Welcome back to the Not So Wimpy Teacher Podcast! For the past few weeks, I have been talking on the topic of writing curriculum. This week, we are talking about writing workshops, specifically how to make them less chaotic. I’ve heard so many teachers complain about how their writing workshops are a hot mess. I completely understand because I had that issue for a long time until I created The Not So Wimpy Writing Process. If you feel like your writing workshops are a hot mess, this episode is for you. 

In this episode I talk about:

• The traditional model of the writing workshop
• How I took that model and made it my own
• How The Not So Wimpy Writing Process works
• The “Extra Stories”
• How this process is an incredible combination of structure and encouraging independence

If you’re interested in diving deeper into The Not So Wimpy Writing Process, stay tuned for my upcoming online professional development course. It’s called The Not So Wimpy Writing Masterclass and in it, I dive deep into the process we talked about in this episode today. The course will only be available for a short time in June so be sure to head to www.notsowimpyteacher.com/waitlist so you don’t miss out! 

Want more Not So Wimpy Teacher tips and tricks? Find tons of resources at www.notsowimpyteacher.com and follow me on Instagram @notsowimpyteacher where I share daily!

Welcome back to the Not So Wimpy Teacher Podcast! In today’s episode, we are talking all about how to teach writing to our students in a fun and engaging way. When I talk about teaching writing, I often hear teachers say, “But I HATE my curriculum. It’s so boring.” I totally get it. So in Episode 57, I am going to teach you three strategies that you can use to turn boring curriculum into fun lessons that you AND your students will enjoy. Are you ready? Let’s dive in.

In this episode I cover:

• The truth about writing curriculum
• The magic of the mini-lesson
• Steps to preparing a mini-lesson
• The power of giving students A LOT of choices
• Daily share time

Ready to take this a step further? Click here to get on the waiting list for our upcoming course, the Not So Wimpy Writing Masterclass, that will be available in June!

For more teacher tips and tricks, head over to the Not So Wimpy Teacher website.

Want to connect outside of the podcast? Give me a follow on Instagram. I’d love to hear YOUR thoughts on writing curriculum.

Will you please take two minutes to leave a review? Reviews are one of the BEST ways to support the podcast because it let’s potential listeners know that there is something worth tuning into. Click here to leave a review. Thank you so much for your support!

It’s Teacher Appreciation week!

I know that things are very different this year, but I wanted you to feel extra spoiled and loved. After all, you are pretty darn amazing!

I planned a HUGE week of giveaways, promotions and freebies.

I explain it all in this episode.

Monday

50% off End of Year Awards 9-10 PST

50% off Math Journals 11-12 PST

50% off Grammar Bundles 1-2 PST

Resource Giveaways one hour before each sale!

Tuesday

25% off everything in my store

Giving away ten $10 TPT gift cards

Wednesday

25% off everything in my store

Giving away three Not So Wimpy Teacher cups

Thursday

20% off everything in my store

Giving away twenty $10 TPT gift cards

Friday

Special freebie for everyone!

I’m back and I’m excited to get back to business!

Let’s chat about how we can help our students to be better writers and pass the writing standardized tests next year.

I have four tips for you...

Get your Free Writing Guide here.

Are your students truly engaged in your whole group reading lessons? Are they excited to read and talk about text together?

If not, no worries! I’ve got you covered with three of my favorite ways to make your reading lessons more engaging.

• Read Alouds
• PowerPoint Lessons
• Reading Interactive Notebooks

Test prep is 100x more fun when you incorporate games into your review! In this episode, I am going to share several fun games that you can use to review math, language or reading skills before testing. All of these games are simple to prep and plan!

1. Connect Four
2. Jenga
3. Stinky Feet
4. Cups
5. Candyland

Testing is no fun, but test prep can be loads of fun!

In this episode I share math test prep activities that are easy to prep and will have your students begging for more review time.

1. Math Test Prep Centers
2. Trashketball
3. Stinky Feet
4. Fraction Madness
5. Kahoot

Making test prep fun and meaningful can be a challenge. But you have me, and I take care of you! I have collected some reading test prep activities that your students will enjoy! I dare say that you might even have some fun!

In this episode, I share five different activities that you can. use for reviewing reading skills and standards before testing.

1. Reading Test Prep Centers
2. Reading Gallery Walk
3. Prosecution and Defense
4. Text Dependent Writing
5. Work Hard. Play Hard.

February is Black History Month. Will you be celebrating black history in your classroom?

I am a white teacher and I taught at a predominately white school. I am being very vulnerable here when I tell you that I felt uncomfortable teaching black history. I was scared that I would say the wrong thing, choose the wrong book, or offend someone. I wanted to be culturally sensitive, but I wasn’t always sure how to go about it.

Have you ever felt that way too?

I hear ya.

On this episode, I had the opportunity to sit down and chat very Vera Ahiyya- also known as the Tutu Teacher. Vera is a kindergarten teacher in Brooklyn and she is passionate about helping teachers to be more diverse in the classroom.

Some of my big takeaways from this conversation with Vera:

• Black History Month is a great time to celebrate the history of blacks and not just a time to talk about civil rights and slavery. Share stories of the beautiful and not just the hardships.
• Use books as a platform to have conversations about black leaders and heroes such as artists and musicians. Black History Month is a great time to start the conversation, but then you can think about how you can weave more stories into the curriculum throughout the year.
• Your job is to teach every student and be inclusive. Even if you teach at a predominately white school, you still have an obligation to include all of the people of the world. You can’t help kids to be better if you are exclusionary.
• If you are uncomfortable with teaching black history then you must educate yourself. Vera recommends that teachers read the book Stamped by Jason Reynolds.
• Never have students reenact or do a role play of enslaved people. It is offensive. Slavery should not be made into a board game.
• Vera recommends using the resource Teaching Tolerance.
• Do a survey of your classroom library!

I also asked Vera to share some of her favorite culturally sensitive picture books that teachers should add to their classroom library. Here are links to the books that she recommended.

• Mae Among the Stars
• Undefeated
• Carter Reads the Newspaper

Sometimes it is uncomfortable to have conversations about topics like this. But being uncomfortable is an opportunity for growth. Ignoring black history would be a shame.

If you want to learn more about Vera, you can find her on Instagram:

• Tutu Teacher
• Diverse Reads

Presidents Day is coming up!

Are you bored with doing the same ol’ activities every year? Are you looking for some unique ideas that will engage your students?

In this episode, I am sharing three activities that are fun and academic.

1. Presidents Day Interactive Notebook: 
2. Show and Tell: 
3. Lego Monuments

Enjoy!