Middle School Café – Strategies & Support for Middle School ELA Teachers
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.
Middle School Café – Strategies & Support for Middle School ELA Teachers
4 Professional Development Books to Read this Summer [Ep. 30]
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 books will help you rethink your reading instruction, reignite your passion for teaching, and give you practical strategies to take into the fall. Whether you read one or all four, you'll walk away with ideas that support both student growth and your own.
4 Professional Book Recommendations
- Book Love by Penny Kittle
- In the Best Interest of Students by Kelly Gallagher
- The Joy of Reading by Donnalynn Miller and Teri Lesesne
- Motivating Readers by Carolyn Wahl
Read more in the show notes.
Related Episodes:
- 3 Steps to Incorporate Reader’s Workshop into Your Classroom Ep #3
- How to Get Students to Connect with Books Through Choice Reading Units with Samantha Heil Ep #19
- Motivating Readers: Teaching in the Post-Pandemic Era Ep #25
Be sure to join the Secondary ELA Facebook group and share your top professional development recommendations!
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