EPISODE 27

My literacy block is too short. I don’t have enough time to cram everything in! Are these thoughts that run through your head? Depending on the length of your literacy block, you may feel like you are constantly rushing and hustling to get from one thing to the next. Here’s the thing though - more time isn’t the answer! You CAN create an effective literacy block, no matter how much time you have to teach it.

It may sound strange, but you cannot stress about how much time you have for reading and writing. For most teachers, that’s not something that you have any control over. What you can control is how you spend that time. I’m here to help you come up with the perfect literacy schedule…even if your time is limited!

In this episode I share:

-7 tips to help you create an effective literacy block

-Why you must set daily non-negotiables and stick to them

-One question to ask yourself to determine if you’re using time wisely

-Which routines and independent skills to prioritize at the beginning of the year to save time later

Resources mentioned:

-Head to stellarteacher.com/waitlist to get on the waitlist for the Stellar Teacher Membership!

-FREE Literacy Block Sample Schedules + Planning Guide

-Come join us in my NEW Facebook group, Upper Elementary Reading Teachers

-Download the Stellar Teacher Summer Series Calendar

For full show notes and more resources, head to stellarteacher.com/podcast/episode27. 

Connect with me:

• Join my newsletter
• My TPT store
• stellarteachercompany.com
• Instagram: @thestellarteachercompany
• Facebook: The Stellar Teacher Company

EPISODE 26

Welcome to our very first Quick Tip Thursday episode! In episode 25, I talked all about reading workshop and why you should consider implementing it into your literacy block.

Whenever I discuss reading workshop, I often get asked the question, “my school is required to use a basal reading program, but I am really interested in using the reading workshop framework. Can I use this model even if I HAVE to use the basal?” Guess what? YES, you absolutely can! Tune in to hear my top tips on how you can incorporate reading workshop even with a basal reader.

Resources mentioned:

-Come join us in my NEW Facebook group, Upper Elementary Reading Teachers

-Download the Stellar Teacher Summer Series Calendar

-Head to stellarteacher.com/waitlist to get on the waitlist for the Stellar Teacher Membership!

-Episode 25, How Reading Workshop Can Transform Your Reading Instruction: stellarteacher.com/podcast/episode25

For full show notes and more resources, head to stellarteacher.com/podcast/episode26. 

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• Join my newsletter
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• stellarteachercompany.com
• Instagram: @thestellarteachercompany
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EPISODE 25

During my first few years of teaching, I was handed a basal reading program. I was told this was the way to teach reading. Well, it didn’t take me too long to realize that it was extremely repetitive and NOT engaging for me or my students. I found myself constantly trying to supplement with other resources. I finally came across the reading workshop model and never looked back. Today I’m filling you in on why I love this model so much!

In this episode I share:

-What reading workshop is and why it’s so effective

-Details on each part of reading workshop

-How to be intentional about providing closure to your lesson

-Why teachers sometimes over-teach during mini-lessons

Resources mentioned:

-Come join us in my NEW Facebook group, Upper Elementary Reading Teachers

-Download the Stellar Teacher Summer Series Calendar

-Head to stellarteacher.com/waitlist to get on the waitlist for the Stellar Teacher Membership!

For full show notes and more resources, head to stellarteacher.com/podcast/episode25. 

Connect with me:

• Join my newsletter
• My TPT store
• stellarteachercompany.com
• Instagram: @thestellarteachercompany
• Facebook: The Stellar Teacher Company

EPISODE 24

Head to stellarteacher.com/waitlist to get on the waitlist for the Stellar Teacher Membership!

On today’s episode I am so excited to have Jamie Sears, from Not So Wimpy Teacher, join me! If you know Jamie you know that she is a writing guru and she will be sharing easy ways to make writing easier for teachers that is also exciting for students. Even the most reluctant students will want to participate once you incorporate these ideas!

Writing is often one of the most dreaded subjects for teachers to teach. With all the emphasis on reading levels and math scores, it’s no wonder we don’t feel as prepared to teach writing. It wasn’t until I was out of the classroom and came across these resources that it didn’t seem so overwhelming. After you make these shifts in your classroom, I know you’ll feel the same way!

In this episode we discuss:

-Small changes that cause a big impact in student growth -3 Reasons students can be reluctant writers -Where to start when teaching writing -Easy ways to make writing FUN! -The best way to measure growth

Resources mentioned:

-Get on the waitlist for the Stellar Teacher Membership at stellarteacher.com/waitlist! 

-Free Writing Pacing Guide for Grades 2-5

-Jamie's Instagram: @notsowimpyteacher

-notsowimpyteacher.com 

Connect with me:

• Join my newsletter
• My TPT store
• stellarteachercompany.com
• Instagram: @thestellarteachercompany
• Facebook: The Stellar Teacher Company

For full show notes and more resources, head to stellarteacher.com/podcast/episode24.

EPISODE 23

>>Head to stellarteacher.com/waitlist to get on the waitlist for the Stellar Teacher Membership

EPISODE 22

This may be a shock to hear, but in my opinion the best time to set up your class library is at the end of the year. Hear me out. As you’re putting your books in boxes and taking inventory at the end of the year, why not get your students involved? Not to mention, if you organize your library the way you want it and categorize it now just imagine how much easier it will be in the fall!

So let’s talk about what drives your organization system. Well that’s simple, your students! The main goal of your classroom library is to make it accessible to your students. That’s why you want to encourage your students to be more independent and engaged in reading by creating a system that makes sense not only to you but to them as well!

In this episode I share:

• 3 different ways you can set up your classroom library
• Benefits and limitations to consider for your categorization system
• 1 organizational method you should avoid

Resources Mentioned:

• Genre labels for your classroom library - FREEBIE!

Connect with me:

• Join my newsletter
• My TPT store
• stellarteachercompany.com
• Instagram: @thestellarteachercompany
• Facebook: The Stellar Teacher Company

For full show notes and more resources, head to stellarteacher.com/podcast/episode22.

EPISODE 21

How many of you are counting down the days until summer? I love having something to look forward to and celebrating the passing of time. With that being said, it is probably the hardest part of the year to maintain student engagement. That’s why this episode is about keeping students engaged in reading until the very last day of school.

Keeping students engaged in the last month of school is definitely a challenge. It’s a great opportunity to reflect on the year and revisit texts you have read throughout the year. The goal at this time of the year is to maintain structure and purpose while having more flexibility. Of course, don’t forget to have fun and enjoy those last few experiences of reading with your students!

In this episode I share:

• 7 ways to keep students engaged in reading
• Strategies to challenge your students at the end of the year
• How to keep students reading while crossing items off your to-do list

Resources Mentioned:

• Reading Challenge FREEBIE
• Episode 9- Getting Started with Author Studies
• Episode 20- Inspired Action: My Favorite Way to Bring Texts to Life

Connect with me:

• Join my newsletter
• My TPT store
• stellarteachercompany.com
• Instagram: @thestellarteachercompany
• Facebook: The Stellar Teacher Company

For full show notes and more resources, head to stellarteacher.com/podcast/episode21.

EPISODE 20

Today is episode 20 of Stellar Teacher Podcast and I am so excited to share this milestone with all of you! Yay! I can’t think of a better way to celebrate than to talk to you about how to create a highly engaged reading block. More specifically, I will be talking about Inspired Action. Never heard of it? You’re not alone!

Inspired Action is a term I’ve created that, in short, helps your students learn how to change the world. Inspired Action starts by reading a book, but can lead to changes from within the classroom to throughout the community. Let’s be honest, we do not become teachers to teach standards. You are listening to this episode because you are an educator who wants to teach children that they can make a positive impact on those around them and I’m going to tell you how to do just that!

In this episode I share:

• How to motivate students at the end of the year
• What Inspired Action looks like in practice
• How to implement Inspired Action into your classroom
• The 3 powerful questions that you need to be asking your students after a read aloud

Resources Mentioned:

• Each Kindness

• Favorite wordless picture book authors: Bill Thompson and David Weisner

Connect with me:

• Join my newsletter
• My TPT store
• stellarteachercompany.com
• Instagram: @thestellarteachercompany
• Facebook: The Stellar Teacher Company

For full show notes and more resources, head to stellarteacher.com/podcast/episode20.

EPISODE 19

This week is a continuation of last week’s episode all about reading conferences! I just love reading conferences for so many reasons. It’s the perfect time to give our students that one-on-one time that they desperately crave.

When I first started implementing reading conferences, I noticed something interesting. Some of my students would get anxiety when we had a conference. I realized that they were having trouble distinguishing between a reading conference and an assessment. Today I’m sharing my tips on how to avoid this confusion by taking the time to explain and model conferences. Then, I’m answering the most common questions I receive about reading conferences.

In this episode I answer:

• How often should I hold reading conferences?
• What is the best time to do a reading conference?
• How do I confer with students if I’ve never read the book they’re reading?
• What are the rest of my students doing while I’m in a reading conference?
• How do reading conferences fit into the other elements of readers workshop?

Resources Mentioned:

• Reading Conference Teacher Guide FREEBIE
• Reading Comprehension Strategy Cards
• Reading Strategies Anchor Charts & Posters
• Episode 18, Getting Started With Reading Conferences

Connect with me:

• Join my newsletter
• My TPT store
• stellarteachercompany.com
• Instagram: @thestellarteachercompany
• Facebook: The Stellar Teacher Company

For full show notes and more resources, head to stellarteacher.com/podcast/episode19.

EPISODE 18

This one is a listener request! Thank you for your suggestion Emily!

If you’re an elementary school teacher, you’ve likely experienced having a class with students who are on all different reading levels. This makes it really challenging to create a guided reading scheduling. Have you ever tried incorporating reading conferences to fill the gaps?

I first discovered the magic of reading conferences while teaching second grade and never looked back. With short and effective reading conferences, you can get to the objective of a lesson way quicker than in a traditional reading group. The best part is that it’s a great time to get to know your students on a more personal level.

In this episode I share:

• What a reading conference is and why they are so beneficial
• A simple reading conference framework that you can use for all of your students
• How to know when you no longer need to listen to your students read aloud and what to work on instead
• The appropriate length of a reading conference

Resources Mentioned:

• Reading Conference Teacher Guide FREEBIE
• Reading Comprehension Strategy Cards
• Reading Strategies Anchor Charts & Posters

Connect with me:

• Join my newsletter
• My TPT store
• stellarteachercompany.com
• Instagram: @thestellarteachercompany
• Facebook: The Stellar Teacher Company

For full show notes and more resources, head to stellarteacher.com/podcast/episode18.