Education
**The Classroom Commute**

If you have a classroom and a commute, then you’re in the right place! The Classroom Commute Podcast is THE place for busy teachers who want actionable tips, simple teaching strategies, and a little fun on your ride in to school! Carpool with Rachael each week as she helps to send you in with a grin! Each week Rachael shares simple, yet powerful teaching tips, ideas, and strategies that will help you become a more effective teacher, and maybe help you enjoy your job a little more!You’ll find actionable tips for how to make your lessons more engaging for your elementary students, ideas for including more classroom technology, new activities to implement, ways for building a stronger classroom community, and strategies for all content areas including science, social studies, reading, writing, and math!And of course, there will be a little teacher humor along the way! So – buckle up and let’s hit the road on your classroom commute!

Latest Episodes:

Summer Teacher Road Trip: Top Classroom Technology Mistakes Teachers Make (and how to fix them) WEEK 6 Jul 11, 2022

Show notes

Teacher Summer Road Trip 2022: Week 6
This summer we are revisiting some of the most popular tourist destinations (aka popular podcast episodes) of the 2021-2022 school year.

Each week join us here on the podcast as we revisit these action-packed, and idea-inspiring episodes as your rest, and refuel for the upcoming school year.
This week's podcast destination: Top Classroom Technology Mistakes Teachers Make (and how to fix them)
Highlights:

Why you shouldn't be using tech for tech sake
The #1 reason why technology use fails in the classroom
How to simplify technology use in your classroom for better success

CLICK HERE for complete show notes
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Links & Resources mentioned in this episode:
EPISODE 95: What is a 21st Century Classroom??

EPISODE 97: Creating a Multimedia Classroom (Part 1: What the Research Says)

EPISODE 98: Creating a Multimedia Classroom (Part 2: Applications for the Classroom)

EPISODE 99: Classroom Technology: A Simple Model for Using it Effectively

Free Classroom Technology Management Kit

Join the LINKtivity Learning Membership and get access to my entire vault of LINKtivity Interactive Learning Guides - Click HERE to join.

Summer Teacher Road Trip: Finding Balance with Print and Digital Resources (WEEK 5) Jul 04, 2022

Show notes

Teacher Summer Road Trip 2022: Week 5
This summer we are revisiting some of the most popular tourist destinations (aka popular podcast episodes) of the 2021-2022 school year.

Each week join us here on the podcast as we revisit these action-packed, and idea-inspiring episodes as your rest, and refuel for the upcoming school year.
This week's podcast destination: Finding Balance with Print and Digital Resources
Highlights:

Balancing technology and offline activities in the classroom
How to evaluate the purpose of technology (is it worth it?)
Questions every teacher needs to ask before using technology.

CLICK HERE for complete show notes
Links & Resources mentioned in this episode:
EPISODE 57: Accountable Talk: A Teacher's Guide to Encouraging Deeper & More Meaningful Talk Among Students

EPISODE 99: Classroom Technology: A Simple Model for Using it Effectively

Grab by FREE Nonfiction Text Features Linktivity HERE.

Join the LINKtivity Learning Membership and get access to my entire vault of LINKtivity Interactive Learning Guides - Click HERE to join.

Summer Teacher Road Trip: Creating a Multimedia Classroom (WEEK 4) Jun 27, 2022

Show notes

Teacher Summer Road Trip 2022: Week 4

This summer we are revisiting some of the most popular tourist destinations (aka popular podcast episodes) of the 2021-2022 school year.

What the research says about the effects of multimedia (and why you need to know!)
How to support your digital native students in a digital world
How to create a meaningful media-rich learning environment

CLICK HERE For Complete Show Notes
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Links & Resources Mentioned in the Episode
Join our email family for exclusive Flash FREEBIES and Hot Summer Deals
EPISODE 95: What is a 21st Century Classroom?

RESOURCE: Discovery Learning Folders

EPISODE 94: 3 Tips for Increasing Student Success (That You Can Start Using TODAY!)

EPISODE 96: How to Make Your Next Lesson Plan Ridiculously Amazing!

ARTICLE: Understanding Multimedia Learning

Join the LINKtivity Learning Membership and get access to my entire vault of LINKtivity Interactive Learning Guides - Click HERE to join.

Summer Teacher Road Trip: How to Make Your Next Lesson Plan Ridiculously Amazing! (WEEK 3) Jun 20, 2022

Show notes

TEACHER SUMMER ROAD TRIP 2022: WEEK 3

This summer we are revisiting some of the most popular tourist destinations (aka popular podcast episodes) of the 2021-2022 school year.

Each week join us here on the podcast as we revisit these action-packed, and idea-inspiring episodes as your rest, and refuel for the upcoming school year.
This week's podcast destination: Essential Components of ANY Successful Lesson
Highlights:

How to put students in the driver's seat in your classroom
The importance of variety in your lesson (and how to provide it)
Why you lesson needs multimedia

CLICK HERE for complete show notes
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Links & Resources Mentioned in the Episode:
Join our email family for exclusive Flash FREEBIES and Hot Summer Deals
EPISODE 45: How to Use Rubrics for Assessment AND Instruction

EPISODE 55: Easy Tips to Boost Student Participation While Building a Strong Classroom Community

EPISODE 90: Using Podcasts in the Elementary Classroom

EPISODE 91: The TRUTH About Learning Styles

EPISODE 94: 3 Tips for Increasing Student Success

Join the LINKtivity Learning Membership and get access to my entire vault of LINKtivity Interactive Learning Guides - Click HERE to join.

Summer Teacher Road Trip: 3 Tips to Increase Student Success (WEEK 2) Jun 13, 2022

Show notes

Teacher Summer Road Trip 2022: Week 2

This summer we are revisiting some of the most popular tourist destinations (aka popular podcast episodes) of the 2021-2022 school year.

How to NOT overwhelm your students with too much information
How to present new information with familiar tasks
Eliminating barriers to success

CLICK HERE for Complete Show Notes
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Links & Resources Mentioned in the Episode:
Join our email family for exclusive Flash FREEBIES and Hot Summer Deals
EPISODE 91: The TRUTH About Learning Styles

Join the LINKtivity Learning Membership and get access to my entire vault of LINKtivity Interactive Learning Guides - Click HERE to join.

CLICK HERE to get your first LINKtivity FREE

Summer Teacher Road Trip: What is a 21st Century Classroom (WEEK 1) Jun 06, 2022

Show notes

TEACHER SUMMER ROAD TRIP 2022: WEEK 1

This summer we are revisiting some of the most popular tourist destinations (aka popular podcast episodes) of the 2021-2022 school year.

Highlights Include:

The role of technology in the modern classroom
Essential components for every 21st century classroom
How to get started in creating classroom design to support today's students

CLICK HERE For Complete Show Notes

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Links & Resources Mentioned in the Episode:
Join our email family for exclusive Flash FREEBIES and Hot Summer Deals
EPISODE 45: How to Use Rubrics for Assessment AND Instruction

EPISODE 55: Easy Tips to Boost Student Participation While Building a Strong Classroom Community

EPISODE 90: Using Podcasts in the Elementary Classroom

EPISODE 91: The TRUTH About Learning Styles

EPISODE 94: 3 Tips for Increasing Student Success

Join the LINKtivity Learning Membership and get access to my entire vault of LINKtivity Interactive Learning Guides - Click HERE to join.

Summer Teacher Road Trip 2022 May 23, 2022

Show notes

TEACHERS: RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU’RE READY FOR SUMMER!

As we finally are winding down our school year, I know that the routines and everyday activities of a teacher change drastically.

For one - once school is out for summer (woot woot), you likely will NOT be commuting anymore. Unless you teach summer school, your classroom commute comes to a halt as you can finally enjoy less hectic days, actually drink your coffee hot (amen!), and let’s be honest – use the bathroom whenever you want (I mean…)!

So, that’s why here on the podcast, we are trading in our classroom commute for a Teacher Summer Road Trip (que the car tunes)!

The idea for a summer road trip here on the podcast came to me last summer and I thought: Wouldn’t it be fun if we traveled together each week this summer, visiting some of the most popular tourist destinations (AKA - most popular podcast episodes) from the last year?

Well - it turned out to be a huge hit. So - I’m inviting you to come with me again on the 2022 Teacher Summer Road Trip!
FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES VISIT: classroomnook.com/podcast/121

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LINKS & RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:

>> CLICK HERE to Join us for the Summer Teacher Road Trip! You’ll be all set to be included in our weekly FLASH FREEBIES and HOT SUMMER DEALS!

H(APPY) Hour: Classroom Technology Tools for Teachers & Student: Screencast-O-Matic May 16, 2022

Show notes

ANYONE CAN CREATE A VIDEO.

Anyone.

ESPECIALLY teachers and students!

We’re back with another installment of H(APPY)-Hour (That’s happy, with an emphasis on App).

In these H(APP)Y Hour episodes, I highlight a cool app or educational technology tool for teachers and students to use in the classroom, and today I’ve got a good one for you.

Today's app is a video creation app that’s easy enough for young students to use and offers endless options for using videos in the classroom.
FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES VISIT: classroomnook.com/podcast/120

Links & Resources Mentioned in the Episode

Click HERE to sign up for Screencast-O-Matic (it’s FREE).

Everything you need to know about Screencast-O-Matic.

Screencast-O-Matic: Video Tutorials

The Summer Learning Slide: 8 Tips for Teachers to Help Avoid It! May 09, 2022

Show notes

THE SUMMER SLIDE IS A REAL THING.

Unfortunately.

It’s that time in the summer where students’ brains flip the “off” switch and go into mush-mode. When they emerge in the fall, they’ve lost some of that academic progress that they made with you during the school year. (womp-womp)

It happens. And it’s not your fault. But - we can put into place a few preventative measures to help keep the summer slide less dramatic.

The thing is - I DO think students need a break. They do need to just relax and chill - just like their tired teachers do (pssst: that’s your reminder to take a break, too!).

BUT - we also can give students some fun opportunities for learning at home.

However, it’s learning that looks more like playing and exploring.

I want to share 8 things that student can do — that they will WANT to do — over the summer to keep their brains fine-tuned.

FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES VISIT: classroomnook.com/podcast/119

Links & Resources Mentioned in the Episode

Click HERE for Take-Home Summer Activities (Includes Map Skills, Spin a Story, Library Scavenger Hunt, Reading, Science, 16 Activity Cards, and more.

Summer Take-Home Kits:

Join the LINKtivity® Learning Membership and get access to my entire vault of LINKtivity Interactive Learning Guides including LINKtivity Learning Summer Camp - CLICK HERE to join.

Getting Your Classroom Ready for Summer (FASTER!) May 02, 2022

Show notes

THERE’S ALWAYS SO MUCH TO DO BEFORE SUMMER VACATION.

Before you can turn in your classroom keys for the summer you likely have paperwork to complete, reorganizing your classroom cabinets, closets, and drawers —all those things that got in disarray in the thick of the school year.

And if you’ve ever been that last teacher out the door sailing off into summer vacay mode - then you know how painful it can be! (Trust me - I’ve been there more times than I care to count!)

So, let’s not let it happen again, mmmk?

What if you could be the FIRST teacher checkin’ out for the summer? What if you had your classroom, cleaned, prepped, organized, and ready for custodial approval ….EARLY?

Sounds lovely.

The secret to making it all happen? Don’t do it all yourself! Instead of waiting till your students leave on that last day of school to get your classroom in order, enlist the help of your students to get it done FASTER! And you know what - students actually LOVE to help you clean and organize your classroom. It’s a win-win.

Now, before you start passing out garbage bags, sponges, and cleaning sprays - you need to have a METHOD to the madness. And that’s what this episode is all about. I’ll show you exactly how I successfully and methodically had my students help me prepare my classroom for the summer.
For complete show notes visit: classroomnook.com/podcast/118