The Classroom Commute

If you've been with me for a bit, than you know I like to keep my teacher community updated on new projects that I'm working on, new podcast episodes that drop and even personal life-updates.

But, I've actually been keeping a secret for a while now...

've been working on a HUGE project that has been a year in the making (and longer if you count how long I've been dreaming about it!)

You ready...???

I have found a way to to make audio accessible for ALL students using LINKtivity Interactive Learning Guides.

No, not just for students who have access to PowerPoint. Not just for students who use tablets, or laptops, or WHATEVER -- anyone can have access!

This is huge. It means that you can support your English Language Learners or struggling readers with the support that they need to be successful. It means that your students will be able to be even MORE independent when using LINKtivities -- in the classroom or at home.

Now, all you need to access LINKtivities (WITH audio) is one link. THAT'S IT. No downloading the file, no uploading it to a learning platform. Just one link. Simply share the link and you're on your way!

In this episode find out when and how to get your hands on this new, HUGE update to an already amazing resource line!

For complete show notes visit:  classroomnook.com/podcast/linktivity-update

LINKS & RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:  

LINKtivity Interactive Learning - Complete Collection

Updated LINKtivities (With more coming SOON!):

• 5 Regions of the United States
• Branches of Government
• Native American Regions of North America
• Animal Life Cycle
• Early European Explores

It's undeniable.  Students love to talk.

Sometimes is hard to get them to stop talking.

But, not all “talk” is created equal.

It’s one thing to have your students discuss what they did over the weekend, or what new video games they are in to.

But - what teacher hasn’t observed students sitting in a small group trying to discuss a new topic they are learning about or a book that they are reading.

:::Crickets:::

The truth is, when it comes to having deep, meaningful conversation - the kind of talk that moves learning forward - students often struggle to keep the conversation going.  Instead of asking thoughtful questions or making insightful comments and observations on what their peers are saying, students often find themselves trapped in the ‘yes’ or ‘no’ auto responder vortex when it comes to classroom discussions.

And - it’s hard for the conversation to flow both ways when students only answer with ‘yes’ or ‘no’.

When the conversation only flows in one direction, you miss out on a valuable opportunity to really dive deep into a topic.  That's why I feel it is really important to teach students how to have a meaningful and valuable conversations with you, the teacher, as well as with their peers.  

That’s where teaching students the art of accountable talk can be a game changer.

Accountable talk is an intentional open-ended conversation where participants listen, add on to each other's comments, and use clarifying questions to make sure they are understanding what others are saying. When students participate in accountable talk, they can have richer and deeper conversations that go beyond surface-level thinking.

For complete show notes visit:  classroomnook.com/podcast/57

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Grab my FREE Accountable Talk Posters inside the Members Resource Library under “Classroom Decor.”

All teachers would agree that asking questions is (usually) a good thing.

Yes, we have the those students who seem to ask endless questions, or questions that seem off topic or irrelevant, but — overall, we know that students use questioning and wondering as strategy for learning about the world. 

AND - when it comes to reading, asking questions is a reading comprehension strategy that needs to be explicitly taught to students to help them learn and engage with the text. 

It helps the reader to clarify what he or she is reading and to better understand the text.  It helps them to challenge the text.  Ultimately, asking good questions is a way for students to monitor their own comprehension while reading.  

But - that doesn’t mean that students automatically know how to ask questions.  

In fact, struggling readers approach reading as a passive experience.  This means that they read the words with the idea that the meaning of the text will reveal itself if they just read enough words.  They don’t stop to ask questions or challenge their thinking. 

That’s where today’s podcast episode comes into play.  I’m diving deep into this critical reading comprehension strategy and breaking it ALL down for you so that you can get your students asking, wondering, and engaging with the books they are reading.

For complete show notes visit: classroomnook.com/podcast/56

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LINKS & RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:
Episode 41: Teaching Reading Comprehension Strategies

Episode 47: Reading Comprehension Strategies: How to Teach Visualizing

Episode 51: Reading Comprehension Strategies: How to Teach Making Predictions

My favorites texts to use when modeling asking questions:

• The Stranger by: Chris Van Allsburg
• The Empty Pot by: Demi
• Fly Away Home by: Eve Bunting
• Plant Secrets by: Emily Goodman

LINKtivity Interactive Learning Guide: Asking Questions

Grab my FREE Asking Questions Bookmark inside the Members Resource Library under Reading Resources.

Imagine If you could increase student participation & build classroom community… at the same time.

Sounds lovely, doesn’t it?

So often, teachers focus on teaching the content that our curriculum requires, but we often forget a very important core element of teaching. 

Relationships. 

Students learn best when they have a genuine relationship with their teacher and their classmate. If we fail to set that foundation, we are passing up incredible opportunities for learning and growth in our classroom. 

Imagine with me.

You are working on teaching a new concept with your students and instead of having the same three students engaging in your classroom discussions, you have nearly the entire class interacting with one another.  And, as a bi-product of that student participation, you begin building a stronger classroom community. 

This learning utopia is within reach.  Trust me. 

Let me share several strategies to help you increase student participation so that you can reap the benefits it will provide for your classroom. 

And, as a bonus: you may just become the coolest teacher ever!

For complete show notes visit:  classroomnook.com/podcast/55

LINKS & RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:

Episode 33: 4 Things to Stop Doing in Your Classroom

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Pssst ... Want access to 100+ freebies for upper elementary teachers?  Then, mosey on over to the FREE Member's Resource Library on The Classroom Nook website!  You'll find resources for all content areas, classroom management and classroom organization tools, classroom décor printables and a whole lot more.  CLICK HERE to become a free member.

As an upper elementary teacher, you probably spend a good chunk of your time reading novels with your students.  Am I right?

Well, I’m here to give you some activities to use with your students during your next novel unit.  Whether your students are reading the novel as a whole-class, in guided reading groups, in literature circles, or even as individuals, there are some activities that work great with almost any novel.  

Tune in to this episode as I'm going to share 6 great activities that I have used over and over in the different novels that I have read with my own students. You’ll love the wide-range of reading activities that will tap in to a variety of reading skills and strategies!

Find complete show notes at classroomnook.com/podcast/54

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Check out my collection of novel units for complete, done-for-you resources!

I will ALWAYS order the same chicken dish at my favorite Indian restaurant.  It's delicious and it's not worth the risk to order something different and end up not liking it. 

Are you like that, too? It's human nature to gravitate toward what we know we will like.  But, if I'm being honest, every time I order take-out from said restaurant, I wonder what I'm missing. 

So…why am I talking about Indian food on a podcast for teachers?  Am I closet foodie?  (Well, yes, but that’s a topic for another day)

Here’s where I make the awkward segway into what I really want to talk about.  What I’m trying to tell you is that sometimes, we just gotta trying something new.  In the case for today, I’m talking about trying a new reading genre.

We all have those students that will ONLY read Magic Tree House books, or a mystery book, or… fill in the blank.  They like what they like, and rarely deviate from it. 

But - WHAT IF there was an amazing reading genre just waiting for them that they would actually love if they would just give it a chance!

It's our job as teachers to expose our students to a variety of genres throughout the year to turn our students into well-rounded readers.  So, in today’s episode I’m sharing my favorite teacher hack for helping you to do just that with a super simple strategy.

For complete show notes, visit:  classroomnook.com/podcast/53

Grab a FREE reading genre wheel inside our Member’s Resource Library
Episode 52: Strategies to Help Students Generate New Writing Ideas

Are you guilty of spoon feeding your students ideas for what to write?

I’m right there with you! We have all done it.

We all have those students who just sit there, stare at the wall and say, “I don’t know what to write.”

Often we just intend to give them a quick idea or two as a spring board for their writing pieces, but more often than not, we can find ourselves verbally writing the whole piece for them. 

Of course we do it because we just want them to be successful.  We don’t want them to feel frustrated and shut down, so we just give them the whole kitchen sink.

But - giving our students all the ideas prohibits them from developing the skill of how to generate their own writing ideas — a skill they will need not just in your classroom, but always.   

When we teach students strategies for developing their own writing ideas, we give our students the freedom to write about their own topics of interest and give them permission to be inspired on their own for what to write about.

And, in the end, that’s what will make them LOVE writing.

In today’s episode, I want to give you some simple writing strategies to help your students generate their own ideas for writing. 

For complete show notes visit:  classroomnook.com/podcast/52

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Resource for Picture Illustration is the book, The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg.

Resource for Watermelon Seed Writing is the book, The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant.

Grab my FREE Teacher’s Guide to Writer’s Workshop in my Member’s Resource Library.
Watermelon Graphic Organizer from my Getting Started in Writers Workshop unit 

Episode 31: How to Use a Reader’s and Writer’s Notebook in the Upper Elementary Classroom 

Wouldn't it be nice if we could predict what the future holds?

…especially as we head into 2021.  Wow, that’s a loaded question! Maybe we would rather not know. (wink, wink)

Predicting in reading, however.  Now THAT’S a necessity!

Proficient readers make predictions naturally, without even knowing it. They predict what a book will be about based on the title, they predict why characters act a certain way, and they guess what will happen next when they get to the end of a chapter. 

It’s important that elementary teachers help teach young students to use this same reading comprehension strategy as well.  Predicting helps keep the reader’s mind engaged and activated as he or she works through a text. When students actively predict while reading, they stay connected to the text and can reflect upon, refine, and revise their predictions.

This podcast episode will teach you how to introduce, model, practice, and assess your students on making predictions in reading. You won’t want to miss it.

For complete show notes, visit:  classroomnook.com/podcast/51

Episode 41: Teaching Reading Comprehension Strategies

Episode 42: Reading Comprehension Instruction: How to Teach Making Connections

Episode 47: Reading Comprehension Strategies: How to Teach Visualizing

Here are some of my favorites to use when modeling predictions (affiliate links):

• Two Many Tamales by: Gary Soto
• Enemy Pie by: Derek Munson
• Those Shoes by: Maribeth Boelts
• What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? by: Steve Jenkins 

Grab my FREE Making Predictions Bookmark inside the Members Resource Library under Reading Resources

Resource:  Making Connections LINKtivity

Let’s be real. We have all been there.

…flying by the seat of your pants from unit to unit —  Not a curriculum map in sight!

There were several years of teaching that I, for SURE, was flying by the seat of my pants when it came to my lesson plans.  I didn’t know what I would be teaching next week, let alone a month down the road. Forget about mapping out the curriculum for my entire year — it just didn't happen. 

Oh don’t get me wrong — I most DEFINITELY had that cute teacher planner — spent hours researching and picking it out, actually.  But - the pages were still as crisp and untouched as the day I bought it. 

Maaaaaybe I jotted down a quick lesson title, student activity, or start of a new unit every now and then, but most of the time… nadda.

Oh, and don’t get me started on the random pieces of paper that I had occasionally tucked here and there that resembled lesson planning of some sort, but I don’t think it counts if you can’t actually find the paper when you need it.

Sounds familiar?  If so, then this podcast episode is for you.

Now, I understand that curriculum mapping typically isn’t something we (want to) talk about in January as we begin the second half of the school year. However, it’s actually a GREAT time to revisit curriculum mapping.  You know your students better than you did at the beginning of the year, you know the pacing that works best for your students, AND you know what teaching strategies, types of activities, and projects that work well with your students.

In fact, January is the PERFECT time to dust off your teacher planning (digital or printable) and get crackin’ on curriculum mapping for the second half of the school year!

For complete show notes visit:  classroomnook.com/podcast/50

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LINKS & RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:

Grab your FREE curriculum mapping template in our Member’s Resource Library

Video Tutorial: How to Create a Curriculum Map for a Year

Video Tutorial:  How to Use Google Calendar for Curriculum Mapping

Do you ever wish you could start this whole school year over? Yes, please! 

Remember that "fresh year, fresh classroom" feeling that you had at the beginning of the school year? Your classroom was so organized, wasn't it? Everything was crisp and new. You had BIIIIG plans for curriculum and classroom management, right?

If you're like me, you often get to January and just wish you could restart and reinstate all those great plans, ideas, and most DEFINITELY that crisp, clean classroom that welcomed your students in the fall.

Well - why can't you?  Why CAN'T you just "restart?"  What's stopping you?

If you're feeling less than satisfied about how your year is going, then, by all means - PRESS THE RESTART BUTTON! It’s the PERFECT time to do so.

For complete show notes, visit:  classroomnook.com/podcast/49

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LINKS & RESOURCES Mentioned in the Episode:

Episode 22: Classroom Decor and Design Made Easy

Episode 29: How to Launch Reader's Workshop in Your Classroom

Episode 30: How to Launch Writer's Workshop in the Upper Elementary Classroom

Episode 34: Routines and Procedures Every TEACHER Needs

Grab my FREE Classroom Theme Design Guides inside the Members Resource Library under Classroom Decor Resources.

Grab my FREE Routines and Procedures Checklist inside the Members Resource Library under Classroom Management Resources.

Blog post: Back to School Series: Launching Readers Workshop

Blog post: Back to School Series: Launching Writer's Workshop

Getting Started with Reader's Workshop

Getting Started with Writer's Workshop

Video Tutorial Library