Stay ConnectedA podcast for blooming teachers who are looking to learn, reflect, grow, and connect within a supportive teaching community. I am here to be your personal teacher mentor, leading you on your personal professional development journey without the nonsense busy work that often gets piled on new teachers!
Learn more at appleblossomteachers.com
Copyright: © Copyright 2020 Lorraine Padilla
We’ve all sat through PD sessions that were less than engaging. It doesn’t feel great to be sitting through a session covering content we already know, or that has us sitting and listening for the bulk, rather than actively putting the new content into practice.
The same goes for our students. Today I’m sharing a quick acronym to help you self-check lessons to get the most bang for your instructional buck. When we are planning content that we know might be a little lengthy or dry for our students, we can make it REAL and hook them in.
Links and Resources Mentioned in this Episode
Book: 50 Strategies for Active Teaching by Guillamue, Yopp & Yopp
Podcast Episode: Honest Math Chat Interview: Peg Smith
Math Games: Color 10 from the Math Learning Center (bottom row on this page)
Photo Samples: Relevant Map Skills Activities
Podcast Episode: Authentic Audience Writing Projects for Upper Elementary
(TLDR - reading logs don't work, but this FREE printable bookshelf can!)
Traditional reading logs - we've all seen them, used them, most likely fibbed on them...GASP!
It's the truth though - in every post I see about reading logs, so many teachers and parents share anecdotes about how they have encouraged fibbing, even from voracious readers, because it's just something extra to fill out.
We do know that keeping track of what we read can be helpful - it allows us to see patterns in our preferences of authors, genres, styles; it helps us remember what we might recommend to others; it gives us a sense of accomplishment when we realize, "Hey, I actually HAVE read quite a bit!"
So what can we do instead that helps students reflect on this information and gives us insight into their reading life as their teacher?
Try these personal bookshelves!
Grab your free set at appleblossomteachers.com/readinglogs
Want more ideas for building a strong reading culture in your classroom? Catch Episode 45: Classroom Community Starts with a Strong Reading Culture
Student centered norms and classroom design are important to establishing the ownership and engagement we desire. But what about when we get into the day-to-day, actual content area instruction?
Many of our teacher manuals aren't particularly designed to be student-centered, primarily because the big publishers don't know our actual students! There are somethings we can do, though, to adapt our content delivery and activities to be more student-centered:
1. Overlapping our content areas
2. Intentionally using formative assessments and flexibility of pacing
3. Providing opportunities to go deeper, not just move faster
Today I’m sharing a quick run down of tips to keep in mind as you plan your class procedures and how you will introduce them during that very busy first week of school.
The short version:
Pre-teach things that are essential to starting a task
Mention that you may pause their work mid-activity to briefly introduce the next system they need to know
Layer the teaching into activities that use it - don’t separate a full time block to teach a million systems, introduce them as you need them and review next time they come up
Keep things short and sweet - our brains will all be a bit mushy, and long explanations mean everyone tunes out and the systems don’t stick!
Lastly, have a checklist for you and a checklist for them to see!
Resources & Links:
With student ownership over their learning comes a need for shared responibility over the space and systems. Today I'm sharing 3 activities you can do within the first few days of school to support positive classroom management and gain student buy-in.
These 3 things can be circled back to all year as you and your students reflect on what is and is not working in your classroom, what everyone wants or needs in order to feel successful, and how every member of the community - grown ups and students alike - are essential to helping that vision come to fruition.
Need some visuals? Check out the charts I mentioned on Instagram (@AppleBlossomTeachers):
And if you missed last week's episode, definitely catch a listen as you plan your classroom design for the upcoming school year! Listen HERE.
Let's look at a few easy swaps and considerations for setting up a student-centered classroom.
Today we'll talk:
Links and resources:
Today we are kicking off a mini series all about student-centered learning environments. What is student centered learning and why is it important in upper elementary?
Today’s episode will be a little more philosophical…overall what does this mean to us and other educators? How has this looked in upper grade classrooms? What are the outcomes - pros and cons- of creating a student- centered learning environment? All of these can hopefully help you reflect on where your classroom is, and what we want our classrooms to be like next school year.
Over the next few episodes, we’ll dig more into the practical - what might the first week of school look like in a student centered classroom? How can we design a student-centered learning space? Where does our adopted curriculum fit, especially if it’s not very student centered?
Before we get into all that goodness, though, let’s make sure we are in agreement on what a SC classroom is, and why it’s so important to supporting lasting learning for our students.
Resources & Links:
FREE Training! 5 Keys to Increasing Student Engagement in Upper Elementary - appleblossomteachers.com/real
XQ Super Schools article: What is Student-centered Learning and Why Is It Important?
Article: Does the Teaching and Learning Process in Primary Schools Correspond to the Characteristics of the 21st Century Learning? (International Journal of Instruction; July 2020, Sumardi et. al)
Come say hi over on Instagram @AppleBlossomTeachers - I’d love to hear from you!!
In honor of Earth Day, I’m RECYCLING and REPURPOSING an incredible interview with Amy Louise Davis, of Alou Artist, all about how we can reduce “throw away culture” in our classrooms while also supporting mindfulness and creativity in our students.
Amy is a textile artist and embroiderer who is fascinated by pattern and sculpture. Influenced by environmental and social issues, she created alou in 2013 to tackle throw away culture. With a particular interest in repurposing often overlooked, pre-loved materials, she uses her skills in sculpting and embroidery to conceptualize and design beautiful new artifacts. Amy has also found a strong connection in the relationship between sustainability and mindfulness, which she shares with us today along with project ideas we can easily incorporate into our classrooms,
Links and resources:
What was the BEST class you've ever been in? What made it so?
Great teachers have a knack for seamlessly weaving inspiration, passion, and content together in a way that creates a community of curiosity & excitement.
We no doubt always start the year with the mindset of creating this type of learning environment for our students, but come May? No amount of sparkly motivational teacher quotes or giant travel mugs of coffee are getting us through the days right now!
So take today's episode as a little power boost to get you through the final stretch of this year, to celebreate all the amazing things you've done to create an incredible space for your students this year, and to inspire all the motivation to be someone's best class ever!
And because Teacher Appreciation Week is coming up, let's also celebrate some of the teachers who have left joy-filled and inspirational impressions on us and our teaching! Record a short message on your voice memo app telling me your name, what you teach, and a fun or inspirational memory about one of your favorite teachers.
Then email it directly to me at Lorraine@appleblossomteachers.com (you can also just type it if the thought of hearing your voice on the radio gives you the heeby jeebies!).
I look forward to sharing as many inspirational teacher stories as I can throughout the month of May!
Want some specific strategies and projects to level up the engagement &motivation in your upper grade classrom? Grab the FREE video training here!
We’ve been chatting a ton about higher order thinking skills and getting our students really digging deep with our grade level content.
🤷♀️But what do we do when students are struggling to simply meet that grade level content?
How can we simultaneously scaffold our instruction while also supporting all learners in applying HOTS and complex application of grade level content?
It’s absolutely possible, and it is absolutely necessary!
Today I'm sharing simple strategies for supporting all learners in accessing opportunities for creative application of learning and complex discussions during novel studies.
If you've ever seen a project or complex novel study and thought "That's awesome, but my students just aren't ready for that," this episode is for you!
📱Don't forget to connect with me @AppleBlossomTeachers on Instagram - hearing from you keeps me motivated to share more strategies and ideas!
For resources, professional development, and more visit appleblossomteachers.com or check out my TPT store HERE.
Looking for some fun ways to teach informational text structures, author's purpose, nonfiction text features, and more that go beyond the usual activities and anchor charts?
Here's a quick mini-lesson and an exploration activity you can use to engage your students authentically with informational text analysis. Watch how this frame of thinking shifts the complexity for all your informational reading and writing lessons for the year.
🎉 Grab the FREE on-demand training "5 Keys to Increasing Student Engagement in Upper Elementary" here. You'll get project examples, instructional strategies, and as always, some teacher pep talks to keep your own teaching passion burning bright!
👓 Want a visual of the lesson materials mentioned in the episode? Check out this post and share your ideas in the comments!
📲 Be sure to reach out to me on Instagram @AppleBlossomTeachers if you want a copy of the slides mentioned in the episode, and don't forget to leave a review here in your podcast app if you're enjoying the show!
Let's chat about an easy way to push students' observations, analyses, and questioning to a higher level.
Using a strategy known as "Think Like A Disciplinarian," students are challenged to take on the perspective of an expert in a field or topic. Students ask questions, make observations, and draw relevant conclusions that a specific disciplinarian would note about our topic of study.
Why is this helpful for teaching higher order thinking skills?
Taking on a specific perspective allows students to openly ask questions and analyze a topic in a more complex way, vs just making our own observations as 5th graders
Social pressure of being viewed as "wrong" or not knowing something everyone else knows is virtually eliminated when we shoulder the questions onto an imaginary disciplinarian.
🎉 Grab the FREE on-demand training "5 Keys to Increasing Student Engagement in Upper Elementary" here. You'll get project examples, instructional strategies, and as always, some teacher pep talks to keep your own teaching passion burning bright!
Connect with me on Instagram @AppleBlossomTeachers, and don't forget to leave a review here in your podcast app if you're enjoying the show!
I’m sharing a tool, known as the Icons of Depth and Complexity, for getting our students to think deeply about the texts we read, events we discuss, and situations we encounter.
This simple tool for helping students access and apply higher-order thinking skills is a game changer for so many reasons!
🌟🌟🌟 Spelling lessons not sticking for your students? Learn how a few easy shifts to science-informed spelling can make a world of difference! Enrollment in Stronger Spelling: Small Steps for Teachers of Big Kids is now open. Visit AppleBlossomTeachers.com/spelling to learn more and join the fun!
Resources and links mentioned:
These 2 strategies had my students asking if they were allowed to go back and reread! Yup, a great reading response prompt can be the difference between "I have to go back and find text evidence." and "I've gotta find evidence to prove my point!!"
Strategy 1: Add a Likert Scale to yes/no questions.
Strategy 2: Have students add themseleves to the scene or event.
🌟🌟🌟 Did you hear? I'm kicking off a mini course to help busy upper elementary teachers increase spelling success without revamping your whole word study system.
🔗 Learn more and join the waitlist at appleblossomteachers.com/spelling today!
Links and Resources Mentioned in this Episode:
Today's quick win strategy is all about keeping our students moving forward, allowing them to deeply engage with complex upper elementary skills, by just giving them the key information.
Literally, just give them the key!
Fluently solving multiplication facts, figuring out how to spell a word, finding key details from a story...yes, there is a time and place for teaching our students these things. But when working on more complex aspects, don't stall student engagement by sidetracking the lesson. Or worse, don't hold students back from participation in a lesson just because they are stuck on a prerequisite skill.
You'll win with more engagement, more motivation to try the tougher concepts, and less time teaching things over and over for the "first time" as students are ready.
Cheers to 2023, and I hope this episode helps you and your students get past those post-winter-break brain farts!
To learn more about the "Stronger Spelling: Small steps for teachers of big kids" on-demand training launching this month, click here!
Over the last few weeks, we’ve been chatting all about how we can bridge high quality reading instruction to strengthen our students’ writing. Today I want to share this throwback episode to give you some project ideas your students can actually apply all these lessons to.
I hope this juicy past episode gives you some ideas on how to motivate and engage your young writers, and provides a frame of reference as we start to get into some higher order thinking strategies over the next few weeks.
Episode 31 Links and Resources:
💻 Looking for more ways to take learning from ROTE to REAL? Grab the free video training here, plus a print-and-go planning template you can use tomorrow!
📍 The Navigator: Use this to find what you need most!
🔗 Links and resources from this episode:
Loved this episode? It would make my day to read your review, and can help more teachers discover the podcast!
We’ve talked about using physical texts such as novels, picture books, and poems as mentor text for writing and reading standards. But what if instead of just learning from the author’s writing, we actually learn directly from the author themselves?
Today I’m sharing all about why and how you can use author chats (live experiences or prerecorded) to study authors crafts moves for upper elementary writing lessons.
Resources and Links:
Today's focus will be literary mentor texts - using one text with paired reading and writing standards to maximize our class time, increase student engagement with the content, and create learning that lasts.
One picture book can tackle authors craft moves, author’s voice, tone of the story, point of view, sentence structures, and research for writing, to analyzing literary elements, word choice, narrative text features, tone of the story, and more for reading.
Resources and Links
5 Keys to Increasing Student Engagement in Upper Elementary FREE video training
Informational Mentor Texts for Nonfiction Writing - Episode 29
Novel Study No-no’s and How to Avoid Them - Episode 46
Using a Reading Lesson Plan for Writing - Episode 48
Placing Text at the Center of the Standards-Aligned ELA Classroom
*By Meredith Liben and Susan Pimentel on Achieve the Core
The Science of Reading Comprehension Instruction
*By Nell K. Duke, Alessandra E. Ward, P. David Pearson
*The Reading Teacher Journal, V.74 Issue 6
One strategy to really deepen complexity and understanding beyond memorization, to a place where students are truly applying that skill, is to be very intentional with pairing reading and writing. Today, we're chatting all about using your weekly reading lesson plan to truly guide your writing plans.
Why is this a huge help for BOTH reading and writing understandings? How does this increase student engagement? How the heck do I fit this in with my given pacing plan?!?
This episode zones in on one example, specifically narrative point of view, to give you an idea of how you can pair reading and writing standards to get major bang for your buck!
Resources mentioned in this episode:
If you've tried some of the strategies I've shared and found success, I would so appreciate if you'd leave a review here on the podcast. This helps other teachers just like you discover the show, and that is my biggest dream...to have classrooms full of excited, engaged upper graders everywhere!! Thank you so much for your support.
It boils down to this: Students can’t love reading without knowing HOW to read.
The good news is, teaching students how to read and creating a class community full of students who love to read can definitely happen simultaneously. And in upper grades, it absolutely needs to.
Reading conferences are a great strategy for reading instruction in upper elementary, really helping you meet your students where they are and nudge their reading abilities forward.
Listen in for what reading conferences ca look like, why they're such an impactful strategy for reading lessons, and how to actually fit them in with your boxed curriculum.
Resources and links mentioned:
Looking for more? Visit appleblossomteachers.com/real for a FREE video training: 5 Keys to Increasing Engagement in Upper Elementary
These are 3 common novel study and read aloud no-no’s, all 3 that I've definitely done myself!
Today's episode shares what we can do instead that will increase student engagement and propel their learning forward.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Want 5 simple ways you can support a strong reading culture in upper elementary, and surprisingly have some strong classroom community building as a bonus?!
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Your no-prep action item this week is to share pieces of your own reading life with your students.
This can be a memory from your own elementary reading, a current or recent book you’ve loved or loathed and why, a time you ditched a book, the reason you chose a book, other things you’ve read that aren’t books, and more!
Make it your goal this week to connect with one student’s reading journey each day, or with your whole class, by sharing a bit of your own reading journey that relates.
Help me, help you! (And maybe get some coffee on me!) Take this quick 2-question survey so I can better plan the upcoming podcast episodes with your needs in mind. I truly appreciate your input! Winners drawn on November 7th.
You've heard of speed dating, right? What if I told you that model works for efficient and pretty thorough peer editing, too?!
"Speed Proofread" eliminates some of the challenges and pressure that come with exchanging papers with one peer, and shifts proofreading and revisions to a whole-class, collaborative effort where everyone supports everyone's growth.
The best part? It can be done in just 15 minutes!
Grab the table tents and a written description of the activity here, and be sure to share this with a fellow teacher who would find it helpful.
This is a simple, no-prep method for helping students give authentic, skills-focused feedback on peer projects.
Having students set up art projects, STEM designs, etc. around the room in a gallery format, then having students leave sticky note compliments around peer projects using content-specific vocabulary we were focusing on.
Check out examples here and here of how we've done this with an art project!
Don't forget to share this episode with a friend who would find it helpful, and catch you next week for another of may favorite peer feedback strategies!
Short on time, but still want students to regularly practice formally presenting to peers? Enter - Gallery Walk Presentations!
This is a great strategy for building students' presentation confidence, and great for assessing peer listening comprehension. Listen in for a quick run down of what this can look like in upper elementary.
Links and Resources:
Accommodations aren’t just for inside our classrooms, and Erin Castillo of @AffirmationsAndAccessibility is sharing some insight on how we can make all parts of our school year engaging and accessible to all our learners.
This is such an important conversation full of eye-opening considerations. You will leave this episode feeling empowered to support each and every student during things like field trips, assemblies, group projects, and so much more.
Erin and I would love to hear your biggest takeaways, questions you have upon reflection, and if you’d like us to dig deeper into accessible education. Take a screenshot of the episode, share it to your stories or feed, and tag us in your thoughts over on Instagram:
Erin: @affirmationsandaccessibility
Lorraine: @appleblossomteachers
💻 Looking for simple ways to take learning from ROTE to REAL? Grab the free video training here, plus a print-and-go planning template for weaving guest presentations into your content!
🔗 Links and resources from this episode:
💜 Lastly, don’t forget to share this important episode with a colleague or teacher bestie so every student has access to a well rounded school year!
Guest speakers can be an easy way to make learning relevant, help students build value for skills, topics, and disciplines you are covering, and form partnerships that can open even more learning opportunities within your community.
Ready for more? Join me on July 28th for a half-day, virtual, interactive workshop! I am so excited to help you collaboratively design your student-centered classroom...a place where your students will be eager to continue learning, sharing their knowledge, and have the teachers down the hall asking "how the heck do you do that?!"
I promise it's easier than it sounds, and in this workshop we will cover the basics PLUS give you actionable tools and strategies to kick start your best school year yet!
For all the details, and to register before we reach capacity, head to AppleBlossomTeachers.com/summer.
Links mentioned in this episode:
Short and Sweet Episode Week 3: This is a strategy called “Step In - Step Out,” which I originally learned from Michael Friermood, AKA The Thinker Builder. You can learn more about his version HERE, which is awesome for building a deeper understanding of a narrative text, as well as the impact of authors’ choices.
I also have a few ideas for how we can do something similar but more focused on nonfiction texts. Listen in for my two ideas, plus a little announcement about an incredible interview dropping on July 12!
💻 Looking for more? Grab the FREE on-demand video training: 5 Lasting Ways to Increase Student Engagement in Upper Elementary
Got a burning teaching question? Send your Curriculum Conundrum to me here, or just DM me over on instagram @appleblossomteachers. Can’t wait to support you!
Welcome to week two of our Short And Sweet Summer episodes! Each week I'll share one quick-win engagement strategy for your third through sixth grade classroom, along with a brain dump of ways YOU can use it!
These SASS-y episodes are great for a quick listen while running errands, or to save up for a big binge on your upcoming flight or road trip!
💡I'm sharing my two favorite "quick scan" activities for kicking off a unit. These are intended to activate students' background knowledge and give you a glimpse of where you'll need to invest the most effort during the unit. They're also a great way to compare student confidence with the vocabulary before and after the unit.
*I origninally learned this strategy from one of my favorite PD books in my credential program, 50 Strategies for Active Teaching: Engaging K-12 Learners in the Classroom. The colored dot rating and class continuum scale are just two of the 8 quick scans they share in the book, and the quick scan is just the first of the 50 strategies!
🌟🌟🌟 Want a more specific game plan for your grade level, content area, and the students in front of you? Join me for the Upper Elementary Engagement Academy on July 28th, a half-day interactive virtual workshop where we will create your student-centered game plan and fill your tool bag with tons of actionable engagement strategies! Visit appleblossomteachers.com/summer to register.
Welcome to week one of our Short And Sweet Summer episodes! Each week I'll share one quick-win engagement strategy for your third through sixth grade classroom, along with a brain dump of ways YOU can use it!
These SASS-y episodes are great for a quick listen while running errands, or to save up for a big binge on your upcoming flight or road trip!
💡Today is all about concept attaintment - a way of getting students to think deeply about the content you will be studying, before you even tell them what it is! These example and non-example sorts can be done with no fancy materials, using photographs or clip art printouts, or even with tangible objects. I promise you will pique student interest, get them curious about the unit or lesson ahead, and give them an anchor to which they can connect learning with as you move forward. Ready to make that learning stick? Let's jump in!
*I origninally learned this strategy from one of my favorite PD books in my credential program, 50 Strategies for Active Teaching: Engaging K-12 Learners in the Classroom. This book is worth 10 times it's weight in gold, and has strategies for every stage of your units! (P.S. This is not an affiliate link, I just truly love this book!)
🌟🌟🌟 Want a more specific game plan for your grade level, content area, and the students in front of you? Join me for the Upper Elementary Engagement Academy on July 28th, a half-day interactive virtual workshop where we will create your student-centered game plan and fill your tool bag with tons of actionable engagement strategies! Visit appleblossomteachers.com/summer to register.
Top 3 Tips to Maximize your Summer PD: A system for your notes, a system for your files, and a system to keep track of how well (or not!) the new ideas work when you try them! These are my top 3 tips to get the most out of the amazing summer learning you have planned.
And speaking of summer learning, are you ready to join me for a one-day virtual LIVE workshop? The Upper Elementary Engagement Academy is coming this July. Together, we will design YOUR student-centered classroom to increase engagement, spark motivation, and level up learning! For all the details, visit AppleBlossomTeachers.com/summer
Ready to jump into some summer learning right now? Grab the FREE on-demand video training: 5 Lasting Ways to Increase Student Engagement in Upper Elementary
🔗 Links and resources from this episode:
Got a burning teaching question? Send your Curriculum Conundrum to me here, or just DM me over on instagram @appleblossomteachers. Can’t wait to support you!
Teacher Summer Priorities: Join me in a more casual episode as I share a little behind-the-scenes of the summer reflection process we’ve been chatting about. If you need a little inspiration or camaraderie, this is the episode for you!
Looking for something a little more actionable? Grab the FREE on-demand video training: 5 Lasting Ways to Increase Student Engagement in Upper Elementary
🔗 Links and resources from this episode:
Got a burning teaching question? Send your Curriculum Conundrum to me here, or just DM me over on instagram @appleblossomteachers. Can’t wait to support you!
Welcome to “Choose-your-own-adventure” summer learning edition! Whether it’s organization and planning, instruction in specific content areas, or even taking your teaching to the next level, here are some recommendations.
Use the guide below to quickly find what you need, or listen to the full episode so you know what else is available when you need it. I scratched the surface on why these ones made the curated list, so feel free to DM me on Instagram @appleblossomteachers for more info on any of the resources I recommended!
📍Choose your own summer PD adventure: Use this to find what you need most!
🔗 Links and resources from this episode:
Loved this episode? It would make my day to read your review, and can help more teachers discover the podcast!
Have you ever come back to that one week of teacher prep time feeling like it’s just NOT enough to really help you mentally and instructionally plan for a solid year? Then once we get into the day-to-day hustle, it’s impossible to catch up, let alone get ahead! This leads to that slow-burning-candle vibe, which ain’t it if we want to stay passionate and be our best teacher selves.
The solution? Intentionally plan for how you will rest, recharge, reset, and refine your teacher self this summer. Grab a notepad or the free notetaking guide, and let’s get into it!
💻 Looking for simple ways to take learning from ROTE to REAL? Grab the free video training here, plus a print-and-go planning template you can use tomorrow!
📍 The Navigator: Use this to find what you need most!
🔗 Links and resources from this episode:
Loved this episode? It would make my day to read your review, and can help more teachers discover the podcast!
Don’t forget to submit your Curriculum Conundrum at appleblossomteachers.com/mycc, and subscribe to this podcast so you don’t miss an answer!
It can be such a great feeling when our kids are writing solid paragraphs or essays, using the fun little acronyms or mnemonic devices we’ve supported them with. But just like learning to ride a bike with training wheels, it’s not until those extra supports are taken off that you’re truly challenged with applying your skills. Today, we are chatting all about teaching writing without a formula.
💻 Looking for more ways to take learning from ROTE to REAL? Grab the free video training here, plus a print-and-go planning template you can use tomorrow!
📍 The Navigator: Use this to find what you need most!
🔗 Links and resources from this episode:
Loved this episode? It would make my day to read your review, and can help more teachers discover the podcast!
Don’t forget to submit your Curriculum Conundrum at appleblossomteachers.com/mycc, and subscribe to this podcast so you don’t miss an answer!
Students who are BEGGING for more writing time? Yes, please! One easy key to increasing writing engagement and motivation is adding in an authentic audience.
Here’s why you need to be leveraging this strategy, plus real 3rd - 6th grade project ideas from no additional prep all the way to the big leagues, major audience productions.
💻 Looking for more ways to take learning from ROTE to REAL? Grab the free video training here, plus a print-and-go planning template you can use tomorrow!
📍 The Navigator: Use this to find what you need most!
🔗 Links and resources from this episode:
Loved this episode? It would make my day to read your review, and can help more teachers discover the podcast!
Don’t forget to submit your Curriculum Conundrum at appleblossomteachers.com/mycc, and subscribe to this podcast so you don’t miss an answer!
How can you differentiate for such a wide range of writing levels in upper elementary, especially when it feels like pulling teeth to get your kids excited about writing? Writer’s Workshop is a great solution, and with a few key moves in your teacher toolbox, your students’ writing will start to soar!
***There are TONS of great references and resources shared throughout this episode. Scroll down to the Links section to check out the books I use and those free Jen Bengel resources I mentioned.
The Navigator: Use this to find what you need most!
Links and resources from this episode:
Loved this episode? Take a screenshot, add it to IG, and tag me @appleblossomteachers so we can help even more teachers just like you!
Don’t forget to submit your Curriculum Conundrum at appleblossomteachers.com/mycc, and subscribe to this podcast so you don’t miss an answer!
Do you use literary mentor texts in your classroom? This practice has definitely gained popularity, and for good reason, but many of the resources out there offer strategies for using picture books, novels, and poetry as mentor texts for writing. The strategies from literature analysis can be applied to nonfiction sentence structure, but there are a few easy things you can add to specifically help your students read like writers in informational text.
You don’t want to miss:
PLUS, my very favorite way to make Open House truly highlight student learning by helping them be the docents!
Links and resources from this episode:
>>> P.S. Next week is my first ever THIRD GRADE open house, and my students and I have been planning BIG THINGS! Be sure to follow along in my stories next week for all the prep and showcase!
Loved this episode? Take a screenshot, add it to IG, and tag me @appleblossomteachers so we can help even more teachers just like you!
Don’t forget to submit your Curriculum Conundrum at appleblossomteachers.com/mycc, and subscribe to this podcast so you don’t miss an answer!
Remember all those incredible types of informational text we talked about last week? (ICYMI, definitely head back to episode 27!) Today I’m spilling my secrets for bulking up your informational classroom library section on a budget.
Listen in for 6 ways you can support student learning with more (and more authentic!) informational texts for free and almost-free!
You don’t want to miss:
Links and resources from this episode:
Loved this episode? Take a screenshot, add it to IG, and tag me @appleblossomteachers so we can help even more teachers just like you!
Don’t forget to submit your Curriculum Conundrum at appleblossomteachers.com/mycc, and subscribe to this podcast so you don’t miss an answer!
Welcome back! I am so pumped for this relaunch. Let's jump on in!
>>> Nonfiction books and articles are often readily available in our curriculum and digital downloads, but there’s a whole world of real informational text we can easily incorporate beyond that.
Grab your notepad, because I’m sharing TONS of easy ways you can expose your students to more authentic, more varied types of informational text. Giving nonfiction text a purpose in their world, beyond the classroom, is key to increasing student motivation and engagement.
You don’t want to miss:
PLUS, how a local dentist is my recent favorite source of informational text in my library. Say what?!
Links and resources from this episode:
Loved this episode? Take a screenshot, add it to IG, and tag me @appleblossomteachers so we can help even more teachers just like you!
Don’t forget to submit your Curriculum Conundrum at appleblossomteachers.com/mycc, and subscribe to this podcast so you don’t miss an answer!
Summary:
Today’s episode is FULL of simple and actionable strategies that will level up your students’ motivation, retention of content knowledge, interpersonal skills, and so much more. The key? Sketchbooks!!
I’m sharing a little about my journey with sketchbooks in the classroom, and how I use them as a tool to support student creativity and content knowledge in transferable ways.
Key Points:
Summary:
Were you a math lover or a “math avoider” as a student? What do you want your students to be? I had the privilege of chatting with Mona Iehl of Local Learners and Co, who is sharing her passion and strategies for building positive math identities within our students. Mona is an absolute “math teacher cheerleader” and the tips she shares in this episode are so motivating and so actionable!
A few things we chatted about:
Links and resources:
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Summary:
Congrats! You just landed a new teaching job...but where to begin?! You’re so excited to start, but it’s still a couple months until you can really meet with your team or set up your room. Even if you aren’t sure of the specifics quite yet, there are a few things you can think about that can help you feel ready once back to school hits.
Links and resources:
Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss out on any of the excitement coming your way this summer! I’ve got a great list of special guests and bonus episodes coming your way all summer long!
And, if you enjoyed this episode, please leave me a rating and a review so more teachers can find us. Thanks!
Summary:
Elementary classrooms are notorious for cute, colorful decor and fun little projects that supplement our content, but that often comes with a cost in terms of sustainability. Today I’m interviewing Amy Louise Davis, of Alou Artist, all about how we can reduce “throw away culture” in our classrooms while also supporting mindfulness and creativity in our students.
Amy is a textile artist and embroiderer who is fascinated by pattern and sculpture. Influenced by environmental and social issues, she created alou in 2013 to tackle throw away culture. With a particular interest in repurposing often overlooked, pre-loved materials, she uses her skills in sculpting and embroidery to conceptualize and design beautiful new artifacts. Amy has also found a strong connection in the relationship between sustainability and mindfulness, which she shares with us today along with project ideas we can easily incorporate into our classrooms,
Links and resources:
Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss out on any of the excitement coming your way this summer! I’ve got a great list of special guests and bonus episodes coming your way, plus I’ll be sharing all my advice during my process of restarting at a new district, school, and grade level this summer!
And, if you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating and a review so more teachers can find us. Thanks!
Summary:
Project Based Learning, PBL, is an incredible way to bring authentic learning applications to your students. Today, I’m chatting with Kristen Moore of @moorethanjustX all about getting started with PBL, some common challenges in designing authentic PBL units as well as how to avoid them, and some helpful tips for getting started!
Kristen is an instructional coach at a variety of schools across Michigan, applying her expertise of Project Based Learning from her years of teaching at a PBL-centric, competency-based high school. Kristen also provides professional development for educators everywhere through her math professional development company, Moore Than Just X. You can also find Kristen sharing her advice in various education publications, such as Edutopia and the Modern Classrooms Project.
Be sure to check out the links below to grab Kristen’s free resources, learn more about her mission and professional development options, and connect with her online!
Links and resources:
Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss out on any of the excitement coming your way this summer! I’ve got a great list of special guests and bonus episodes coming your way, plus I’ll be sharing all my advice during my process of restarting at a new district, school, and grade level this summer!
And, if you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating and share what you loved about it in a review so more teachers can find us. Thanks so much!
Summary:
Now that you’ve closed out your teacher-brain for the year and wrapped up your time with your students, it’s time to think about closing out your classroom! But before you lock that door or turn in your key for the summer, follow these tips so August you will be singing your praises! I’m sharing tips for closing out your physical classroom efficiently and effectively, getting that digital file hot mess in order, and staging a few things that will be easy to find and use come back-to-school season!
You won’t want to miss my unique tip for mapping out my classroom layout and design - but you need to hear it before you lock those classroom doors for the summer!
Links and resources:
Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss out on any of the excitement coming your way this summer! I’ve got a great list of special guests and bonus episodes coming your way, starting with Kristen Moore of @moorethanjustx sharing all her Project Based Learning wisdom next week!
And, if you enjoyed this episode, please leave me a rating and a review so more teachers can find us. Thanks!
Now that you've reflected on your school year and started to clear out your "teacher thoughts," it's time to set some plans in place for summer!
Wait, aren't we just going to chill and recharge over the summer?! YES!! But if you're anything like me, without intentionally planning the things that will make me feel rested and reenergized, those summer days will slip away all too quickly!
Grab your reflection guide at appleblossomteachers.com/links and follow along as we think of the things we want and need to do this summer in order to avoid burnout and feel recharged come Back to School Season!
Plus, hang tight 'til the end for some announcements about the great things coming your way on the podcast this summer!
As always, I would love to connect with you on socials, so send me a message on Instagram and let me know what's in store for your summer!
And if you're enjoying this podcast and finding it helpful, I would be forever grateful if you'd add a rating and share what you love about it. This will help other teachers discover it in their search, and will help me to make sure I keep providing the things you need most!
Thanks a million, Apple Blossom Teachers! Keep on blooming!
Let's make sure that teacher brain of yours is ready to close out this chapter of your teaching career, rest and recharge over the summer, and prepare to start another incredible chapter in the fall!
Today is definitely a grab a notepad, be ready to hit pause a few times kind of episode, so get ready! I wanted to make sure YOU left today feeling like you've really identified your own strengths and challenges from the year, and have some specific things in mind you want to improve on for next year.
I hope you find today's episode so helpful, but if you want a little more guidance on this or feel like you've found things you need to work on but aren't quite sure how, be sure to reach out so we can make a game plan together!
Remember, I'm here to be your favorite teacher mentor, the one you can come to with your questions and never feel like you're imposing! I want to make sure you feel like you are continually blooming as the incredible teacher you are meant to be!
You can find me over on Instagram @appleblossomteachers or at appleblossomteachers.com, and be sure to hit subscribe here so you don't miss an episode.
If you are enjoying this podcast and finding it helpful, please be sure to leave a review so other teachers can discover it too!
I'm so grateful you are here!
You and your students have made significant memories and progress as a group this year. Honor that relationship and provide great closure by tying up your loose ends, making some extra-fun lasting memories, and reflecting on your year together.
Today I share some of my favorite ways to close out the school year with my students. Be sure to hop on over to Instagram to tell me which one you try, or what other ideas you would add to my list!
And don't forget to sign up for your interview coaching session over at appleblossomteachers.com/letsgetgrowing - let's make sure you are ready to ROCK those interviews!
No one wants to draw a blank in an interview! You know you have the experience or knowledge you need to answer confidently, but being put on the spot can lock the words on the tip of your tongue!! Doing these 3 things can help you prepare to rock your teaching interview and answer any question with confidence:
1. Review as many sample interview questions as you can!
2. Use those questions to guide your portfolio - choose examples and evidence that is relevant and will help you lock your strongest traits in your mind.
3. Practice, practice, practice - out loud, and if possible, with a buddy or mentor!
Listen in for a bit more on why and how these can help you rock that interview, and be sure to join the ABT Teacher Career Kickoff where we will be helping YOU prepare to interview with confidence!
It is TEACHER CAREER KICKOFF time!!! Today is all about how to stand out from the rest and show your interviewers why YOU are the most valuable candidate. We'll chat about how to showcase your unique Skills, Hobbies, Interests, Notable stories, and Extracurricular activities so you can really SHINE!!
Be sure to head to appleblossomteachers.com/careerkickoff to download your FREE Interview Prep Pack, which includes the editable resume and portfolio templates, interview prep checklists, practice questions, and MORE! Plus, you'll be the first to know all the details for the big Career Kickoff Party happening in just a few weeks!
"Why do we need to learn this?"
"When will we ever use this?"
Today is all about helping you see these questions as awesome opportunities for boosting curiosity, rather than the most dreaded questions a teacher can get when trying to build engagement! I'm sharing 5 ways you can help students connect the content you're covering in school to ways in which it applies to them in the real world.
By doing so, you will boost curiosity and inspire lifelong learning, and help students see that knowledge is not isolated...our world needs it all, and they can do incredible things with it!
Do you set clear expectations for effort and craftsmanship in student work, but still wind up with most projects looking simple, rushed, or with little variety?
Students don't always naturally know what it means to produce high-quality craftsmanship, and even when we show them strong examples of great student work we've saved from past years, we either end up with projects that look almost identical to the sample or we scare our students who feel like there's no way they can create that! But I promise, it just takes a few simple tips we can teach and incorporate into our classrooms to take student work from good to WOW!!
Even if you don't personally feel very artistic or creative, these 7 tips can easily boost the level of work produced in your classroom, including your own! Follow along on Instagram this week as I share some throwbacks of these strategies in action in my classroom, and let me know how you plan to use them in yours!
First, STOP the social media scroll!! While we can get incredible ideas from other fantastic educators, the most unique and memorable ideas for your lessons can come from the most random of places! Doctors office artwork? Yup! A magazine article? Totally! The display of soda boxes in the grocery store??? You bet!
You'll be amazed at how much more you notice and connect to lesson ideas once you start training your brain to stay alert everywhere you go.
In the spirit of keeping your teaching creativity and passion from burning out, I've created a FREE E-BOOK just for you, new teachers! Go to appleblossomteachers.com/ebook to download your copy, which contains 3 keys to taking your first year from frazzled to fabulous, and setting yourself up for a fantastic career as the impactful teacher you know you're meant to be!
Today I share some simple tips for building your knowledge of great books your students will love, and actually pumping them up for your students in an authentic way! You will start to see a true community of readers bloom, with real conversations around new favorite books happening so naturally between you and your students.
Not only will this positively impact your students' literacy growth, it will create a great sense of community and relationship-building in your classroom!
I'd love to hear your favorite tip from the episode, and I would absolutely love to chat youth literature with you! Let's connect on Instagram or over in the Apple Blossom Teachers Facebook group to keep this conversation going, and inspire one another with our classroom reading communities!
Today I share 5 quick tips for building a community of readers in your classroom. This is such a great way to strengthen the relationships in your classroom and build a love of reading that will carry beyond your 4 walls!
Today is all about reflecting on how far you've come this year (yes, even if it feels like you've just been treading water!) and setting some goals to really amp up your impact in 2021! Leave today's episode feeling inspired, recharged, and with a sense of direction to tackle the next chunk of the school year, really making incredible strides forward for yourself and your students.
Summary:
Today’s episode is all about staying on top of it all...the million little things that pop up in a day of teacher life! We’re not talking about big, regular tasks like lesson planning and grading. This is all about the random tasks we need to take care of that pop up throughout the days, and can lead to major frazzle when we lose track! I share 3 common problems with daily teacher-task-management along with some quick systems you can implement that can make a world of difference.
If you are in need of a bit more personal support, email me at lorraine@appleblossomteachers.com to get on my list for a complimentary coaching call. I’m here to be your personal mentor teacher, helping you problem solve and continue blooming into the confident, impactful educator you are made to be!
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Summary:
In today’s episode, I share simple systems and activities you can implement in your classroom to continue strengthening your classroom community in a genuine way. These ideas go beyond the basic get-to-know-you and team-building activities and work to build sustainable ways to boost student engagement, motivation, and trust. If you are interested in more in-depth explanations of these strategies, additional ideas, and a set of templates to get you started right away, check out the October Edition of my Classroom Community Building Collection here.
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Summary:
We are past the back-to-school buzz, and now really trying to chug along with our students. But October is one time of the school year where, as teachers, we can start to lose that juice we had at the start.
Today is more of a “pep talk” episode, especially for my first-year teacher listeners!
I know it can get overwhelming, and some of you may even be doubting your line of work. But I promise you, YOU CAN DO THIS! I hope you’ll stick with me today as I do my best to remind you WHY you chose this profession, and give some little tips for getting through those toughest, most exhausting moments as a teacher.
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Summary:
As teachers, it feels like we are always strapped for time! There’s a mile long list of things to get through, beyond just our standard curriculum, and it feels like there is never enough time! Today I want to highlight 3 things that help me really squeeze the most out of those educational minutes, and really make an impact in my students’ learning: hit the ground running, overlap the big ideas and with little strategies, and take advantage of small windows of unexpected opportunity.
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Summary:
Today I’ll be sharing a bit about how we can use student feedback effectively, why we should, and some ideas on how you can start building a collaborative culture with your own class.
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Summary:
Listen in for a variety of strategies to boost student engagement in a virtual setting. This was a big challenge for so many in the spring: students, teachers, and families alike. Now we have more than a weekend to prepare ourselves for the road ahead, though, so let’s jump in!
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Summary:
Teachers must never stop learning! In today’s episode, we’ll chat about why continuous learning is SO important as an educator, for both you and your students.
You’ll leave today with some great advice on how to get the most out of professional development for you and your students.
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Summary:
In the last episode, I shared a process for planning your educational priorities, even when you’re not sure what your classroom will be like, so you can easily plan the specifics once the time comes.
Today I’ll be sharing my own process as a 5th grade teacher looking at an unknown back-to-school season amidst a pandemic. This can apply any year though, because so often we don’t know what school we’ll be at, or which grade level we’ll be teaching.
Focusing on your priorities and brainstorming some creative ways to incorporate them can ensure you keep your core teaching values at the center of every pedagogical decision you make.
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Summary:
Every teacher in the world has had to rethink their teaching practices and find new ways to do things as we navigated school during a pandemic. And we all have zero idea just how our upcoming school year will look!
We are all rethinking what our classrooms and year ahead will look like, and I want to help make that process feel more manageable. In this episode, I want to focus on how we can quell that frustration that comes with wanting to plan but having no clue what exactly you are planning for!
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Welcome to the Apple Blossom Teachers Podcast - a space for blooming teachers to learn, reflect, grow, and connect! Listen here for a quick glimpse at what you can expect from this show!
This is not your average teaching podcast. There are so many wonderful places where you can find ideas or lessons to try, but my goal is to go beyond that. I want to be your personal teaching mentor, without all the busy work! I’m here to help you navigate challenges of teaching, reflect on practices you’re doing well and areas in which you might improve.
The skills you learn here at Apple Blossom Teachers will help you continuously grow into the amazing educator you were meant to be. After all, we are all blooming teachers in this ever changing world of education, so let’s keep learning and reflecting for the sake of our students!
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