My Literacy Space Podcast

Caroline is a children's book author whose debut book, Gitty and Kvetch, came out this past September through Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. She has a number of picture books coming out over the next few years, and is excited to share more soon! Caroline is currently an MFA Candidate in Writing for Children and Young Adults at Vermont College of Fine Arts. She lives in the Bay Area with her husband, three kiddos and 120-lb dog.

In this episode, we'll chat about:

-How authors get inspired -Important skills to develop as a young writer -Favourite takeaways from Caroline's IG series Craft Talk she did with other amazing children's authors -How she looks for what she refers to as a "one magical moment" -Tips for educators in encouraging young writers

Connect with Caroline

www.carolinekusinpritchard.com

Instagram @carolinepritchardwrites

Twitter @CarolinePritch

Facebook: Caroline Kusin Pritchard

Books Mentioned in the Episode:

Gitty and Kvetch by Caroline Kusin Pritchard Amazon Canada affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3xsbH8A Amazon US affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3NVeGx3

When We Say Black Lives Matter by Maxine Beneba Clarke Amazon Canada affiliate link:https://amzn.to/3b4Qfin Amazon US affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3MWJLzl

Why is it that more people can't read and write? Why are there still so many vastly different methods of teaching literacy? Why do people still argue about it?

In this episode, you'll hear Hanna discuss the book "Reading for Life" with Savannah from Campbell Creates Readers and Megan and Laura from Developing Readers Academy.

"Reading for Life" examines these three questions, addressing the less evidence-supported ideas about teaching reading and writing that are still alive and well in schools worldwide. This accessible guide bridges the gap between research and practice, translating academic findings into practical suggestions and ready-to-use techniques.

Connect with Megan and Laura Instagram: @developing_readers_academy Facebook- Developing Readers Academy Website: www.developingreadersacademy.com

Connect with Savannah Website: www.campbellcreatesreaders.com Instagram: @campbellcreatesreaders on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

"Reading for Life" with Lyn Stone

Amazon Canada affiliate link https://amzn.to/3xmMqN4

Amazon US affiliate link https://amzn.to/3xb94rs

Get to Know Marisa:

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/mwliteracy

Website: https://www.mw-literacy.com

Executive Functioning Information Sheet: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Executive-Functioning-Skills-Handout-6988990

Recommended Books:

Too Many Bubbles Amazon Canada link https://amzn.to/3Neddle Amazon US link https://amzn.to/3GDy9zI

Your Fantastic Elastic Brain Amazon Canada link https://amzn.to/3Ma7AD6 Amazon US link https://amzn.to/3m3uvFB

Goodnight to Your Fantastic Elastic Brain Amazon Canada link https://amzn.to/3aiUNkw Amazon US link https://amzn.to/3agA54N

Fix it with Focus Amazon Canada link https://amzn.to/38W8UfD Amazon US link https://amzn.to/3M9yg75

I'm Stretched Amazon Canada link https://amzn.to/3Nc8vEq Amazon US link https://amzn.to/3m4CrXj

What Should Danny Do? Amazon Canada link https://amzn.to/3NcpVRA Amazon US link https://amzn.to/3GJAV6C

Executive Functioning Workbook for Kids Amazon Canada link https://amzn.to/3M9z0ZV Amazon US link https://amzn.to/3936V9d

Executive Skills and Reading Comprehension Amazon Canada link https://amzn.to/38DIcrO Amazon US link https://amzn.to/3mnVyMl

Recommended Games:

Uno Card Game Amazon Canada link https://amzn.to/3x8anZp Amazon US link https://amzn.to/3Nck2DM

Megan Hartley the brains behind the Instagram account @Ihaveabook4that, describes herself as a book mom, book nerd, and a reading teacher. Growing up Megan didn't read many books with characters who looked like her. And now she's on a mission to change that. Today, Megan helps people find diverse books for all of life's moments no matter how big, small, or silly.

In this episode, Megan and I discuss: - Where Megan's passion for books came from - Megan's favourite book that she likes to use in the classroom and what literacy skills she teaches with that particular book - Some trends she saw in picture books specifically in 2021 that she would like to see continue in 2022. - The need for diverse picture books and when she first saw herself in a book and how that impacted her. - 3 things Megan looks for in a great children's picture book and middle-grade book Connect with Megan on Instagram @ihaveabook4that

Book Recommendations

The Little Red Pen Amazon Canada link https://amzn.to/3Go2B0I Amazon US link https://amzn.to/3sYTlKG

Out of My Mind Amazon Canada link https://amzn.to/3yXKTiI Amazon US link https://amzn.to/3MT9dXa

Out of My Heart Amazon Canada link https://amzn.to/38mPQH4 Amazon US link https://amzn.to/3sWmbeK

Blended Amazon Canada link https://amzn.to/3ah7Frr Amazon US link https://amzn.to/3MT9qtq

From the desk of Zoe, Washington Amazon Canada link https://amzn.to/3wK4D6K Amazon US link https://amzn.to/3GofNT1

Root Magic Amazon Canada link https://amzn.to/3MRxyN9 Amazon US link https://amzn.to/3Giabtw

Red, White and Whole Amazon Canada link https://amzn.to/3LNzlRY Amazon US link https://amzn.to/3lK0bzL

The Front Desk series Amazon Canada link https://amzn.to/3zgf311 Amazon US link https://amzn.to/3yX1umT

Girl Dad Amazon Canada link https://amzn.to/3NACdCX Amazon US link https://amzn.to/3Go3tm0

On Her Wings Amazon Canada link https://amzn.to/3lLqC8o Amazon US link https://amzn.to/3PIMkri

Self-regulation is the ability to control one's emotions, thoughts, and actions. It's a critical life skill that impacts every aspect of a person's wellbeing, including their academic success. Self-regulated learners are able to set goals and stick to them, stay focused and on task, manage their time wisely, and cope with stress and setbacks in a healthy way. As you can imagine, these skills are essential for success in the classroom and in life. Karen Braun is joining me on this episode to talk about self-regulation and how that impacts learners in the classroom and at home. Karen Braun is an Inclusive Education Specialist for Palliser School Division. She has been a teacher since 1983 and began working with students with behavioural and mental health challenges in 1990. This has been her passion ever since.

After working for a number of years within the constructs of more traditional approaches, Karen knew that there were any things that didn't line up with what she believed in her heart. This started her on a journey of exploration and learning. As part of this journey, she found some excellent research by Dr. Stuart Shanker, the founder of The Mehrit Centre who echoed what she believed, "There is no such thing as a bad kid!" Karen loves to share and teach on regulation, trauma, behaviour strategies, collaborative problem solving and all things inclusive education.

Connect with Karen:

Facebook - Karen Vanderleest Braun

Twitter - @TchrKaren

Instagram - selfreggerkaren

Download Karen's Resources: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10EqViZLDhXPP7pGK6j7N2EMjzaIBJF9k?usp=sharing

Videos mentioned in the episode:

Wheel of Emotions: https://www.6seconds.org/2022/03/13/plutchik-wheel-emotions/

Hand-Brain Model: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRmnVmELMn8

Long StoryShortz: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC88dVyeFEfwfSXRD7TL03CA

Books mentioned in the episode:

Shanker, Stuart - Self-Reg: How to Help Your Child (and You).

Amazon Canada link https://amzn.to/3yI89kF

Amazon US link: https://amzn.to/3llN2wO

Break the Stress Cycle and Successfully Engage with Life

Amazon Canada link: https://amzn.to/3PEoLjx

Amazon US link https://amzn.to/3sHghy6

Gates, Miriam and Hinder, Sarah Jane - Good Morning Yoga: A Pose-by-Pose Wake Up Story

Amazon Canada link https://amzn.to/3wmOLbu

Amazon US link https://amzn.to/3sJ95l8

Hanh, Thich Nhat - A Handful of Quiet: Happiness in Four Pebbles

Amazon Canada link https://amzn.to/37YIZU4

Amazon US link https://amzn.to/3wlLUzi

Sladkey, David - Energizing Brain Breaks (Also YouTube channel)

Amazon Canada link https://amzn.to/3wl3aoj

Amazon US link https://amzn.to/3yO6PNn

Winner, Michelle Garci and Crooke, Pamela - You are a Social Detective! Explaining Social Thinking to Kids (they have a whole range of great products)

Amazon Canada link https://amzn.to/3sDGAoY

Margaret Kingsbury has 14 years of experience in the book industry and is the co-founder of Baby Librarians, a children's book review website. She's passionate about inclusivity, disability, and spreading the joys of reading. She's a regular contributing writer for BuzzFeed Books and Book Riot. Her articles have also been featured in Parents, The Lily, StarTrek.com, and more.

In this episode, Margaret and I chat about: -What is missing in children's books when we talk about disability? -What makes a book about disabilities problematic? -How do we think more critically about books - tokenism vs incidental representation -Why do you think this continues to be an area lacking representation? -How does this impact children? -What are your top 3 books that demonstrate disability in a positive light? -How do we think more critically about representation in children's books and how do we model that for children or for people we interact with?

https://www.instagram.com/babylibrarians/ https://www.facebook.com/babylibrarians https://babylibrarians.com/ https://bookshop.org/shop/babylibrarians https://twitter.com/areaderlymom

The Current State of Disability Representation in Children's Books from Book Riot: https://bookriot.com/disability-representation-in-childrens-books/ Check out Margaret's Baby Librarians list of books with dyslexic characters: https://babylibrarians.com/5-childrens-books-with-dyslexic-characters/ Link to The Catchpoles Instagram and Ale's lesson guide too. Here it is: https://thecatchpoles.net/2021/08/08/official-what-happened-to-you-lesson-plan-created-with-the-author/

What Happened To You? by James Catchpole and Karen George Amazon Canada https://amzn.to/3kZbHH9 Amazon US https://amzn.to/3l80WSN

I Talk Like a River by Jordan Scott and Sydney Smith Amazon Canada https://amzn.to/39dcKjX Amazon US https://amzn.to/3MakaTK

My City Speaks by Darren Lebeuf and Ashley Barron Amazon Canada https://amzn.to/3M5L935 Amazon US https://amzn.to/3PhyN9K

Using LGBTQIA+ affirming materials in your classroom can help foster more equitable learning environments where everyone feels valued and seen.

By using inclusive literacy texts and teaching tools, such as book lists and lesson plans tailored towards the needs of LGBTQIA+ youth, you can go a long way towards promoting acceptance, tolerance, and understanding among your child or student. In addition, affirming materials can also provide valuable information about LGBTQIA+ identities and experiences, which can help promote critical thinking skills and lead to a deeper understanding of complex social issues.

Interested in learning how to use LGBTQIA+ affirming materials in your classroom? Our featured guest this week, Ash Bell, is here to help us get started.

Ash (they/them) is a LGBTQIA+ cultural responsiveness trainer, former public school teacher, book aficionado, and parent of 2 kids under 5. They have worked with schools, government agencies, businesses, and parents for over 10 years helping to create LGBTQIA+ affirming spaces, DEI plans, and curriculum that celebrates LGBTQIA+ children and families. When not supporting parents, schools, non-profits, and businesses in their inclusion endeavors, Ash can be found hiking the mountains of Western Massachusetts where they are a recent transplant.

Here are the episode highlights:

-The Rainbow Toolbox - What is it and what kind of tools make the most impact? -How to do a Children's Book Inventory -How to use LGBTQIA+ affirming materials in your classroom - What does this mean and what does it look like? -Ash's top book recommendations to read with children and how to start the conversation with your own children or with your students and even your staff!

Website: www.therainbowtoolbox.com

Instagram: @therainbowtoolbox

Check out Ash's pronoun practice tips sheet by signing up for their email list: https://mailchi.mp/0b6855ad8b82/pronoun-tips

Bathe the Cat Amazon Canada https://amzn.to/3KpMNe9 Amazon US https://amzn.to/3EYBQ1O

We Move Together Amazon Canadahttps://amzn.to/3vSvq06 Amazon US https://amzn.to/3vomi4k

Mr. Watson's Chickens Amazon Canadahttps://amzn.to/3kEeNQV Amazon US https://amzn.to/3vpheNe

A Plan for Pops Amazon Canada https://amzn.to/3kjTSSX Amazon US https://amzn.to/3xXskuD

When Aidan Became a Brother Amazon Canada https://amzn.to/3vOCn2f Amazon US https://amzn.to/3MA29hA

Grandad's Camper Amazon Canada https://amzn.to/3KtpT5s Amazon US https://amzn.to/3rUezcc

Love, Violet Amazon Canada https://amzn.to/3xYkwIS Amazon US https://amzn.to/39dgn9E

Picture Bookstagang Podcast: "Incidental LGBTQ+ Representation in Picturebooks: A short history and a modern overview." https://picturebookstagang.com/podcast-picture-bookstagang/

Handwriting is a crucial skill that many of us take for granted. Whether we are writing in print or cursive, our ability to form letters and words clearly and legibly can affect everything from our engagement in school to our job prospects later in life. And yet, this essential skill has seen a decline in recent years, as teaching methods have shifted away from emphasizing the basics of handwriting towards more advanced concepts such as grammar and sentence structure. While this shift may be understandable in theory, it does not reflect the reality of modern learning environments. As anyone who has worked with students knows all too well, many kids struggle with challenges related to fine motor skills, making it difficult for them to master even basic handwriting techniques. And so, for these students in particular, the continued importance of handwriting cannot be overstated. By increasing their focus on cursive writing and related activities such as tracing and copying exercises, educators can help these students build the physical abilities they need to succeed both academically and professionally.

In this episode, you'll hear me chat with Candi Sellers. Candi is passionate about training professionals, providing academic language therapy to learners of all ages, and creating resources that support literacy. She is a homeschool mom of a neurodivergent learner, a Fellow of Orton-Gillingham Academy, a Certified Academic Language Therapist-Qualified Instructor with ALTA, a Structured Literacy Dyslexia Specialist with CERI, Instructor of Therapy with IMSLEC, and a licensed teacher in North Carolina. Candi provides Orton-Gillingham teacher training and practicum courses.

Candi is also in private practice providing tutoring and consultation. Having worked in public, private, and homeschool settings, she recognizes that researched-based literacy instruction is critical for all students. She is passionate about helping families and professionals find the tools and measures needed to support all learners, specifically those with learning differences.

Candi shares the importance of handwriting and how it is a crucial part of instruction.

Website: https://www.theinstructionhub.com/

Instagram: @theinstructionhub

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoUpk_JuKNcyUD7pBdEE9gw

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theinstructionhub

I'm always on the hunt for new and exciting ways to help my students become successful readers (I bet you are too!) Luckily when it comes to literacy, there are a lot of different approaches you can take. And on today's episode, I'd love to share one more with you- a platform called Simbi.

Simbi is an online platform that offers a variety of interactive content specifically designed to help children learn to read. With Simbi, your child will have access to stories, games, and activities that's intended to keep them engaged and excited about learning. Here are a few highlights:

-Simbi is developed in collaboration with literacy experts and reading teachers from around the world. -Simbi's methods – Reading Along, Narrating, TellMe and more – are proven to improve reading comprehension, fluency, and memory. -It helps motivate both avid and struggling readers to improve their own proficiency, and to help others do the same!

One of the things I love most though is this company's pledge to foster lifelong reading habits while creating global impact. Here's how they do it: On Simbi's unique Read for Good platform, learners give back by sharing their voices to help others. Topics such as social-emotional, social justice, resilience and global citizenship are introduced.

Children are able to explore diverse content from top publishers, always free of ads, and available any time of day.

As students narrate books for others to hear, they earn volunteer hours automatically. Certificates can be downloaded to celebrate reading, or submit for service hours. (So cool!)

Never heard of it? Not to worry! Adrienne Gear, Canadian teacher, author and representative of Simbi is here to give us the scoop.

So if you're looking for a new and engaging way to support your child's literacy skills, check out this episode to learn more about Simbi.

Check out Simbi at https://simbi.io/

Connect with Adrienne on Instagram @readingpowergear

View Adrienne's Website: https://www.readingpowergear.com/

**Check Out this Month's Featured Workshop!** https://www.myliteracyspace.com/classes

When it comes to social justice, the classroom is often the last place people think to look. But the truth is, social injustice is happening all around us, every day. By bringing social justice into the classroom, we can empower our students to stand up for what's right. By discussing controversial topics and exploring different perspectives, we can help our students develop the skills they need to become compassionate and effective advocates for social change.

Want to know more about today's guests?

Connect with Corrie Instagram @thetinyactivists: https://www.instagram.com/thetinyactivists/?hl=en

Connect with Rabia Instagram @rabia_reads https://www.instagram.com/rabia_reads/

Resources mentioned in this episode:

NAEYC : https://www.naeyc.org/

Understanding Anti-Bias Education: Bringing the Four Core Goals to Every Facet of Your Curriculum by Louise Derman-Sparks and Julie Olsen Edwards: https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/nov2019/understanding-anti-bias

Kimberle W. Crenshaw: https://www.law.columbia.edu/faculty/kimberle-w-crenshaw

**Check Out this Month's Featured Workshop!** https://www.myliteracyspace.com/classes