Using Questioning to Strengthen Reading Comprehension [Ep. 75] 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.

All Episodes

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

Using Questioning to Strengthen Reading Comprehension [Ep. 75]

April 21, 2026 • Carolyn Wahl - Middle School ELA • Episode 75

0:00 | 15:35

Are your students answering questions but still struggling with true comprehension? In this episode, we’re talking about how to use questioning to move students beyond basic recall and into deeper, critical thinking.

You’ll learn how small shifts in the questions you ask can significantly impact how students read, think, and respond to text. This episode focuses on practical strategies you can use right away, including how to ask higher-level questions, how to support students when they struggle to respond, and how to guide them toward stronger, evidence-based thinking.