Episode 33: Libraries and the Communities that They Serve: A Conversation with ALA President Emily Drabinski
The American Library Association is hosting an event this month! It's the LibLearnX Conference and joining me to discuss the conference is the current ALA President, Emily Drabinski.
Emily talks about the conference and what to expect. There are both in-person and digital options to attend, so if you are not able to travel to Baltimore, you can still attend the different sessions. There are many relevant topics being addressed in the sessions: AI, privacy issues with younger students, building partnerships between schools and libraries – are just a few.
Emily speaks about the issues that libraries are facing and she offers an update on book bans in the U.S. She also speaks about the crucial role that libraries play in communities and the resources that they provide - these extend beyond books!
Episode 32: Reflecting on Our Literacy Teaching
It's the end of the year, which is a great time to think about and reflect on our literacy instruction. Elizabeth identifies five areas of literacy instruction: Reading, Books, Writing, Speaking, and Listening, and goes through a guided reflection of each of these areas.
The goal is to think about what aspects of your literacy instruction are going well, then identify a few areas that could use some modifications. The last step is to make a plan for those changes.
Episode 31: Talking About Graphic Novels with Author and Illustrator Stephen Shaskan
Get ready for a fun episode! If you have students or children who enjoy reading graphic novels - then this is an episode that you must listen to! In this week's episode, Stephen Shaskan joins Elizabeth to discuss graphic novels. Stephen is the author of the fun and motivating series, Pizza and Taco. He has also written and illustrated a number of other books, including the series Q & Ray, which his wife wrote and he illustrated.
Stephen discusses why graphic novels are so motivating for kids to read. He also talks about his own love of reading comic books as a kid and how important reading comic books was for him as a reader. He also talks about the Pizza and Taco book series and the videos that he has made to go along with the books.
We end the episode with a few pieces of advice for parents and teachers when kids want to read graphic novels.
Episode 30: Supporting Reading Identities and Developing Lifelong Readers: A Conversation with Jennifer McCarty Plucker
In this week's episode, Elizabeth talks with Jennifer McCarty Plucker about her new book Inspiring Lifelong Readers. Jennifer talks about the inquiry work that she did with students in middle and high school to support them as readers. She provides very helpful strategies from her book that can be implemented at all grade levels. Jennifer stresses the importance of helping all students find books that they enjoy reading - and she gives a roadmap to help teachers (and parents!) with that work. At the end of the episode, Jennifer gives excellent tips to parents who want to support their upper grade children with reading at home.
Episode 29: Connecting Independent Reading to Instruction, Books to Read for Thanksgiving, and a Planning Hack
After receiving some questions about independent reading, Elizabeth decided to share a structured approach to this time of the day. How can we make the most of independent reading time for kids and ensure that they are using this time to strengthen their reading skills? Elizabeth discusses the purpose of independent reading, some of the ways that independent reading falls short, and tips for how to make it purposeful for students.
Next up - Elizabeth shares some Thanksgiving books that she has used with students and gives ideas about how they can be used to support kids.
She ends with a planning hack for a busy time. After going through an intense time in October and figuring out how to use her time strategically, Elizabeth shares the layered planning system that kept her going and helped her get her work done.
Episode 28: How and Why We Teach Reading Strategies to Elementary Students
Today's episode is focused on reading skills and strategies. Elizabeth begins by discussing the definitions of reading skills and reading strategies and gives examples of both. She gives an example of how strategies can be taught when reading to kids and offers ideas for teaching practices that can help when modeling strategies to students. The episode ends on a positive note with a story of how Elizabeth used the book, Black and White by David Macaulay with her students. Black and White is a postmodern picture book, which requires a lot of thinking through the text. Her students discovered all the skills that they were implementing when reading the book!
Episode 27: Comprehension! What Is It and Why Is It So Important?
The conversation about reading at the moment is mainly focused on decoding - or sounding out the words - to do the actual reading of a text. Decoding is essential and important. But, comprehension or understanding what you are reading is also important.
In this episode, Elizabeth discusses the importance of teaching kids to understand or make meaning of the texts that they are reading. She models a Think Aloud strategy that she used with her daughter to teach character traits. Some ideas for the classroom and at home are presented as well.
Episode 26: The Importance of Read-Alouds with Molly Ness
Read-Alouds are an essential component of reading instruction - at all grade levels. In today's episode, Elizabeth sits down with Dr. Molly Ness, a former classroom teacher, reading researcher, and teacher educator, who has a new book out, Read Alouds for All Learners. Molly begins by discussing what a read-aloud is and gives some helpful strategies for different grade levels. She also discusses how read-alouds fit into the Science of Reading. We end with Molly sharing a strategy to try out with your students! It's a good one!
Episode 25: Moving Beyond Popcorn Reading: Other Ways to Implement Whole Class Reading
It's the beginning of the school year, and popcorn reading has come up quite a bit in the last week. Elizabeth begins by explaining what this teaching practice is and why it is still present in classrooms. She offers five other options for whole class reading instruction rather than popcorn reading.
Episode 24: Back To School Mixed Bag Episode!
It's the beginning of the school year and the start of September! This week is a mixed bag episode - where Elizabeth covers a few different topics. Elizabeth begins by following-up on the "I Statement" activity that she mentioned in Episode 23. She tried it with her graduate students - and it was a success!
Some of her students are planning on trying it out with their own elementary students during the first week of school. She shares some of the decisions that she made when trying out the activity and discusses possible extensions into the content areas. After that, she talks about the importance of stories and how they help our students form connections with us and with one another. Finally, the episode ends with the excitement of the new school year energy and season.
Episode 23: Heading into the New School Year!
The new school year is quickly approaching! So, this episode is dedicated to all things back to school. Elizabeth starts by discussing writing activities that can be used at the beginning of the year. Her new favorite is "I Statements" that she learned about this summer.
Then, she shares ideas for introducing yourself to your students so that they learn a little about who you are. Reading at the beginning of the year is so important because it sets the tone that reading is a part of the school day. Elizabeth highlights a few favorites that she has used with students from Kindergarten through graduate school!
Before ending, a time management hack is shared - and the idea came from reading the Little House on the Prairie books!
Episode 22: The Power of Stories, Gearing Up for the New School Year, and A Book Recommendation for Emergent Readers
In this episode, Elizabeth shares why stories are so important for our students. She shares three strategies to keep kids engaged with the stories that they are reading - either in school or at home.
Next, Elizabeth discusses some ideas for getting kids back into the routine of reading and writing before the new school year begins. The episode ends with a great book recommendation for emerging readers.
Episode 21: The Joy of Reading Book Series!
Summer is flying by! This week is another episode focusing on summer reading with kids. Elizabeth talks about book series and how they can help keep kids reading during the summer months. She talks about the benefits of reading book series and shares very manageable strategies to support readers during the summer months.
Episode 20: Supporting Readers During the Summer Months: Spotlight on the Power of Picture Books
It's finally summer! Welcome to Episode 20! This episode is focused on parents and family members who are reading at home with kids over the summer. We will dive into picture books and how picture books can support readers of all ages.
Summer reading should be fun and a time to connect with your child so pick books that you want to read with your child and that your child will enjoy reading. Elizabeth walks through how she approaches reading a picture book with her kids and the types of questions she asks to model how she is thinking about the book. She ends with a few comprehension suggestions when reading picture books with your child. Happy reading!
Episode 19: The Importance of Following the Conversation: Talking Books and Writing with Author Matt de la Peña
In today's episode, Elizabeth speaks with children and young adult author, Matt de la Peña. They begin by speaking about a few of his books and where the ideas for those books came from. He also shares ideas for how teachers can use his books with students.
Matt then speaks about his writing process and how he collaborates with illustrators, such as Christian Robinson. He has some ideas for getting kids writing, too! Hint: pay attention to those verbs! They end with a great story that Matt shared about a student he met at a school visit a few years ago!
Episode 18: The Power of Stories and How They Can Help Us Grow and Connect Us: A Conversation about Books, Stories, and Writing with John Schu
In this episode, Elizabeth is joined by teacher, librarian, and writer John Schu! He is the author of the recent book, This is a Story and also the book This is a School. John believes in the power of stories and how stories affirm our own experiences and honor our own journeys. He shares strategies to help get children reading and writing as well. And...he ends with some great news about a book by Kate DiCamillo that is coming out in December!
Episode 17: Talking All About Libraries! Talking Books and the ALA Conference with Lessa Kanani’opua Pelayo-Lozada
If you enjoy going to the library, you won't want to miss this episode! Elizabeth speaks with Lessa Kanani’opua Pelayo-Lozada, who is the President of the American Library Association. They discuss the mission of the ALA and the work that they are doing right now to support librarians, libraries, and communities.
Lessa spends time discussing the ALA's upcoming conference, which will be held in Chicago at the end of June. There is even a virtual option - in case you are interested in attending! Lessa shares her experiences as a children's librarian and how parents and teachers can work with librarians and local libraries to support young readers.
Episode 16: How to Love Teaching (Again!): A Conversation with Jamie Sears
In today's episode, Elizabeth is joined by Jamie Sears, the founder of the Not So Wimpy Teacher - a website that makes teaching for grades 2-5 more manageable. Jamie has recently published a book, How to Love Teaching Again: Work Smarter, Beat Burnout, and Watch Your Students Thrive, and she shares tips and strategies to make teaching more sustainable.
Some of the topics discussed include planning lessons more efficiently, scheduling time to grade, and setting work hours.
Episode 15: Making the Most of Your Time: A Conversation About Time Management with Laura Vanderkam
Today's episode has a very special guest! Laura Vanderkam, a time management and productivity author joins Elizabeth to discuss how time can be used well in the classroom and outside of the classroom.
Laura shares a variety of strategies that can be implemented to make teaching more manageable as well as strategies to enjoy life outside of the classroom.
Episode 14: Getting Ready to Interview for a Teaching Job? Tips for the Interview Process
Interview season is upon us! Districts and schools are interviewing for teaching positions. In this episode, seven interview tips are discussed. Elizabeth also provides some examples of common interview questions to help prepare for a teaching interview.
Elizabeth ends on a positive note by sharing a new book for teachers - How to Love Teaching Again: Work Smarter, Beat Burnout, and Watch Your Students Thrive by Jamie Sears.