? 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