The Literacy Dive Podcast: Reading and Writing Strategies for Upper Elementary Teachers and Parents

It’s a new year and time for reflection as a writing teacher! In today’s episode, I will be diving into a few writing tips to make you a more effective teacher which will make your students stronger, as well. It is important to practice what you preach. How many times has a student called your bluff? Not following through definitely impacts the effectiveness of your processes.

Tip 1: Show Up Everyday Excited and Enthused

Show up excited and enthused… even if you aren’t. Make writing time exciting - make it a BIG DEAL! There is power to your excitement; your students will feel your energy. 

Tip 2: Take Your Time and Model All Key Parts

Authors do not write their entire book in 15 minutes and say, “I’m done!” Students do not know the life of an author and what the process they go through looks like. As the teacher, you must show your students what this looks like. Your modeling is vital and so important. 

Tip 3: Be Consistent With Your Routines and Expectations

Whatever you expect your students to do, you are responsible for showing them how to do it. If there are certain steps or routines you want them to follow, consistency and showing the steps are necessary. Make it a habit. When you do not show up consistently or create a writing routine, students will lose their motivation and ability to perform and give their all.

Tip 4: Lower Your Expectations

Teachers really have to start lowering their expectations at what they want their students to do. This does not mean having zero expectations. So often, teachers want student writing to be fluid and matching that of an adult. It is important to focus on the growth piece and not perfectionism. You must keep in mind that your students are still very much in their early stages of being a writer. Celebrate growth, move slowly, and allow the process to happen at your students’ pace.

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In this final episode of 2020, I am sharing a few of my reflections from 2020. Despite 2020 being a tough and hard year, so much good has happened during this year and I will share some of the positives with you! I started from January and reflected all the way to December and wrote down great things that happened - I challenge you to do this same practice prior to 2021!

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This episode is all about unpacking some common myths and untruths about reading. While there are so many false beliefs when it comes to students and reading, I am only going to take a little bit of time to address four of them. These insights will increase awareness and will provide a fresh outlook on what is best for students.

Key Points:

I will be sharing some truths to consider when it comes to these 4 myths,

• Myth #1: Children have to read the entire book that they are given.
• Myth #2: The faster a child reads, the better they are at reading.
• Myth #3: Reading comes naturally to kids and is a natural process.
• Myth #4: If my student receives intervention, they are getting what they need so I do not need to work with them in the classroom.

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Are your students reluctant to write? Is student interest in writing at 0%? We are going to turn that around! In today’s episode, I am going to share how to use Quick Writes with students and the many benefits that come along with implementing them. Listen and learn about this easy-to-implement Quick Write strategy!

Key Points:

• Quick Writes are great for building fluency and voice, writing spontaneously, allowing students to write freely in a stress-free environment, and reinforcing specific writing skills without students even knowing it!
• Quick Writes should only take 1, 3, or 5 minutes to complete
• Students have control of what genre they choose to write
• It is important to write along with your students
• Quick Writes will motivate students to write and will keep them intrigued

Steps:

1. Get students in a writing posture
2. Call out one or two words
3. Set the timer for 1, 3, or 5 minutes
4. Students will write to the “prompt” until time is up
5. Students will share their writing aloud

Extension:

• Allow students to submit one or two words for the prompts
• Allow students to take the Quick Write through the writing process
• Tie in current writing skills and hold students accountable to applying them to their Quick Write
• Encourage parents to try this at home

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Today, we are taking a deep dive into running records. Why do we use them? How do we use them? What do all those acronyms and codes really mean?! If you are currently wondering one or more of these questions, I will walk you through the ins and outs of a running record. You can also grab my free running record templates and cheat sheet referenced in this episode here.

Key Points:

• Running Records are forms to document student reading behaviors, errors, accuracy, self-corrections, fluency, and comprehension
• Use the forms to determine if a text is independent, instructional, or frustrational
• Formal Running Records - administer three times per year (beginning, middle, end) 
• Informal Running Records - administer weekly or bi-weekly during guided reading
• Learn about all the boxes, codes, and definitions
• Use Running Record data to drive intentional teaching points and reading instruction 

To Download the Running Records freebie: CLICK HERE

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This episode shares a quick and heartfelt “thank you” to teachers everywhere. The work is hard, the days are long, but teachers ARE making a difference. Thank you for impacting students all over the world. Education would not be the same without you.

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Welcome back to The Literacy Dive! Writing is hard. Are your students feeling defeated from time-to-time in actually seeing their writing growth? Do you need new ideas for celebrating student growth and keeping student momentum going when it comes to writing? In this episode, I will share systems to use student writing samples as a way to empower them and continue their writing growth. No matter how far into the school year you are, it is not too late to begin these practices! 

Key Points:

• Keep 3-4 student samples (beginning of the year, Nov/Dec., March, end of the year)
• Option 1: Consider adding student samples to their writing folder in sheet protectors; this writing stays with them all year long as a reminder of growth
• Option 2: Involve parents by sending copies of the samples home with report cards; this celebrates writing progression and parents gain insight from the visual growth
• Option 3: Keep writing samples on file separated by each student; keep this easily accessible to pull during writing conferences or when you want to celebrate student growth
• Option 4: Class display board; celebrate frequent writing samples and students begin understanding the importance of writing for an audience
• Every student is a writer and every student will show growth

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Welcome back to The Literacy Dive! In this episode, I will be highlighting 3 book recommendations that lend themselves to teaching and spreading kindness. Below you will find a brief overview of each text. It is important to expose students to a variety of texts with different themes. Allow time for discussion to occur after reading one or more of these texts. As stated in episode 4, kindness should be a focus throughout the year so these books can far extend past World Kindness Day on November 13th.

Teacher Tip 1: Always pre-read text prior to reading it to your class. By doing this, you are able to ensure it is a good fit for your students and you can also prepare, in advance, for places where you will need to provide clarity or dive deeper into what the author is saying.

Teacher Tip 2: Books can be found at libraries, local bookstores, or by streaming them on a website like YouTube. You can also purchase books from Amazon. I will link to these books I am sharing with an affiliate link. There are many ways to access books in a printable or digital format.

Key Points:

• Book Recommendation 1: Most People by Michael Leannah

Overview: Most people are kind. The idea is that we must teach children to be mindful and careful of people they don’t know, but we must teach them to understand that most people are kind, and even if someone makes a poor choice, they still have a seed of goodness inside and can change for the better.

• Book Recommendation 2: Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson

Overview: A new girl enters a new school and is not well received by existing students in the class. Another girl in the class is pretty mean and rude to her. Toward the end of the book, Maya, is gone… she is no longer in the classroom… or at the school. It causes reflection and a heart shift within Chloe, the girl who was not very kind to the new girl in school. The power of this book - it is told in the perspective of Chloe.

• Book Recommendation 3: Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Pena

Overview: An amazing dynamic between a boy and his grandmother; they ride the bus often. The boy has many questions and his nana helps CJ, her grandson, see the beauty in the world. She helps him to see the world differently by acts of kindness toward others and finding beauty in unlikely places.

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Welcome back to The Literacy Dive! In this episode, I will be sharing 5 easy-to-implement, low prep (or no prep) literacy activities that can be done throughout this week leading up to World Kindness Day which is on November 13th! The great thing about these activities is that they can be done far beyond just this week. In fact, allowing your focus on kindness to extend throughout the year always keeps this idea fresh and top of mind with your students. You will be able to get into your classroom and try one of these simple activities out instantly!

Key Points:

• Activity 1: Letter Writing (using a bubble map)
• Activity 2: Creating a Kindness Book
• Activity 3: Post Kindness (using sticky notes to share kindness)
• Activity 4: Giving Compliments 
• Activity 5: Sending Kindness (a community focus on kindness)

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Episode 3 is all about creating and using essential questions to move your literacy instruction forward. Essential questions help with student inquiry and accountability with internalizing the standards and skills that are required to be mastered. When we can begin crafting and implementing essential questions in reading and writing, our students will begin thinking deeper.

Key Points:

• What is an essential question?

• Step 1: Begin with academic standards or desired learning outcomes and choose your main concept
• Step 2: Turn the concept or desired learning outcome into a question
• Step 3: Become your students
• Step 4: Refine your question(s)
• Step 5: Provide opportunities for active exploration
• Learn the benefits of using essential questions during your literacy block

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