Most middle school students can summarize what they’ve read, but their thinking often stops there. In this episode, we explore what it really means to help students read like writers by shifting their focus from what happened to how the author made it happen. When students begin noticing structure, pacing, repetition, and word choice as intentional decisions, comprehension deepens and classroom discussions become more thoughtful.

You’ll walk away with specific, manageable ways to build this shift into your classroom. Simple question changes, focused craft lenses, and conference prompts that move students beyond summary and into analysis. We’ll also explore how hearing authors talk about their own craft can reinforce the idea that writing is built through choices, helping students transfer what they notice as readers into their own writing.

Read more in the show notes. 

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I'm excited to be a speaker at the ELA Reset Summit, a free virtual event for secondary ELA teachers happening June 23–25, 2026. You'll learn practical strategies from real teachers on reading, writing, vocabulary, classroom systems, and more.

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