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

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

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

Di: Carolyn Wahl - Middle School ELA
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A proposito di questo titolo

Are you a middle school ELA teacher looking for practical, proven strategies to help your students grow as confident readers and writers? Middle School Café is your go-to podcast for engaging teaching ideas, classroom-tested tools, and real talk about what works in today’s ELA classroom.


Each episode delivers actionable tips to help you close reading gaps, build student ownership, and create a classroom culture where literacy thrives. Whether you're navigating a curriculum, supporting struggling readers, or just looking for fresh ways to inspire your students, you'll find support, strategy, and a sense of community right here.


Join a community of passionate middle school ELA teachers working to build confident, engaged readers. Visit www.middleschoolcafe.com for classroom tools, podcast extras, and resources to support every student on their reading journey.

© 2026 Middle School Café – Strategies & Support for Middle School ELA Teachers
Apprendimento della lingua
  • Rethinking the Way We Teach Research (Without the Overwhelm) [Ep. 69]
    Jan 20 2026

    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 a cognitive issue, not a motivation problem.

    This episode kicks off a short mini-series on teaching research. Listeners will explore how focusing on one research skill at a time can bring clarity and confidence to students without lowering expectations or adding extra work. Upcoming episodes will take a closer look at evaluating evidence in reading and research and helping students spot bias in informational texts, all through a middle school lens.

    Read more in the show notes.

    Check out the FREE ELA Community!

    Related episodes and blog posts:

    • Add Nonfiction to Independent Reading






    FREE ELA Community
    Website: https://middleschoolcafe.com/
    Facebook:
    https://www.facebook.com/middleschoolcafe
    Instagram:
    https://www.instagram.com/middleschoolcafe/
    TPT Shop:
    https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Middle-School-Cafe

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    12 min
  • Why Nonfiction Belongs in Independent Reading [Ep. 68]
    Jan 6 2026

    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 matters, how to lower student resistance to nonfiction, and simple, low-pressure ways to incorporate nonfiction articles, graphic nonfiction, and podcasts alongside novels. You’ll hear practical strategies for modeling real-world nonfiction reading habits, building curiosity, and helping students see nonfiction as a useful, everyday reading tool. This episode sets the foundation for upcoming conversations about nonfiction and research while keeping reading flexible, student-centered, and manageable.

    Read more in the show notes.

    Check out the new FREE ELA Community!




    FREE ELA Community
    Website: https://middleschoolcafe.com/
    Facebook:
    https://www.facebook.com/middleschoolcafe
    Instagram:
    https://www.instagram.com/middleschoolcafe/
    TPT Shop:
    https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Middle-School-Cafe

    Mostra di più Mostra meno
    14 min
  • RERELEASE Using Reading Challenges to Engage and Stretch Student Readers
    Dec 30 2025

    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 students meaningful roles that promote ownership. Whether you already use independent reading or want a manageable way to bring it back, this episode will help you re-engage mid to high-level readers and make reading feel relevant again.

    Read more in the Show Notes


    FREE ELA Community
    Website: https://middleschoolcafe.com/
    Facebook:
    https://www.facebook.com/middleschoolcafe
    Instagram:
    https://www.instagram.com/middleschoolcafe/
    TPT Shop:
    https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Middle-School-Cafe

    Mostra di più Mostra meno
    16 min
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