DiscoverMiddle School Café – Strategies & Support for Middle School ELA TeachersBoost Student Focus with Reading Sprints for Independent Reading [Ep. 62]
Boost Student Focus with Reading Sprints for Independent Reading [Ep. 62]

Boost Student Focus with Reading Sprints for Independent Reading [Ep. 62]

Update: 2025-10-07
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Stamina is harder than ever for middle schoolers, and independent reading often feels like an uphill climb. In this episode, you’ll learn how reading sprints, short, focused bursts of reading, can help students strengthen attention, build confidence, and develop the endurance they need for longer texts.

In this episode, we’ll explore different ways to bring reading sprints into your classroom, whether it’s starting class with a quick warm-up, building community through partner shares, or helping students discover new favorites with short genre previews. We’ll also talk through common challenges like restlessness and fake reading, and how to keep students genuinely engaged as they build stamina.

Read more in the show notes. 

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Boost Student Focus with Reading Sprints for Independent Reading [Ep. 62]

Boost Student Focus with Reading Sprints for Independent Reading [Ep. 62]

Carolyn Wahl - Middle School ELA