What Struggling Readers Need Most at the Beginning of the Year [Ep 81] Artwork

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

What Struggling Readers Need Most at the Beginning of the Year [Ep 81]

August 04, 2026 • Carolyn Wahl - Middle School ELA • Episode 81

0:00 | 12:07

The first few weeks of school can set the tone for the entire year, especially for students who struggle with reading. In this episode, we look beyond classroom strategies and ask a more important question: What do struggling readers actually need from us at the beginning of the school year? Instead of focusing on interventions, we explore how intentionally creating early success, observing students as readers, and building consistent routines can help students develop confidence and make meaningful progress throughout the year.

We'll also talk about why it's important to slow down before jumping to solutions, how those first few weeks provide valuable information that no reading assessment can, and why giving classroom routines time to work is often one of the most important decisions we make as teachers. If you're planning for the new school year and looking for practical ideas grounded in real classroom experience, this episode will help you start with purpose and support your struggling readers from day one.