CCIRA Literacy Conversations

Author Gordon Korman discusses what he writes, how he writes, and the role teachers and librarians play in getting his books into the hands of young "slacker fans." He discuses how he has challenged himself as an author through the years as he progresses on his way to writing 100 books for middle grade readers.

Katie Garner specializes in making meaning while reading using the science of reading to increase access to books of our primary students.

Tanny McGregor chats with Molly and Jessica about using sketch-notes to make thinking visible and improve comprehension.

Resources:

• Tanny's website
• Ink and Ideas (book)
  • The link above features:
    • A Heinemann Podcast about Sketchnoting
    • Table of Contents from the book
    • A Sample Chapter
    • Free Templates
    • PD Resources from Tanny McGregor
  • Quick video on the book
• VIsual Notetaking using Ink and Ideas (46 minutes video)

Please email [email protected] with any questions or concerns you have about the episode. Thanks for listening!

Troy Hicks: professor of English and Education at Central Michigan University. former middle school language arts teacher, Director of the Chippewa River Writing Project shares about New Literacies in the classroom.

Resources:

• Troy's Website
• Troy's new book: Mindful Teaching with Technology
• NCTE Definition of literacy in the digital age
• Adobe Spark: Free for K-12
• Northwestern University Knight Lab Storylines Tools
• Sutori
• Thinglink
• Choose Your Own Adventure - Alice Keeler
• Chippewa River Writing Project - Youtube
• Stanford History Education Group
  • Lateral Reading
• National Writing Project
• Transmedia Storytelling 101 - Henry Jenkins
• Creating Confident Writers

Troy Hicks' heroes:

• Chris Miller, mentor as a teacher
• Ernest Morrell, Director of NCTE Policy Studies, mentor as a teacher educator

If you have questions or concerns about the episode, please email [email protected].

Colby Sharp, host of The Yarn Podcast, co-author of Game Changer, editor of The Creativity Project, and co-founder of The Nerdy Book club shares a bit about his recent projects and how to curate a great classroom library.

*More show notes to come.

Have questions or comments? Please email [email protected].

Today's guest is Beth Skelton who is a guru of Language Acquisition. Throughout the podcast Beth shares numerous actionable steps to allow teachers to create effective literacy and language instruction. She recommends purposeful planning to support students in producing quality reading, writing, and speaking. Listen in to find out how to leverage student assets and elevate student language success. If you want to learn more from Beth, join us for the 2022 CCIRA Literacy conference!

Resources:

• WIDA
• Isabel Beck - vocab guru
• Working with Words Off the Wall
• Kagan
  • Word Swap
• Jeff Zwiers
• Cris Tovani, "I Read It, but I Don't Get It"
• Harvard Graduate School of Education
  • Project Zero
    • See, Think, Wonder
    • Visible Thinking Routines
• Ellin Oliver Keene
• Harvey Smokey Daniels
• Donalyn Miller
• Regie Routman
• Andrea Honigsfled, "Growing Language and Literacy"
• Spreadsheet of Resources - contact Beth at [email protected]

For questions about the episode, contact [email protected]

Today's podcast was recorded with Erik Palmer, a guru of instructional practices for better spoken communication. Erik shares his philosophy on the importance of teaching speech as a crucial life skill. He has developed a framework to teach students what to do before and during speaking and uses mini lessons throughout the year to practice elements of great speech. He integrates speaking into all areas of instruction to maximize every moment and have students practice these skills. He elaborated on the importance of adults and teachers becoming effective oral communicators. Throughout our conversation Erik emphasized the importance of always improving and learning. He has many resources available through twitter, his website, and books, including checklists, a framework to teach, and other supporting materials. Erik Palmer will be a featured speaker at the 2022 CCIRA Literacy Conference.

Resources:

• Erik Palmer's Website
• Erik Palmer's Twitter Account
• Erik's Basic Framework for Speaking (Begins at 6:56)
  • What you do before you open your mouth - planning content for audience, appearance, visual aids
  • What you do as you are speaking - performing, body language, emotion
    • PVLEGS (framework for speaking)
    • Student Skill Monitors - example, "Poise Monitor"
    • Framework becomes a tool for Peer Feedback
• Guiding students from "I can't do speeches" to being effective speakers  (Begins 18:47)
  • Break down speaking for students
  • Get past the mystique and the idea of "I am not a good speaker."
  • "We are emerging speakers"
  • Mentor Speeches
  • Well Spoken: Teaching Speaking to All Students; Book by Erik Palmer
• Speaking skills for teachers as educational advocates (29:31)
  • Back to School Night
  • Identifying our weaknesses and speakers and learning to get better
• Erik's Inspirations to check out:
  • Kelly Gallagher
  • Unknown Author Speaker from CCIRA

Questions or comments about the Episode? Email us at [email protected].

Today on the podcast we have Laura Whale, a literacy specialist whose passions include dyslexia and the science of reading. During our conversation, Laura shared with us a huge list of resources that she explored in her journey in becoming a better teacher. As she said many times: "when we know better, we do better."

Resources mentioned during this episode:

• The Science of Reading
• Dyslexia Simulation - Rocky Mountain Branch, International Dyslexia Association
  • Virtual Dyslexia Simulation
• The Reports by Emily Hanford
• Book Studies
  • Speech to Print by Louisa C. Moats, Ed. D.
  • Essentials of Assessing, Preventing, and Overcoming Reading Difficulties by David Kilpatrick
  • Language at the Speed of Light by Mark Seidenberg
  • Equipped for Reading Success by David Kilpatrick
• LETRS Training
• Orton Gillingham
• CDE Reading Modules
• Heggerty Curriculum
• Margaret Goldberg
• Natalie Wexler
• CCIRA, Inc.
• Tim Rasinski
• Marnie Ginsberg - Reading Simplified

Topics with Michele:

• Jeff Anderson and Whitney La Rocca - Patterns of Power (Grades 1-5) (Grades 6-8)
• Structuring breakout rooms and norms for your students
• Remote teaching schedules
• Using paper pencil remotely and how to have students use their cameras
• Working with paras and support staff remotely
• Taking care of your health and movement while teaching remotely
• Grades as a measure during remote teaching
• Social time, breaks for kids, and making connections
• Michele's role in CCIRA and what she has taken away from her involvement
• Michele's excitement for the online conference (which was canceled)

Emily Goldenstein joins Molly and Jessica to talk about how she is tackling teaching during a pandemic and what tips and strategies she uses to manage her time and keep her stress low. Check it out and find out about the special wednesday schedule that lets her tackle some of her feedback goals while meeting student needs.