Name: Strategies for Students Reading Below Grade Level in Middle School
Start: 2026-07-17T09:50:00-0600
End: 2026-07-17T10:50:00-0600

Welcome to URSA 2026 at Southern Utah University! All sessions will be in buildings on the upper campus (east end). Here’s the Campus Map (PDF) if needed.

Strategies for Students Reading Below Grade Level in Middle School

Friday July 17, 2026 9:50am - 10:50am MDT

GC 106 - General Classroom Building, Room 106

Middle school is a critical turning point for literacy. As content anguage becomes denser and subject matter more complex, the achievement gap for students reading below grade level can widen rapidly. By 6th to 8th grade, many striving readers have become experts at masking their struggles with apathy or avoidance. They don't just need more independent reading time—they need a lifeline.This dynamic, highly practical session is designed specifically for middle school educators. We will bypass dense theory and dive straight into actionable tips and classroom routines that respect the maturity of young adolescents while actively repairing foundational reading gaps for any content area. What You Will Learn:The Middle School Buy-In: Proven engagement tactics to break down defensive walls, rebuild reading confidence, and motivate reluctant learners.Age-Appropriate Interventions: How to discreetly address foundational gaps in phonics and fluency using tools and texts that never feel "babyish."High-Yield Scaffolding: Equip students with strategies to tackle complex, grade-level texts across ELA, Science, and Social Studies.Quick-Win Routines: Low-prep, daily habits that rapidly build vocabulary, background knowledge, and reading stamina.Join us to build a customized toolkit of high-impact strategies you can immediately implement to empower your students and change their reading trajectory.

Participants MUST HAVE one of the following platforms/devices in order to participate in this session: None

Participants MAY FIND IT USEFUL to have one or more of the following platforms/devices during this session: Any of these

Speakers

Laura Mauer

English /Reading Teacher, Utah Middle Level Associaiton

Hi, I am a 10th-year teacher (a 30-year employee of the Granite School District) who has worked in many different teaching environments. I was an SPED teaching assistant for 20 years, worked with students in a lock-up facility, and teach methods courses at Westminster University in... Read More →

Friday July 17, 2026 9:50am - 10:50am MDT
GC 106 - General Classroom Building, Room 106 351 W. University Blvd., Cedar City, UT 84720

Other, Beginner - limited to no experience; no prerequisite skills required.

Session Format 1 hour traditional lecture/audience participation
Grade Level Middle School / Jr. High - grades 6 - 8
Audience Teachers, Instructional Coaches
Subject Area Other

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2026 Utah Rural Schools Conference

Laura Mauer

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2026 Utah Rural Schools Conference

Laura Mauer

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