The Link Podcast
By The Link Podcast
The Link PodcastApr 11, 2022
Testing Season Has Arrived
Innovate24: Technology in Classrooms
www.edplus.org/304197_2
Igniting Engagement
Jessica and Amber discuss the progression of engagement from non-compliant to absorbed and how we get students there! Amber shares a few easy to implement strategies from the The Big Book of Engagement Strategies (A Continuation of the Book: Engagement is Not a Unicorn..Itś a Narwal)
If you are interested in the Innovate24 Conference here is the link for registration.
‘Tis the Season to Celebrate
Recommitting to Professional Learning Communities
Keeping Things Lite
New Name! New Logo! New Partners!
Show-Me Science of Reading Recap with Get Schooled
Windmill Denver: A Dream Come True
Listen in while Jessica and Amber introduce you to the amazing ladies and masterminds behind Windmill Denver, Dr. Jackie Joseph-Buzek and Mrs. Lorin Terrell, M. Ed, LMFT. We could not be more proud to be apart of this journey. Windmill was founded by a passionate group of parents and educators determined to create a better educational future. Today we introduce you to the model of Windmill Denver and our dreams of making this model of inclusion the norm for educational facilities all over the United States.
Resources:
The Way to Inclusion
Understanding Your Standards: The Backbone of Curriculum Writing
*Hot Topic*: Learning to Read VS Loving to Read
Conscious Classrooms: Using Diverse Texts for Inclusion, Equity and Justice
Jessica and Amber discuss their new professional development book Conscious Classrooms: Using Diverse Texts for Inclusion, Equity and Justice Professional Development Book with authors Allison Briceño and Claudia Rodriguez-Mojica.
Here is the brief synopsis from the resource:
When you look at all of the reading books in your classroom, can you be sure that each of your students’ voices and experiences are well represented? Drs. Briceño and Rodriguez-Mojicao created Conscious Classrooms to help teachers learn how to authentically include different voices and experiences in the classroom. They navigate the many questions surrounding diverse texts while also assisting with improving representation within the classroom. Highlights include:
- Tools for auditing read-aloud texts, classroom libraries, and curricula
- Sample book lists and ideas for acquiring diverse texts on a tight budget
- Checklists and tips to determine if a book has questionable content
- Research and instructional frameworks for diversity, equity, and inclusion
Listen in for more information on how you could use this resource in your building or classroom!
Managing Big Feelings
Today Jessica and Amber discuss how to manage some of our toughest or most challenging students in the classroom. Amber shares 5 tips on how to build relationships with these students and what has worked in the past. Jessica references Capturing Kids Hearts by Flip Flippen and shares a great social emotional resource www.imaginationsoup.net for mentor text we can use in our classrooms.
Making the Most of Decodable Texts
With the Science of Reading being the HOT TOPIC of every school in America, Jessica and Amber discuss using decodable texts in the classroom. Jessica recommends the resource Choosing and Using Decodable Texts by Wiley Blevins when it comes to extending the learning in your classrooms around decodable texts.
Standing “O” for Dr. Moats
Slides or No Slides?
Stop the Teacher Shaming
Jessica and Amber are back for the first time in 2023! They are reflecting on the response they received from the Sold A Story recap episode and how they can move forward and give the teachers confidence to do the right things in classrooms. They discuss the shame teachers are feeling in the field of education from outside influence right now and how this needs to STOP!
Jessica also shared a favorite resource Choosing and Using Decodable Texts by Wiley Blevins https://amzn.to/3Y3Ctzu and how you can use it in your classroom and small group instruction.
*HOT TOPIC*: Sold A Story Recap
*HOT TOPIC*: Bottom of the Barrel vs The Pinterest Queen
Jessica and Amber discuss social media platforms and how they have taken over education and influencing authentic learning happening in schools everywhere.
Planning: Divide and Conquer VS Planning Alone
*HOT TOPIC*: Homework VS No Homework
Listen in while Jessica and Amber vocalize their opinions on the *HOT TOPIC* of homework!
Back to School: 2022-2023
Welcome back teachers! It's the first days of school and the energy in the buildings has been refreshing! Listen in with Jessica and Amber to chat about the importance of teachers and some things to think about in your first week of school.
Think About This: Classroom Libraries
Listen in while Jessica and Amber discuss classroom libraries and what has worked best in our experiences!
Think About This: Welcome New Teachers
Listen in while Jessica and Amber give all their best advice for new teachers! New teachers are so special to a building, and we cannot wait to guide you along the way this year.
Becoming "Guaranteers of Learning" with Kim Lockhart
Summer Break: New Rides and Home Edit Queens
Jessica and Amber have been embracing the summer lifestyle and slacking on the podcasting! Listen in while we recap our last few weeks of summer and a little back to school talk!
Think About This: Starting your Day with Low Stakes Soft Starts
The Literacy Link ladies discuss ditching the morning work and starting your day with some low stakes soft starts to get your students minds ready for the day!
Think About This: Free Text Summer Search
Jessica and Amber have been taking their kiddos on adventures this summer and everywhere they go they are finding AMAZING free texts! Let's think about all of the places we visit during the summer and where we could collect fun and new text for this year!
Think About This: Walls That Talk
Jessica and Amber weigh in on anchor charts and creating an environment that allows for students to anchor their learning and use the resources you create together in their everyday learning. Anchor charts can be displayed and created very thoughtfully, and we want you to think about this with us here at The Literacy Link!
Think About This: Sound Walls VS Word Walls
Think About This: Mom Mode is in Full Swing
Think About This: Instructional Best Practices for ANY Subject
The Literacy Link ladies think about best practices that are important for EVERY subject!
It's Not Supposed To Be Like This...
Jessica and Amber discuss with heavy hearts the tragedy that happened this week in Uvalde, TX.
Think About This: Play vs Academics
Think About This: Data, Reflection, Planning Meetings... OH MY!
Jessica and Amber decompress and reflect after a week filled with data, reflection, and planning meetings. Tune in to hear what our thoughts are around using all of this information to guide the work for next year!
Think About This: The Struggle of Teaching Grammar
Jessica and Amber discuss the struggles teachers are having when it comes to the WHEN and HOW of teaching grammar within their day. Listen in to hear our thoughts and suggestions!
This About This: Making A Lasting Impact
Jessica and Amber chat about losing an important member of a strong trio they have formed and how she has made a lasting impact on them! They discuss the characteristics in mentors, friends, and leaders that have made a strong lasting impact in their lives.
Think About This: What's in Our Book Stacks?
Think About This: The Teacher/Mom Hustle is REAL
Our special Mother's Day episode reflects on the teacher/mom hustle and finding your rhythm!
Think About This: Assessments
Think About This: Reflecting on Our Personal Keystone Habits
Happy Teacher Appreciation Week
Keystone Habits with Dr. Stephanie Affinito
Jessica and Amber were so excited to sit down with Dr. Stephanie Affinito to talk about one of The Literacy Link's favorite books Leading Literate Lives. They discussed Keystone Habits and how teachers and students can build these reading and writing habits in their daily lives and the benefits these habits can bring to your classroom or life!
https://amzn.to/3waXU5J
https://www.thecoachingsketchnotebook.com/2020/04/a-virtual-coaching-toolkit.html
Think About This: Our Favorite FREE Resources
Jessica and Amber discuss a few of their favorite FREE reading and writing resources you can use in your classroom!
https://dogonalogbooks.com/
https://www.storyjumper.com/
https://www.scribblitt.com/
https://thesixshifts.com/
https://www.readingvine.com/
Think About This: End of Unit Celebrations
This About This: Reflecting on Your School Year
Jessica and Amber discuss the importance of reflection and how it can be a powerful tool with teachers and administrators. They give ideas on how you could end the year with an impact!
Think About This: Setting Your Kids Up with a Winning Streak
www.theliteracylink.org
Next Week's Guest: Dr. Stephanie Affinito
The Coaching Sketchnote Book with Dr. Stephanie Affinito
Think About This: Fostering a Love of Writing
www.theliteracylink.org
www.studentreasures.com
Think About This: Fostering a Love of Reading
The Literacy Link ladies discuss a few ways to foster your students love for reading!
www.theliteracylink.org
Think About This: Making the Most Out of the Final Weeks of School
www.theliteracylink.org