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

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It's the end of the summer season and the beginning of fall which for teachers and students is bittersweet. The laid back summer feeling slips away and the frantic fall frenzy rushes in. 

But the good news is after compiling last season’s top ten tips for a luminous literacy workshop, I can’t wait to pack up my beach bag and head back to the classroom. Here they are:

10-Plan to Play from Jyoti Rajan Gopal and René Colato Laínez
9-Grammar Worksheets Be Gone from Whitney LaRocca and Jeff Anderson
8-Integrate Sensory Learning from April Jones Prince and Marcie Flinchum Atkins
7-Magic Mirrors All Around from Kate Messner and Tina Athaide
6-Outline Occultism from Zetta Elliott
5-Abracadabra Nanowrimo from Lisa Stringfellow
4-Extra! Extra! Read All About It from Kristen Nordstrom and Rukhsanna Guidroz
3-Bust Out of Binary Boxes from Michael Leali
2-Listen to Your Students from Pernille Ripp
1-Highlight Moments of Magic from Erin Dealey

Want to support the podcast? Click here to buy me a cup of coffee or click here to become a Patreon supporter.  No money. No problem. Fill out this form and tell me how Chalk + Ink has made you a better teacher and/or writer so we can celebrate our success on our 50th episode. Too shy to share your experience on a podcast? No worries! Please write a review on your podcast platform (Apple, Google, Stitcher etc.) so that other listeners can find us.

On the next episode, we’ll be chatting with author and writing instructor Michelle Cusolito. Be sure to check out her books Flying Deep and Diving Deep before the interview.

I want to give a shout out to Sarah Brannen for Chalk + Ink’s podcast art. If you want to make the most out of these last few summer weeks, be sure to check out Sarah’s A Perfect Day for some summertime fun.

Questions? Contact me on Twitter @KateNarita or fill out my contact form.

Happy listening!

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Hello Summer Everyone,

You’re probably thinking, wait a minute! It’s not August 26th yet! Why is there a new episode of Chalk + Ink in my feed? Has Kate completely lost track of time?

No, I haven’t. I know it’s mid-July and the next school year is still very far away. But, I’m already thinking about Chalk + Ink’s 50th episode, which will be released on January 30, 2023. 

To celebrate this accomplishment, we are going to take a look at how previous episodes have affected listeners. 

Has Chalk + Ink improved your teaching?

What about your writing?

Would you be willing to share your experience with other Chalk + Ink listeners?

If so, please fill out the form at www.katenarita.com/podcast by September 15th. I will get back to you by September 30th and let you know whether or not I'll be able to feature you and your experience. 

I can’t wait to hear from you! 

Now it’s time to return to reading that book, writing that story, or savoring the sunshine as you swim in the sea. 

See you on August 26th!

Kate Narita

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I’ve compiled the top ten writing tips from this season’s guests to help get listeners psyched up for a creative, productive summer. 

This episode embodies the reason this podcast exists. You count. You matter. Your creativity counts. Your happiness matters. It’s time to pour all the energy you channel into teaching during the school year into your creative process. Whether you are a budding or a blooming writer, these tips will help you deepen your creative practice.

Tip Number Ten: Write Alongside Your Students Featuring Carole Boston Weatherford, Kate Messner, and Jyoti Rajan Gopal.

Tip Number Nine: Write Someplace New Featuring Michael Leali, René Colato Laínez,  Whitney LaRocca, and Jeff Anderson.

Tip Number Eight: Keep Notebooks Featuring Whitney LaRocca and Loree Griffin Burns.

Tip Number Seven: Dummy It Out Featuring April Jones Prince and Marcie Flinchum Atkins.

Tip Number Six: Plot It Out Featuring Zetta Elliott and Rukhsanna Guidroz.

Tip Number Five: Featuring Michael Leali, Veera Hiranadani, and Lisa Stringfellow.

Tip Number Four: Interview Someone Featuring Kristen Nordstrom and Tina Athaide.

Tip Number Three: Blog About It Featuring Pernille Ripp.

Tip Number Two: Bust Out of Those Boxes Featuring Laurel Paula Jackson, Loree Griffin Burns, and Tina Athaide.

Tip Number One: Practice What You Preach Featuring  April Jones Prince,  Erin Dealey, and Pernille Ripp.

Hey, before you go, I have a favor to ask. Chalk + Ink has one review on Apple. One is a whole lot less than 2,000. When you have one of those long, slow, summer moments, please take a minute to leave a positive review. Help spread Chalk + Ink joy.

Have you read Melissa Stewart and Sarah Brannen’s Summertime Sleepers yet? If not, why not? It’s the perfect book to help you enjoy summer’s slower pace. Plus, you’ll be supporting Sarah, who does our podcast art.

I can’t wait to talk with you again on August 26th, 2022. Until then, happy writing everyone!

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On today’s episode with Kate Messner we talk about what happens when we share our writing process with our students, inviting our students to help us make our writing stronger, and taking and making time to prioritize our writing.

Debut author Jyoti Gopal will be joining us next episode to talk about her exquisite picture book debut American Desi. None of her six books, yes, you heard me correctly, six books have been released yet. But, you can read about her, her forthcoming books, and her educational philosophy on her website.

If you have enjoyed this podcast or if this podcast has helped you in any way, please write a review on Apple or Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts. Reviews help other listeners discover the podcast.

Finally, I want to give a shout out to Sarah Brannen for Chalk + Ink’s podcast art and congratulate her again on her Sibert Honor for Summertime Sleepers. 

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The warm and inclusive, Michael Leali, talks about the danger of gendering books, how we miss out on the now when we try to “make up” for lost learning time due to the pandemic, and how readers rise to challenges.

It’s homework time. The versatile and curious, Kate Messner, will be joining us on our next episode. Kate’s written so many wonderful books, it’s impossible to think about assigning only one. On the podcast we talk about History Smashers, The Next President, and Breakout. But, if you’re only going to read one title, the book that’s most fitting for this podcast is 59 Reasons to Write: Mini-Lessons, Prompts, and Inspiration for Teachers.

Take a page out of GrapeApes' book and write a review of this show. Here's what GrapeApes' wrote on Apple Podcasts about Chalk + Ink, "I love this podcast and have gleaned so many helpful, inspiring tips and resources for both my writing and my classroom. My time spent listening is always richly rewarded; I can only listen to about one episode per week, because it takes me time to process and digest all the wonderful wisdom in each one! Kate Narita is such an accessible and insightful host, and her warm, enthusiastic rapport elicits the best techniques and tidbits from her diverse guests. Teacher-writers and writer-teachers, this is your podcast!” Please write a review on Apple or Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts and help me spread the word so more listeners will discover these interviews.

Finally, I want to give a shout out to Sarah Brannen for Chalk + Ink’s podcast art and congratulate her again on her Sibert Honor for Summertime Sleepers. 

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The positive and flexible, Dr. Paula Laurel Jackson, talks about the importance of quality vs. quantity, music as a universal first language, and global citizenship.

It’s homework time. Have you ever wondered if LGBTQ+ people played an important part in the history of the United States? If so, be sure to pick up a copy of Michael Leali’s debut middle grade novel, The Civil War of Amos Abernathy. You’ll find yourself rooting for Amos and Chloe. Also, if you’re a structure enthusiast, this novel is a must read.

Do you have a minute? Please write a review on Apple or Spotify and help me spread the word so more listeners will discover this podcast.

Finally, I want to give a shout out to Sarah Brannen for Chalk + Ink’s podcast art and congratulate her again on her Sibert Honor for Summertime Sleepers. 

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The brave and reflective, Rukhsanna Guidroz, talks about the importance of bringing newspapers into classrooms, the power of a color-coded plot grid, and how engaging in social media can open up career doors.

Are you in the mood for a party with guests from all over the world? Then, pull up a chair and read The Perfect Party by Laurel Jackson and you’ll be all set for our next episode.

Please consider becoming a Chalk + Ink Patreon supporter. For just three dollars an episode, you can have access to teaching videos from April Jones Prince, Marcie Flinchum Atkins, Zetta Elliott, Erin Dealey, René Colato Laínez and Lisa Stringfellow. Teachers, let’s be honest. The last month of school can be tough. But if you become a Patreon supporter, these amazing author educators will help lighten your end-of-the-school-year load.

Rukhsanna Guidroz generously donated a picture book critique to a lucky podcast listener. There are several ways to enter: 1) Tweet or retweet this episode and be sure to tag Rukhsanna 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, March 25th. The winner will be announced on Friday, April 1st, on the podcast as well as on Twitter and on our Facebook page.

Are you still reading? Please write a review and help me spread the word so more listeners discover this podcast.

As always, a huge shout out to Sarah Brannen for Chalk + Ink’s podcast art and a huge congratulations to her for winning the Sibert Honor for Summertime Sleepers. 

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The tenacious and talented, Lisa Stringfellow, talks about the importance of setting goals and being accountable to ourselves, how word choice and sentence length determine voice, and why it makes sense to involve students in our professional writing journeys.

Have you ever wanted to learn how to surf? Then, pick up a copy of Samira Surfs by Rukhsanna Guidroz. Once you start reading, you’ll find many sweet spots within the novel’s pages and if you’re really adventurous, like Samira, you just might find a sweet spot on a surfboard.

When you’re listening to these interviews do you ever think, wow, this author seems like a fantastic educator, I wish she could teach my class for the day?  Well, you’re in luck. If you become  Chalk + Ink Patreon supporter, you can have access to teaching videos by April Jones Prince, Marcie Flinchum Atkins, Zetta Elliott, Erin Dealey, René Colato Laínez and today’s guest, Lisa Stringfellow. It must cost a fortune to access these videos, right? Nope, just three dollars for each podcast episode. I’ll only be releasing six more podcast episodes this school year. That means for $18 you can bring all of these authors into your classroom. That’s what I call a sweet deal.

Lisa Stringfellow generously donated a copy of a A Comb of Wishes to a lucky podcast listener. There are several ways to enter: 1) Tweet or retweet this episode and be sure to tag Lisa 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, March 11th. The winner will be announced on Friday, March 18th, on the podcast as well as on Twitter and on our Facebook page.

Are you still listening and wishing you could show your support for the podcast but there’s no way you have $3 to donate for each episode? No worries! Write a review and help me spread the word so more listeners will discover this podcast.

Finally, I want to give a shout out to Sarah Brannen for Chalk + Ink’s podcast art and congratulate her again on her 

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