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

When students are given real choices in the classroom, their motivation, engagement, and learning outcomes all improve. In this episode, I’m joined by Kristy from 2 Peas and a Dog to talk about the power of student choice—and how you can incorporate it into your middle school ELA classroom without doubling your workload. We explore strategies like choice reading, essay topic options, and scaffolde...

Think centers are just for elementary classrooms? Think again. In this episode, I’m joined by Rachel from Uniquely Upper to explore how learning stations—or centers—can be a game-changer in middle and high school ELA. We discuss how centers promote differentiation, increase student engagement, and help teachers target skill gaps in a manageable, meaningful way. Rachel shares tips for getting start...

Today is launch day for the book, Motivating Readers: Teaching in the Post-Pandemic Era !  In today’s episode, I share why I wrote the book and what I hope you will gain by reading the book.   Motivating Readers: Teaching in the Post Pandemic Era , is written for secondary ELA teachers. It acknowledges the challenges faced during the pandemic and emphasizes the need to address the learning gaps in...

Before diving into summer break, it’s important to pause and reflect on what worked—and what didn’t—during the school year. In this episode, I’m sharing my honest reflections on the past year in my middle school ELA classroom. From classroom management to instruction, I walk through the changes I plan to make and the strategies I’ll definitely be keeping. You’ll hear why I’m focusing on tightening...

How do you make independent reading work in a busy secondary ELA classroom? In this special Q&A episode, I’m answering five thoughtful questions submitted by listeners—all focused on helping students build stronger reading habits and making independent reading time more effective and enjoyable for everyone. You’ll hear practical strategies for setting expectations, supporting reluctant readers...

Summer break is just around the corner, and it's the perfect time to rest, recharge, reflect, and invest in some relevant professional development. In today’s episode, I’m sharing books that have changed and inspired my own professional practices. If you're looking to enhance your teaching skills and bring fresh energy to your middle school ELA classroom, these professional development b...

Do you jump in too quickly when students struggle?  In this episode, we’re talking about why stepping back might actually help your students grow. I’m diving into the concept of productive struggle and why it’s a key ingredient in developing confident, independent thinkers in the ELA classroom. I’ll explore how allowing students to wrestle with challenging tasks—without rushing to provide answers—...

What if your students saw themselves as active participants in their learning—rather than passive recipients of information? In this episode, we’re exploring the power of student reflection and how it can transform your classroom. Teaching students to reflect helps them take ownership of their learning, recognize their strengths and challenges, and set meaningful goals. I share practical strategie...

A strong classroom library can be a game-changer when it comes to building literacy and encouraging a love of reading. In this episode, I’m sharing why classroom libraries are essential for middle school ELA—and how to keep yours fresh, diverse, and engaging year after year. You’ll learn practical strategies for evaluating your library, tips for updating your book collection on a budget, and ideas...

Before you close your classroom door for the summer, take a few intentional steps that will make your back-to-school season much smoother. In this episode, I’m sharing a list of simple but impactful end-of-year tasks to help you wrap up the school year with less stress—and more purpose. We’ll talk about how to declutter and reset your classroom, review and update your classroom library, prep copie...

Teaching has significantly changed in the past few years!  Students returned to the classroom with large learning gaps and teachers are left to pick up the pieces. The traditional methods of teaching are no longer as effective as they once were, and teachers are struggling to find ways to motivate students to engage. To help address these issues, I’ve written a book titled Motivating Readers: Teac...

Do you have a subject you struggle to teach? For me, it’s always been poetry—but that didn’t stop me from learning from someone who truly makes it shine. In this episode, I’m joined by Lesa from SmithTeachers9to12—aka the Poetry Queen—who shares how she turned her own challenges with poetry into a true classroom strength. Lesa talks about the power of starting small, like using poetry-inspired att...

As the school year winds down, it’s easy to fall into a routine or just try to make it to the finish line—but this time of year is actually the perfect opportunity to try something new. In this episode, I’m sharing a variety of engaging ELA activities that incorporate technology, collaboration, and student choice to keep learning meaningful through the final weeks of school. From literary field tr...

It’s that time of year again—state testing season. But just because testing is on the calendar doesn’t mean the next few weeks have to be filled with stress and pressure. In this episode, I’m sharing how I approach state testing in my classroom, with simple strategies that keep students calm, focused, and ready to do their best—without burning them out. From building a positive classroom environme...

One of the most powerful shifts I’ve made in teaching writing came after a professional development session with Kelly Gallagher—writing in front of my students. In this episode, I’m sharing how modeling the full writing process in real time helps students see that writing isn’t about perfection—it’s about thinking, revising, and trying again. Instead of showing a polished final draft, I let stude...

Teaching writing has always had its challenges—but helping students rebuild writing skills after the pandemic adds a whole new layer. In this episode, I reflect on how online learning impacted students' ability to write at grade level and why simply “returning to normal” isn’t enough. We need to meet students where they are, rebuild confidence, and provide meaningful support along the way. I...

If you’ve been around the podcast for a while, you know how much I value choice reading —and in this episode, I’m joined by Samantha from Samantha in Secondary , who shares that same passion. Samantha walks us through how she incorporates choice reading units alongside her required curriculum and offers a treasure trove of engaging, real-world activities that bring books to life for students. From...

Looking for a meaningful way to get students talking about books—and really thinking about what they’ve read? In this episode, I’m diving into how student-led book talks can promote deeper engagement, build speaking confidence, and create space for authentic peer-to-peer conversations in your secondary ELA classroom. Book talks give students ownership over their reading and discussion process, hel...

Planning book clubs in the secondary ELA classroom takes more than just handing out books—it requires intentional planning, variety, and a focus on student ownership. In this episode, I’m walking you through how to launch book clubs with success, from selecting a range of engaging titles to teaching the mini-lessons students need to hold meaningful, student-led discussions. I’ll also share how to...

Are you the kind of teacher who lights up when students have real, meaningful conversations about books and life? In this episode, I’m diving into how book clubs can shift reading instruction from worksheet-based to student-centered by promoting authentic, peer-led discussions that make reading feel relevant and social. Unlike traditional literature circles, book clubs give students more choice an...

We know that strong vocabulary instruction is key to helping students access complex texts—but it doesn’t have to be dull or repetitive. In this episode, I’m sharing creative ways to make vocabulary instruction more engaging in the middle school ELA classroom. From games and student-created skits to letting students help choose which words to study, these strategies bring movement, voice, and fun...

Struggling to find time to teach vocabulary in your ELA classroom? In this episode, I’m continuing the conversation on vocabulary instruction by sharing three low-prep strategies you can start using right away—without needing to overhaul your entire curriculum. I’ll dive into how Word Walls create visual clarity, how the Frayer Model helps students connect beyond the definition, and how Word of th...

Does vocabulary instruction sometimes take a backseat to other ELA standards? In this episode, I explore why vocabulary needs to be a consistent part of your instruction—not something squeezed in when there’s time. Vocabulary is essential for reading comprehension, and when we teach it with intention, we help students become more confident and capable readers. I’ll share practical ways to include...

Choice reading empowers students—but how do we make sure they’re actually reading and thinking deeply about their books? In this final episode of our four-part reading mini-series, I’m sharing four meaningful activities that hold students accountable without taking away the joy of reading. These strategies—one-pagers, task cards, letters of advice, and reading response journals—encourage reflectio...

This week on the podcast, I’m talking about setting realistic reading goals with your students based on the number of pages they can actually read. Instead of assigning a one-size-fits-all goal, I’ll share how to personalize goals for each student using a simple formula I learned from Penny Kittle. By focusing on reading pace and time, students set goals that feel doable—and they’re more likely to...