Episodes

In this episode: Listen in as I wrap up season 7 of the podcast. We talk about: The top 5 most listened to episodes of the podcast this season and the main takeaways. I also mentioned how we can hang out this summer. Give the episode a listen and jot down the episodes that you need to binge right now. Links to resources mentioned in the podcast: Book a discovery call for one on one coaching or school professional development Grab my free guide for keeping your mini lesson mini Get on the mini l...

In this episode: I talk about the what, why and how of reflecting your career goals as a teacher and using that reflection time to decide if it’s time to make a career shift. We talk about: 1.What it means to reflect on our career goals as a teacher. 2. Why taking time to reflect on your career goals is an important part of longevity in education. 3.How to reflect on your career goals in a way that helps you choose next steps. Quotables: - You have permission to dream without guilt. To envisi...

In this episode: I talk about the what, why and how of reflecting on our past school experiences and the positive and/or negative impact they have on your teaching. We talk about: 1.What it means to reflect on our school experiences. 2. Why taking time to reflect on past school experiences is a necessary step in growing our practice as teachers. 3.How to reflect on both the positive experiences and think about the impact they have on your teaching. Quotables: - Our school experiences whether ...

In this episode: I talk about the what, why and how of making learning front and center in our post testing era We talk about: 1.What it means to cultivate community. 2. Why cultivating community during our post testing era matters. 3.How to cultivate community after the state testing in upper elementary. Quotables: -Cultivating community means to foster the growth and closeness of a group of students and/or staff members so that they feel a sense of belonging. -Teachers are an invaluable resour...

In this episode: I talk about the what, why and how of making learning front and center in our post testing era We talk about: 1.What does it mean to keep learning front and center. 2. Why keeping learning front and center during our post testing era matters. 3.How to infuse your literacy block with purposeful learning after the state testing in upper elementary. Quotables: -Oftentimes the end of the school year will have us chunking the progress students have made right out the window a mont...

In this episode: I talk about the what, why and how of leveraging the behind the scenes of being an upper elementary reading teacher to help you end the year strong-ish. We talk about: 1.What is the behind the scenes of teaching. 2. Why setting intention around the behind the scenes of teaching matters when planning to end the year strong-ish. 3.How to leverage the behind the scenes of teaching to help you end the year strong-ish. Quotables: -When I refer to the term back end I’m referring to th...

In this episode: I talk about the what, why and how of casting a vision that will help you finish the year strong-ish in your upper elementary classroom. We talk about: 1.What it means to cast a realistic vision for the end of the school year in your upper elementary literacy classroom. 2. Why casting a vision is a form of self care that your future self will thank you for. 3.How asking yourself 4 simple questions will help you cast a vision for ending the year strong-ish. Quotables: -There i...

In this episode: I talk about the what, why and how using independent reading time as part of your test prep strategy. We talk about: 1.What a test prep framework is. 2. Why independent reading should be a part of your test prep strategy. 3.How to incorporate independent reading into your test prep strategy using 4 simple steps. Quotables: -We said that test prep should be incorporated into your already established reading block and that it should be used to review already taught skills in a ...

In this episode: I talk about the what, why and how of using read aloud with accountable talk as part of your test prep strategy. We talk about: 1.What test prep is and what it isn't. 2. Why read aloud should be a part of your test prep strategy. 3.How to leverage your read aloud time within your test prep framework. Quotables: -Test prep should feel like a time of review for students. It should feel like an opportunity to apply the skills that they have already learned in a different format....

In this episode: I talk about the what, why and how of helping students write constructed responses in the upper elementary classroom. We talk about: 1.What reading response is and how it relates to constructed responses. 2. Why constructed responses should have a place in your upper elementary literacy classroom. 3.How you can help your upper elementary students write constructed responses independently. Quotables: -Reading response opportunities help upper elementary students deepen their comp...

In this episode: I talk about the what, why and how of using the mini lesson framework to teach vocabulary and word study skills in your upper elementary classroom. We talk about: 1.What is vocabulary and word study instruction? 2. Why does vocabulary and word study instruction matter in the classroom? 3.How can I use the mini lesson to vocabulary and word study skills? Quotables: -Students need access to word study and vocabulary instruction in the upper elementary classroom in order to help ...

In this episode: I talk about why this is a great time to embrace that new year energy and hit the refresh button on the evidence based tier one literacy practices. We talk about: 1.What does it mean to hit the refresh button on evidence based tier one literacy practices. 2. Why you may need to hit the refresh button on evidence based tier one literacy practices in the first place. 3.How to go about hitting that refresh button in a doable way. Quotables: -The term refresh means to come back t...