Chalk and Ink: The Podcast for Teachers Who Write and Writers Who Teach

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Welcome to Chalk + Ink's 50th episode! Without Andy J. Pizza, Chalk + Ink wouldn't exist. Want to know why? Give a listen.

In this episode, we discuss the definition of creativity, what it means when we say art works, and how to produce a successful podcast.

After you listen to this episode, if you want to hear more of what Andy has to say, be sure to check out his podcast Creative Pep Talk.  He's about to drop his 400th episode.

Listeners, here’s your homework. Before our next episode, be sure to read Emily Francis’s If You Only Knew: Letters From an Immigrant Teacher. 

For me, my homework is to read The Energy Clock by Molly Fletcher, which is the book Andy talks about at the end of the episode. The book’s arriving at my house tomorrow. Maybe, I’ll even be able to start it this weekend.

I also plan on listening to one new writing or educational podcast each month in 2023, and then, if it seems like a good fit, following up with the creator, to see if they’re interested in a swap, as Andy suggested. If you have podcast recommendations for me, please fill out my contact form on my website at www.katenarita.com or find me on Twitter or Instagram.

Feeling generous? Please review the show wherever you listen to your podcasts. This will help more listeners find Chalk + Ink.

Finally, I want to give a shout out to Sarah Brannen for Chalk + Ink’s podcast art. If you haven’t read Sarah’s book, Uncle Bobby’s Wedding, check it out. It’s on the ALA 2021 Rainbow List and Bank Street's Best Children's Books 2021.

Happy listening!

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On today’s show, with we talk about getting outside, the importance of cultivating a gratitude mindset, Susan Edwards Richmond, and how it takes community collaboration to create a powerful picture book.

Stay tuned to the end of the episode to find out how to win one of Susan's signed picture books or one of Susan's picture book critiques.

I’m hoping you’ll help me spread Chalk + Ink cheer throughout the new year. Boost the podcast on your favorite social media platform, tell a friend, family member, or write a review on your favorite podcast platform, or go to buymeacoffee/chalkandink and support the show with a simple click.

Many thanks to to Sarah Brannen for Chalk + Ink’s podcast art. If you haven’t read Sarah’s book, Uncle Bobby’s Wedding, check it out. It’s on the ALA 2021 Rainbow List and Bank Street's Best Children's Books 2021. 

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Today, Tracey Baptiste lets listeners in on the organizational tricks that have scaffolded her breakthroughs as an author and as a teacher. In addition to talking about organizational tools, we talk about the subconscious and debunking inaccurate historical “facts.”

Before our next episode, please read one of Susan Edwards Richmond’s fantastic picture books, Bioblitz! and Bird Count.

Feeling generous? Please review the show wherever you listen to your podcasts. This will help more listeners find Chalk + Ink.

Many thanks to Sarah Brannen for Chalk + Ink’s podcast art. If you haven’t read Sarah’s book, Uncle Bobby’s Wedding, check it out. It’s on the ALA 2021 Rainbow List and Bank Street's Best Children's Books 2021. 

We'll talk again in 2023.

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Support the show

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Linda Urban  talks about the importance of ditching “have-tos,” and embracing specificity and small moments.

Want to win a signed copy of one of Linda’s heartwarming books? Tweet or retweet this episode and be sure to tag me, 2) Go to www.katenarita.com/podcast and make a comment on this episode’s post, 3) Make a comment about the episode on our Chalk + Ink Facebook page; and 4) Become a Chalk + Ink Patreon supporter. Please complete one of these actions by Friday, November 25th. The winner will be announced on Friday, December 2nd, on the podcast as well as on Twitter and on our Facebook page.

Speaking of December 2nd, It’s homework time. Before our next episode, please read one of Torrey Maldonado’s fantastic novels. Secret Saturdays, published in 2010, is markedly different from his most recent releases Tight and What Lane?, which pubbed in 2018 and 2020 respectively. Torrey talks about the cause for the shift and how it stemmed from observing readers in his classroom.

Want to support the podcast? It’s easy. Go to buymeacoffee.com/chalkandink and with one single click you can buy me a latte-no subscription necessary.

Finally, I want to give a shout out to Sarah Brannen for Chalk + Ink’s podcast art. If you haven’t read Sarah’s book, Uncle Bobby’s Wedding, check it out. It’s on the ALA 2021 Rainbow List and Bank Street's Best Children's Books 2021. 

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In this episode, the perseverant Sandy Stark-McGinnis talks about parallels, plot and point of view.

Stay tuned till the end of the episode to find out how to win a signed copy of Extraordinary Birdsor The Space Between Lost and Found from Sandy. Congrats to Jennifer Roman for winning a signed-copy of Sally Engelfried’s debut middle grade novel, Learning to Fall.

Want to support the podcast with a simple click? Go to buymeacoffee.com/chalkandink 

I don’t know about you, but I love Christmas and so does author, Linda Urban. Treat yourself to a holiday delight and read her young adult novel, Talk Santa to Me before our next episode on November 18th. If Christmas isn’t your thing, check out her newest middle grade novel, Almost There and Almost Not.

Many thanks to Sarah Brannen for Chalk + Ink’s podcast art. If you haven’t read Sarah’s book, Uncle Bobby’s Wedding, check it out. It’s on the ALA 2021 Rainbow List and Bank Street's Best Children's Books 2021. 

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Today Sally Engelfried talks about productive weekends, innovative ways to use a writer’s notebook, and how to find a story’s emotional core. 

Please help me spread the word by sharing the podcast on social media, writing a review wherever you listen to your podcasts, and/or sharing this episode with family, friends and colleagues.

Maybe you’re not into promotion but you want to give me a boost and buy me a latte. It’s easy. Go to buymeacoffee.com/chalkandink and with one single click you can support the podcast-no subscription necessary.

In addition to being an amazing author and educator, Sally Engelfried is very generous. She’s creating a five-minute video for Patreon supporters. Become a Chalk + Ink Patreon supporter and check it out.

Sally also generously donated a 30-minute classroom or library visit to a lucky podcast listener and a signed book to another lucky podcast listener. There are several ways to enter: 1) Tweet or retweet this episode and be sure to tag Sally and me, 2) Go to www.katenarita.com/podcast and make a comment on this episode’s post, 3) Make a comment about the episode on our Chalk + Ink Facebook page; and 4) Become a Chalk + Ink Patreon supporter. Patreon supporters are automatically entered into each giveaway. In order to enter the giveaway, complete one of these actions by midnight on Friday, October 28th. The winner will be announced on Friday, November 4th, on the podcast as well as on Twitter and on our Facebook page.

Finally, I want to give a shout out to Sarah Brannen for Chalk + Ink’s podcast art. If you haven’t read Sarah’s book, Uncle Bobby’s Wedding, check it out. It’s on the ALA 2021 Rainbow List and Bank Street's Best Children's Books 2021. 

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode with Cindy Rodriguez, we talk about the importance of embracing opportunities, growth mindset, and developing relationships in and out of the classroom.

Please help me spread the word by sharing the podcast on social media, writing a review wherever you listen to your podcasts, and/or sharing this episode with family, friends and colleagues.

Maybe you’re not into promotion but you want to give me a boost and buy me a latte. It’s easy. Go to buymeacoffee.com/chalkandink and with one single click you can support the podcast-no subscription necessary.

In addition to being an amazing author and educator, Cindy Rodriguez is very generous. She’s creating a five-minute Let’s Write video that educators can use in their classrooms. Become a Chalk + Ink Patreon supporter, you can have access to Ruth’s video as well as videos by April Jones Prince, Marcie Flinchum Atkins, Zetta Elliott, Erin Dealey, René Colato Laínez, Michelle Cusolito, Ruth Behar and Lisa Stringfellow. 

Cindy also generously donated a 30-minute classroom or library visit to a lucky podcast listener and a signed book to another lucky podcast listener. There are several ways to enter: 1) Tweet or retweet this episode and be sure to tag Cindy and me, 2) Go to www.katenarita.com/podcast and make a comment on this episode’s post, 3) Make a comment about the episode on our Chalk + Ink Facebook page; and 4) Become a Chalk + Ink Patreon supporter. Patreon supporters are automatically entered into each giveaway. In order to enter the giveaway, complete one of these actions by midnight on Friday, October 14th. The winner will be announced on Friday, October 21st, on the podcast as well as on Twitter and on our Facebook page.

Finally, I want to give a shout out to Sarah Brannen for Chalk + Ink’s podcast art. If you haven’t read Sarah’s book, Uncle Bobby’s Wedding, check it out. It’s on the ALA 2021 Rainbow List and Bank Street's Best Children's Books 2021. 

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, Ruth Behar and I talk about solitude, storytelling and surprises.

If Chalk + Ink has made you a better author and/or educator, please fill out this form so I can feature you on our 50th episode.

It would be great if this season, the number of downloads per episode would double compared to the second season. Please help me spread the word by sharing the podcast on social media, writing a review wherever you listen to your podcasts, and/or sharing this episode with five colleagues.

Maybe you’re not into promotion but you want to give me a boost and buy me a latte. It’s easy. Go to buymeacoffee.com/chalkandink and with one single click you can support the podcast-no subscription necessary.

In addition to being an amazing author and educator, Ruth Behar is very generous. She’s creating a five-minute Let’s Write video that educators can use in their classrooms. Become a Chalk + Ink Patreon supporter, you can have access to Ruth’s video as well as videos by April Jones Prince, Marcie Flinchum Atkins, Zetta Elliott, Erin Dealey, René Colato Laínez, Michelle Cusolito, and Lisa Stringfellow. 

Ruth also generously donated a 30-minute Zoom classroom or library call to a lucky podcast listener and a signed book to another podcast listener. There are several ways to enter: 1) Tweet or retweet this episode and be sure to tag Ruth and me, 2) Go to www.katenarita.com/podcast and make a comment on this episode’s post, 3) Make a comment about the episode on our Chalk + Ink Facebook page; and 4) Become a Chalk + Ink Patreon supporter. Patreon supporters are automatically entered into each giveaway. In order to enter the giveaway, these actions must be completed by midnight on Friday, September 16th. The winner will be announced on Friday, September 23rd, on the podcast as well as on Twitter and on our Facebook page.

It’s homework time. Have you ever thought to yourself, “Nope. Nunca. Not going to happen,”? If so, then you have something in common with Beto, the main character in Cindy Rodriguez’s delightful new picture book Three Pockets Full. Give it a read before Cindy’s interview releases on Friday, October 7th.

Many thanks to Sarah Brannen for Chalk + Ink’s podcast art. 

Happy listening!

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I’m so excited to dive deep into our first interview of the season with marvelous Michelle Cusolito.

In this episode we talk about the importance of writing with our students, the power of picture book dummies, and how stepping outside of our comfort zone enriches our creativity.

If Chalk + Ink has made you a better author and/or educator, please fill out this form so I can feature you on our 50th episode.

It would be great if this season, the number of downloads per episode would double compared to the second season. Please help me spread the word by sharing the podcast on social media, writing a review wherever you listen to your podcasts, and/or sharing this episode with five colleagues.

Maybe you’re not into promotion but you want to give me a boost and buy me a latte. It’s easy. Go to buymeacoffee.com/chalkandink and with one single click you can support the podcast-no subscription necessary.

In addition to being an amazing author and educator, Michelle Cusolito is very generous. She’s creating a five-minute Let’s Write video that educators can use in their classrooms. Become a Chalk + Ink Patreon supporter, you can have access to Michelle’s video as well as videos by April Jones Prince, Marcie Flinchum Atkins, Zetta Elliott, Erin Dealey, René Colato Laínez and Lisa Stringfellow. 

Michelle also generously donated a 30-minute “Ask Me Anything,” Zoom call to a lucky podcast listener. There are several ways to enter: 1) Tweet or retweet this episode and be sure to tag Michelle and me, 2) Go to www.katenarita.com/podcast and make a comment on this episode’s post, 3) Make a comment about the episode on our Chalk + Ink Facebook page; and 4) Become a Chalk + Ink Patreon supporter. Patreon supporters are automatically entered into each giveaway. In order to enter the giveaway, these actions must be completed by midnight on Friday, September 16th. The winner will be announced on Friday, September 23rd, on the podcast as well as on Twitter and on our Facebook page.

It’s homework time. Have you ever wanted to travel to Cuba? If so, you’ll like this assignment. Pick up a copy of Letters from Cubaby Ruth Behar. Once you start reading, you’ll find yourself in the terrifying position of being Jewish in Poland on the eve of World War II, traveling by yourself on a ship across the Atlantic, and disembarking in Cuba.

Thanks for listening!

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