Middle School Café – Strategies & Support for Middle School ELA Teachers

In this special bonus episode, I'm sharing three key ideas from our summer book study of In the Best Interest of Students by Kelly Gallagher. Whether you're reading the book along with us or hearing about it for the first time, you'll come away with practical reflections to consider as you prepare for the new school year. We explore the importance of protecting instructional practic...

Creating readers is one of the most important goals of ELA instruction, but it's also one of the hardest things to measure. In this episode, I explore the difference between reading instruction and reading practice and ask an important question: Are we helping students become readers? As schools continue to focus on improving reading achievement, I wonder if we've unintentionally reduced...

What makes a classroom feel like a reading classroom? In this episode, we explore the difference between a classroom where reading is simply part of the curriculum and a classroom where reading becomes part of the culture. We'll discuss what students experience in strong reading classrooms, how reading culture develops over time, and why students are constantly paying attention to what is tru...

End of year teacher reflections can be easy to skip as you’re wrapping up your classroom and heading into summer, but taking a few minutes to pause can make a real difference in how you plan, prioritize, and start the next school year. In this episode, we’re focusing on teacher reflections in a way that feels simple and manageable. You’ll think through what actually worked with your students, wher...

As the school year starts to wind down, this episode focuses on helping students recognize how much they’ve grown since the beginning of the year. Without time to reflect, a lot of that progress goes unnoticed.  Today’s conversation looks at why reflection matters and how it helps students see themselves as learners who have made real progress, not just students completing assignments. It also add...

Are your students answering questions but still struggling with true comprehension? In this episode, we’re talking about how to use questioning to move students beyond basic recall and into deeper, critical thinking. You’ll learn how small shifts in the questions you ask can significantly impact how students read, think, and respond to text. This episode focuses on practical strategies you can use...

After spring break, it’s common to see a shift in student focus, especially in reading. In this episode, we’re talking about how to rebuild reading stamina without starting over or adding more tasks to your already long list of To Dos. You’ll walk away with practical ways to reset routines, re-engage students, and build stamina back through structured discussion. We’ll focus on using classroom dis...

Teaching reading in middle school involves constant decision-making. Teachers are choosing texts, adjusting strategies, supporting struggling readers, and working to keep students engaged in meaningful conversations about books. Much of that work happens independently, with limited time during the school day to talk through ideas, ask questions, or learn from colleagues who are facing the same cha...

As testing season approaches, many middle school ELA teachers feel pressure to shift everything into test-prep mode. But strong reading instruction is still strong reading instruction, even in the weeks leading up to state assessments. In this episode, I’ll explore how short, complex texts can help strengthen students’ critical reading skills without turning your classroom into a test-prep factory...

Most middle school students can summarize what they’ve read, but their thinking often stops there. In this episode, we explore what it really means to help students read like writers by shifting their focus from what happened to how the author made it happen. When students begin noticing structure, pacing, repetition, and word choice as intentional decisions, comprehension deepens and classroom di...

In this episode, we continue the research series by focusing on how students learn to recognize bias in informational texts. Instead of treating bias as a separate lesson, the episode explores how it grows from the reading habits students already use— noticing what’s emphasized, what’s left out, and how language shapes the way information comes across. You’ll hear practical, grounded strategies th...

Research often feels overwhelming because students are asked to read, take notes, decide what matters, paraphrase, organize ideas, and write—all at once. One of the biggest misconceptions about research is that these skills only belong inside a research unit. In reality, research is built on critical thinking skills students practice all year through everyday reading, writing, and discussion. This...

Research is a core part of ELA, but it’s also where many students feel stuck and unsure how to begin. In this episode, I break down why research feels challenging for students and reframe it as familiar reading and writing skills students already know how to do.  Instead of focusing on quick fixes, this episode helps teachers understand the thinking work behind research and why overwhelm is often...

Happy New Year! As the new term begins, many middle school ELA classrooms start to shift toward nonfiction, informational text, and research. In this episode, we talk about how to make nonfiction a natural part of independent reading—without turning it into a separate unit or disrupting the reading culture you’ve worked so hard to build. We explore why easing nonfiction into independent reading ma...

This is a rerelease of Episode #54 Think independent reading has to disappear with a canned curriculum? Not so fast. In this episode, I’m sharing how flexible, low-pressure reading challenges can help you keep independent reading alive—even when you're tied to a scripted program. You’ll get ideas for tying challenges to curriculum themes, recognizing effort without rewards, and giving student...

The days leading up to winter break can feel a little wild, and it’s easy to overlook all the quiet reading growth happening in your classroom. In this episode, we’re slowing down just enough to notice those moments. I’m sharing simple, low-pressure ways to celebrate reading wins—nothing fancy, nothing time-consuming—just meaningful moments that help students feel seen as readers. These small cele...

In this episode I’m talking about those familiar one-line reading responses like “I liked it” or “I don’t know” and how we can help students move beyond them. Students are capable of deeper thinking, and sometimes they just need a few simple routines to help them slow down, notice more, and explain what they’re seeing in a text. We’ll explore practical, low-pressure ways to strengthen student conv...

Looking for new ways to make reading more meaningful? In this episode, we’ll explore how pairing fiction and nonfiction can benefit all readers, helping every student, from those who need a little more support to those ready for deeper analysis, make stronger connections and think more critically. Together, these texts can deepen comprehension, build empathy, and help students see how reading conn...

Nonfiction doesn’t have to be dry or something students just “get through.” In this episode, we’ll  share how high-interest nonfiction can spark curiosity, build confidence, and help even the most reluctant readers see themselves as capable readers. You’ll hear why nonfiction belongs in everyday reading instruction, not just as a single unit, and how small, intentional shifts can make it feel rele...

Short stories are quick to read but powerful when used with purpose. In this episode, we’ll look at how short texts can strengthen reading skills, spark discussion, and build confidence for even the most hesitant readers. You’ll discover how these smaller pieces can fit naturally into your curriculum, giving students frequent opportunities to think deeply, practice key skills, and experience succe...

Stamina is harder than ever for middle schoolers, and independent reading often feels like an uphill climb. In this episode, you’ll learn how reading sprints, short, focused bursts of reading, can help students strengthen attention, build confidence, and develop the endurance they need for longer texts. In this episode, we’ll explore different ways to bring reading sprints into your classroom, whe...

September brings an extra Tuesday, which means you get a bonus episode! In this short and practical episode, I’m sharing quick wins to help your students pick out the just-right book for right now . Whether you’re planning your very first library visit of the year or heading back for another round, these strategies will make sure students walk out with a book they actually want to read, not one th...

Peer recommendations are one of the most effective ways to spark interest in reading. Students are much more likely to pick up a book when a classmate suggests it. In this episode, I share ten practical ways you can bring student voices into your classroom and help create a living TBR list that students will actually use. These ideas make reading feel less like an assignment and more like a commun...

The first few weeks of school often bring a real buzz around reading—students are exploring the shelves, setting goals, and diving into new books. But as the back-to-school excitement fades, that momentum can slip, and independent reading starts to feel more like just another assignment. In this episode we share fresh, practical strategies to keep students engaged well beyond the first month of sc...

In this episode, we are talking about reading anxiety, how to recognize it, why it holds students back, and six practical reading strategies you can start teaching right away to help move students past it. You’ll hear ideas for creating a safe, supportive classroom environment, giving students concrete steps to try when they get stuck, and building their stamina and confidence with challenging tex...