The Literacy Link Podcast

The Link Podcast with your favorite hosts, Jessica and Amber, is back—and this episode is all about moving education foote-ward!

In this episode we dive headfirst into the world of hands-on, simple to prep, and FUN learning with the LinkED Learning Box- we are unlocking worlds of words, imagination, and literacy skills with the LinkED Learning Box, the ultimate monthly adventure for young readers and storytellers.Join us as we:​

In today's episode, Jessica and Amber discuss the challenges of being entrepreneurs and the power of mom guilt, especially during snow days! They share their journey of creating a new educational resource, the Linked Learning Box, aimed at supporting parents and enhancing children's learning experiences through hands-on activities. The discussion emphasizes the importance of community, authentic learning, and the need for practical resources that can be easily implemented at home.

In this episode, we delve into the world of alternative coaching methods with Amber and Jessica from The Link STL. They share valuable insights into effective coaching methods from afar and how we can create "touch points" with teachers when in-person access isn't as easily available.

In this episode of the Link Development STL podcast, Amber and Jessica dive into a new reflection activity —a four-part framework for teachers and coaches that centers around what you're reading, writing, learning, and loving. They share their personal reflections on these areas, discuss how they apply these principles to their work, and catch up on their busy lives. Join them for a long winded but hopefully idea sparking conversation on how to stay connected to your teachers or students and find balance in the midst of it all!

After a summer of hard work and tedious projects Jessica and Amber discuss finding the joy in education today. The ladies discuss keeping your classroom climate fun and light these first few weeks and spending time getting to know and enjoying the kids sitting in front of you each and every day. They also talk a little about their professional goals this year and what big projects they have going on. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/literacy-link/support

It's time for a renovation! Our summer series will focus on renovating your literacy block with easy moves and ideas for your classroom. Listen in with us all summer to think about what shifts you could make to get your kids engaged and excited about reading this upcoming school year! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/literacy-link/support

Testing season doesn't have to be filled with boring review packets, anxiety, or fear. Listen in while Jessica and Amber talk about making testing season fun for kids and teachers! They think through some strategies you can incorporate throughout the whole year, as well as activities you can do with students to prepare them to SHOW WHAT THEY KNOW! Check out our mentioned resources here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1lIx5RMmAX08ekNq_xJnVLeZixhdMHxDKPd0Rb-x1FIM/edit and https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sJJYyYrTTBQZbboLbPqzWdQB26XaqsGQEU4XvAxXVg4/edit --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/literacy-link/support

Join Jessica and Amber as they debrief on their time at the Innovate24 Technology Conference is St. Louis, MO. The Link was asked to be apart of Podcast Row at the conference and it was such a great experience! The conference was put on by EdPlus and there are several more conferences coming up. You can find more information here. https://www.edplus.org/304197_2 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/literacy-link/support

Jessica and Amber discuss the progression of engagement from non-compliant to absorbed and how we get students there! Amber shares a few easy to implement strategies from the The Big Book of Engagement Strategies (A Continuation of the Book: Engagement is Not a Unicorn..Itś a Narwal) If you are interested in the Innovate24 Conference here is the link for registration. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/literacy-link/support

Celebrate all of the hard work we are seeing in schools with us this week! Intentionality, purpose, goal setting, and collaboration works and we are seeing the proof in the banana pudding this holiday season. We could not be more proud of teachers this year and we cannot wait to celebrate all the growth as we wrap up the first semester. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/literacy-link/support

Listen in while Jessica and Amber discuss how our schools are recommitting to the PLC process and collaboration! We are seeing teachers take pride more than ever in their instruction. Student data and instructional intentionality is soaring and we couldn't be more proud. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/literacy-link/support

Jessica and Amber discuss their 3 month hiatus as well as how we can come together as teams to keep things lite through the grind of September and October in schools! Listen in to gather some ideas for your teams. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/literacy-link/support

Welcome to The Link Development STL! We have been up to a lot these last few weeks. We have rebranded and are branching out to offer more services. We launched we a new website, have a new logo, and we are officially partners! Check out our new website at www.thelinkstl.com We also discuss our new Summer Learning Series: Drinks and Development with The Link STL. We are offering 5 separate sessions on our most requested topics and they are only an hour! Check out all the info on our new website! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/literacy-link/support

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/get-schooled/id1602940519?i=1000615353200 Jessica and Amber were recently guests on the new Get Schooled podcast! Listen in to their conversation about the inaugural Show-Me Science of Reading conference with the amazing ladies from CALE Education & Co! Sponsors: www.shopteacherts.com use code “LITLINK” --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/literacy-link/support

Listen in while Jessica and Amber introduce you to the amazing ladies and masterminds behind Windmill Denver, Dr. Jackie Joseph-Buzek and Mrs. Lorin Terrell, M. Ed, LMFT. We could not be more proud to be apart of this journey. Windmill was founded by a passionate group of parents and educators determined to create a better educational future. Today we introduce you to the model of Windmill Denver and our dreams of making this model of inclusion the norm for educational facilities all over the United States. www.windmilldenver.org Resources: The Way to Inclusion https://amzn.to/3LEGxSe --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/literacy-link/support

Listen in while Jessica and and Amber talk with the ladies at Step Up while they discuss changes happening around curriculum and assessment! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/literacy-link/support

Jessica and Amber discuss a quote that is making its way around social media. The ladies discuss how making BIG statements on a BIG platform like the Sold A Story podcast can be irresponsible and cause confusion for teachers. Listen in to hear Amber and Jessica'a thoughts around the idea of learning to read vs loving to read! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/literacy-link/support

Jessica and Amber discuss their new professional development book Conscious Classrooms: Using Diverse Texts for Inclusion, Equity and Justice Professional Development Book with authors Allison Briceño and Claudia Rodriguez-Mojica. Here is the brief synopsis from the resource: When you look at all of the reading books in your classroom, can you be sure that each of your students' voices and experiences are well represented? Drs. Briceño and Rodriguez-Mojicao created Conscious Classrooms to help teachers learn how to authentically include different voices and experiences in the classroom. They navigate the many questions surrounding diverse texts while also assisting with improving representation within the classroom. Highlights include: Tools for auditing read-aloud texts, classroom libraries, and curricula Sample book lists and ideas for acquiring diverse texts on a tight budget Checklists and tips to determine if a book has questionable content Research and instructional frameworks for diversity, equity, and inclusion Listen in for more information on how you could use this resource in your building or classroom! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/literacy-link/support

Today Jessica and Amber discuss how to manage some of our toughest or most challenging students in the classroom. Amber shares 5 tips on how to build relationships with these students and what has worked in the past. Jessica references Capturing Kids Hearts by Flip Flippen and shares a great social emotional resource www.imaginationsoup.net for mentor text we can use in our classrooms. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/literacy-link/support

With the Science of Reading being the HOT TOPIC of every school in America, Jessica and Amber discuss using decodable texts in the classroom. Jessica recommends the resource Choosing and Using Decodable Texts by Wiley Blevins when it comes to extending the learning in your classrooms around decodable texts. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/literacy-link/support

Jessica and Amber discuss some misconceptions about the Science of Reading and trends we are seeing in schools and classrooms when it comes to implementation of the SOR. https://heggerty.org/resources/blog-post/science-of-reading-resources/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/literacy-link/support

Jessica and Amber give their opinions on using slides/keynotes to deliver content in the classroom. Are students really engaged? Is authentic learning happening? Listen in to hear their thoughts. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Jessica and Amber are back for the first time in 2023! They are reflecting on the response they received from the Sold A Story recap episode and how they can move forward and give the teachers confidence to do the right things in classrooms. They discuss the shame teachers are feeling in the field of education from outside influence right now and how this needs to STOP! Jessica also shared a favorite resource Choosing and Using Decodable Texts by Wiley Blevins https://amzn.to/3Y3Ctzu and how you can use it in your classroom and small group instruction. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Jessica and Amber give their opinions on the most controversial podcast in education right now Sold A Story. Our opinions might surprise you!  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Jessica and Amber discuss social media platforms and how they have taken over education and influencing authentic learning happening in schools everywhere. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Listen in while Jessica and Amber talking about planning and whether or not you should plan your lessons, plan with your team, or divide and conquer. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Listen in while Jessica and Amber vocalize their opinions on the *HOT TOPIC* of homework! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Welcome back teachers! It's the first days of school and the energy in the buildings has been refreshing! Listen in with Jessica and Amber to chat about the importance of teachers and some things to think about in your first week of school. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Listen in while Jessica and Amber discuss classroom libraries and what has worked best in our experiences! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Listen in while Jessica and Amber give all their best advice for new teachers! New teachers are so special to a building, and we cannot wait to guide you along the way this year. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Listen in with while Jessica chats with our special guest Kim Lockhart as they discuss instructional shifts teachers are making around reading research and the Science of Reading.  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Jessica and Amber have been embracing the summer lifestyle and slacking on the podcasting! Listen in while we recap our last few weeks of summer and a little back to school talk! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

The Literacy Link ladies discuss ditching the morning work and starting your day with some low stakes soft starts to get your students minds ready for the day! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Jessica and Amber have been taking their kiddos on adventures this summer and everywhere they go they are finding AMAZING free texts! Let's think about all of the places we visit during the summer and where we could collect fun and new text for this year! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Jessica and Amber weigh in on anchor charts and creating an environment that allows for students to anchor their learning and use the resources you create together in their everyday learning. Anchor charts can be displayed and created very thoughtfully, and we want you to think about this with us here at The Literacy Link! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Finally, the episode that so many teachers have been asking for...Sound Walls VS Word Walls! Jessica and Amber discuss the WHY and HOW behind one of the biggest trends of the year. Listen in to learn what they think about Sound Walls VS Word Walls and if they should be utilized in your classroom.  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Jessica and Amber talk about the joy and sometimes exhausting summer days of being a teacher/mom! Listen in for all of the amazing things you could take your kiddos to do this summer and the different methods of learning that can take place. They discuss the “summer slide” and how you can practice your children's skills in non-traditional ways! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

The Literacy Link ladies think about best practices that are important for EVERY subject! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

WARNING: The content of this production may be emotionally challenging. Jessica and Amber discuss with heavy hearts the tragedy that happened this week in Uvalde, TX. 

Jessican and Amber discuss the hot topic of "play" during the school day and how we can incorporate it into our day in an intentional and purposeful way! Listen in to hear their points of view and how it aligns with the latest research around play.  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Jessica and Amber decompress and reflect after a week filled with data, reflection, and planning meetings. Tune in to hear what our thoughts are around using all of this information to guide the work for next year! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Jessica and Amber discuss the struggles teachers are having when it comes to the WHEN and HOW of teaching grammar within their day. Listen in to hear our thoughts and suggestions! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Jessica and Amber chat about losing an important member of a strong trio they have formed and how she has made a lasting impact on them! They discuss the characteristics in mentors, friends, and leaders that have made a strong lasting impact in their lives. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Jessica and Amber give you an update on how great.... or not so great...the Keystone Habits are going. They also give you summer reading inspiration from their own personal book stacks and implementing FIGURE IT OUT FRIDAYS! Listen in to learn more.  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Our special Mother's Day episode reflects on the teacher/mom hustle and finding your rhythm! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

After a week filled with curriculum planning, assessment creation, and district planning meetings Jessica and Amber sit down to talk assessments. We are thinking about the WHY, HOW, and WHEN we are assessing students.  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Jessica and Amber reflect after the episode with Dr. Stephanie Affinito around Keystone Habits. The ladies of Lit Link discuss what Keystone Habits they are implementing in their daily lives. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Jessica and Amber want to shout out our appreciation to all of our amazing teachers that we work with every single day! You all are ROCKSTARS!  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Jessica and Amber were so excited to sit down with Dr. Stephanie Affinito to talk about one of The Literacy Link's favorite books Leading Literate Lives. They discussed Keystone Habits and how teachers and students can build these reading and writing habits in their daily lives and the benefits these habits can bring to your classroom or life! https://amzn.to/3waXU5J https://www.thecoachingsketchnotebook.com/2020/04/a-virtual-coaching-toolkit.html --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Jessica and Amber discuss a few of their favorite FREE reading and writing resources you can use in your classroom! https://dogonalogbooks.com/ https://www.storyjumper.com/ https://www.scribblitt.com/ https://thesixshifts.com/ https://www.readingvine.com/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app