Welcome to the Middle School Cafe! Why have I called my site a cafe? Well, if you know me as well as my students do, you'll understand one very important thing about me - I LOVE coffee! I call it froo-froo coffee (mocha's, latte's, skinny, nonfat, extra shot, well you get the picture), the fancier the better. Unlike many who visit the coffee house, I don't have just one specialty drink I ...
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Latest from the Cafe
Teacher Book Talks: A Great Way to Engage Reluctant Readers
As a teacher, you know that one of the most important things you can do is foster a love of reading in your students. However, this can be difficult when you have students who claim they don't like reading. Teacher book talks are one way to help engage reluctant readers and get them excited about ...
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Helping Students Find Just Right Books: How to Stretch Them Without Frustration
As a teacher, one of your goals is to help students find books that are Just Right for them. This means finding books at their instructional level so they can read, comprehend, and enjoy the book. A just right book at a student's instructional level is a book that stretches the child just a bit — ...
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Why Classroom Libraries are Important in the Secondary Classroom: Improved Academic Success
Classroom libraries are important in the secondary classroom because they provide a space for students to interact with books. Once students enter middle school or high school, their exposure to books decreases unless the classroom teachers create an environment that promotes reading. Having access ...
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How to Get Started with Routines and Procedures in Your Middle School Classroom
Establishing routines and procedures in your classroom is essential to think about as you are planning back to school. Middle schoolers thrive on structure and knowing what to expect each day. This post will outline some tips for creating and implementing a routine in your classroom. You can use ...
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Why Building Student Relationships is Important for Success in School
One of the first things to consider when you become a new educator is establishing connections with your students. This will help create a positive and productive learning environment in your classroom. When students feel comfortable around their teachers, they are more likely to be open to learning ...
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Ways to Restock your Classroom Library
Summertime is a great time to restock and refresh your classroom library. I want my classroom library to always be up to date with what students want to read. At the end of each year, I go through my library and pull books students are no longer reading. I haven’t actually done this since June ...
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