Quick Wins for Helping Students Pick a Just-Right Book [Bonus] Artwork

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.

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

Quick Wins for Helping Students Pick a Just-Right Book [Bonus]

September 30, 2025 • Carolyn Wahl - Middle School ELA

September brings an extra Tuesday, which means you get a bonus episode! In this short and practical episode, I’m sharing quick wins to help your students pick out the just-right book for right now. Whether you’re planning your very first library visit of the year or heading back for another round, these strategies will make sure students walk out with a book they actually want to read, not one that ends up forgotten in their backpack.

From setting the tone before you go, to teaching students the “right now” question, to normalizing abandoning books, these simple tips build confidence, independence, and momentum for your readers.

Get ready for simple, actionable strategies to help your students leave the library with books they can’t wait to open.