Creating Joyful Readers

Science of Reading isn't something secondary teachers should skip. If you have struggling readers in your classroom, today's guest, Allison McManus has tips that you won't want to miss.

Resources Mentioned:

Science of Reading in Secondary Toolkit - https://mrsmcmanusela.ck.page/sorin2

Planning a Science of Reading Aligned Unit for Secondary ELA

https://mrsmcmanusela.wordpress.com/2024/08/12/planning-a-science-of-reading-aligned-unit-for-secondary-ela/

Uncovering the Logic of English by Denise Eide - https://amzn.to/4eVS9O5

The Writing Rope: A Framework for Explicit Writing Instruction in All Subjects by Joan Sedita - https://amzn.to/48oqpPJ

The Reading Comprehension Blueprint: Helping Students Make Meaning from Text by Nancy Lewis Hennessy - https://amzn.to/4hmESzK

The Knowledge Gap by Natalie Wexler - https://amzn.to/4hndq5g

Shifting the Balance, Grades 3-5: 6 Ways to Bring the Science of Reading into the Upper Elementary Classroom  https://amzn.to/40PWsGD

Connect with today's guest:

Follow Allison on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrsmcmanusela/



Some links referenced here are affiliate links. Supporting the podcast through these links comes at no additional cost to you.

--> Shop for your modern day literacy classroom HERE:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/samantha-in-secondary

--> For tips, book recommendations, and connection with other educators follow along on INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/samanthainsecondary/

--> Shop my favorite YA books HERE:

https://www.amazon.com/shop/samanthainsecondary

Mentioned in this episode:

Grab my romance literature circle unit today

Romance activities your students will love:

Fresh assessment ideas, coming right up! Today we are wrapping up our exploration of the historical fiction genre with five assessment ideas you can use in your genre-based literature unit. These are creative projects that highlight all of the key knowledge students should gain from a unit like this while helping them hone those important 21st century skills.

Highlights:

• Literary Field Trip
• Historical Fiction Time Capsule
• Character Diary
• Historical Fiction Book Trailer
• Historical Figure Connection

Resources Mentioned:

--> Try a literary field trip

--> My historical fiction unit is ready for you to use tomorrow

Some links referenced here are affiliate links. Supporting the podcast through these links comes at no additional cost to you.

--> Shop for your modern day literacy classroom HERE:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/samantha-in-secondary

--> For tips, book recommendations, and connection with other educators follow along on INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/samanthainsecondary/

--> Shop my favorite YA books HERE:

https://www.amazon.com/shop/samanthainsecondary

Mentioned in this episode:

--> Did you grab my FREE Young Adult reading list already?

Are you ready to take your classroom library to the next level?

Grab my romance literature circle unit today

Romance activities your students will love:

Setting is your hook when we're talking about historical fiction. I know it might not sound like the most thrilling lesson idea in the world, but stick with me because I have a few ideas that are going to be both fun and educational. Working through these activities always had students laughing and learning, so I know your students are going to love them, too.

Highlights:

• Start with Explicit Instruction
• Write the Setting
• Roll A Story
• Setting Dramatization Mix-Up

Resources Mentioned:

--> Setting Mini-Lesson

--> Roll a Setting

--> Mood Board Project

Some links referenced here are affiliate links. Supporting the podcast through these links comes at no additional cost to you.

--> Shop for your modern day literacy classroom HERE:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/samantha-in-secondary

--> For tips, book recommendations, and connection with other educators follow along on INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/samanthainsecondary/

--> Shop my favorite YA books HERE:

https://www.amazon.com/shop/samanthainsecondary

Mentioned in this episode:

--> Did you grab my FREE Young Adult reading list already?

Are you ready to take your classroom library to the next level?

Grab my romance literature circle unit today

Romance activities your students will love:

I’ve got some great books to share today that I know are going to help your students fall in love with historical fiction, so hang on, joyful readers, you’re going to want to hear all about these recs! You’ll likely have a student or three in mind who you’re dying to suggest a title to.

Today's episode includes recs for:

• The History Buff
• The Adventure Seeker
• The Empathetic Reader
• The Critical Thinker
• The Fantasy Enthusiasts

Grab my ready to go Historical Fiction Unit HERE

Take a closer look at the books mentioned in today's episode:

I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys - https://amzn.to/3zyD8CB

Refugee by Alan Gratz - https://amzn.to/3XKceQj

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak - https://amzn.to/3XD2cAt

Hope and Other Punchlines by Julie Buxbaum - https://amzn.to/3XNYm7M

Us in Ruins by Rachel Moore - https://amzn.to/4doPZoS

Some links referenced here are affiliate links. Supporting the podcast through these links comes at no additional cost to you.

--> Shop for your modern day literacy classroom HERE:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/samantha-in-secondary

--> For tips, book recommendations, and connection with other educators follow along on INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/samanthainsecondary/

--> Shop my favorite YA books HERE:

https://www.amazon.com/shop/samanthainsecondary

Mentioned in this episode:

--> Did you grab my FREE Young Adult reading list already?

Are you ready to take your classroom library to the next level?

Grab my romance literature circle unit today

Romance activities your students will love:

Over the next few episodes, we’re going to talk about a new genre that I’ve personally witnessed help to shape lifelong readers. I know that sharing this genre in your classroom is going to hook an entirely new set of students. Settle in, joyful reader, because today I’m going to encourage you to introduce your students to historical fiction.

Highlights:

• Why Study Historical Fiction?
• What Makes Fiction Historical?
• Characteristics & Critiques of Historical Fiction

Resources Mentioned:

Take a closer look at my Historical Fiction Unit HERE

Some links referenced here are affiliate links. Supporting the podcast through these links comes at no additional cost to you.

--> Shop for your modern day literacy classroom HERE:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/samantha-in-secondary

--> For tips, book recommendations, and connection with other educators follow along on INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/samanthainsecondary/

--> Shop my favorite YA books HERE:

https://www.amazon.com/shop/samanthainsecondary

Mentioned in this episode:

Grab my romance literature circle unit today

Romance activities your students will love:

--> Did you grab my FREE Young Adult reading list already?

Are you ready to take your classroom library to the next level?

I know it often feels like you just don't have time to do all the things in your classroom. And it’s true, you don’t! But you do have plenty of time to choose a few things to do well. Today we’re going to talk about a few supplementary activities to include in your mystery unit and which skills are targeted through these purposeful additions. Hope you’re ready for some fresh ideas today, joyful readers, because I’m here to deliver.

Highlights:

• Case File Project
• High Interest Close Readings
• Enola Holmes

Resources Mentioned:

--> Try the Mystery Case File Project with your learners

--> Dive into History's Mysteries in your classroom

--> Learn more about close reading in this blog post



Some links referenced here are affiliate links. Supporting the podcast through these links comes at no additional cost to you.

--> Shop for your modern day literacy classroom HERE:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/samantha-in-secondary

--> For tips, book recommendations, and connection with other educators follow along on INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/samanthainsecondary/

--> Shop my favorite YA books HERE:

https://www.amazon.com/shop/samanthainsecondary

Mentioned in this episode:

--> Did you grab my FREE Young Adult reading list already?

Are you ready to take your classroom library to the next level?

Grab my romance literature circle unit today

Romance activities your students will love:

Maybe you’d love to try literature circles in your class, but you just don’t know where to start. Or maybe you’ve tried them before, but they didn’t go over well. Today I’m going to walk you through my framework for planning and executing a flawless literature circle in the mystery genre. Get ready, joyful readers, it’s going to be a good one!

Highlights:

What should literature circles look like in the mystery genre?

How do I know which books to include in my literature circle?

Resources Mentioned:

--> Try the Mystery Case File activity in your classroom

--> Grab a copy of my full mystery unit

Some links referenced here are affiliate links. Supporting the podcast through these links comes at no additional cost to you.

--> Shop for your modern day literacy classroom HERE:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/samantha-in-secondary

--> For tips, book recommendations, and connection with other educators follow along on INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/samanthainsecondary/

--> Shop my favorite YA books HERE:

https://www.amazon.com/shop/samanthainsecondary

Mentioned in this episode:

Grab my romance literature circle unit today

Romance activities your students will love:

--> Did you grab my FREE Young Adult reading list already?

Are you ready to take your classroom library to the next level?

Like most other teachers, I was absolutely frightened when I was told I needed to run a choice reading unit. How will I keep track of everything? How do I manage a class full of students reading different books? These questions kept me up at night! I then realized that I was expected to do this alongside my regular curriculum and then my mind was REALLY blown. Thankfully, after years of trial and error, I got pretty good at it and it helped me realize why this is such a powerful practice.

In today’s episode, I’m going to give you my best recommendations for anchor texts in the mystery genre and then I’m going to give you practical strategies I learned over years of practice to implement these novels seamlessly beside a choice reading unit in the same genre. Buckle up, joyful readers, you’re in for a good one.

Highlights:

3 Mysteries That Appeal to a Wide Range of Students

How to Use the Mystery Genre to Leverage the Anchor Text/Lit Circle Connection

Resources Mentioned:

Some links referenced here are affiliate links. Supporting the podcast through these links comes at no additional cost to you.

--> Grab this ready to teach unit for We Were Liars

We Were Liars - https://amzn.to/3XHPZM0

Truly Devious - https://amzn.to/47rI0pF

Firekeeper’s Daughter - https://amzn.to/4d446zJ



--> Shop for your modern day literacy classroom HERE:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/samantha-in-secondary

--> For tips, book recommendations, and connection with other educators follow along on INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/samanthainsecondary/

--> Shop my favorite YA books HERE:

https://www.amazon.com/shop/samanthainsecondary

Mentioned in this episode:

Grab my romance literature circle unit today

Romance activities your students will love:

--> Did you grab my FREE Young Adult reading list already?

Are you ready to take your classroom library to the next level?

Mysteries continue to dominate best-selling book lists worldwide. Huge names like James Patterson, Stephen King, Riley Sager, Freida McFadden, and so many more are consistently seen leading the charts when it comes to book sales. Why do people love this genre so much and how can we leverage that enthusiasm in the classroom? Stay tuned for today’s episode! We’re going to dig into all things mystery and discover how you can use this genre to get your students excited about reading.

Highlights:

• Two Camps of Mystery Lovers
• Mystery Subgenres
• Why is the mystery genre great for the classroom?

Resources Mentioned:

--> Take a closer look at the Mystery Genre Study Resource and the Mystery Genre Introduction Activities

--> Read more about Why Mystery Books are so Satisfying in this article by Tana French

Some links referenced here are affiliate links. Supporting the podcast through these links comes at no additional cost to you.

--> Shop for your modern day literacy classroom HERE:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/samantha-in-secondary

--> For tips, book recommendations, and connection with other educators follow along on INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/samanthainsecondary/

--> Shop my favorite YA books HERE:

https://www.amazon.com/shop/samanthainsecondary

Mentioned in this episode:

--> Did you grab my FREE Young Adult reading list already?

Are you ready to take your classroom library to the next level?

Grab my romance literature circle unit today

Romance activities your students will love:

You've got questions about independent reading and in today's episode I've got answers. It doesn’t matter if you’re brand new to the practice or a seasoned veteran, this episode has helpful strategies no matter where you are on your journey.

Episode Highlights:

• How do I know this book will be appropriate for my students?
• How do I make sure students are reading books that are the right fit for them?
• How do I make sure students start and finish their books around the same time?

Resources Mentioned:

--> The parent letter I used in my classroom can be found HERE:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Independent-Reading-Parent-Letter-Editable-Templates-4910095?st=5b62570e62846b39df06267333fd6e59&utm_source=Podcast&utm_campaign=Episode%206%20-%20Parent%20Letter%20Template

--> Learn more about titles students are interested in on Goodreads and Common Sense Media

https://www.goodreads.com/

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/

--> Reach out on Instagram any time you need help vetting a title:

https://www.instagram.com/samanthainsecondary/

--> Keep a copy of this book list handy so your classroom library is stocked with all the best YA Books:

www.samanthainsecondary.com/books

Some links referenced here are affiliate links. Supporting the podcast through these links comes at no additional cost to you.

--> Shop for your modern day literacy classroom HERE:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/samantha-in-secondary

--> For tips, book recommendations, and connection with other educators follow along on INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/samanthainsecondary/

--> Shop my favorite YA books HERE:

https://www.amazon.com/shop/samanthainsecondary

Mentioned in this episode:

--> Did you grab my FREE Young Adult reading list already?

Are you ready to take your classroom library to the next level?

Grab your Close Reading Toolkit

Whether you're new to close reading or just need a refresh, this toolkit has you covered. Head to www.samanthainsecondary.com and click on “reading” to get the toolkit. Start today and help your students unlock new levels of understanding in every text!