Last week I brought attention to vocabulary acquisition and the importance of expanding your students’ vocabulary toolbox. But before you start incorporating more vocabulary into your instructional day, I wanted to bring awareness to some common vocabulary myths and misconceptions as you focus on this in your upper elementary classrooms. So in today’s episode, I’m debunking vocabulary myths and highlighting the need for structured vocabulary instruction, along with different ways to embed...

One of our biggest roles as literacy teachers is to improve their comprehension skills. However, we rarely focus on the one component that gives students the foundation of comprehension, which is vocabulary. Vocabulary is so much more than just words, for it transforms a story and is the key to communication. So in today’s episode, I’m sharing the role vocabulary acquisition has in your upper elementary classroom and the impact it has on students.  At an initial glance, vocabulary seems to...

Are you looking for fun, creative, and engaging ways to get your students excited about reading and writing? If so, this is the episode for you! I love coming up with creative ways that spark student engagement, and this time, they’re spontaneous activities that include reading and writing. So I’m sharing how two activities boost daily reading and writing excitement in your elementary classrooms. I came to the conclusion that if I want students to enjoy reading and writing, I need to create...

Our goal as literacy teachers is to develop skilled readers and writers, so we often implement strategies that have students work on those skills. And while those strategies are effective and work, for our struggling readers, it may not be enough. Therefore, by incorporating a think-aloud strategy, your students will be able to hear and see how a skilled reader interprets a text. In this episode, I’m sharing 11 think-aloud prompts that will level up your students’ reading comprehension. Using...

As literacy teachers, our goal is to develop skilled readers and writers. And although we want our students to be independent in these areas, providing them support actually helps them master literacy skills to become independent. One of my favorite ways to support my students in writing is through using graphic organizers. In this episode, I’m sharing why using graphic organizers can be used to support quality written responses. There is so much power in using simple supports that scaffold...

As literacy teachers we want to create an environment that helps develop students into skilled readers and writers. And although they’re often taught in isolation, both actually compliment each other. One way to incorporate both reading and writing is through read alouds, which has the added benefit of exposing students to a variety of genres. In today’s episode, I’m sharing my very simple 5-step read aloud routine that helps students discover diverse texts. Most students don’t venture out...

I’m back, friends! I’d like to brush off my absence by taking a break for the summer to relax, travel, and enjoy the sun, but that wouldn’t be the truth. I always strive to be open and honest with you all, so that’s exactly what I’m going to do. In my comeback episode, I’m going to explain my absence, what I've learned about myself, and how my story can help you. It’s never one thing that broke the camel’s back, it’s a combination of a lot of little things. This has never been more true for...

We often teach and practice reading and writing separately, but in reality, they work together to improve a students’ literacy skills. I know you all have effective and successful literacy blocks, but my hope is that with me sharing my thoughts and experiences with you, that you’ll find new ways to teach reading and writing to your students. So listen up as I share ideas to better support your students during your literacy block. During this conversational-type episode, I rattle off all the...

While most of my episodes involve writing strategies and creative ways to get students writing in the classroom, literacy skills are developed and mastered alongside reading. And one of the hottest trends in education right now is the science of reading. There’s so much to unpack with this, so to help us, I have my good friend, Sara Marye, who’s sharing 4 tips on why you should align your instruction to the science of reading in upper elementary.  The science of reading encompasses so many...

With an ever evolving world, it’s important that our classrooms are adapting to the world we live in. One of the easiest and natural way to include diversity in the classroom is through diverse children’s literature. But by adding diversity, it can cause some challenges and provoke fear in some teachers. To help facilitate this important conversation, I have both Dr. Claudia Rodriguez-Mojica & Dr. Allison Briceño on the podcast to share how to make diversity a priority in the...

For the last few weeks, I’ve been sharing creative writing ideas that get students writing and working on their literacy skills in a fun and non-threatening way. I love coming up with ways to disguise writing and have so many ideas, but narrowed it down to my final two that I’m going to share. Those two routines are Acrostic Response and Tell All About It. If you’ve listened to Episodes 135 and Episode 134, you know that I’ll be breaking down the purpose, suggested time, general tips,...

Getting students to write and practice various literacy skills can be a daunting task, which is why I’ve loved coming up with different ways for disguising writing for students! In Episode 134, I shared two creative writing routines and in today’s episode, I’ll be sharing two more writing routines for disguising writing.  The two creative writing routines I’m showcasing are Quick Write and Emoji Memories. In the same format as last week, with each routine, I highlight the purpose, suggested...

We all know the groans and complaining that happens when we ask students to write. But what if we could present writing in a way that is hidden or disguised? Which is why I’ve come up with creative writing routines that you can use with your students that are purposeful, yet non-threatening. In this three week series, I’ll be highlighting two creative writing routines each week that will be engaging and meaningful for your students. The two creative writing routines I’m sharing are Picture...

Today’s episode is on a topic that’s gaining popularity amongst everyone, which is the Enneagram test. This personality theory helps determine certain characteristics based on a variety of factors. And while it’s good to be self-aware, this information can be beneficial in the classroom. My guest today, Kirsten Hammond, is sharing how the Enneagram test can be a powerful teaching tool. For those that are unaware, Kirsten first gives a brief overview of the Enneagram test and outlines the nine...

Incorporating writing that engages students into your instruction can be difficult, especially if you already have an established writing curriculum that your district requires. However, I’m here to tell you it’s not impossible! My guests on today’s episode, Emily and Carrie, are both writing experts who specialize in engaging students to write creatively and often. They’re sharing how to use best practices with any writing curriculum. With both Emily and Carrie’s expertise, they have come up...

Most teachers think that in order to prepare for the upcoming state test, they have to deviate from their normal routine and activities. When in reality, adding engagement and using tools and activities that are familiar to your students is actually helpful to their success. So in today’s episode, I’m sharing 6 secrets to engaging students during testing season.  Each idea that I share can be differentiated based on your students’ needs and level of practice they need. I adapted my lessons...

I don’t know about you, but every time test prep season started to creep up, I became anxious, overwhelmed, and stressed. And honestly, so did my students. But with preparation and tools in their toolbox, they became more confident, calm, and ready for the test. In order to get your students prepared as well, I’m sharing 7 test taking tips to use in your classroom during test prep season.  With each tip that I provide, it can easily be implemented in your already established literacy routine...

We know that state tests are quickly approaching, so it’s our job to begin preparing our students for them. Beyond getting them ready for the content portion of the test, it’s important to acknowledge that this test can be a source of stress and anxiety for our students and prepare them to stay calm and think positively. In today’s episode, I’m sharing how to utilize test taking strategies to give students confidence and success. There’s a lot of different aspects to the state test, so I’ve...

Today’s topic of conversation involves a group of students who need our support, but in a different way than the majority of our students. I’m talking about our gifted learners. We tend to always think about students who struggle or need additional support, but it’s important to remember that our high-achieving students deserve our attention and their own needs met as well. In order to provide you with the most effective information, I brought on guest Stephanie Higgs to join me in this...

I’ve talked many times about the process and importance of students engaging in the writing process. It allows students to work on their written skills and creativity. But the step that most teachers gloss over or find optional is the peer editing stage, when in reality, it provides many benefits and life skills for students. So in today’s episode, I’m sharing a new perspective to make peer editing work for your students and how to use it effectively in the classroom. When students are peer...

Sometimes our students experience big feelings and they’re not always equipped on how to cope or even express how they feel. A great way to teach your students about SEL and create an open dialogue within your classroom is through literacy. On today’s episode, I have guest expert Andrea Burns to show how to use SEL to boost reading and writing skills. Andrea Burns is extremely passionate about all things bookish! This includes children’s literature, the smell of a brand new book, or adding...

As students move up in grades, working with others seems to happen less often and independent work becomes the norm. However, since collaboration is a 21st century skill, having students work together is something that should be practiced. So in today’s episode, I’m going to provide 10 reasons why you should have students engaging in collaborative writing in your classroom.  I’m a big fan of collaborative writing and have seen it benefit my students, our classroom environment, and myself as...

With most things, balance is the key to life. It’s about finding the right amount between two things, not having too much or too little. Well, the same can be said with writing skills. We’ve established before that writing can be difficult and is a challenge for a lot of students, so it’s finding the right balance between interest and skill. In today’s episode, I’m sharing 5 strategies you can start using with your students that’s a balance between creativity and technical writing...

As a literacy expert, I always bring you strategies and tips that you can use in your classroom that bring your students success to their reading and writing skills. But sometimes, I love bringing on other experts to add to your teacher toolbox, especially when they bring a different perspective.  That’s exactly what I’m doing on today’s episode. I have guest Hallie Sherman, a speech-language pathologist, who’s giving us insight and sharing strategies on strengthening student language and...

When introducing a new type of genre, sometimes students need an example to understand certain literacy skills and concepts. This is where mentor texts come in. Most teachers understand the concept of mentor texts, but struggle with knowing how to utilize them in the classroom. In today’s episode, I’m sharing how to best utilize mentor texts, specifically during your biography units. Since biographies, and even autobiographies, aren’t the most exciting for students, engagement and interest is...