21st Century Writing

Tip # 4 There are so many writing organizers out there.. but they are useless if students can use and apply them to their writing. This organizer hack will give students a quick and easy way to organize their writing. Bonus: it'll save you from having to make tons of copies! :) Learn more about 21st Century Writing Skills at inspireteachgrow.com

What are your big goals and dreams or aspirations for the new year?

In this quick tip, we talk about why students need to really understand the differences between narrative, informational, and opinion types of writing.

In this episode were talking about ways to support your kids as a teacher or a parent.

Let's talk about giving feedback that is helpful and doesn't waste time.

This episode has 5 ideas of things you could use to add a little magic in your kids' Christmas stocking this year. 1- LEGO mini build 2- small notebook 3- membership cards 4- puzzles 5- Story Coins game 6- cute key chains These are also perfect for teacher gifts, a class gift, or white elephant games. Shop at inspireteachgrow.com/shop

Writing 21 Membership Tip 1: Giving students gives them ownership in their learning. That ownership becomes engagement and pride in their work. But, how can we give students choice without creating more work for ourselves... Limited choice. Give a choice between only 2 things: This or That Opinion A or Opinion B Watch the Quick Tip video below and try it in your classroom or at home this week. Then, hit reply or shoot me a DM on Instagram (@inspired.to.enrich) to let me know how it goes!

What is your favorite holiday memory? Several pop up for me, but there is something they all have in common: warmth. This holiday season, focus on family time with these 3 holiday activities: 1- Story Button podcast player for screen free time 2- Story Coins for dinner table fun 3- Writing letters to someone special... including Santa! Visit inspireteachgrow.com/shop to shop Story Coins. Head to storybutton.com to learn more about the screen free podcast player

In this episode, we're gonna talk about the three lies that I think teachers believe when really they could just throw them in the garbage. Join the email list inspireteachgrow.com

Join me on the road at GaETC 2023 as we talk with Wakelet and Book Creator representatives about 21st Century Writing. You'll hear a brief interview from each and then I'll share the ways I use both platforms to inspire students and grow their writing skills beyond paper and pencil. Grab the show notes at inspireteachgrow.com/039

It's a haunted house but... You have back to back meetings on dress up days!

Well, not quite a book, but I would love for it to become one! In this episode, I'm sharing the story I wrote with online students called Beauregard's big dream.

What is a Pumpkin Spice Story? It's a story (or any piece of writing) that excites you and your audience. People who love PSL, LOVE them. It's a feeling. A vibe. A whole experience. Writing should be a FUN experience. ... and ... Your audience should “get your vibe”. Join me as we enjoy a PSL writing framework you can try with students today! For more on 21st Century writing strategies, visit inspireteachgrow.com. Read posts, shop products, and learn more about coaching to help you better support your students!

What exactly is 21st century writing and why does it matter? That's the question I answer in this "unscripted" episode. It's real world ideas… but applicable. It's using analog and technology approaches, not just being on screens all day! It's strategies that are fun and inclusive to different learning styles. It's natural differentiation through leveling because writing is a personal process. Join me on Instagram: inspired.to.enrich Visit the website/blog/shop: inspireteachgrow.com

This is a shorty episode, but it's got some good information if you're looking to take writing instruction to the next level! Communication is the life skill our students will need most in their futures but the one we don't spend as much time really teaching. We teach around it with writing assignments and presentations, but we don't have the time to teach the how of communicating well. Communication is divided into 3 subsections: 1- presentations/public speaking 2- reports 3- emails Join me over on Facebook (facebook.com/inspiredtoenrich) for a live event on July 19, 2023!

We share stories all day long for various reasons. We want our friends to be on our side and we want our students to feel seen and understood. Honestly, storytelling is my favorite WHY. I also think it's the most important in this new age of AI and fake news... 5 strategies for encouraging personal storytelling in your classroom: 1- student reminder 2- mentor text 3- talk it out 4- prompts or games 5- ask a question What stories do you want students to share? What ideas are bouncing around in your mind? Let me know… head over to Instagram and shoot me a DM letting me know!  @inspired.to.enrich I hope that you will subscribe or follow this podcast as we continue this writing series. Our final part will come on June 30 and is all about communication… plus, I have a big announcement to share. If you listen on the day the episode airs, there'll be a little surprise just for you! Remember,  It's essential that we start teaching students how to write their ideas, communicate, brainstorm and transition that into something purposeful. Using 21st century writing strategies is the most effective way to uncomplicate writing lessons and support student success.

Writing instruction across the board is not fun and I feel that that is a big part of why students don't want to write. Kids go from being expected to write a sentence or two to writing paragraphs with text evidence, but there's no time to teach them the appropriate way to do that. However, I can't help but thinking if we give our students a true purpose to create something using their writing skills, then maybe we wouldn't have such pushback. In this episode, we dive into ways for students to use their writing for production: 1- audio 2- multimedia 3- video Follow me on instagram: @inspired.to.enrich email me: kayleigh@inspireteachgrow.com

It's essential that we start teaching them how to write their ideas, communicate, brainstorm and then transition that into something purposeful, especially utilizing technology. Using 21st century writing strategies is the most effective way to uncomplicate writing lessons and support Student Success.  4 Whys of Writing: comprehension production storytelling communication I would love to know your thoughts on the state of our writing instruction in the US! If you're abroad, I would love to know what you do in your country to support student writing. Let's continue the conversation over on Instagram.. You can find me @inspired.to.enrich

This is the third summer we've planted a garden… and so far, it's been the most successful. In fact, I just harvested 6 radishes yesterday. Gardening is a great way to connect kids with nature! Research has shown that exposure to nature and outdoor activities has many benefits for children, both physically and mentally.  In this episode, we'll focus on three important garden helpers: earthworms, honey bees, and caterpillars. 

Reviewing for state testing (or any testing, really) doesn't have to suck! These quick, creative ways to make reviewing skills and content fun and engaging… and they don't require you to spend money, print anything out, put kids on a computer screen. 1- Use Games 2- Get Vertical 3- Group Discussion 4- Story Coins! (learn more about this game here) 5- Teach the Teacher Come chat with me on Instagram! @inspired.to.enirch

In this episode, we will be discussing one of the most important aspects of modern-day education: instructional technology tools. With the ever-increasing importance of technology in our lives, it is vital for teachers to be well-equipped with the best instructional technology tools for the classroom. Whether you're a seasoned educator looking to upgrade your technology tools, or a new teacher just starting out, this episode will provide valuable insights and practical tips to help you choose great instructional technology tools for your classroom. Join me on Instagram: @inspired.to.enrich The Checklist to Reduce Wasted Screen Time

The audio isn't perfect but the point is there: let's teach our students to write with as much detail as a Starbucks order. Join me on the road from my car as we chat about adding more excitement to basic sentences and paragraphs.

Are you feeling stuck in a creative rut? Sometimes all it takes is a little game to get those creative juices flowing. Whether you're looking for activities to do with your kids or just want to have some fun with friends, our list of creativity games has got you covered. Get ready to unleash your imagination and have some fun! Storytelling Games 2- Improv Games 3- Brainstorming Games 4- Drawing/Doodle Games 5- Word Association Games Visit inspireteachgrow.com/story to grab your listener exclusive discount! If you are a fan of the drawing challenge called “this is not” then click here for my spring version. I hand drew each line image that kids, or you, can transform into something new. Find the full list posted on inspireteachgrow.com. 

Here in Georgia, we'll start state tests near the end of April. For me, standardized testing was also a root of intense anxiety and worry. Our gifted brains already work in hyperdrive, so adding test anxiety is like pouring gas on the fire. But, I have a solution…. Well, a few ideas that can help quiet those fearful inner monologues and guide our students through state testing.  Test anxiety is a common experience for many students. Plan extension for your gifted students in under 30 minutes with this free guide! Join the conversation on Instagram: @inspired.to.enrich

St. Patrick's Day is a holiday celebrated on March 17th that commemorates the patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick. To start your celebration off right, write or tell a brief history lesson to your students with the main themes being Saint Patrick himself and Irish culture. Then dive into fun activities such as arts and crafts projects, quizzes on Irish folklore, or enjoy Celtic music. Weekly Outline Themed Learning Book- find a story at the library, on your shelf, or online through digital books or YouTube read alouds. Sometimes it helps to enjoy a good story to spark creativity. Craft- something fun to get hands-on and creative with the week's theme. Snack- who doesn't love a themed snack? Enjoy a yummy treat and maybe (fingers crossed) introduce new foods. Writing- writing and drawing are so important for processing information and a great way to practice new language skills. STEM- working to solve a problem using science, technology, engineering, and math is always a win win! Outing- think of a local, fun place to go that ties into the week's theme. There's nothing better for creativity than getting outside. Send the secret word to @inspired.to.enrich on Instagram and I'll send you a couple of fun writing prompts! Visit Inspired to Enrich

... and simple steps to help!You could argue positive results of context switching, especially if your brain naturally tends to jump steps in a process….. Hello gifted brains! But for the most part, multitasking has more negative results than positive because you're not fully focused on the task at hand. This means one task never gets the full creation process… just parts of it. Like only getting part of your amazon order and having to wait days for the rest. This mental effort can cost up to 40% of total productive time. This leaves only 60% or less for actually completing tasks. In terms of learning and developing, this means our students are wasting valuable brain energy just trying to understand what they are doing and how it should be done. So, what do we do? First, identify sources of context switching.Common sources include notifications, multiple open tabs or windows on a computer, or even being required to multitask. But, this doesn't just apply to technology. This can include hands-on tasks or activities. Listen to Amy Porterfiled's full podcast episode: Link to amy porterfield podcast You can learn more about context switching at: https://www.atlassian.com/blog/productivity/context-switching Visit Inspired to Enrich

We talk about why students need to know specific standards and how learning these skills and topics will help them in the future. And I”m here for it… I agree that our students need real world applications for the skills and concepts they are learning. Today's big question…. If our goal is to prepare students for the real world, why are we teaching writing the same way it was taught 30 years ago? Introducing the WRITER framework. A memorable writing method that gives YOU results without overwhelm. We're teaching students how to create sentences or build paragraphs… but we aren't teaching them how to find purpose for their writing. We give students organizers to support them… but we aren't teaching them why they need to create their own organizer and how it can help save time when writing. We're teaching students about 3 specific types of writing (narrative, informational, and opinion)... but we aren't teaching how those types apply to their life online or how they can use those three types to be a better communicator. My solution, the WRITER framework. Join the email list for amazing ideas delivered right to your inbox! Click here to grab a FREE guide to planning enrichment in UNDER 30 minutes. Read more about giftedness, writing, creativity, and technology.

What is your vacation vibe? Do you want to relax, explore, or be spontaneous? For me, it's all about learning and trying new things. I love visiting museums and taking tours (especially a great ghost tour). Whether you have a vacation away or a staycation planned, this episode will give you 3 great reasons to schedule an adventure so you can learn on the go! Don't forget to follow the podcast so you know as soon as a new episode drops and head over to my instagram page @inspired.to.enrich to join our amazing community focused on creativity, enrichment, and all things gifted.

This summer, let's create an immersive experience for your kids to activate their creativity, imagination, and fun!

Most commencement speeches use the same template. In this episode, I'm using the template I've noticed to craft my own commencement speech and give a little advice for the class of 2022!

What do you do when you no longer feel creative? This episode has 3 ways to help you get back that creativity! Visit inspireteachgrow.com for more.

Narrative writing is one of my favorite pieces to create… it's also the most difficult. There are so many components to narrative writing and so many ways to make it unique. Sometimes my brain gets overwhelmed and get can't my ideas down fast enough. Other times, my brain is completely blank and the only ideas I can come up with are ones that have been done before. In this episode, I'm giving you 3 fun ideas for practicing narrative writing!

Welcome to part 4 of the Love Writing Workshop… in parts 1-3, I covered how to find writing ideas,organize, and present your work . If you haven't listened to those episodes yet, please do. You don't have to go in order, but you may want to start at the start. With that said, let's jump into today's workshop all about writing strong sentences and editing writing conventions. Oh, and stick around to the end for an announcement that can help you apply the Love Writing Workshop in your classroom!

Welcome to part 3 of the Love Writing Workshop… in episodes 13 and 14, I covered how to find writing ideas, organize your story, and present your work . If you haven't listened to those episodes yet, please do. You don't have to go in order, but you may want to start at the start. With that said, let's jump into today's workshop all about nailing voice and word choice.

Welcome back to the Love Writing Workshop… in episode 13, I covered how to find ideas for writing. If you haven't listened to that episode yet, please do. You don't have to go in order, but you may find it more beneficial to start at the start. With that said, let's jump into today's workshop all about organization and presentation. Download the workbook to help you teach each writing trait!

Have you heard of the 6+1 Traits of Writing framework? To be honest, I hadn't when we were assigned this framework as our school-wide professional development this year. The framework focuses on developmentally appropriate practices for creating strong pieces of writing…. And that was a ton of buzz words. To put it simply, it lays out how we naturally write. We start with ideas then build our path, words, and more. Download a free workbook from inspireteachgrow.com

What is the most creative thing you've done today? This week? What about this year? I grew up surrounded by creative opportunities. I didn't realize it then, but giving me space, freedom and support to express myself creatively is one of the best things my parents did for me because as an adult, I see that learning to embrace your creative side is not something everyone has been taught…. But I believe wholeheartedly they should! I'm putting my flag in the ground and saying teaching creativity is just as important as teaching math and reading. Shop Story Coins at inspireteachgrow.com

In today's episode, I'm helping you enrich learning for a curious kid at home with step-by-step tips. So, if you've got a pen and paper nearby, grab it. If you're somewhere you can write, no worries. Save this episode to come back to later… oh and be sure to check out my Instagram page where I've got a diagram that might help you out. Let's Go! Shout out today's sponsor, Story Coins Literacy Game. To play, all you do is pull a coin from the bag and think of a sentence using the image on the coin. Then, the next person pulls a coin and they create a sentence to add to yours, making a fun group story that could go anywhere. With Story Coins, writing is easy and fun… not to mention entertaining because the story possibilities are endless. Grab a set of Story Coins today from inspireteachgrow.com and use code podcast10 to get $10 off your total purchase. That's p o d c a s t 10 for $10 off… and shipping is always free.

Quick poll: are you someone who likes to set goals throughout the year or do you like the “fresh start” of a new year to start your new goals? I honestly do a little of both, but there is something almost magical about that fresh year to kick my butt into gear. In this episode, I'm using one of my favorite (and popular) resources to walk through goal setting using a very smart strategy. Free goal setting one-pager Digital Goal Setting Workbook on Teachers Pay Teachers Show sponsor: Story Coins Literacy Game. To play, all you do is pull a coin from the bag and think of a sentence using the image on the coin. Then, the next person pulls a coin and they create a sentence to add to yours, making a fun group story that could go anywhere. With Story Coins, writing is easy and fun… not to mention entertaining because the story possibilities are endless. Grab a set of Story Coins today from inspireteachgrow.com and use code podcast10 to get $10 off your total purchase. That's p o d c a s t 10 for $10 off… and shipping is always free. Big news! I'm starting the year with a fun collaboration! I will be working with a fellow gifted teacher I met through instagram to host a 5 day creativity challenge. So, if you're a teacher looking to spice up your instruction with easy and fun creativity ideas, join our challenge. There will be freebies, giveaways, and loads of fun! Click here to join the waitlist!

What is one gift that you vividly remember getting? I have a few that come to mind, but my favorite and most meaningful was a rack of dress up clothes my mom made me. She designed several dresses just for me and had Santa hang them up on Christmas morning. She had purchased shoes and other accessories, but the dresses were the star of the show. In this episode, I'm sharing a few quick and simple ways to make your store bought gifts feel as personal as a rack of hand-sewn clothes. If you listened to episode 6, 2021 Holiday Gift Guide, then you're familiar with my 5 categories for purchasing gifts. If not, give that episod a listen, too. For the sake of consistency (and ease), I'm going to stick with those categories for each personalization idea. But know, you can take these ideas and make them your own. After all, you know your people best After you listen, pop over to Instagram and let me know which tip you'll try the next time you give a gift. @inspired.to.enrich

You've probably used manipulatives (hands-on tools) to practice math skills. But, have you used them for reading, writing, or grammar practice? In this episode, I give you 5 hands-on tools you can use to make literacy more engaging and meaningful in your classroom or at home. Plus, one of these items you probably have in a desk drawer! After you listen, head over to Instagram and let me know which manipulative idea was your favorite! I'm partial to #3. You can find me @inspired.to.enrich Learn more engaging strategies and ideas or shop games and activity kits at Inspireteachgrow.com

Truth: I didn't plan to record an episode this week since I'm still on Thanksgiving break. But, I felt it was important to stay consistent and share one of my favorite ways to build vocabulary in my classroom. Plus- it's a BIG sales week, and I'm throwing my first every sale on my website. From Nov. 26-30, 2021, you can get $10 off any purchase of $30 or more, plus a gift with any purchase, plus free shipping to anywhere in the U.S. And... Teachers Pay Teachers is hosting a site-wide sale from Nov. 29-30 and my whole store is 20% off! Word of the Week: I know vocabulary instruction is essential for reading comprehension. But, if you're schedule is like mine, teaching multiple words in depth within a week is a challenge. So, I started pulling a Word of the Week from our weekly vocabulary list and adding a fun activity to help the word “stick” in my kids' minds. In addition to vocabulary, I value creativity, STEM, critical thinking and practical writing practice. So, used those topics to divide the vocabulary words into 4 categories: STEM Art Writing Brain Puzzles Let's continue the conversation on Instagram: @inspired.to.enrich

I love finding the perfect gift for someone! However, I can sometimes get a little outside my budget. Can you relate? If so, I've got 5 simple categories that will help you stick to a budget while still inspiring the perfect gift this season.

Gifted brains are so unique. Honestly, they're my favorite types of brains to teach because gifted brains live outside the box. Any box! But, before we jump into harmful myths about gifted kids, we need to be sure we're all on the same page about what makes a gifted brain. Learn more at InspireTeachGrow.com

On an Instagram poll I did a few months ago, 67% of teachers answered that their students felt bored or struggled with reading. That's more than half that aren't getting all the good stuff from reading instruction. So, I have 3 solutions to this problem. Grab the choice board mentioned in the episode here! Join our community on Instagram!

Listen to the audio from a live workshop I had a few weeks ago all about planning enrichment in under 30 minutes! Grab the free workbook and let's plan together! (click here) Planning Enrichment Workbook

These are three of my favorite ways to get ideas flowing for kids and keep writing fun! Which activity will you try this week? I'd love to continue the conversation on Instagram. You can find me @inspired.to.enrich. Shoot me a DM and let me know which idea was your favorite. Download digital story coins here!

Enrich quite simply means “to make richer”. When you enrich something, you add to it. You make it more meaningful. You go deeper. In terms of education, enrichment is all about how we can take students who are curious and creative and give them an outlet for their drive. We present them with new problems to solve, ideas to marinate on, feelings to unpack, opinions to pose, and more.

I'm Kayleigh Collier, an elementary teacher and advocate for gifted education. Enrichment in my classroom is about richer lessons for all students, not extra opportunities for a select few. The mission of this podcast is the same. This journey is all about finding inspiring and creative ways to easily enrich everyday learning for your students, your kids, and yourself. So, grab your favorite mug and let's get ready to feel inspired to enrich!