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

I don’t know about you, but every time test prep season started to creep up, I became anxious, overwhelmed, and stressed. And honestly, so did my students. But with preparation and tools in their toolbox, they became more confident, calm, and ready for the test. In order to get your students prepared as well, I’m sharing 7 test taking tips to use in your classroom during test prep season. 

With each tip that I provide, it can easily be implemented in your already established literacy routine and instruction. Keep in mind that these test taking tips might be ideas and activities you’ve already used throughout the year, but are specifically targeted for success on the test. Additionally, each tip has positive benefits for every student in your classroom.

Strategies truly are the key to student success. So whether you are searching for new ways to prepare your students or different ideas to try with your students who are struggling, these simple test taking tips will help prepare your students for standardized test success! 

Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode130

Resources Mentioned:

• Join my Daily Writing Disguise
• Reading Comprehension Activities Bundle
• Student Response Cards
• Simple Student Response Cards Freebie
• Episode 54, How to Teach Context Clues
• Episode 53, 7 Context Clues Strategies Every Student Should Know

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We know that state tests are quickly approaching, so it’s our job to begin preparing our students for them. Beyond getting them ready for the content portion of the test, it’s important to acknowledge that this test can be a source of stress and anxiety for our students and prepare them to stay calm and think positively. In today’s episode, I’m sharing how to utilize test taking strategies to give students confidence and success.

There’s a lot of different aspects to the state test, so I’ve come up with 4 main test taking strategies that cover them all. The strategies range from types of test questions and how to answer them to managing time and building confidence. To give better insight, I share examples, tips, and even a helpful acronym, that will give your students a new found sense of confidence and preparation. 

Knowing common test taking challenges, practical tips and tricks for mastering skills, and effective time management will help teachers prepare students for the state test. This is a difficult and stressful time for both parties, so I’m wishing you the best during testing season and please reach out for support or references! 

Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode129

Resources Mentioned:

• Join my Daily Writing Disguise
• Reading Comprehension Reference Sheets
• Writing Skills Reference Sheets
• Reading Strategies UNREAL Chart

Connect with me:

• Check out my TpT Store
• Subscribe to my E-mail list
• Instagram Posts
• Blog Posts
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If you are enjoying The Literacy Dive Podcast, please follow, leave a rating, and a helpful review! It is much appreciated and thank you for listening!

Today’s topic of conversation involves a group of students who need our support, but in a different way than the majority of our students. I’m talking about our gifted learners. We tend to always think about students who struggle or need additional support, but it’s important to remember that our high-achieving students deserve our attention and their own needs met as well.

In order to provide you with the most effective information, I brought on guest Stephanie Higgs to join me in this conversation. Stephanie is a gifted educator and differentiation coach, where she’s an expert in her field. She joins me today in sharing how to meet the needs of gifted learners by providing effective differentiation techniques and strategies. 

Stephanie starts off by sharing a shocking statistic that puts into perspective the importance of supporting and providing complexity and depth of content. She reiterates the fact that teachers should support them where they are academically and find challenging ways that help them grow as learners. Likewise, she shares activities that seamlessly fit in an already established literacy block or routine. 

If you have gifted learners in your classroom and maybe lacking ways to support them or you don’t have ideas for what to do to keep them engaged, this episode is for you! Stephanie is a wealth of knowledge and wants to partner together to figure out how to support gifted learners in a manageable way. This is an episode you don’t want to miss!

Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode128

Resources Mentioned:

• The Daily Writing Disguise
• Hink Pinks
• Vocabulary Fractions
• Boggle
• De Bono’s 6 Thinking Hats
• Kaplan’s Depth & Complexity Icons
• Passion Projects (Video)
• Write and Pass
• Creativity Warm-Ups

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• Check out my TpT Store
• Subscribe to my E-mail list
• Instagram Posts
• Blog Posts

I’ve talked many times about the process and importance of students engaging in the writing process. It allows students to work on their written skills and creativity. But the step that most teachers gloss over or find optional is the peer editing stage, when in reality, it provides many benefits and life skills for students. So in today’s episode, I’m sharing a new perspective to make peer editing work for your students and how to use it effectively in the classroom.

When students are peer editing, they’re building their communication, critical thinking and collaboration skills that will only make them successful in the future. However, there are so many more benefits to having students peer edit, which are highlighted and provided throughout the episode. 

Since teaching writing can be challenging for some teachers, especially with a skill as important as peer editing, I help explore strategies that you can easily implement in your classroom. And even though it’s toward the end of the school year, now is still a great time to teach peer editing to your students. Not only have they built a foundation of writing, but they’ve gained practice and experience throughout the year. 

The next time you go through the writing process with your students, don’t skip or downplay the importance of the peer editing step. I’ve established the many benefits and how it’s a game changer when it comes to developing writing skills in young writers. 

Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode127

Resources Mentioned:

• The Daily Writing Disguise
• Writing Process Checklists
• Writing Reference Sheets
• Six Traits of Writing Charts
• Episode 125, 10 Reasons Why You Should Have Students Engaging in Collaborative Writing

Connect with me:

• Check out my TpT Store
• Subscribe to my E-mail list
• Instagram Posts
• Blog Posts
• Facebook Posts

If you are enjoying The Literacy Dive Podcast, please follow, leave a rating, and a helpful review! It is much appreciated and thank you for listening!

Sometimes our students experience big feelings and they’re not always equipped on how to cope or even express how they feel. A great way to teach your students about SEL and create an open dialogue within your classroom is through literacy. On today’s episode, I have guest expert Andrea Burns to show how to use SEL to boost reading and writing skills.

Andrea Burns is extremely passionate about all things bookish! This includes children’s literature, the smell of a brand new book, or adding new picture and chapter books to her already full bookshelf. Andrea lives in Kansas and works as a book buyer for a local bookstore. She has a Masters of Science in Curriculum & Instruction and loves to continually learn new things! Andrea's passion about social emotional learning and her advocacy for SEL and literature has been featured on Good Morning America. Andrea's debut book is called Failure Friday, which is published through National Center for Youth Issues. Andrea is expecting her first child in March and can't wait to make her little one an avid reader!

Since Andrea is a lover of all books, especially related to SEL, she talks openly about the importance of having conversations revolving around a students’ social emotional well being. In order to prioritize this in your classroom, Andrea shares ways to incorporate SEL to boost reading and writing skills with your students. Each tip is simple, quick, and achievable, no matter how much time you have. 

As we know, SEL is a big topic that can encompass so many feelings and emotions. By using books, it helps create connections with your students, their peers, and can be relatable to everyone. Using SEL to boost reading and writing skills fosters open and shared discussions in your classroom that teaches students essential skills that can be utilized as they navigate life. 

Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode126

Resources Mentioned:

• Join the Writing Made Simple Membership
• Monthly Writing Prompts Free Sample
• Check out Andrea’s book Failure Friday
• Episode 120, What is SEL and How do I Implement it in my Classroom? with Rachel Davis

Connect with me:

• Check out my TpT Store
• Subscribe to my E-mail list
• Instagram Posts
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• Facebook Posts

If you are enjoying The Literacy Dive Podcast, please follow, leave a rating, and a helpful review! It is much appreciated and thank you for listening!

As students move up in grades, working with others seems to happen less often and independent work becomes the norm. However, since collaboration is a 21st century skill, having students work together is something that should be practiced. So in today’s episode, I’m going to provide 10 reasons why you should have students engaging in collaborative writing in your classroom. 

I’m a big fan of collaborative writing and have seen it benefit my students, our classroom environment, and myself as the teacher when implemented. Throughout the episode, I share 10 ways using collaborative writing benefits students as it pertains to their writing skills and life skills. As students work together, they’re working toward a common goal, which broadens their perspectives and improves the development of teamwork skills.

By engaging and working with a partner or small group, students are able to share ideas, provide feedback, and support one another as they work to improve their writing. After listening to this episode, I hope you feel inspired to prioritize collaborative writing and start to implement it when assigning practice, projects, and written work! 

Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode125

Resources Mentioned:

• Join the Writing Made Simple Membership
• Monthly Writing Prompts Free Sample

Connect with me:

• Check out my TpT Store
• Subscribe to my E-mail list
• Instagram Posts
• Blog Posts
• Facebook Posts

If you are enjoying The Literacy Dive Podcast, please follow, leave a rating, and a helpful review! It is much appreciated and thank you for listening!

With most things, balance is the key to life. It’s about finding the right amount between two things, not having too much or too little. Well, the same can be said with writing skills. We’ve established before that writing can be difficult and is a challenge for a lot of students, so it’s finding the right balance between interest and skill. In today’s episode, I’m sharing 5 strategies you can start using with your students that’s a balance between creativity and technical writing skills.

When two concepts are on opposite ends of the spectrum, we tend to teach them separately, when really, they should happen inter-connectedly. It’s important for students to understand that writing is fun and engaging, while also displaying proper technical accuracy. 

In order to create this balance of writing skills, I’ve come up with 5 strategies that pulls out student creativity, along with paying attention to technical writing, which are:

1. Provide student choice and voice in their writing
2. Model effective writing techniques
3. Incorporate a variety of writing experiences in your classroom
4. Find a balance between creative expression and technical accuracy
5. Encourage reading

Finding this balance of writing skills can be a complex and challenging task, but is achieved through the right approach and these 5 strategies. Showing students the balance will help them value both creativity and technical accuracy, while also striving to improve in each area to eventually become confident, skilled, and expressive writers! 

Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode124

Resources Mentioned:

• Join the Writing Made Simple Membership
• Monthly Writing Prompts Free Sample
• Monthly Writing Prompts
• Writing Center Posters & Writing Paper Templates 
• Episode 32, Diving Into Your Q&As: How Do You Set Up Effective Writing Centers?

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If you are enjoying The Literacy Dive Podcast, please follow, leave a rating, and a helpful review! It is much appreciated and thank you for listening!

As a literacy expert, I always bring you strategies and tips that you can use in your classroom that bring your students success to their reading and writing skills. But sometimes, I love bringing on other experts to add to your teacher toolbox, especially when they bring a different perspective. 

That’s exactly what I’m doing on today’s episode. I have guest Hallie Sherman, a speech-language pathologist, who’s giving us insight and sharing strategies on strengthening student language and critical thinking skills.

Hallie Sherman M.S. CCC-SLP is a licensed speech-language pathologist working full time in a public school in New York. She currently works with 5th and 6th grade students but has experience working with preschool through high school. She is also the CEO behind Speech Time Fun, Inc. where she helps SLPs working with older students plan with ease and confidence through her blog, TpT store, SLP Coffee Talk podcast and her SLP Elevate membership. 

Although Hallie works with students with language disabilities, these strategies can be used with any student who struggles with vocabulary, comprehension, and other critical thinking skills. Hallie explains what different literacy skills she works with students on and emphasizes how building a strong foundation is the key to long term academic success.

In order to be an effective reader, students need to retain a variety of skills, so if they’re lacking in certain skills, it’s going to hold them back. Therefore, by implementing these strategies that Hallie has provided us, it’s going to strengthen a students’ language and critical thinking skills, which is the ultimate goal. 

Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode123

Resources Mentioned:

• Join the Writing Made Simple Membership

Connect with me:

• Check out my TpT Store
• Subscribe to my E-mail list
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If you are enjoying The Literacy Dive Podcast, please follow, leave a rating, and a helpful review! It is much appreciated and thank you for listening!

When introducing a new type of genre, sometimes students need an example to understand certain literacy skills and concepts. This is where mentor texts come in. Most teachers understand the concept of mentor texts, but struggle with knowing how to utilize them in the classroom. In today’s episode, I’m sharing how to best utilize mentor texts, specifically during your biography units.

Since biographies, and even autobiographies, aren’t the most exciting for students, engagement and interest is key to getting them hooked. Once they are engaged, mentor texts are used to make connections, show examples of reading skills, and so much more. In the episode, I provide guidance, activities, resources, and tips to help you implement mentor texts that’s purposeful and meaningful.

With the next few months being prime opportunities to teach biographies, incorporating the use of mentor texts increases a students’ engagement with the genre. Implementing the strategies and tips on how to best utilize mentor texts during biography units, will get kids excited to learn about other important people in our society. 

Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode122

Resources Mentioned:

• Join the Writing Made Simple Membership
• Grab my free Step-by-Step Writing routine!
• Biography Graphic Organizers Freebie
• Black History Biography & Activity Bundle

Connect with me:

• Check out my TpT Store
• Subscribe to my E-mail list
• Instagram Posts
• Blog Posts
• Facebook Posts

If you are enjoying The Literacy Dive Podcast, please follow, leave a rating, and a helpful review! It is much appreciated and thank you for listening!

Teaching literacy is often surrounded by the genre of fiction. Students understand the characteristics and plot elements, which results in them independently reading fictional books on their own. But there’s another type of genre, nonfiction, and more specifically biographies, which they’re less familiar with. 

February is the perfect time for teaching biographies by incorporating Black History Month. But even without that, incorporating biographies into your classroom is so important. While it’s not as initially engaging as fiction, there are ways to pique students’ interest with this genre. In today’s episode, I’m sharing my best practices for teaching biographies. 

Oftentimes, students don’t like what they don’t understand, so getting them to understand biographies is the first step. Throughout the episode, I walk you through my five simple steps of exploring biographies in order to get students interested in this type of genre. With this exploration, you’ll help students understand how this genre works, how to identify it from a group of texts, and how to recognize the main purpose of this genre. 

Fiction is a genre students already enjoy, but by incorporating these best practices for teaching biographies, this will soon be a genre students will be engaged in and exploring all on their own. 

Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode121

Resources Mentioned:

• Join the Writing Made Simple Membership
• Grab my free Step-by-Step Writing routine!
• Biography Graphic Organizers Freebie

Connect with me:

• Check out my TpT Store
• Subscribe to my E-mail list
• Instagram Posts
• Blog Posts
• Facebook Posts

If you are enjoying The Literacy Dive Podcast, please follow, leave a rating, and a helpful review! It is much appreciated and thank you for listening!