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

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 mom…

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 pa…

Getting students to talk to each other in meaningful ways is harder than it sounds—but it’s a crucial part of building classroom community and engagement. In this episode, I’m diving into practical s…

In this episode, we’re tackling a challenge many ELA teachers face—students struggling with reading stamina. With canned curriculum, short excerpts, and fast-paced instruction, students often lack th…

We’re kicking off a brand-new series on reading strategies for back to school—and this first episode is all about helping students see themselves as readers. I’m sharing my own story (spoiler: I didn…

Think genre review is just for younger grades? Think again. In this episode, I’m breaking down why a simple genre review at the start of the year is one of the best ways to build reading confidence, …

 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 ali…

As the school year wraps up, it’s not just our students who benefit from reflection—we do, too. In this episode, I’m taking a step back to do my own end of year reflection. I’m sharing what worked in…

Want to help your students move beyond surface-level thinking during independent reading? In this episode, I’m sharing practical ways to build deeper comprehension through structured student reflecti…

Student reflection is one of the most overlooked tools for building reading comprehension. This episode shares easy ways to make reflection part of your regular reading routine using strategies like …

In this special bonus episode, I’m hitting pause on my usual content to have an honest and much-needed conversation about teacher burnout. While I typically focus on teaching strategies, classroom ro…

Let’s be honest — keeping students engaged during the final weeks of school is tough. In this episode, I’m continuing our conversation about re-engaging students by sharing practical, low-stress ways…

Looking for a meaningful way to keep students engaged in reading—at the end of the year or really any time? In this episode, I’m sharing how student-led book talks can build confidence, spark authent…

If you’ve ever wondered how to make vocabulary instruction more engaging and effective without adding to your packed schedule, this episode is for you! In part two of our vocabulary mini-series, we e…

Is vocabulary instruction getting enough attention in your classroom? We’ve moved away from traditional word lists—but have we gone too far? Vocabulary is key to reading, writing, and confidence, yet…

How do we hold students accountable for independent reading without turning it into a chore? In this episode, I’m sharing creative, low-pressure strategies that promote reading engagement while still…

Welcome to the first full episode of our relaunched podcast! In this episode, we’re exploring the importance of independent reading and its place in the classroom, even when a canned curriculum is in…

After an extended hiatus, the Middle School Café Podcast is back! In this special relaunch episode, I’m sharing why I took a step away, the lessons learned during this time, and what’s ahead for the …

Helping students find their “just right” book is one of the most powerful ways we can nurture lifelong readers. In this episode, I’m sharing practical strategies to match students with books that fit…

 In a world full of distractions—social media, video games, and viral content—getting students excited about reading can feel tough. But teacher book talks might be the secret weapon you didn’t know …