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
Writing Test Prep That Actually Works: CER + Collaboration Ep. 26
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State 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 writing portion of the state test, especially the performance task where students must write essays and constructed responses.
Instead of rushing through digital practice tests, I’ll show you how to turn test prep into meaningful learning activities that build real writing skills.
You’ll learn how to:
• Use CER (Claim, Evidence, Reasoning) to prepare students for constructed responses
• Help students practice argument writing and thesis statements before the test
• Turn digital questions into collaborative whiteboard activities
• Use task card games like Scoot to review grammar and reading skills
• Get students to explain their thinking and eliminate wrong answers
These strategies help students go deeper with their learning, instead of skimming the surface during test prep.
You’ll also get a sneak peek at the upcoming 5th Grade Structured Writing Curriculum and see examples of activities you can use right away.
📌 Resources mentioned in the video:
Chicken Foot Thesis Writing
Brain Battle
Scoot
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