Teaching middle school comes with unique challenges—especially in ELA, where a single classroom may include students from all walks of life and all reading levels. Recent data shows that more than 30% of middle school students struggle to read at grade level. So a teacher’s instinct might—understandably—be to match students with texts at their individual reading levels.

But research shows that’s not the best approach for meeting student needs. In fact, a critical way to help middle schoolers read at grade level is … to teach them at grade level.

All students benefit when they are challenged with grade-level content, along with the necessary support and scaffolding to promote their growth.
This approach ensures that no student—whether below, above, or on grade level—is left behind or held back from their full potential.

The problem with the remediation trap

Providing struggling students with simpler texts seems like a logical way to build confidence. But this approach often reinforces learning gaps instead of closing them. When students aren’t exposed to grade-level material, they miss out on critical opportunities to:

  • Build knowledge and vocabulary necessary for long-term academic success.
  • Engage in meaningful discussions that deepen comprehension.
  • Develop confidence in their ability to tackle complex texts and new concepts.

But when students interact with rigorous content and new information alongside their peers, they gain the skills, exposure, and engagement they need to improve—no matter where they start.

Scaffolding in education: Why does it matter?

If students need help reaching grade-level standards, focus on providing the right scaffolding rather than lowering expectations.

  • Pre-teaching key vocabulary to support comprehension.
  • Breaking down complex texts into smaller, digestible parts.
  • Using guided questions and discussion prompts to deepen understanding.
  • Encouraging peer collaboration so that students can learn from each other.
  • Incorporating visual aids like diagrams, charts, and graphic organizers to clarify concepts and support comprehension.

By using these strategies, teachers can keep students engaged in grade-level work while addressing skill gaps in a way that fosters real growth.

How grade-level instruction works for every student

  1. Grade-level instruction builds confidence and motivation. Middle school students are deeply social learners who thrive when they feel included. When struggling students are placed in remedial groups with lower expectations, they can feel discouraged. But when they read and discuss the same challenging texts as their peers, they’re more motivated to participate and push themselves.
  2. Grade-level instruction develops critical thinking skills. Grade-level texts expose students to richer vocabulary, more complex sentence structures, and deeper themes. This helps all students—whether they’re working above or below grade level—develop essential thinking and analytical skills that prepare them for high school, college, and beyond.
  3. Grade-level instruction prepares students for real-world literacy. Success in the real world depends on the ability to read and comprehend challenging material. If students aren’t exposed to complex texts in middle school, they’ll struggle in high school, the workplace, and life. Providing grade-level instruction ensures that they develop the reading stamina and skills they need for the future.

Bridging skill gaps without lowering expectations

Some students may need additional support in decoding, fluency, or foundational skills. However, this doesn’t mean they should be separated from grade-level content. Instead, they should receive targeted interventions alongside their core instruction.

Here’s how to bridge skill gaps while keeping all students on track:

  • Use structured reading supports—such as read-alouds or guided reading along with explicit fluency practice—so struggling students can follow along with grade-level texts.
  • Incorporate explicit vocabulary instruction to help students understand and use new words.
  • Provide sentence starters and discussion frameworks to support writing and comprehension.
  • Encourage independent reading at different levels to build fluency while keeping classroom instruction rigorous.

With these strategies, students receive the help they need without missing out on the rich, challenging materials that promote deeper learning.

Teach up, not down: The best approach for middle school ELA

While scaffolding allows struggling readers to access the same grade-level content as their peers, advanced learners can benefit from opportunities to go deeper with discussions, analytical writing, and extension activities—all within the same instructional framework.

Key takeaways for middle school ELA success:

  • Every student should engage with grade-level content, regardless of their starting point.
  • Scaffolding in education helps all learners access complex texts and grow as readers.
  • Effective literacy instruction prepares students for the demands of high school, college, and beyond.

More to explore

If you’re looking for research-backed strategies to support all students with grade-level instruction, check out our free ebook, Every Student at Grade Level: The Case for Grade-Level ELA Instruction in Middle School. It’s packed with actionable insights for teaching middle school ELA effectively and implementing powerful scaffolding techniques.

Download the ebook here.