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

Today, we are exploring the importance of establishing consistent routines and procedures in the classroom and how they will help us in building a classroom community. While focusing on middle school…

This episode explores the importance of building strong teacher-student relationships that extend beyond getting to know you activities. I discuss the misconception that teachers need to be friends w…

Imagine turning your classroom into a hip coffee shop or observing your students actively browsing through your classroom bookshelves to create poetry.  This is exactly what we are talking about in t…

Looking for a way to boost engagement, collaboration, and critical thinking in your ELA classroom? In this episode, I’m joined by Lyndsey from Lit with Lyns to explore the power of digital escape roo…

Want to build a classroom where students are excited to share what they read—and inspire others to do the same? In this episode, I’m joined by Mary Pat from Just Add Students to explore how student-l…

Struggling to close the writing gaps left behind by the pandemic? In this episode, I’m joined by Lisa from Mrs. Spangler in the Middle to talk about how her Leveled Writing Labs program is helping mi…

Reading is a fundamental skill that forms the foundation for all other academic subjects and is an important life skill!  In this episode, I’m joined by Jennifer from Books, Babbles & Bows.  We explo…

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 p…

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 an…

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.  

Motivati…

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 m…

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…

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 cha…

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 a…

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 i…

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 sc…

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 …

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…

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 Smit…

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 episo…