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

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…

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 mode…

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 studen…

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 …

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…

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…

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 wo…

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 …

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 …

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 whe…

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 m…

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…

Do you use reading logs to hold students accountable, but feel like they’re not really helping students grow as readers? In this episode, I’m sharing why I ditched the traditional reading log in favo…

Winter break is more than just a pause in the school year—it’s a much-needed opportunity to rest, recharge, and regroup. In this episode, I reflect on how we can truly make the most of this time away…

Want your students to stay engaged during independent reading? In this episode, I’m sharing four practical ways to get students talking about what they’re reading—without the pressure of a formal pre…

Reading conferences are one of the most powerful tools we have to move the needle for student growth—but they can feel overwhelming at first. In this episode, I’m breaking down how to get started wit…

If you’ve ever felt like there’s never enough time to fit everything into your ELA block, you’re not alone. In this episode, I’m sharing how you can maximize the time you do have by focusing on four …

In this episode, I’m digging into a topic every teacher wrestles with at some point—student motivation. If you’ve found yourself wondering how to get your students more engaged, more curious, and mor…

The countdown to winter break is on—but these final weeks can feel like the longest of the year. In this episode, I’m sharing easy, low-prep activities that help keep students engaged and bring just …

If you're ready to bring Reader’s Workshop into your classroom but aren't sure where to begin, this episode is your launchpad. Following up on Episodes 1 and 2 where I covered the what and why, today…