In this episode, we’re tackling a challenge many ELA teachers face—students struggling with reading stamina. With canned curriculum, short excerpts, and fast-paced instruction, students often lack the focus and endurance to finish full-length texts. We’ll dig into why reading stamina matters for critical thinking and long-term academic success, and I’ll share practical, classroom-tested strategies to help students stay engaged. From building curiosity and creating a reading-friendly classroom culture to using focus tools like sticky note thinking and self-assessment, you’ll walk away with actionable ideas to help your students become stronger, more confident readers.
Read more in the show notes.
Resources you may find helpful:
- Genre Review Scavenger Hunt
- Finding Just Right Books
- Building Reading Stamina (includes the rubric I use with my class)
- Independent Reading Challenges
Related episodes and blog posts:
- Don’t Skip Genre Review: Why It Matters in Middle School ELA
- Helping Students Find Just Right Books That Spark a Love of Reading
- How to Close Learning Gaps in Reading in Today’s ELA Classrooms
- Helping Students Find Just Right Books: How to Stretch Them Without Frustration
Be sure to join the Secondary ELA Facebook group. If you’re loving this podcast, please rate, review and follow!
Website: https://middleschoolcafe.com/
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/secondaryela
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/middleschoolcafe
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/middleschoolcafe/
TPT Shop: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Middle-School-Cafe
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com