The Literacy Dive Podcast

Over the last month, we've been discussing all the different factors that can affect a student's reading comprehension, even in upper elementary. We've gone over fundamental and cognitive factors, and now we've hit the last factor, which is environmental. So, in the last episode of the series, I'm sharing interventions for environmental factors that affect reading comprehension, the impact those have on student learning, and ways to support them. When it comes to environmental factors, I'm really going to cover the socioeconomic and emotional or psychological factors that students face. As you address these factors, it's important to be aware that this involves creating a supportive classroom environment and connecting with resources that go beyond the classroom. I'm going to provide several intervention ideas that involve the community, public library, and ways to include SEL into your daily literacy routine. As you start to examine reasons why a student isn't proficient in reading comprehension, it's important to look beyond academics. Are there resources or materials that aren't attainable or lack the support to improve their reading? By taking a look at the environmental factors that affect reading comprehension and addressing those issues, you will soon have your students feeling successful with their literacy skills! Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode170Resources Mentioned:Vocabulary Writing Prompts SampleFREE Context Clues Activity SetReading Comprehension Activity BundleMcKay's Used Book StoreHalf Price BooksReading Graphic OrganizersReading Comprehension Question RingsReading Skills and Strategies Anchor ChartsSentence Stem Response CardsSentence Stem Anchor ChartsConnect with Me:Join The Daily Writing Disguise Membership hereShop my TpT store hereReceive emails from me hereFollow me on Instagram

Over the last few weeks, I've been diving into intervention strategies for students who have difficulty with reading comprehension. The reality is that some upper elementary students aren't proficient or on grade level when it comes to reading or reading comprehension. So, as literacy teachers, we've got to come up with ways to support these students in our class. Last week, I shared strategies for students who struggle with the fundamental factors of reading comprehension. But in today's episode, I'm sharing interventions and strategies for cognitive factors that affect reading comprehension for your students.When we discuss cognitive factors, we're addressing deficiencies in attention issues, processing speeds, working memory, language processing, dyslexia, and other learning disabilities. But one thing that's unique about cognitive challenges is that the intervention and strategies need to be specialized and focused on the unique needs of each student. Therefore, when highlighting strategies and interventions for cognitive factors that affect reading comprehension, they're tailored and adjusted to benefit the student and help them succeed in reading and academics in general.As you address cognitive factors that affect reading comprehension, know that support from special education teachers and interventionists may need to get involved. Therefore, by implementing these strategies with your students, you're one step ahead in getting them the help they need for the future in academics. Our goal as literacy teachers is to get our students proficient in reading, so having these interventions ready for your students is one way for you to address their cognitive factors in order to improve their reading comprehension skills. Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode169Resources Mentioned:Vocabulary Writing Prompts SampleFREE Context Clues Activity SetReading Comprehension Activity BundleReading Graphic OrganizersReading Comprehension Question RingsReading Skills and Strategies Anchor ChartsSentence Stem Response CardsSentence Stem Anchor ChartsEpisode 168, Interventions for Fundamental Factors That Affect Reading ComprehensionEpisode 167, Fundamental, Cognitive, and Environmental...

Getting students in upper elementary on grade level with their reading and comprehension skills can be challenging because there are so many factors and reasons why they're lacking in that area. However, one of the biggest reasons is a lack of fundamental and foundational skills. I talked in last week's episode about the different areas this can be found, but I want to go deeper into providing you with action steps you can take. So, in today's episode, I'm sharing seven fundamental reading comprehension strategies you can implement in your classroom.As I reference factors tied to foundational skills, I'm referring to vocabulary, decoding, background knowledge, fluency, text structure, engagement, and comprehension strategies. These fundamental challenges contribute to a student's lack of reading skills. So in each of these areas, I discuss the fundamental reading comprehension strategies I would take action in to support students. I also provide examples of engaging and creative ways to implement in the areas of your literacy block. It's our job as teachers to find ways to support our students in becoming successful readers. And even if they're in upper elementary, that reason could be a lack of fundamental and foundational skills. But by identifying and incorporating fundamental reading comprehension strategies, you will be able to build an effective action plan and learning experiences that are fun and engaging for all of your students. Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode168Resources Mentioned:Vocabulary Writing Prompts SampleFREE Context Clues Activity SetReading Comprehension Activity BundleReading Graphic OrganizersReading Comprehension Question RingsReading Skills and Strategies Anchor ChartsSentence Stem Response CardsSentence Stem Anchor ChartsFluency Task CardsReading Comprehension Sight Word Stories and QuestionsEpisode 167, Fundamental, Cognitive, and Environmental Factors That Affect Reading...

One, if not the biggest, thing we focus on as literacy teachers is getting our students to be successful readers. But as upper elementary teachers, you know that you will have several students in your class who struggle with reading comprehension. This then becomes a major focus in our classrooms, but we know a student's lack of reading comprehension can vary based on the student's needs. So, how do we identify the root of the problem? In today's episode, I'm sharing the different skills, processes, and factors that contribute to a student's lack of reading comprehension.As teachers, it's in our nature to try and fix problems before they happen or quickly implement strategies that improve a skill any student is lacking. However, when it comes to a student's lack of reading comprehension, it's important to work backward and get to the root before planning proper intervention techniques. In my experience, if a student is struggling with reading comprehension, it's because they struggle with either fundamental skills, cognitive processes, or environmental factors. I'm going to highlight each of these areas and identify 14 potential causes as to why reading comprehension is difficult for a student in your class.Being a successful reader is more than just reading words on a page; it's also the ability to analyze, comprehend, and explain what's happening in the text. So, when students lack reading comprehension skills, they don't have the necessary tools to be successful readers. In order to help them with this, we first need to identify what they're struggling with in the area of reading comprehension before we plan intervention strategies for the student. Stay tuned to next week's episode, where I unpack the reading comprehension causes shared today and dive further into strategies and interventions to help your students! Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode167Resources Mentioned:Vocabulary Writing Prompts SampleFREE Context Clues Activity SetReading Comprehension Activity BundleReading Graphic OrganizersReading Comprehension Question RingsReading Skills and Strategies Anchor ChartsSentence Stem Response CardsSentence Stem Anchor ChartsConnect with Me:Join The Daily Writing Disguise Membership hereShop my TpT store

I've always made it a priority of mine to find simple yet effective strategies that support literacy teachers in the classroom. One of our main jobs as literacy teachers is to provide our students with the skills to become successful readers and writers. And one way to do that is by giving your students scaffolds to support their literacy growth and development. So, in today's episode, I'm sharing three effective scaffolds that I believe every literacy teacher should be using with their students.Reading scaffolds are necessary tools in the upper elementary classroom. They're designed to support all learners as they develop their literacy skills, which eventually leads to comprehension of a variety of texts. There are three different effective scaffolds that should be staples in your classroom. With each scaffold, I share how it will enhance a student's reading comprehension, a variety of ways to use them, and provide specific examples that you can easily incorporate during your literacy lessons. By using scaffolds in your classroom, you are providing temporary support that helps students accomplish tasks they can't yet manage on their own. And while you might have heard of these effective scaffolds, it's important to know how to successfully use them in order to better support the needs of your students. So, the next time you're asking students to formulate their own ideas, make sure to take advantage of these scaffolds available to you. Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode166Resources Mentioned:Vocabulary Writing Prompts SampleFREE Context Clues Activity SetReading Comprehension Activity BundleReading Graphic OrganizersReading Comprehension Question RingsReading Skills and Strategies Anchor ChartsSentence Stem Response CardsSentence Stem Anchor ChartsConnect with Me:Join The Daily Writing Disguise Membership hereShop my TpT store hereReceive emails from me hereFollow me on Instagram hereRead my blog posts

Over the last few episodes, I've been covering several test-taking strategies in order to help prepare your students for the end-of-year standardized test. Unfortunately, most standardized tests are timed, so having efficient time management is so important for the success of their performance. Knowing how to pace themselves during a timed test is difficult for many students, which is why I'm sharing practical time management strategies that will help them feel confident and successful when taking a timed writing test.If we think about it, students struggle to manage their own time while working independently or with a peer on a group project, so why would we think their time management skills would be present during a standardized test? However, we can help improve this skill by implementing time management strategies consistently and early in order for them to take effect during any timed test. I share four easy strategies that you can easily incorporate during any content area or activity. Then, I take it one step further and give examples and different ways for your students to practice these strategies so they're confident in using them during a big test.Using your time efficiently, whether it's in the classroom or during your time spent at home, can be challenging for most students. But when you have the added pressure of performing at a high level on a standardized test, it can become even more challenging. However, by equipping your students with time management strategies, they will learn to efficiently manage their time during timed tests and feel confident while doing it. Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode165Resources Mentioned:Join The Daily Writing Disguise Monthly Writing PromptsVocabulary Writing PromptsEpisode 164, Helping Students Manage and Overcome Test AnxietyEpisode 163, Response Ready: Tips for Helping Your Students Understand Writing PromptsEpisode 162, Mastering the Basics: Reinforcing Core Writing Skills Connect with Me:Join The Daily Writing Disguise Membership hereShop my TpT store hereReceive emails from me hereFollow me on Instagram hereRead my blog posts here

When it comes to preparing for a state standardized test, we tend to focus our energy and time on the content our students need to master in order to get a high-achieving score. We implement daily practice and review for weeks leading up to the test. However, one aspect that we don't focus on but plays a big role in our students' performances is test anxiety. In today's episode, I'm providing you with a variety of information that will help students manage and overcome test anxiety.Test anxiety is the emotional component around testing, which can often be difficult to identify in students. Therefore, I'm sharing the signs of test anxiety, some of the major causes or factors that contribute to it, and strategies to help reduce this overwhelming feeling they have. Knowing these signs and factors can help you identify students early on, which will then provide them with the necessary strategies and tools to help them process and manage it to the best of their ability. Making sure your students are prepared academically to take the state standardized test is so important, but don't forget to prepare them for the emotional role it can have on them as well. By addressing test anxiety directly, you will be supporting them by giving them the tools and strategies they need to feel confident and perform as their greatest selves. Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode164Resources Mentioned:Join The Daily Writing Disguise Monthly Writing PromptsVocabulary Writing PromptsEpisode 163, Response Ready: Tips for Helping Your Students Understand Writing PromptsEpisode 162, Mastering the Basics: Reinforcing Core Writing Skills Connect with Me:Join The Daily Writing Disguise Membership hereShop my TpT store hereReceive emails from me hereFollow me on Instagram hereRead my blog posts here

I'm so passionate about writing and helping students develop their skills and become better writers. One aspect of writing that is often complex and difficult for students to master is learning how to understand and respond to writing prompts. This is a vital skill because it not only helps students with standardized tests, but it's a task that can be used with any subject area. So in today's episode, I'm exploring strategies for tackling and understanding writing prompts so students can effectively respond. In order for students to fully understand how to respond to writing prompts, there are several steps they need to work through and practice. I help give you the various tools students need to understand writing prompts, know the different types, a few brainstorming techniques, and finally, ways to plan out their responses. These tips might ask you to provide various resources and tools or models and practices for students to fully gain an understanding of how to respond to writing prompts. And since finding ways to seamlessly implement in your own classroom is a big focus for teachers, I also share three ways you can integrate these skills into your daily lessons.Making sure you intentionally prioritize the learning time and consistently is key to your students mastering and understanding writing prompts. This skill is utilized in more than just the subject of literacy, which is why I encourage you to make developing these skills a priority in your classroom. By doing so, your students will approach writing tasks during standardized tests and in other subject areas with a clear and strategic plan while improving their overall performance and confidence. Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode163Resources Mentioned:Join The Daily Writing Disguise Monthly Writing PromptsVocabulary Writing PromptsEpisode 162, Mastering the Basics: Reinforcing Core Writing Skills Connect with Me:Join The Daily Writing Disguise Membership hereShop my TpT store hereReceive emails from me hereFollow me on Instagram hereRead my blog posts here

Even though testing season isn't here tomorrow, it is just around the corner and will be here before you know it. And instead of stressing and trying to prepare your students in a short amount of time, why not get started now? But whether you're preparing students for a standardized test or wanting to work on different writing skills throughout the year, this episode is for you! Over the next few weeks, I'll be focusing on different components of writing and sharing quick tips that will ultimately help your students. In this episode, I'm going back to the basics and sharing how to reinforce core writing skills.I have found that most students struggle with grammar skills, sentence structure, and paragraph organization, so each of the tips I share focuses on one of those three areas. With each new idea shared, I explain what it is, ways to integrate them into your classroom routines, and examples to show you what they look like. With minimal preparation and materials, you already have access to, and by consistently implementing these core writing skills into your daily routine, you will prepare your students for the test and improve their writing skills.These strategies support the core aspects of writing without additional resources or feeling like they're too difficult to implement in your classroom. Stay tuned to next week's episode, where I share more writing tips that help your students prepare for the standardized test without feeling the stress. Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode162Resources Mentioned:Vocabulary Writing Prompts SampleQuick Write ActivitiesWould You Rather Writing ActivitiesDescriptive Writing Anchor ChartsPunctuation ChartsReading Response Sentence StemsConnect with Me:Join The Daily Writing Disguise Membership hereShop my TpT store hereReceive emails from me hereFollow me on Instagram hereRead my blog posts here

Over the last few weeks, we've been diving into the topic of student writing stamina. We've explored strategies to keep students engaged in writing, challenges students face while they're writing, and how to build stamina through practices implemented in the classroom. By having all this background information and fresh new ideas on ways to keep them engaged, it's time to create natural ways to increase the writing time of your students. So, in the last episode of our series, I'm sharing eight strategies that will gradually increase student writing time and the complexity of their work. As we talk about how to increase student writing time, it's important to keep in mind that we're striving for more than just length of time. This can also mean increasing the number of sentences a student writes, a specific amount of words in their writing, or the types of sentences a student incorporates into their written work. I share that the goals and level of your students determine what you increase during your students' writing time. Each of the eight strategies is designed to increase the time, words, or sentences naturally and slowly over time. With each strategy, I also include specific examples and activities to use with each one to seamlessly implement in your literacy block. Knowing various ways to increase student writing time is going to ensure it's a natural process as students work towards their own writing goals as it pertains to stamina. By incorporating these eight strategies that are simple and practical, with consistency in a structured, supportive and engaging manner, your students will begin to build their writing stamina and endurance. Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode161Resources Mentioned:Daily Writing DisguiseCreative Writing ActivitiesMonthly Writing PromptsVocabulary Writing PromptsWriting Process Anchor Charts & ChecklistsEpisode 160, 4 Ways to Increase Writing EnduranceEpisode 159, Writing Stamina: 6 Challenges Students Face and How to Help ThemConnect with Me:Join The Daily Writing Disguise Membership hereShop my TpT store hereReceive emails from me hereFollow me on Instagram hereRead my blog posts

In last week's episode, we learned that writing stamina is built over time and includes more than just an amount of time, but when students are actively engaged in a particular writing task. Since having writing stamina can be difficult for students, I wanted to create a series that provided teachers with strategies that improved a student's writing stamina and developed their writing skills at the same time. So in the second episode in the series, I'm sharing four ways you can increase writing endurance within your students.In order to increase writing endurance within your students, several things are required from not only your students but yourself as the teacher. Knowing the role you play in increasing their endurance and developing their skills is going to help your students succeed and become independent writers. I share four ways what this can look like in your classroom or literacy block without taking up an extended amount of time or changing your entire curriculum. Getting your students to write in general can be challenging, but especially for an extended period of time while fully engaged. By implementing these strategies to increase writing endurance, you ensure that students will get the practice they need to positively grow their stamina and skills. Stay tuned to next week's episode, the last in the series, on how to gradually increase the writing time and complexity of which your students are writing. Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode160Resources Mentioned:Daily Writing DisguiseCreative Writing ActivitiesWriting Office FoldersWriting Reference HelpersWriting Process ChecklistsDescriptive Writing Anchor ChartsEpisode 159, Writing Stamina: 6 Challenges Students Face and How to Help ThemConnect with Me:Join The Daily Writing Disguise Membership hereShop my TpT store hereReceive emails from me hereFollow me on Instagram hereRead my blog posts here

I am passionate about literacy, especially finding creative and engaging ways to get students writing. However, none of that matters if their writing stamina is low. I know from my experience being in the classroom, that so many of my students didn't have the writing endurance for longer pieces of writing, which meant I had to come up with ways to increase their stamina over time. In the first episode in a series about writing stamina, I'm sharing six writing stamina challenges and strategies that support them to increase their stamina.When I use the phrase "writing stamina", I'm referring to more than just duration, but having students maintain their writing quality and engagement throughout their writing session. I break down this into three components and discuss why they need to work together to increase a student's writing stamina. But when it comes to writing, students always face difficulties. Therefore, I highlight six main writing stamina challenges, why or how it's a challenge, and strategies to implement that support each challenge.Although making sure a student has good writing stamina might not seem like a big deal, it has an impact on their academic success. This includes standardized tests and their development of writing skills, which is why identifying students' writing stamina challenges and understanding why it's necessary to focus on is so important. Stay tuned to next week's episode where I explore ways to build writing endurance with practical tips. Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode159Resources Mentioned:Daily Writing Disguise Creative Writing Activities on TPTMonthly Writing PromptsVocabulary Writing PromptsDescriptive Writing Anchor ChartsConnect with Me:Join The Daily Writing Disguise Membership hereShop my TpT store hereReceive emails from me hereFollow me on Instagram hereRead my blog posts here

Podcasts are one of the fastest growing platforms to gain information in a short amount of time. I obviously love the idea of podcasts and how it can reach so many people with a variety of topics. With the availability that it brings, there are so many opportunities to make listening to podcasts part of your daily life. I want to help you discover new podcasts, so in today's episode, I'm sharing five teacher podcasts that you should be listening to in 2024. I personally love each of the teacher podcasts I'm sharing with you today. I've either been a guest on their podcast or they've been a guest on mine. Each of these podcasts uplift teachers while providing applicable strategies and tips you can use in your classrooms. After introducing each host behind the podcast, I give a target audience, and a brief summary of a must listen-to episode of theirs. There are so many teacher podcasts out there, which is why I wanted to give you a list of five top-notch ones to add to your list. Listening to podcasts directed toward teacher topics is an easy way to gain fresh ideas and ways to streamline your classroom management. So be sure to add these teacher podcasts to make your classroom in 2024 fresh and engaging! Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode158Resources Mentioned:Vocabulary Writing Prompts SamplerThe Literacy Lounge PodcastTeacher Approved PodcastWife Teacher Mommy PodcastThe Resilient Teacher PodcastConnect with Me:Join The Daily Writing Disguise Membership hereShop my TpT store hereReceive emails from me hereFollow me on Instagram hereRead my blog posts here

Over the last month I've been sharing different ways you can engage your students in that helps develop their simple sentences into more detailed and complex sentences. With this being the final episode in the series, I'm finally covering my favorite way to bring writing to life, which is by using sensory details to create sensory storytelling. Using sensory details in your writing engages the reader and paints a clear and vivid picture in your reader's mind. The way it creates an image is by using descriptive elements that speak to our senses, which are hear, smell, taste, sight, and touch. With this being the target goal for every writer, I dive into the precise steps you need to take in your classroom to best teach this form of descriptive writing. I also share sample sentences you can use directly with your students to show how to add sensory details that bring their writing to life.It's no question why this form of descriptive writing is my absolute favorite. By adding sensory details to create sensory storytelling, you are creating an immersive experience for the reader that paints a picture as if they were living it. After listening to this sentence expansion series, I hope it encourages and shows you simple yet effective ways to add details to simple sentences. Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode157Resources Mentioned:Vocabulary Writing Prompts SamplerDescriptive Writing Charts Bundle Writing Reference HelperEpisode 156, Enhancing Sentences with Prepositions [Sentence Expansion Series]Episode 155, Joining Forces: Combining Sentences with Conjunctions (Sentence Expansion Series)Episode 154, Make Writing Come to Life with the 5Ws and H Strategy [Sentence Expansion Series]Episode 153, Using Adjectives and Adverbs to Brighten Up Student Writing [Sentence Expansion Series]Connect with Me:Join The Daily Writing Disguise Membership hereShop my TpT store hereCheck out TDWD Collections hereReceive emails from me hereFollow me on Instagram hereRead my blog posts here

We are now well into our series on how to enhance simple sentences using a variety of descriptive strategies. What I love about each new idea is that these are grammar concepts you teach your students, but now you're able to dive deeper and use them in a whole new way. In today's episode, I'm sharing another strategy which is using prepositions to enrich simple sentences.Simply put, prepositions are words that show the relationship between elements in a sentence. While there are over 150 prepositions that we use, there are only a handful that are most commonly used in our language. Not only do I share the most common, but I also provide the different types of prepositions. Knowing the different types is important because it shows how to properly use prepositions in writing that add context and depth to otherwise simple sentences. In order to implement successfully, I provide the exact steps and sample examples for using prepositions with your students in your own classroom.Prepositional phrases offer a way to add layers of meaning, context, and depth to basic sentences, which is another strategy you can add to your toolbox from this series. At first you may not have connected using prepositions to enhance sentences, but after this episode, you can definitely see the connection!Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode156Resources Mentioned:Vocabulary Writing Prompts SamplerDescriptive Writing Charts Bundle Writing Reference HelperEpisode 155, Joining Forces: Combining Sentences with Conjunctions (Sentence Expansion Series)Episode 154, Make Writing Come to Life with the 5Ws and H Strategy [Sentence Expansion Series]Episode 153, Using Adjectives and Adverbs to Brighten Up Student Writing [Sentence Expansion Series]Connect with Me:Join The Daily Writing Disguise Membership hereShop my TpT store hereReceive emails from me hereFollow me on Instagram hereRead my blog posts here

Over the last two weeks, I've been discussing different strategies that help with sentence expansion. In today's episode, I'm sharing the third strategy in this series. Just like the previous two strategies, you might have already talked about and taught this particular skill, but I challenge you to intentionally have your students use it in their writing. Using conjunctions to combine sentences is the topic I'm discussing today, along with the different types and ways to use them in student writing. So we're on the same page, conjunctions are words that link other words, phrases, and clauses together. For students to have success using conjunctions to expand their sentences, they need to have an understanding of what they are and what each conjunction means. Therefore, I highlight three different types of conjunctions and further explain their purpose and examples on how to use them when combining sentences. Just like with the other two strategies, I provide action steps on how to implement in your classroom, along with sample sentences you can directly use with your students. In wanting students to develop and grow in sentence writing, using conjunctions is the perfect way to achieve that. Conjunctions combine ideas and allow for more complex expression and communication when speaking or in written form. After today's episode, using conjunctions is another strategy you can use with your students to help expand their sentences. Stay tuned to next week's episode for another strategy to add to your toolbox! Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode155Resources Mentioned:Vocabulary Writing Prompts SamplerDescriptive Writing Charts Bundle Writing Reference HelperEpisode 154, Make Writing Come to Life with the 5Ws and H Strategy [Sentence Expansion Series]Episode 153, Using Adjectives and Adverbs to Brighten Up Student Writing [Sentence Expansion Series]Connect with Me:Join The Daily Writing Disguise Membership hereShop my TpT store hereCheck out TDWD Collections hereReceive emails from me hereFollow me on Instagram hereRead my blog posts here

This series is all about how to easily get students to expand their sentences by adding details to their basic sentences. Last week's strategy was all about adding the 2 A's, adjectives and adverbs, to create a story and description. But today's strategy also serves a greater purpose than just sentence expansion. In today's episode, I'm discussing how to add the 5Ws and H strategy to your students' sentence writing.When students write their initial simple sentence, adding in the 5Ws and H strategy helps add information, depth, context, and interest to their sentence. It requires students to answer the who, what, when, where, why, and how about the subject. To assist in implementing in your classroom, I provide four main steps and one additional step that you can easily use with your students to model and practice the 5Ws and H strategy. Additionally, I share three examples that you can put into action when implementing during your writing block.Not only will students expand their sentences with this strategy, but it also serves the purpose of thinking, questioning, and understanding on how to add details and information. If your students are struggling on how to add details to their sentences, this 5Ws and H strategy can be easily used by your students today! Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode154Resources Mentioned:Vocabulary Writing Prompts SamplerDescriptive Writing Charts Bundle Writing Reference HelperEpisode 153, Using Adjectives and Adverbs to Brighten Up Student Writing [Sentence Expansion Series]Connect with Me:Join The Daily Writing Disguise Membership hereShop my TpT store hereCheck out TDWD Collections hereReceive emails from me hereFollow me on Instagram hereRead my blog posts here

Happy New Year, my friends! Let's jump-start 2024 with some practical and easy strategies to expand student sentences. At the beginning of the year, our goal is for students to write a complete sentence, but our goal at the end of the year is for them to add meaningful details to those sentences. And while that might seem challenging, I've come up with easy ways to make this achievable for your students.Since I really want you to listen, understand, and actively try the strategies I'm sharing, in this series on sentence expansion, I'm going to be sharing one strategy per episode. This will give you an opportunity to process and implement during your school week before trying another. So in the first episode of this series, I'm sharing how using adjectives and adverbs helps with expanding sentences in student writing.This simple strategy has a great impact that provides students with concrete ways to add details to their otherwise plain sentences. In order for you to effectively implement this in your classroom, I share an easy five-step process that involves using student sentences as examples and discussions to evaluate the difference. Additionally, I share examples of how to put expanding sentences into practice.As literacy teachers, we truly want our students to enjoy writing and have their writing come to life and the only way to do that is by adding details to paint a picture. By adding more adjectives and adverbs, students will be expanding sentences independently which ultimately improves their writing. Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode153Resources Mentioned:Vocabulary Writing Prompts SamplerDescriptive Writing Charts Bundle Writing Reference HelperConnect with Me:Join The Daily Writing Disguise Membership hereShop my TpT store hereCheck out TDWD Collections hereReceive emails from me hereFollow me on Instagram hereRead my blog posts here

With this being the last week of 2023, I wanted to take an opportunity to share some reflections I've had from this past year. I've been open on this podcast about certain things I went through, even resulting in me taking a break from this podcast. With that experience, along with other personal and work related things, I wanted to share some end of year inspiration with you. So in today's episode, I'm sharing 25 takeaways from 2023 that hopefully you can use going forward in the new year.When I reflected on the year, I didn't realize all that I accomplished, learned or adapted to in just one year. Each of my 25 takeaways involve personal and professional growth, ways to take breaks, how to find you authentic community and support, and focusing on the positivity and joy in your life. By sharing my list, I hope to encourage you to make your own list that gives you some end of year inspiration as you embark on another year in 2024! Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode152Resources Mentioned:Vocabulary Writing Prompts SamplerEpisode 140, The Return: Where Have I Been?Connect with Me:Join The Daily Writing Disguise Membership hereShop my TpT store hereCheck out TDWD Collections hereReceive emails from me hereFollow me on Instagram hereRead my blog posts here

We discuss all the time the difficulty that students have when it comes to writing and getting their ideas out on paper. But now imagine English isn't your first language. The challenge now becomes greater, but there's a way to meet their needs. This is through using scaffolds with your writing. In a special episode from Beth Vaucher of the Equipping ELLs podcast, she's sharing how to use different scaffolding strategies with all language levels.Beth is an expert in strategies, resources, and tips for meeting the diverse needs of your English language learners. She walks you through three effective scaffolding strategies and how to take one standard and modify the scaffold to support all five language levels. While you have probably heard of these scaffolding strategies before, it's important to build up your toolbox in order to effectively support your students in the area of writing. When you become an expert in these scaffolding strategies, you can start applying them in any language group you're working with so they can start interacting with the materials. Beth does a great job at sharing the practical application of each scaffolding strategy so you can effectively use with all five language levels if they exist in your classroom and modify them to meet the needs of your students. Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode151Resources Mentioned:Vocabulary Writing Prompts SamplerFREEBIE: Using Scaffolds to Support Your ELLsEpisode 31, Writing Strategies to Support Your ELL Students with Beth VaucherConnect with Me:Join The Daily Writing Disguise Membership hereShop my TpT store hereCheck out TDWD Collections hereReceive emails from me hereFollow me on Instagram hereRead my blog posts here

We all have those students who don't like writing and have a lot of negative emotions surrounding writing in general. Even though winter break is coming coon, there are still things you can either try during these last few weeks or implement when you return in January. But either way, we want our students interested and engaged in writing. So in today's episode, I'm sharing five strategies for engaging reluctant writers and some bonus tips for disguising writing. These strategies that I share are for creative writing and can easily be added or incorporated into your existing routine to spark desire for student writing. Some ways for engaging reluctant writers include including student interests, making shared time a natural and consistent occurrence, designating a special place, and involving yourself during student writing time. Each idea encourages student writing, makes connections, and creates positive feelings towards writing.Implementing all of these ideas can be overwhelming, so I encourage you to focus on a few to start engaging reluctant writers during your writing block. Whether you choose to use these strategies before the break or when you return to school, make sure to check out my writing resources to get you started and develop a students' love for writing! Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode150Resources Mentioned:Free Writing PromptsFree Creative Writing Activities SamplerVocabulary Writing Prompts SamplerConnect with Me:Join The Daily Writing Disguise Membership hereShop my TpT store hereCheck out TDWD Collections hereReceive emails from me hereFollow me on Instagram hereRead my blog posts here

Do you ever see students reading in your classroom that have great fluency and can recall the words on the page, but can't give any details about what happened in the text? If this describes students in your classroom, it's time to implement active reading strategies. This comprehension strategy is used to evaluate a students' understanding of a text. In this episode, I'm sharing five active reading strategies that you implement in your classrooms today.Each active reading strategy asks students to interact with a text on a deeper level. They require students to make predictions, identify key concepts, draw conclusions, look at what they notice about the text, reflect, and more. You will notice that each strategy builds on top of or compliments one another. By working together, they help students reinforce their understanding and make it easier for them to recall that information at a later time.Our goal as literacy teachers is to improve a student's comprehension, which these active reading strategies do. When you implement these in your classroom, you're helping students take a step forward with text retention and improvement on understanding the material. By starting with these five active reading strategies, you can then explore other engagement strategies to improve student comprehension. Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode149Resources Mentioned:Join The Daily Writing DisguiseVocabulary Writing Prompts FREE SampleVocabulary Writing PromptsWriting Prompts Free SampleSmall Group Reading Skills Activity SetsReading Reference HelpersReading Skills Anchor ChartsConnect with Me:Join The Daily Writing Disguise Membership hereShop my TpT store hereCheck out TDWD Collections hereReceive emails from me hereFollow me on Instagram hereRead my blog posts here

I've loved going through the different stages of vocabulary from a basic understanding, misconceptions, strategies, and now how to use it as an emphasis in student writing. When we can merge vocabulary with writing, it's an opportunity for students to use their literacy skills in writing, while also simulating real world communication and relevance. In the last episode in our series about vocabulary, I'm diving into the benefits of merging vocabulary with writing and the impacts it can have on your students. Through this series, you've learned why vocabulary is so important to incorporate in your classroom. As it pertains to student writing, it elevates the quality of writing students can produce, while gaining an understanding of how their language choices can be used to communicate with their audience, purpose, or context of writing. With the use of examples and vivid analogies, I show how merging vocabulary with writing also impacts the genre of writing a student produces and its real world application.Vocabulary is truly a way to engage readers and communicate effectively for an intended purpose. When merging vocabulary with writing, your students begin to have a deeper understanding of the power of language and communication skills. After this series, I hope you intentionally introduce and utilize vocabulary in your classroom, for it can have lasting impacts on your students. Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode148Resources Mentioned:Join The Daily Writing DisguiseVocabulary Writing Prompts FREE SampleVocabulary Writing PromptsWriting Prompts Free SampleDescriptive Writing BundleEpisode 147, Strategies for Seamless Vocabulary Integration in the ClassroomEpisode 146, Debunking 4 Vocabulary Myths and Misconceptions in the Upper Elementary ClassroomEpisode 145, Unpacking the Role of Vocabulary AcquisitionConnect with Me:Join The Daily Writing Disguise Membership hereShop my TpT store hereCheck out TDWD Collections hereReceive emails from me hereFollow me on Instagram hereRead my blog posts here

Over the last few weeks, we've done a complete deep dive into vocabulary acquisition, its importance, and debunking common myths and misconceptions. Now that we covered the background information, in part three of this series, it's time to discuss practical vocabulary strategies. In today's episode, I'm sharing how to seamlessly integrate vocabulary strategies in your classroom and already existing daily curriculum. In order for information to permanently stick in a person's brain, they need multiple exposures and interactions. So the more we integrate vocabulary strategies throughout our day and through cross-curricular, the deeper their understanding and meaning of words will be. Throughout the episode, I share copious amounts of vocabulary strategies that range from games, visuals, technology, and thematic or content related ways to naturally incorporate vocabulary. Deepening vocabulary acquisition is not a one size fits all approach, which is why finding ways to make connections with words is so critical. When you can start to integrate vocabulary strategies seamlessly in your classroom, your students will be able to interact and use words organically in their writing and daily discussions. Stay tuned to next week's episode, which is our last in the series! Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode147Resources Mentioned:Join The Daily Writing DisguiseVocabulary Writing Prompts FREE SampleVocabulary Writing PromptsThesaurus ChartsThesaurus WebsiteDictionary WebsiteEpisode 146, Debunking 4 Vocabulary Myths and Misconceptions in the Upper Elementary ClassroomEpisode 145, Unpacking the Role of Vocabulary AcquisitionConnect with Me:Join The Daily Writing Disguise Membership hereShop my TpT store hereCheck out TDWD Collections hereReceive emails from me hereFollow me on Instagram hereRead my blog posts here

Last week I brought attention to vocabulary acquisition and the importance of expanding your students' vocabulary toolbox. But before you start incorporating more vocabulary into your instructional day, I wanted to bring awareness to some common vocabulary myths and misconceptions as you focus on this in your upper elementary classrooms. So in today's episode, I'm debunking vocabulary myths and highlighting the need for structured vocabulary instruction, along with different ways to embed vocabulary.Reading and memorization were always the standard ways for teaching vocabulary, but we have since learned those aren't effective ways to learn new vocabulary words. Instead, incorporating vocabulary in discussions, stories, and explicit instruction will make vocabulary more memorable and meaningful for students. Additionally, I provide examples on how using vocabulary in context creates a deeper understanding of the word. In order to expand a student's vocabulary, it's more than just exposure while reading texts. It's actually intentional instruction with application as the end result. By knowing common vocabulary myths and how to teach it effectively, your students will have more vocabulary words in their toolbox and use it in other contexts. Stay tuned to next week's episode where I dive into strategies and actionable tips for vocabulary!Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode146Resources Mentioned:Join The Daily Writing DisguiseVocabulary Writing Prompts FREE SampleVocabulary Writing PromptsEpisode 145, Unpacking the Role of Vocabulary AcquisitionConnect with Me:Join The Daily Writing Disguise Membership hereShop my TpT store hereCheck out TDWD Collections hereReceive emails from me hereFollow me on Instagram hereRead my blog posts here

One of our biggest roles as literacy teachers is to improve their comprehension skills. However, we rarely focus on the one component that gives students the foundation of comprehension, which is vocabulary. Vocabulary is so much more than just words, for it transforms a story and is the key to communication. So in today's episode, I'm sharing the role vocabulary acquisition has in your upper elementary classroom and the impact it has on students. At an initial glance, vocabulary seems to only affect reading and writing, but it truly does have an impact on all other subject areas as well. By being intentional about vocabulary acquisition, you will be creating an experience that involves students and an opportunity for a deeper level of comprehension and understanding. When students add vocabulary words to their toolbox, they are able to make connections that add to their overall learning experience. Knowing how to deepen a students' vocabulary acquisition will directly impact their reading comprehension, writing, critical thinking, and interpersonal communication. With this critical background information, you will now be able to add to your knowledge with strategies and various methods for students to receive vocabulary. Stay tuned to next week's episode where I discuss myths and misconceptions surrounding vocabulary. Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode145Resources Mentioned:Join The Daily Writing DisguiseVocabulary Writing Prompts FREE SampleVocabulary Writing PromptsConnect with Me:Join The Daily Writing Disguise Membership hereShop my TpT store hereCheck out TDWD Collections hereReceive emails from me hereFollow me on Instagram hereRead my blog posts here

Are you looking for fun, creative, and engaging ways to get your students excited about reading and writing? If so, this is the episode for you! I love coming up with creative ways that spark student engagement, and this time, they're spontaneous activities that include reading and writing. So I'm sharing how two activities boost daily reading and writing excitement in your elementary classrooms.I came to the conclusion that if I want students to enjoy reading and writing, I need to create opportunities that sparked joy in both of those areas. With that in mind, I remembered an activity from back when I was in school and adapted it to incorporate daily reading and writing that's spontaneous and fun. With each routine, I discuss the importance of it, benefits, the structure and expectations, and how to easily implement it in your classroom.We always create and develop lessons that focus on practicing and mastering literacy skills, but never develop ways that spark an initial love for literacy. However, with these two routines, you can spontaneously incorporate daily reading and writing in a way that increases their excitement and engagement with literacy. Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode144Resources Mentioned:Join The Daily Writing DisguiseWriting Center Posters and Writing PaperQuick Write Creative Writing ActivitiesWould You Rather Creative Writing ActivitiesPick 4 Writing Creative Writing Activities Building Words Creative Writing Activities Connect with Me:Join The Daily Writing Disguise Membership hereShop my TpT store hereCheck out TDWD Collections hereReceive emails from me hereFollow me on Instagram hereRead my blog posts here

Our goal as literacy teachers is to develop skilled readers and writers, so we often implement strategies that have students work on those skills. And while those strategies are effective and work, for our struggling readers, it may not be enough. Therefore, by incorporating a think-aloud strategy, your students will be able to hear and see how a skilled reader interprets a text. In this episode, I'm sharing 11 think-aloud prompts that will level up your students' reading comprehension.Using a think-aloud strategy, teachers pause and share what they're thinking while reading a text, which can include prediction, analysis, synthesis, and more. We want students' internal processing to become automatic, which is why it's important to implement this strategy during times when it's natural to think critically about texts. During those times, I also discuss what you should model, how to incorporate this think-aloud strategy, and examples that demonstrate how to model it with your students.Incorporating this think-aloud strategy effectively will require you to be aware of your own thought processes while reading and verbalize them in a way that is accessible to students. By pausing for intentional think-alouds, you can share your thoughts to help all readers think critically about a text and level up their reading comprehension. Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode143Resources Mentioned:Join The Daily Writing DisguiseMonthly Writing Prompts Free SampleConnect with Me:Join The Daily Writing Disguise Membership hereShop my TpT store hereCheck out TDWD Collections hereReceive emails from me hereFollow me on Instagram hereRead my blog posts here

As literacy teachers, our goal is to develop skilled readers and writers. And although we want our students to be independent in these areas, providing them support actually helps them master literacy skills to become independent. One of my favorite ways to support my students in writing is through using graphic organizers. In this episode, I'm sharing why using graphic organizers can be used to support quality written responses.There is so much power in using simple supports that scaffold students into writing about reading. Graphic organizers are an easy support for students while also benefiting them as they structure their ideas to easily craft a written response. In order for you to use graphic organizers in the most effective way, I outline my process as to how I introduce them to students, ways students interact with them, and how it ultimately creates a well-developed written response. In upper elementary, we want our students to be strong in their written responses in regard to reading. As I've established, using graphic organizers is one of the best ways to do that. These visual tools provide a clear framework for analyzing texts and generating thoughtful responses. So, take some time this week and implement and practice written responses using graphic organizers and see your students thrive in their writing skills.Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode142Resources Mentioned:Join The Daily Writing DisguiseReading Graphic Organizers for Reading Skills and Reading StrategiesMonthly Writing Prompts Free SampleConnect with Me:Join The Daily Writing Disguise Membership hereShop my TpT store hereCheck out TDWD Collections hereReceive emails from me hereFollow me on Instagram hereRead my blog posts here

As literacy teachers we want to create an environment that helps develop students into skilled readers and writers. And although they're often taught in isolation, both actually compliment each other. One way to incorporate both reading and writing is through read alouds, which has the added benefit of exposing students to a variety of genres. In today's episode, I'm sharing my very simple 5-step read aloud routine that helps students discover diverse texts.Most students don't venture out beyond their comfortability with book genres on their own, which is why it's our job to expose them to more diverse texts. And since read aloud time is already incorporated into your literacy block, it's the perfect opportunity to bring in various genres. My quick and easy 5-step routine models what students should do while also piques their interest in new books. Additionally, I share how your chosen read aloud book can be repurposed towards writing skills.We know that exposing students to different genres can positively impact their reading and writing skills, which is why it's so important to find an easy way to seamlessly implement it into your day. By choosing diverse texts to highlight during your read aloud time, you will begin to engage students in diversifying their book selections. Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode141Resources Mentioned:Join my Daily Writing DisguiseConnect with Me:Join The Daily Writing Disguise Membership hereShop my TpT store hereCheck out TDWD Collections hereReceive emails from me hereFollow me on Instagram hereRead my blog posts here

I'm back, friends! I'd like to brush off my absence by taking a break for the summer to relax, travel, and enjoy the sun, but that wouldn't be the truth. I always strive to be open and honest with you all, so that's exactly what I'm going to do. In my comeback episode, I'm going to explain my absence, what I've learned about myself, and how my story can help you.It's never one thing that broke the camel's back, it's a combination of a lot of little things. This has never been more true for me. The explanation for my absence is complex and personal that includes a lot of events that have led to transitions in my life, which have then resulted in a process of healing and understanding. After taking a deeper look into myself, I now have the tools to be a better version of myself. After listening to this comeback episode, I encourage you to pause and listen to yourself if you too need a break.Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode140Resources Mentioned:Join my Daily Writing DisguiseConnect with Me:Join The Daily Writing Disguise Membership hereShop my TpT store hereCheck out TDWD Collections hereReceive emails from me hereFollow me on Instagram hereRead my blog posts here

We often teach and practice reading and writing separately, but in reality, they work together to improve a students' literacy skills. I know you all have effective and successful literacy blocks, but my hope is that with me sharing my thoughts and experiences with you, that you'll find new ways to teach reading and writing to your students. So listen up as I share ideas to better support your students during your literacy block.During this conversational-type episode, I rattle off all the different ways I've helped my students during my literacy block with their reading and writing skills. Each suggestion helps improve a student' confidence, comprehension, and love for either reading or writing. We want students to improve their literacy skills, which these ideas include activities and a variety of ways to support your students during your literacy block. Be sure to reflect on your own practices and see what you can implement that makes your literacy block enjoyable and fun! Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode139Resources Mentioned:Join my Daily Writing DisguiseCreative Writing Activities6 Free Creative Writing ActivitiesWriting Prompts Free SampleReading and Writing Anchor ChartsReading Response ActivitiesConnect with me:Check out my TpT StoreSubscribe to my E-mail listInstagram PostsBlog PostsFacebook PostsIf you are enjoying The Literacy Dive Podcast, please follow, leave a rating, and a helpful review! It is much appreciated and thank you for listening!

While most of my episodes involve writing strategies and creative ways to get students writing in the classroom, literacy skills are developed and mastered alongside reading. And one of the hottest trends in education right now is the science of reading. There's so much to unpack with this, so to help us, I have my good friend, Sara Marye, who's sharing 4 tips on why you should align your instruction to the science of reading in upper elementary. The science of reading encompasses so many aspects of literacy, so it can be hard to determine what it all entails. Sara helps break down the research, pillars of reading, and the model that all work together that makes students successful readers. With this being such a big push, it's important to note that it's not just for lower elementary, which is why Sara is giving practical tips and strategies that you can use in your classroom.Sara and I have such an informative conversation regarding the science of reading. Many of you may already have elements of this in your classroom, but we know there's always opportunities for growth, especially when it involves the success of your students. With Sara's tips for aligning the science of reading to your instruction, you will have concepts and strategies to implement in the fall! Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode138Resources Mentioned:Join my Daily Writing DisguiseFree Collections Sampler PackListen to Sara's podcast, Stellar Teacher Podcast, to learn more about the science of readingConnect with me:Check out my TpT StoreSubscribe to my E-mail listInstagram PostsBlog PostsFacebook PostsIf you are enjoying The Literacy Dive Podcast, please follow, leave a rating, and a helpful review! It is much appreciated and thank you for listening!

With an ever evolving world, it's important that our classrooms are adapting to the world we live in. One of the easiest and natural way to include diversity in the classroom is through diverse children's literature. But by adding diversity, it can cause some challenges and provoke fear in some teachers. To help facilitate this important conversation, I have both Dr. Claudia Rodriguez-Mojica & Dr. Allison Briceño on the podcast to share how to make diversity a priority in the classroom.Bringing diversity in the classroom is a pressing and important topic, and Dr. Claudia and Dr. Allison are both a wealth of knowledge and have a lot of key points they make. Not only do they share why it's essential to use diverse literature, but also the benefits and possible challenges that come with its implementation. One of those challenges is a fear in teachers, which they acknowledge and provide ways to overcome those fears. My conversation with Dr. Claudia and Dr. Allison was compelling and informative around incorporating diversity in the classroom. They share natural ways to easily implement authentic representation of diverse children's literature. We're sending our kids out in a diverse world, so it's important to expose them to various human experiences that can start with books. Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode137Resources Mentioned:Join my Daily Writing DisguiseMonthly Writing PromptsNew book: Conscious Classrooms: Using Diverse Texts for Inclusion, Equity and JusticeConnect with me:Check out my TpT StoreSubscribe to my E-mail listInstagram PostsBlog PostsFacebook PostsIf you are enjoying The Literacy Dive Podcast, please follow, leave a rating, and a helpful review! It is much appreciated and thank you for listening!

For the last few weeks, I've been sharing creative writing ideas that get students writing and working on their literacy skills in a fun and non-threatening way. I love coming up with ways to disguise writing and have so many ideas, but narrowed it down to my final two that I'm going to share. Those two routines are Acrostic Response and Tell All About It.If you've listened to Episodes 135 and Episode 134, you know that I'll be breaking down the purpose, suggested time, general tips, examples, and ways to support or extend each routine. While these routines still work on literacy skills, what makes these two creative writing ideas unique is they touch on a genre and type of writing that usually doesn't get a lot of love or attention. Since we're at the end of the series, not only would I love to hear which creative writing ideas were your favorite, but samples of what your students have created! Share your hard work and dedication to these routines with me on Instagram or email me at megan@theliteracydive.com!Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode136Resources Mentioned:Join my Daily Writing DisguiseFree Collections Sampler PackEpisode 135, Quick Write & Emoji Memories: Disguising Writing Part 2Episode 134, Picture This & Building Words: Disguising Writing Part 1Connect with me:Check out my TpT StoreSubscribe to my E-mail listInstagram PostsBlog PostsFacebook PostsIf you are enjoying The Literacy Dive Podcast, please follow, leave a rating, and a helpful review! It is much appreciated and thank you for listening!

Getting students to write and practice various literacy skills can be a daunting task, which is why I've loved coming up with different ways for disguising writing for students! In Episode 134, I shared two creative writing routines and in today's episode, I'll be sharing two more writing routines for disguising writing. The two creative writing routines I'm showcasing are Quick Write and Emoji Memories. In the same format as last week, with each routine, I highlight the purpose, suggested time, general tips, examples, and ways to support or extend the routine. With each disguising writing routine, students are still practicing literacy skills, but with these two in particular, they're given a choice in their writing!Whether you're implementing these routines at any point in the school year, they're proven to be effective and efficient. By disguising writing with these routines, students are learning essential literacy skills that can be utilized with various genres and content areas. Stay turned to next week's episode for the last two writing routines! Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode135Resources Mentioned:Join my Daily Writing DisguiseFree Collections Sampler PackEpisode 134, Picture This & Building Words: Disguising Writing Part 1Connect with me:Check out my TpT StoreSubscribe to my E-mail listInstagram PostsBlog PostsFacebook PostsIf you are enjoying The Literacy Dive Podcast, please follow, leave a rating, and a helpful review! It is much appreciated and thank you for listening!

We all know the groans and complaining that happens when we ask students to write. But what if we could present writing in a way that is hidden or disguised? Which is why I've come up with creative writing routines that you can use with your students that are purposeful, yet non-threatening. In this three week series, I'll be highlighting two creative writing routines each week that will be engaging and meaningful for your students.The two creative writing routines I'm sharing are Picture This and Building Words. Each of these routines help students practice targeted skills while exploring their creative writing abilities. Since all kids learn differently, I provide ways to support struggling students and those needing extensions for both routines. I've loved coming up with different ways to disguise writing for my students and wanted to share my ideas with you. Implementing these creative writing routines in your classroom any time during the school year will have your students excited and enjoy writing in no time! Stay tuned next week for two more writing routines. Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode134Resources Mentioned:Join my Daily Writing DisguiseFree Collections Sampler PackConnect with me:Check out my TpT StoreSubscribe to my E-mail listInstagram PostsBlog PostsFacebook PostsIf you are enjoying The Literacy Dive Podcast, please follow, leave a rating, and a helpful review! It is much appreciated and thank you for listening!

Today's episode is on a topic that's gaining popularity amongst everyone, which is the Enneagram test. This personality theory helps determine certain characteristics based on a variety of factors. And while it's good to be self-aware, this information can be beneficial in the classroom. My guest today, Kirsten Hammond, is sharing how the Enneagram test can be a powerful teaching tool.For those that are unaware, Kirsten first gives a brief overview of the Enneagram test and outlines the nine different primary personality types. From there, she explains how it can be used to differentiate and support different learning experiences in the classroom. This includes tailoring your lessons, how students process information, and ways students can showcase their learning to meet the needs of each student. Having students take the Enneagram test helps you determine how best to support your students academically and emotionally. Kirsten shared so many useful ways to bring the Enneagram test into your classroom, and just like me, you'll gain so many ideas on how to utilize it with your own students!Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode133Resources Mentioned:Join my Daily Writing DisguiseEnneagram Personality TestMultiple Intelligences TestConnect with me:Check out my TpT StoreSubscribe to my E-mail listInstagram PostsBlog PostsFacebook PostsIf you are enjoying The Literacy Dive Podcast, please follow, leave a rating, and a helpful review! It is much appreciated and thank you for listening!

Incorporating writing that engages students into your instruction can be difficult, especially if you already have an established writing curriculum that your district requires. However, I'm here to tell you it's not impossible! My guests on today's episode, Emily and Carrie, are both writing experts who specialize in engaging students to write creatively and often. They're sharing how to use best practices with any writing curriculum.With both Emily and Carrie's expertise, they have come up with fun writing activities that are achievable for students and also make parents and teachers confident and feel at ease knowing they're working on their writing foundation. While it seems like kids are reluctant and unsure about what to write, Emily and Carrie believe the exact opposite is the case. Instead, they recommend asking yourself 5 questions that will change your mindset about best practices in any writing curriculum.In order to make writing a priority and create a conducive environment for growth amongst your students, having best practices for any writing curriculum is essential. Since Emily and Carrie have a wide range of experience between them, from elementary and middle, their beliefs and instruction are focused on student growth in their writing. Implement one or all of their best practices and watch your writing curriculum go from rigid to flexible! Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode132Resources Mentioned:Join my Daily Writing DisguiseConnect with me:Check out my TpT StoreSubscribe to my E-mail listInstagram PostsBlog PostsFacebook PostsIf you are enjoying The Literacy Dive Podcast, please follow, leave a rating, and a helpful review! It is much appreciated and thank you for listening!Mentioned in this episode:Join The Daily Writing Disguise this month and receive my April National Day Writing Prompts for FREE! This offer expires on April 30, 2023: https://theliteracydive.com/join

Most teachers think that in order to prepare for the upcoming state test, they have to deviate from their normal routine and activities. When in reality, adding engagement and using tools and activities that are familiar to your students is actually helpful to their success. So in today's episode, I'm sharing 6 secrets to engaging students during testing season. Each idea that I share can be differentiated based on your students' needs and level of practice they need. I adapted my lessons and learning experiences for the kids so that we were studying and preparing, but also engaging students during testing season. This ensured that not only was I feeling way less stressed and overwhelmed, but so were my students.Instead of boring and monotonous, test prep can be engaging, informative, collaborative, and enjoyable for your students. These 6 ideas for engaging students during testing season will help shift your mindset and teaching practices in order to make test prep meaningful for your students! Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode131Resources Mentioned:Join my Daily Writing DisguiseTest Prep Instagram PostReading Graphic OrganizersReading Comprehension Activities BundleStudent Response CardsSimple Student Response Cards FreebieConnect with me:Check out my TpT StoreSubscribe to my E-mail listInstagram PostsBlog PostsFacebook PostsIf you are enjoying The Literacy Dive Podcast, please follow, leave a rating, and a helpful review! It is much appreciated and thank you for listening!Mentioned in this episode:Join The Daily Writing Disguise this month and receive my April National Day Writing Prompts for FREE! This offer expires on April 30, 2023: https://theliteracydive.com/join

I don't know about you, but every time test prep season started to creep up, I became anxious, overwhelmed, and stressed. And honestly, so did my students. But with preparation and tools in their toolbox, they became more confident, calm, and ready for the test. In order to get your students prepared as well, I'm sharing 7 test taking tips to use in your classroom during test prep season. With each tip that I provide, it can easily be implemented in your already established literacy routine and instruction. Keep in mind that these test taking tips might be ideas and activities you've already used throughout the year, but are specifically targeted for success on the test. Additionally, each tip has positive benefits for every student in your classroom.Strategies truly are the key to student success. So whether you are searching for new ways to prepare your students or different ideas to try with your students who are struggling, these simple test taking tips will help prepare your students for standardized test success! Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode130Resources Mentioned:Join my Daily Writing DisguiseReading Comprehension Activities BundleStudent Response CardsSimple Student Response Cards FreebieEpisode 54, How to Teach Context CluesEpisode 53, 7 Context Clues Strategies Every Student Should KnowConnect with me:Check out my TpT StoreSubscribe to my E-mail listInstagram PostsBlog PostsFacebook PostsIf you are enjoying The Literacy Dive Podcast, please follow, leave a rating, and a helpful review! It is much appreciated and thank you for listening!Mentioned in this episode:Join The Daily Writing Disguise this month and receive my April National Day Writing Prompts for FREE! This offer expires on April 30, 2023: https://theliteracydive.com/join

We know that state tests are quickly approaching, so it's our job to begin preparing our students for them. Beyond getting them ready for the content portion of the test, it's important to acknowledge that this test can be a source of stress and anxiety for our students and prepare them to stay calm and think positively. In today's episode, I'm sharing how to utilize test taking strategies to give students confidence and success.There's a lot of different aspects to the state test, so I've come up with 4 main test taking strategies that cover them all. The strategies range from types of test questions and how to answer them to managing time and building confidence. To give better insight, I share examples, tips, and even a helpful acronym, that will give your students a new found sense of confidence and preparation. Knowing common test taking challenges, practical tips and tricks for mastering skills, and effective time management will help teachers prepare students for the state test. This is a difficult and stressful time for both parties, so I'm wishing you the best during testing season and please reach out for support or references! Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode129Resources Mentioned:Join my Daily Writing DisguiseReading Comprehension Reference SheetsWriting Skills Reference SheetsReading Strategies UNREAL ChartConnect with me:Check out my TpT StoreSubscribe to my E-mail listInstagram PostsBlog PostsFacebook PostsIf you are enjoying The Literacy Dive Podcast, please follow, leave a rating, and a helpful review! It is much appreciated and thank you for listening!Mentioned in this episode:Join The Daily Writing Disguise this month and receive my April National Day Writing Prompts for FREE! This offer expires on April 30, 2023: https://theliteracydive.com/join

Today's topic of conversation involves a group of students who need our support, but in a different way than the majority of our students. I'm talking about our gifted learners. We tend to always think about students who struggle or need additional support, but it's important to remember that our high-achieving students deserve our attention and their own needs met as well.In order to provide you with the most effective information, I brought on guest Stephanie Higgs to join me in this conversation. Stephanie is a gifted educator and differentiation coach, where she's an expert in her field. She joins me today in sharing how to meet the needs of gifted learners by providing effective differentiation techniques and strategies. Stephanie starts off by sharing a shocking statistic that puts into perspective the importance of supporting and providing complexity and depth of content. She reiterates the fact that teachers should support them where they are academically and find challenging ways that help them grow as learners. Likewise, she shares activities that seamlessly fit in an already established literacy block or routine. If you have gifted learners in your classroom and maybe lacking ways to support them or you don't have ideas for what to do to keep them engaged, this episode is for you! Stephanie is a wealth of knowledge and wants to partner together to figure out how to support gifted learners in a manageable way. This is an episode you don't want to miss!Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode128Resources Mentioned:The Daily Writing DisguiseHink PinksVocabulary FractionsBoggleDe Bono's 6 Thinking HatsKaplan's Depth & Complexity IconsPassion Projects (Video)Write and PassCreativity Warm-UpsConnect with me:Check out my TpT StoreSubscribe to my E-mail listInstagram PostsBlog Posts

I've talked many times about the process and importance of students engaging in the writing process. It allows students to work on their written skills and creativity. But the step that most teachers gloss over or find optional is the peer editing stage, when in reality, it provides many benefits and life skills for students. So in today's episode, I'm sharing a new perspective to make peer editing work for your students and how to use it effectively in the classroom.When students are peer editing, they're building their communication, critical thinking and collaboration skills that will only make them successful in the future. However, there are so many more benefits to having students peer edit, which are highlighted and provided throughout the episode. Since teaching writing can be challenging for some teachers, especially with a skill as important as peer editing, I help explore strategies that you can easily implement in your classroom. And even though it's toward the end of the school year, now is still a great time to teach peer editing to your students. Not only have they built a foundation of writing, but they've gained practice and experience throughout the year. The next time you go through the writing process with your students, don't skip or downplay the importance of the peer editing step. I've established the many benefits and how it's a game changer when it comes to developing writing skills in young writers. Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode127Resources Mentioned:The Daily Writing DisguiseWriting Process ChecklistsWriting Reference SheetsSix Traits of Writing ChartsEpisode 125, 10 Reasons Why You Should Have Students Engaging in Collaborative WritingConnect with me:Check out my TpT StoreSubscribe to my E-mail listInstagram PostsBlog PostsFacebook PostsIf you are enjoying The Literacy Dive Podcast, please follow, leave a rating, and a helpful review! It is much appreciated and thank you for listening!

Sometimes our students experience big feelings and they're not always equipped on how to cope or even express how they feel. A great way to teach your students about SEL and create an open dialogue within your classroom is through literacy. On today's episode, I have guest expert Andrea Burns to show how to use SEL to boost reading and writing skills.Andrea Burns is extremely passionate about all things bookish! This includes children's literature, the smell of a brand new book, or adding new picture and chapter books to her already full bookshelf. Andrea lives in Kansas and works as a book buyer for a local bookstore. She has a Masters of Science in Curriculum & Instruction and loves to continually learn new things! Andrea's passion about social emotional learning and her advocacy for SEL and literature has been featured on Good Morning America. Andrea's debut book is called Failure Friday, which is published through National Center for Youth Issues. Andrea is expecting her first child in March and can't wait to make her little one an avid reader!Since Andrea is a lover of all books, especially related to SEL, she talks openly about the importance of having conversations revolving around a students' social emotional well being. In order to prioritize this in your classroom, Andrea shares ways to incorporate SEL to boost reading and writing skills with your students. Each tip is simple, quick, and achievable, no matter how much time you have. As we know, SEL is a big topic that can encompass so many feelings and emotions. By using books, it helps create connections with your students, their peers, and can be relatable to everyone. Using SEL to boost reading and writing skills fosters open and shared discussions in your classroom that teaches students essential skills that can be utilized as they navigate life. Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode126Resources Mentioned:Join the Writing Made Simple MembershipMonthly Writing Prompts Free SampleCheck out Andrea's book Failure FridayEpisode 120, What is SEL and How do I Implement it in my Classroom? with Rachel DavisConnect with me:Check out my TpT StoreSubscribe to my E-mail listInstagram PostsBlog PostsFacebook PostsIf you are enjoying The Literacy Dive Podcast, please follow, leave a rating, and a helpful review! It is much appreciated and thank you for listening!

As students move up in grades, working with others seems to happen less often and independent work becomes the norm. However, since collaboration is a 21st century skill, having students work together is something that should be practiced. So in today's episode, I'm going to provide 10 reasons why you should have students engaging in collaborative writing in your classroom. I'm a big fan of collaborative writing and have seen it benefit my students, our classroom environment, and myself as the teacher when implemented. Throughout the episode, I share 10 ways using collaborative writing benefits students as it pertains to their writing skills and life skills. As students work together, they're working toward a common goal, which broadens their perspectives and improves the development of teamwork skills.By engaging and working with a partner or small group, students are able to share ideas, provide feedback, and support one another as they work to improve their writing. After listening to this episode, I hope you feel inspired to prioritize collaborative writing and start to implement it when assigning practice, projects, and written work! Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode125Resources Mentioned:Join the Writing Made Simple MembershipMonthly Writing Prompts Free SampleConnect with me:Check out my TpT StoreSubscribe to my E-mail listInstagram PostsBlog PostsFacebook PostsIf you are enjoying The Literacy Dive Podcast, please follow, leave a rating, and a helpful review! It is much appreciated and thank you for listening!

With most things, balance is the key to life. It's about finding the right amount between two things, not having too much or too little. Well, the same can be said with writing skills. We've established before that writing can be difficult and is a challenge for a lot of students, so it's finding the right balance between interest and skill. In today's episode, I'm sharing 5 strategies you can start using with your students that's a balance between creativity and technical writing skills.When two concepts are on opposite ends of the spectrum, we tend to teach them separately, when really, they should happen inter-connectedly. It's important for students to understand that writing is fun and engaging, while also displaying proper technical accuracy. In order to create this balance of writing skills, I've come up with 5 strategies that pulls out student creativity, along with paying attention to technical writing, which are:Provide student choice and voice in their writingModel effective writing techniquesIncorporate a variety of writing experiences in your classroomFind a balance between creative expression and technical accuracyEncourage readingFinding this balance of writing skills can be a complex and challenging task, but is achieved through the right approach and these 5 strategies. Showing students the balance will help them value both creativity and technical accuracy, while also striving to improve in each area to eventually become confident, skilled, and expressive writers! Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode124Resources Mentioned:Join the Writing Made Simple MembershipMonthly Writing Prompts Free SampleMonthly Writing PromptsWriting Center Posters & Writing Paper Templates Episode 32, Diving Into Your Q&As: How Do You Set Up Effective Writing Centers? Connect with me:Check out my TpT StoreSubscribe to my E-mail listInstagram PostsBlog PostsFacebook PostsIf you are enjoying The Literacy Dive Podcast, please follow, leave a rating, and a helpful review! It is much appreciated and thank you for listening!

As a literacy expert, I always bring you strategies and tips that you can use in your classroom that bring your students success to their reading and writing skills. But sometimes, I love bringing on other experts to add to your teacher toolbox, especially when they bring a different perspective. That's exactly what I'm doing on today's episode. I have guest Hallie Sherman, a speech-language pathologist, who's giving us insight and sharing strategies on strengthening student language and critical thinking skills.Hallie Sherman M.S. CCC-SLP is a licensed speech-language pathologist working full time in a public school in New York. She currently works with 5th and 6th grade students but has experience working with preschool through high school. She is also the CEO behind Speech Time Fun, Inc. where she helps SLPs working with older students plan with ease and confidence through her blog, TpT store, SLP Coffee Talk podcast and her SLP Elevate membership. Although Hallie works with students with language disabilities, these strategies can be used with any student who struggles with vocabulary, comprehension, and other critical thinking skills. Hallie explains what different literacy skills she works with students on and emphasizes how building a strong foundation is the key to long term academic success.In order to be an effective reader, students need to retain a variety of skills, so if they're lacking in certain skills, it's going to hold them back. Therefore, by implementing these strategies that Hallie has provided us, it's going to strengthen a students' language and critical thinking skills, which is the ultimate goal. Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode123Resources Mentioned:Join the Writing Made Simple MembershipConnect with me:Check out my TpT StoreSubscribe to my E-mail listInstagram PostsBlog PostsFacebook PostsIf you are enjoying The Literacy Dive Podcast, please follow, leave a rating, and a helpful review! It is much appreciated and thank you for listening!Mentioned in this episode:Grab your Black History Month Biography Activities Bundle: https://theliteracydive.com/blackhistory

When introducing a new type of genre, sometimes students need an example to understand certain literacy skills and concepts. This is where mentor texts come in. Most teachers understand the concept of mentor texts, but struggle with knowing how to utilize them in the classroom. In today's episode, I'm sharing how to best utilize mentor texts, specifically during your biography units.Since biographies, and even autobiographies, aren't the most exciting for students, engagement and interest is key to getting them hooked. Once they are engaged, mentor texts are used to make connections, show examples of reading skills, and so much more. In the episode, I provide guidance, activities, resources, and tips to help you implement mentor texts that's purposeful and meaningful.With the next few months being prime opportunities to teach biographies, incorporating the use of mentor texts increases a students' engagement with the genre. Implementing the strategies and tips on how to best utilize mentor texts during biography units, will get kids excited to learn about other important people in our society. Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode122Resources Mentioned:Join the Writing Made Simple MembershipGrab my free Step-by-Step Writing routine!Biography Graphic Organizers FreebieBlack History Biography & Activity Bundle Connect with me:Check out my TpT StoreSubscribe to my E-mail listInstagram PostsBlog PostsFacebook PostsIf you are enjoying The Literacy Dive Podcast, please follow, leave a rating, and a helpful review! It is much appreciated and thank you for listening!Mentioned in this episode:Grab your Black History Month Biography Activities Bundle: https://theliteracydive.com/blackhistory

Teaching literacy is often surrounded by the genre of fiction. Students understand the characteristics and plot elements, which results in them independently reading fictional books on their own. But there's another type of genre, nonfiction, and more specifically biographies, which they're less familiar with. February is the perfect time for teaching biographies by incorporating Black History Month. But even without that, incorporating biographies into your classroom is so important. While it's not as initially engaging as fiction, there are ways to pique students' interest with this genre. In today's episode, I'm sharing my best practices for teaching biographies. Oftentimes, students don't like what they don't understand, so getting them to understand biographies is the first step. Throughout the episode, I walk you through my five simple steps of exploring biographies in order to get students interested in this type of genre. With this exploration, you'll help students understand how this genre works, how to identify it from a group of texts, and how to recognize the main purpose of this genre. Fiction is a genre students already enjoy, but by incorporating these best practices for teaching biographies, this will soon be a genre students will be engaged in and exploring all on their own. Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode121Resources Mentioned:Join the Writing Made Simple MembershipGrab my free Step-by-Step Writing routine!Biography Graphic Organizers FreebieConnect with me:Check out my TpT StoreSubscribe to my E-mail listInstagram PostsBlog PostsFacebook PostsIf you are enjoying The Literacy Dive Podcast, please follow, leave a rating, and a helpful review! It is much appreciated and thank you for listening!Mentioned in this episode:Grab your Black History Month Biography Activities Bundle: https://theliteracydive.com/blackhistory

The majority of this podcast's content is literacy-focused, including effective strategies to implement in your classroom, which is all academic. While literacy is an important component in a classroom, so is a students' mental health. In order to check on students and begin to look at the whole child, implementing SEL is the best way to do that. Since the beginning of the pandemic and certainly afterwards, SEL has become a hot topic and the forefront of teachers and other educational professionals' minds. Although you might know what it is, how can you effectively use it in your classroom to impact students? I have special guest, Rachel Davis, on the podcast today to help share actionable tips and strategies for implementing SEL in the classroom.Rachel is the school counselor and curriculum designer behind Bright Futures Counseling. With nearly a decade of experience, a highly rated school counseling podcast, and an engaged online community, Rachel is passionate about helping school counselors increase their impact and advocate for their role. She resides in Costa Rica, and when she's not working on her business you can find her at the beach playing with her family!Throughout our conversation, Rachel identifies what SEL is and easy ways it can be incorporated into your already existing schedule. There are so many Rachel shares lesson and engagement ideas, along with simple tips to create a common language and community in your classroom by understanding the whole child through SEL. Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode120Resources Mentioned:Join the Writing Made Simple Membership.Grab your FREE writing routine!Download Rachel's Feelings Check FreebieConnect with me:Check out my TpT StoreSubscribe to my E-mail listInstagram PostsBlog PostsFacebook PostsIf you are enjoying The Literacy Dive Podcast, please follow, leave a rating, and a helpful review! It is much appreciated and thank you for listening!Mentioned in this episode:Grab your Black History Month Biography Activities Bundle: https://theliteracydive.com/blackhistory