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
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