Podcasts about classroom connections

Send us a textThe Gate, The Girl, and The Dragon is like a mug of hot tea on a snowy day. It warms your soul and sparks the imagination. The characters are memorable and Grace Lin's lyrical storytelling and gorgeous illustrations are sure to make this an instant beloved classic for families and classrooms everywhere.In this episode of the Adventures in Learning podcast, Grace Lin delves into the inspirations behind her new book, The Gate, The Girl, and The Dragon. From the mysterious stone spirits known as gongshi to a young lion cub named Jin, Grace's storytelling weaves ancient lore with contemporary themes of connection and community. She shares insights on creating tangible reading experiences, the role of children's literature in fostering hope and empathy, and her excitement for an upcoming book tour filled with interactive activities. Tune in for an episode that promises insight, inspiration, and a touch of magic.Chapters with Timestamps:0:36 Read Aloud from The Gate, The Girl, and The Dragon 3:40 Exploring the intriguing world of Chinese gongshi 5:59 Braiding multiple stories into parallel narratives7:35 Planting seeds of inspiration10:25 Themes of connection and community13:06 The power of illustrations in crafting a tangible book experience16:08 Summer PD Ad17:08 The fireflies that change the landscape of night19:40 Heroes that are more than an "est"21:30 Join the Grace Lin book tour23:30 Check out the Quick Culture Ideas, Downloads, and Classroom Connections for The Gate, The Girl, and The Dragon26:12 Planting seeds of hope and joyLinks:Pre-order The Gate, The Girl, and The DragonFollow Grace Lin on Instagram, Bluesky, and FacebookGrace Lin's Official WebsiteAdventures in Learning Podcast Episode 13Support the showSubscribe & Follow: Stay updated with our latest episodes and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and the Adventures in Learning website. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts! *Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.

In this episode we welcome Katie Baldwin, a 3rd grade educator, and Christina Fallstick, a middle school math educator, to the Gifted Ed Podcast to explore the importance of building rapport with their students. We discuss the various strategies that they implement to increase classroom connections and curricular engagement. Host: Meghan McCarthy Co-Producers: Adam Metcalf and Jeff Westbrook Original Music by Adam G-F How you can be involved: Subscribe to The Gifted Ed Podcast Email us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thegiftededpodcast@averycoonley.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Submit a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠feedback form⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to the podcast team to let us know of any topics that you would like discussed. Additionally, you can use this form to let us know that you would like to appear on an episode as a guest and what topic(s) you would like to discuss.

In this episode of Why Distance Learning, hosts Seth Fleischauer, Allyson Mitchell, and Tami Moehring welcome Liz Huson, Distance Learning Specialist at Erie 2 BOCES, for a dynamic discussion on the transformative power of virtual education. Liz shares how her passion for student engagement, differentiated instruction, and equity informs her role in curating live virtual experiences that break down classroom walls and spark curiosity in students across New York State. This episode highlights how distance learning creates meaningful connections, challenges traditional assumptions, and fosters empathy among students.Key Topics Discussed:Differentiation in Distance Learning: Liz explains how virtual experiences can address diverse student needs through choice boards, interest-based field trips, and collaborative learning opportunities.Student Engagement: Liz recounts a "golden moment" when a high school Mystery Skype session connected students in New York and Poland, fostering empathy and shattering stereotypes.The Role of Distance Learning Specialists: Liz discusses how she supports educators by providing access to high-quality programs, sharing practical advice, and encouraging teachers to embrace innovative tools.Overcoming Myths About Distance Learning: Liz challenges misconceptions stemming from pandemic-era experiences, emphasizing how interactivity and simplicity can transform virtual education into a powerful tool.The Transformative Power of Distance Learning: From exposing students to global perspectives to inspiring lifelong curiosity, Liz underscores why virtual education is essential in today's interconnected world.Guest Bio:Liz Huson is a Distance Learning Specialist at Erie 2 BOCES, where she supports educators across 22 school districts in leveraging live virtual learning experiences to enrich curricula, engage students, and provide equitable access to transformative educational opportunities. A former middle school English teacher, Liz brings her passion for differentiation and creative teaching strategies to her current role, ensuring that students and teachers alike benefit from the possibilities of distance learning.Host Bio:Seth Fleischauer, Allyson Mitchell, and Tami Moehring are dedicated to exploring the question, "Why distance learning?" through interviews with educators, content providers, and field experts who are transforming virtual education. Together, they highlight innovative uses of technology to enhance learning, build cultural competence, and connect classrooms around the world.Episode Links:Learn more about Erie 2 BOCES: https://www.e2ccb.org/Listen to past episodes: cilc.org/podcastHost Links:Discover more virtual learning opportunities and resources at CILC.org with Tami Moehring and Allyson Mitchell.Seth Fleischauer's Banyan Global Learning uses technology to enhance digital and cultural competence in teachers and students.

Establishing and forging meaningful relationships with students at the start of the school year can be challenging — students often have diverse backgrounds, needs, and personalities, and they need to feel a sense of trust in order to be vulnerable about their learning needs, their personal opinions, and their challenges. In this episode we're taking a journey into our podcast archives to a conversation with Kelsey Hammond, a former ELA teacher and Lead Professional Development Coach, and Victoria Fernandez, a former Math/Special Education teacher and Lead Professional Development Coach about the importance of building relationships that foster a positive learning environment.

Hey everyone, welcome back! In today's episode, we dive into the crucial topic of prioritizing student relationships. It's often repeated, but building these connections is fundamental to creating a classroom where students feel welcomed, encouraged, and supported. We'll discuss the importance of fostering positive relationships, especially for students who've experienced trauma, and how this can positively impact their brain development and learning readiness. I'm Diane Bachman, your behavior paraprofessional with over 15 years of experience in special education. Join me as we explore social-emotional learning, behavior strategies, trauma-informed care, and more. If you're struggling with students who exhibit challenging behaviors, this episode is for you. I'll be sharing practical tips to help you connect with your students and make a lasting impact on their lives. Don't miss out on these valuable insights. Plus, I'm excited to announce a pilot group for my new course, Behavior Pro. If you're interested in mastering behavior skills, reach out to me through Facebook, Instagram, or email. Let's work together to make this school year amazing for both you and your students!    “Offering Hope For Every Student,  One Strategy At A Time!”                         GET YOUR STUDENT BEHAVIOR JOURNAL TODAY!                                             https://a.co/d/iFwFezb If you found today's episode valuable, please take time to subscribe and leave me a review in Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, IHeart, or wherever you're listening. Your voice matters and will help others!   Is there a behavior topic you would like to hear or hear more of? We can chat through any of these ways…. Website: Behavior Strategies 4 Class  Book a FREE Strategy Call Today:  https://calendly.com/4behavior  Let's Connect! - diane@behaviorstrategies4class.com,  Get Your Sanity Game Plan - https://behavior-strategies-4-class.ck.page/8f14339fff Five Day Student Challenge - https://behavior-strategies-4-class.ck.page/3b8bf7c389   Join my Facebook Group! - Behavior Strategies 4 Class (193) Diane Bachman - YouTube (25) Diane Bachman | LinkedIn               Diane Bachman - Behavior Coach (@behaviorstrategies4class) • Instagram photos and videos  

Andrew Dressel is an accomplished attorney and real estate investor. After teaching history in Edison, New Jersey, he graduated with honors from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 2008. He began his legal career at Boies, Schiller & Flexner in 2011 and founded his own firm in 2018, focusing on commercial litigation, corporate, and securities law. Andrew and his wife started investing in real estate in 2016, expanding to over 200 units across several states by 2021. In 2023, he joined the Warrior program to enhance his investing skills and network with peers nationwide. Here's some of the topics we covered: Teacher/Lawyer to Successful Real Estate Investor  Balancing Real Estate Investing with Your Lifestyle Overcoming Obstacles & Making A New Plan  Leveraging Your Investing Strengths  Tips and Techniques for Raising Capital  Industrial Real Estate Deal Deep Dive  This Opportunity Stand Out  Advice and Guidance for Aspiring Real Estate Investors  If you'd like to apply to the warrior program and do deals with other rockstars in this business: Text crush to 72345 and we'll be speaking soon.   For more about Rod and his real estate investing journey go to www.rodkhleif.com  

Establishing and forging meaningful relationships with students at the start of the school year can be challenging — students often have diverse backgrounds, needs, and personalities, and they need to feel a sense of trust in order to be vulnerable about their learning needs, their personal opinions, and their challenges. In this episode, we're talking with Kelsey Hammond, a former ELA teacher and Lead Professional Development Coach, and Victoria Fernandez, a former Math/Special Education teacher and Lead Professional Development Coach about the importance of building relationships that foster a positive learning environment.

Projects and meaningful activities can often be time consuming and complicated. But what if I told you I have one mini project that would change your classroom dynamics forever? This project is zero prep, creates tons of communication, tons of smile, and tons of reflection. Join me in this episode where I dive into all the details. I promise at the end of this episode you will be adding this mini project to your lesson plans ASAP! Episode Links: Battle Brackets- Perfect for Relationship Building & Classroom Connections:  monicagenta.com/shop Get a free PDF copy of Monica's Book Crushing It For Kids Here: http://bit.ly/MonicaGenta Want some Awesome PD At Your School? Let's Connect:  http://monicagenta.com/pd Connect with Monica on social media: Instagram: instagram.com/monicagentaed/ TikTok: tiktok.com/@monicagentaed Facebook: facebook.com/MonicaGentaEd Twiiter: twitter.com/monicagentaed

Students are heading back to school across America after a challenging few years which brought major changes to their lives. One learning framework increasingly implemented in schools is called social emotional learning, or SEL. In Building Classroom Connections, from TODAY and sponsored by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, we dive into just what SEL looks like in practice and explore whether this framework is the future of education.

This week we are celebrating faculty who support you in and out of the classroom and sharing ways to build those connections. Joining us for this conversation are Peer Ambassador of Wellness (PAW) volunteers, Emily Bradly and Gabby Perez-Vigil.

Learn from the research of the Teach Like a Champion team as Wendy Amato interviews Doug Lemov and Hilary Lewis about the most important lessons from the 20/21 school year. In this asynchronous conversation, you'll hear specific, actionable strategies that teachers are using to build connections with their students through lesson content and classroom routines. You'll also hear Doug and Hilary's recommendations for how to use the lessons learned from this year to come back stronger in the fall. Continue Learning Articles Read an excerpt from Teach Like a Champion 3.0 - "https://teachlikeachampion.com/blog/phrasing-fundamentals-for-question-a-tlac-3-0-excerpt/ (Phrasing Fundamentals for Questioning)" Get ideas from the TLAC team on https://teachlikeachampion.com/blog/the-first-steps-back-what-id-do-first-for-summer-school/ (what students can do this summer) to reduce learning loss Events https://twitter.com/Doug_Lemov (Follow Doug on Twitter) to join the next Teach Like a Champion Twitter chat Videos Watch all of Teaching Channel's Teach Like a Champion webinars Watch a https://teachlikeachampion.com/blog/monitoring-two-settings-at-once-notes-on-allison-dungeys-hybrid-lesson-from-jasmine-lane/ (7th-grade English teacher's hybrid lesson) and read observations from the TLAC team

I am so happy to share this conversation with Heather MacTaggart creator of the Unschooling school movement - let's make school fit the learner. Heather is a mother of four children, passionate about making the education system work for everyone. She is also Founder and Executive Director of Classroom Connections, on-site leader, Change It Up initiatives within Alberta First Nations communities. She is the co-author Overschooled but Undereducated, with John Abbott in the UK

Disruptor [noun] - a person or thing that prevents something, especially a system, process, or event, from continuing as usual or as expected https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/disruptor Yes, this month we are talking about disruption. I think it is a fitting theme for this past year, don't you? There is a lot of disruption happening all around us and it is not necessarily bad. Change comes from disruption and change can be good. I have often wondered when we talk about change in the education system where we need disruption to be. From the inside or out? In this episode I sat down with education disruptor, Heather MacTaggart to talk about how she sees disruption happening within the system. She says, "If now isn’t the time to redesign an education model built for the industrial age, when will it be?" Unschooling School Heather’s obsession is helping to create an education system that actually makes sense for kids, all kids! She is a social entrepreneur, an educator, and a problem solver. She founded Classroom Connections in 1997 because she was worried about the education system and the kids in it. Since then, Classroom Connections has evolved from a grass-roots resource hub for schools to an award-winning producer of innovative education/training materials that are in use across Canada and around the world. Heather is a firm believer in self directed learning and trust. Currently Heather is working on Unschooling School. The premise is this- Not all kids can attend these enlightened (alternative) schools. We already pay for public education. Not all parents are able to unschool at home. So what if we made space for change within schools by choosing not to comply with the age-segregated, curriculum-driven, testing, grading, and homework-laden structures? What if we insisted that our children be allowed to choose what they want to do at school? What if we let them know that there are lots of different avenues to gain acceptance into College or University or start careers?  What if we revealed to them that marks on a transcript are only one of many options? In This Episode In this episode Heather joins me to talk about these possibilities, what Unschooling school means and why she is disrupting education. We explore; The importance of learning things we are interested in Allowing kids to be in charge of their learning Brave parents are disruptors What would it look like to unschool school? The two factors that are paramount in both parents and kids to Unschool school What would society look like if we had consent in our learning and education? The Free Learner program and support for families that are interested in Unschooling School Resources Unschooling School Facebook Classroom Connections Change It Up Peter Gray Sudbury Valley School FHREE.org If you would like to listen to episodes featuring people and places mentioned in this episode, check out my interview with Peter Gray and my interview with Daniel Greenberg of Sudbury Valley School. Other ways to help support the podcast? Become a patron~ https://www.patreon.com/honeyimhomeschoolingthekids See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Friends, for our Unabridged Book Club book this month, we're reading Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb's epistolary novel ​Last Christmas in Paris. This book, set predominantly during World War I, unveils the relationships of two characters, Evie and Tom, through the letters they write to each other and to friends and family. Through the lens of their very personal letters, readers also gain an understanding of other concerns of the time, including the growing role of women in Great Britain, concerns of journalism in telling the truth and supporting patriotism, mental health of soldiers, and (of course!) finding love and companionship in the midst of war. ​It's a novel of friendship, of fraternity, and of passion, set over the course of years.​Join us on social media this month to share your thoughts about Gaynor and Webb's novel!   timeline *Introduction and General Discussion: 00:00 - 38:03 *Book Pairings: 38:04 - 43:34 *Classroom Connections: 43:35 - 45:18 *Give Me One: 45:20 - 47:45   book pairings *Ashley - Ruta Sepetys’s Salt to the Sea *Jen - Kate Quinn’s The Alice Network *Sara - Anthony Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See​   other mentions *Alice Walker's The Color Purple *Pierre Choderlos de Laclos's Dangerous Liaisons  *The Hamilton Soundtrack   give me one - musician to try *Jen's pick - Red Hot Chili Peppers *Sara's pick - Maroon 5 *Ashley's pick - The Chainsmokers   *Check out what's coming up next.   want to support unabridged? *Check out our Merch Store! *Become a patron on Patreon.​ *Follow us @unabridgedpod on Instagram. *Like and follow our Facebook Page. *Follow us @unabridgedpod on Twitter. *Subscribe to our podcast and rate us on iTunes or on Stitcher. *Check us out on Podbean.

For our November Book Club, we're discussing Maggie O'Farrell's I Am, I Am, I Am: Seventeen Brushes with Death, our first Unabridged Readers' Choice pick! This collection of connected essays elicited a different reaction from each of us . . . some of us definitely liked it more than others.We'd love to know what you think about this memoir. Join us all month on social media to discuss O'Farrell's work.   timeline *Introduction and General Discussion: 00:00 - 39:28 *Book Pairings: 39:39 - 46:18 *Classroom Connections: 46:19 - 50:18 *Give Me One: 50:19 - 52:58   book pairings *Ashley - Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club​ *Jen - Jesmyn Ward's Men We Reaped *Sara - Elizabeth Strout's Olive Kitteridge -- Listen to Sara's perspective on this novel in Episode 16, Unpopular Opinion Alert   other mentions *Lorrie Moore's short story collections such as Birds of America, including the short story "How" from her collection Self-Help *Elizabeth Strout's Olive, Again​​   give me one - super hero edition *Jen's pick - Captain America *Sara's pick - Wonder Woman *Ashley's pick - Black Panther   *Check out what's coming up next.   want to support unabridged? Check out our Merch Store! Become a patron on Patreon.​ Follow us @unabridgedpod on Instagram. Like and follow our Facebook Page. Follow us @unabridgedpod on Twitter. Subscribe to our podcast and rate us on iTunes or on Stitcher. Check us out on Podbean.

We're thrilled to discuss Anissa Gray's new novel, The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls. Told in the alternating perspectives of the Butler sisters, this novel is timely, compelling, and, at times, heartbreaking.We offer pairings and recommendations for the ways that teachers can use this book in their classrooms.After you listen, join us on social media throughout October to participate in our book club discussions. We'd love to know what you think!   timeline *Introduction and General Discussion: 00:00 - 36:03 *Book Pairings: 36:03 - 45:43 *Classroom Connections: 45:44 - 49:54 book pairings *Ashley - Mira T. Lee's Everything Here is Beautiful *Jen - Pat Conroy's The Prince of Tides *Sara - John Green's Turtles All the Way Down​   classroom connections *Laurie Halse Anderson's Wintergirls *Yara Zgheib's The Girls at 17 Swann Street *Yaa Gyasi's Homegoing   other mentions *Piper Kerman's Orange Is the New Black and the Netflix Series   Check out what's coming up next.   want to support unabridged? Become a patron on Patreon.​ Follow us @unabridgedpod on Instagram. Like and follow our Facebook Page. Follow us @unabridgedpod on Twitter. Subscribe to our podcast and rate us on iTunes or on Stitcher. Check us out on Podbean.

We're thrilled to discuss Elizabeth Acevedo's sophomore novel, With the Fire on High. Protagonist Emoni is a high school student, a mother, a granddaughter, and an amazingly inspired chef in training. Listen in for our discussion of the ways that Acevedo counters our expectations for this character. We offer pairings and recommendations for the ways that teachers can use this book in their classrooms.After you listen, join us on social media throughout September to participate in our book club discussions. We'd love to know what you think!   timeline *Introduction and General Discussion: 00:00 - 35:00 *Book Pairings: 35:01 - 42:17 *Classroom Connections: 42:18 - 48:00   book pairings *Ashley - Jade Chang’s The Wangs vs the World *Jen - Roselle Lim’s Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck and Fortune *Sara - Erika Sanchez’s I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter​   classroom connections *Elizabeth Acevedo's The Poet X *Gaby Rodriguez's The Pregnancy Project *Isabel Quintero's Gabi: A Girl in Pieces *Robin Benway's Far from the Tree   ​other mentions *Chopped TV Series *Beat Bobby Flay TV Series *​Laura Esquivel’s Like Water for Chocolate Check out what's coming up next.   want to support unabridged? Become a patron on Patreon.​ Follow us @unabridgedpod on Instagram. Like and follow our Facebook Page. Follow us @unabridgedpod on Twitter. Subscribe to our podcast and rate us on iTunes or on Stitcher. Check us out on Podbean.

Spoilers are inevitable throughout our discussion of Tara Westover's Educated, so consider whether or not to listen if you haven't yet read the book!timeline *Introduction and Summary of the Book: 0:00 - 01:10 *Main Discussion: 01:11 - 51:47 *​Book Pairings: 51:57 - 58:39 *Classroom Connections: 58:40 - 63:05 book pairings  *Jen - Jeannette Walls's The Glass Castle *Ashley - Barbara Kingsolver's The Poisonwood Bible *Sara - Ruth Wariner's The Sound of Gravel *Ruth Reichl's Tender at the Bone: Growing Up at the Table other mentions in classroom connections *Sara - Dave Pelzer's A Child Called "It" Check out what's coming up next.   want to support unabridged?Find us on Patreon.​ Follow us @unabridgedpod on Instagram. Follow us @unabridgedpod on Twitter. Subscribe to our podcast and rate us on iTunes or on Stitcher. Check us out on Podbean.

In this #unabridgedbookclub episode, we discuss Bryan Stevenson's nonfiction book Just Mercy.  Stevenson discusses his work as an attorney with prisoners on death row and with individuals who were sentenced to life in prison when they were children.During our discussion, we strive to cover the plethora of issues raised by the book, including mass incarceration, the way we deal with mental disabilities and mental illness, the death penalty, and the role of poverty in the criminal justice system. Our conversation, like the book, is wide ranging both in topic and emotion as we reflect on what we gained from Stevenson's book. This truly is, as Sara says in the episode, a book that should be a "must read."   timeline *Introduction: 00:00 - 01:42 *Just Mercy: 01:43 - 52:19 *​Book Pairings: 52:30 - 61:10 *Classroom Connections: 61:15 - 64:04 book pairings  *Ashley - Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man *Jen - Ernest Gaines’s A Lesson Before Dying *Sara - Beth Macy’s Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America other mentions and additional resources *Equal Justice Initiative  *"Michael B. Jordan Headlines Film Adaptation of Criminal Justice Memoir, 'Just Mercy'" *"Lethal Injections: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)" *Bryan Stevenson’s TED Talk: “We need to talk about an injustice” *In the Dark Podcast (Season Two) *Ian Richardson's Story *Michelle Alexander’s The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness *Orange Is the New Black series *Loving film *Ta-Nehisi Coates’s “The Case for Reparations” *Richard Wright's Black Boy and Native Son *Patrisse Khan Cullers and Asha Bandele's When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir Check out what's coming up next.   want to support unabridged?Become a patron on Patreon.​ Follow us @unabridgedpod on Instagram. Like and follow our Facebook Page. Follow us @unabridgedpod on Twitter. Subscribe to our podcast and rate us on iTunes or on Stitcher. Check us out on Podbean.

Graeme Simsion's The Rosie Project is our Unabridged Book Club pick this month. In The Rosie Project, professor Don Tillman has embarked on a mission -- his plan is to find a suitable life partner. He decides to create an extensive questionnaire for female candidates to complete and dubs the quest “The Wife Project.” Along comes Rosie Jarman, who is far from suitable according to the questionnaire. However, she and Don get swept up in another joint project, the quest to find her biological father. Drama ensues. Spoilers are inevitable throughout our Book Club discussion, so consider whether or not to listen if you haven't yet read the book The Rosie Project!​timeline *Introduction: 00:00 - 01:35 *The Rosie Project: 01:35 - 41:29 *​Book Pairings: 41:39 - 48:31 *Classroom Connections: 48:32 - 53:12 book pairings  *Ashley - Cory Ann Haydu's OCD Love Story  *Jen - Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time *Sara - Helen Hoang’s The Kiss Quotient  other mentions  *Daniel Tammet’s Born on A Blue Day: Inside the Extraordinary Mind of an Autistic Savant *Monica Wood's The One-in-a-Million Boy (Listen to our episode here!) Check out what's coming up next.   want to support unabridged?Become a patron on Patreon.​ Follow us @unabridgedpod on Instagram. Like and follow our Facebook Page. Follow us @unabridgedpod on Twitter. Subscribe to our podcast and rate us on iTunes or on Stitcher. Check us out on Podbean.

Heather MacTaggart is the Executive Director of Classroom Connections, an organization that, for the last 15 years, has been developing classroom-based resources as well as working extensively to deliver innovative employability skills training to multi-barriered youth in First Nations communities. Heather joined me this morning to talk about a new self-directed learning initiative aimed at creating alternative experiences of school for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth. Learn about how Heather is bringing her values, beliefs and insights to start one such alternative in the Toronto area.

In this Unabridged podcast episode, we talk about two books that look at drug addiction and its impact on families. Beth Macy's nonfiction book Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America shows the bleak situation of the opioid crisis in America by focusing on the situation within three communities along I-81, the "Heroin Highway" in Virginia. Jarrett J. Krosoczka's Hey, Kiddo: How I Lost My Mother, Found My Father, and Dealt with Family Addiction is a graphic memoir portraying Krosoczka's own experiences growing up as the son of a heroin addict who continued using throughout his adolescence.  Spoilers are inevitable throughout our Book Club discussion, so consider whether or not to listen if you haven't yet read the books Dopesick and Hey, Kiddo!​timeline *Introduction: 00:00 - 02:13 *Dopesick: 02:13 - 49:58 *Hey Kiddo: 50:10 - 70:40 *​Book Pairings: 70:50 - 85:49 *Classroom Connections: 85:50 - 91:33 book pairings  *Ashley - When They Call You a Terrorist by Patrisse Khan-Cullers and Asha Bandele and Blankets by Craig Thompson *Jen - David Sheff’s Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey through His Son's Addiction and Nic Sheff’s Tweak: Growing Up on Methamphetamines *Sara - Ellen Hopkins's Crank (Glass and Fallout are the second and third in the trilogy) and Laurie Halse Anderson's Wintergirls  other mentions  *Michelle Alexander's The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness *Chris McGreal's American Overdose: The Opioid Tragedy in Three Acts *Netflix's One Day at a Time series *Yara Zgheib's The Girls at 17 Swann Street Check out what's coming up next.   want to support unabridged?Become a patron on Patreon.​ Follow us @unabridgedpod on Instagram. Like and follow our Facebook Page. Follow us @unabridgedpod on Twitter. Subscribe to our podcast and rate us on iTunes or on Stitcher. Check us out on Podbean.

In this Unabridged Book Club episode, we discuss Julie Murphy's YA lit novel, Dumplin'. When “self-proclaimed fat girl” Willowdean Dickson decides to shake things up in her small town by entering her former beauty queen mother’s beloved beauty pageant, she learns more about herself than she anticipates.“I think you gotta be who you want to be until you feel like you are whoever it is you're trying to become. Sometimes half of doing something is pretending that you can.” Spoilers are inevitable throughout our book club discussion, so consider whether or not to listen if you haven't yet read the book Dumplin'!​timeline *Introduction and Summary of the Book: 00:00 - 01:30 *Main Discussion: 01:30 - 42:40 *​Book Pairings: 42:50 - 49:24 *Classroom Connections: 49:24 - 56:36 book pairings  *Ashley - Dhonielle Clayton's The Belles *Jen - Isabel Quintero’s Gabi, a Girl in Pieces *Sara - Sharon Huss Roat's How to Disappear other mentions  *Erin Jade Lange's Butter *Jennifer Niven's Holding Up the Universe *Carolyn Mackler's The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things *Laurie Halse Anderson's Wintergirls *A. S. King's Reality Boy *A. S. King's Everybody Sees the Ants Check out what's coming up next. want to support unabridged?   Become a patron on Patreon.​ Follow us @unabridgedpod on Instagram. Like and follow our Facebook Page. Follow us @unabridgedpod on Twitter. Subscribe to our podcast and rate us on iTunes or on Stitcher. Check us out on Podbean.

We worked hard to avoid spoilers in this #unabridgedhighlights episode; see the timeline below to avoid spoilers in American Street. If you haven't read them yet, check out Pride: A Pride and Prejudice Remix and American Street by Ibi Zoboi!​timeline *Introduction and Overview of Episode: 0:00 - 01:26 *Discussion of Pride: 01:26 - 19:30 *Classroom Connections: 19:30 - 21:33 *Discussion of American Street: 21:33 - 51:53 --> Spoilers beginning 37:35 *Classroom Connections: 51:53 - 53:32 other mentions  *Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice  *Angie Thomas's The Hate U Give​​ *Sonia Nazario's Enrique's Journey Check out what's coming up next. want to support unabridged?Become a patron on Patreon.​ Follow us @unabridgedpod on Instagram. Like and follow our Facebook Page. Follow us @unabridgedpod on Twitter. Subscribe to our podcast and rate us on iTunes or on Stitcher. Check us out on Podbean.

Spoilers are inevitable throughout our book club discussion, so consider whether or not to listen if you haven't yet read the book The Female Persuasion!​timeline *Introduction and Summary of the Book: 00:00 - 01:58 *Main Discussion: 01:58 - 49:11 *​Book Pairings: 49:21 - 56:59 *Classroom Connections: 57:00 - 00:00 book pairings  *Ashley - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's We Should All Be Feminists  *Jen - ​Rebecca Solnit's Men Explain Things to Me *Sara - The Radical Element: Twelve Stories of Daredevils, Debutants, and Other Dauntless Girls edited by Jessica Spotswood other mentions  *Meg Wolitzer's Belzhar and The Ten-Year Nap *Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale *Christina Dalcher’s Vox *Naomi Alderman’s The Power Check out what's coming up next.   want to support unabridged?   Become a patron on Patreon.​ Follow us @unabridgedpod on Instagram. Like and follow our Facebook Page. Follow us @unabridgedpod on Twitter. Subscribe to our podcast and rate us on iTunes or on Stitcher. Check us out on Podbean.

Justina Ireland's Dread Nation   timeline *Introduction and Summary of the Book: 0:00 - 02:10 *Main Discussion: 02:11 - 40:54 *​Book Pairings: 40:55 - 46:17 *Classroom Connections: 46:18 - 49:04 book pairings  *Jen - Patrick Ness’s The Knife of Never Letting Go *Ashley - Tomi Adeyemi’s Children of Blood and Bone (Listen to our podcast episode here) *Sara - Cassandra Clare's The Mortal Instruments series other mentions  *The Walking Dead TV series *Suzanne Collins's The Hunger Games Check out what's coming up next.   want to support unabridged?   *Become a patron on Patreon.​ *Follow us @unabridgedpod on Instagram. *Like and follow our Facebook Page. *Follow us @unabridgedpod on Twitter. *Subscribe to our podcast and rate us on iTunes or on Stitcher. *Check us out on Podbean.

Spoilers are inevitable throughout our discussion, so consider whether or not to listen if you haven't yet read the book, Evergreen Tidings from the Baumgartners!​timeline *Introduction and Summary of the Book: 0:00 - 01:13 *Main Discussion: 01:13 - 33:43 *​Book Pairings: 33:53 - 43:15 *Classroom Connections: 43:15 - 45:38 book pairings  *Jen - Helen Hanff's 84, Charing Cross Road  *Ashley - Jenny Han's To All the Boys I've Loved Before *Sara - Josie Silver's One Day in December other mentions  *Gilmore Girls TV series *Cath Crowley's Words in Deep Blue Check out what's coming up next.   want to support unabridged?   *Become a patron on Patreon.​ *Follow us @unabridgedpod on Instagram. *Like and follow our Facebook Page. *Follow us @unabridgedpod on Twitter. *Subscribe to our podcast and rate us on iTunes or on Stitcher. *Check us out on Podbean.

Tara Westover's Educated   timeline *Introduction and Summary of the Book: 0:00 - 01:10 *Main Discussion: 01:11 - 51:47 *​Book Pairings: 51:57 - 58:39 *Classroom Connections: 58:40 - 63:05 book pairings  *Jen - Jeannette Walls's The Glass Castle *Ashley - Barbara Kingsolver's The Poisonwood Bible *Sara - Ruth Warimer's The Sound of Gravel *Ruth Reichl's Tender at the Bone: Growing Up at the Table other mentions in classroom connections *Sara - Dave Pelzer's A Child Called "It" Check out what's coming up next.   want to support unabridged?Find us on Patreon.​ Follow us @unabridgedpod on Instagram. Follow us @unabridgedpod on Twitter. Subscribe to our podcast and rate us on iTunes or on Stitcher. Check us out on Podbean.

Angie Thomas's The Hate U Give Note: We read a few passages from the text of the novel that include strong language.   timeline *Introduction and Summary of The Hate U Give: 0:00 - 02:10 *Main Discussion: 02:10 - 53:56 *​Book Pairings:  54:06 - 63:26 *Classroom Connections: 63:27 - 69:35 book pairings *Jen - Gabrielle Union's We're Going to Need More Wine *Sara - Clemantine Wamariya and Elizabeth Weil's The Girl Who Smiled Beads *Ashley - Nic Stone's Dear Martin ​books mentioned in classroom connections​​ *Sara - Jason Reynolds's Long Way Down *Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird​ *Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely's All American Boys other works mentioned ​​ *Book Riot's "Is it Time to Retire To Kill a Mockingbird?" by Jennifer Marer *Jesmyn Ward's Sing, Unburied, Sing *Jason Reynolds's books Check out what's coming up next.

timeline *Introduction and Summary of the Book: 0:00 - 01:26 *Main Discussion: 01:26 - 33:39 *​Book Pairings: 34:44 - 40:49 *Classroom Connections: 40:26 - 44:05   book pairings *Jen - ​​​J. D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye *Sara - Holly Sloan's Counting by Sevens *Ashley - Celeste Ng's Everything I Never Told You​ ​other books mentioned Renee Watson's Piecing Me Together ​ Check out what's coming up next.  want to support unabridged?​Follow us @unabridgedpod on Instagram. Follow us @unabridgedpod on Twitter. Subscribe to our podcast and rate us on iTunes or on Stitcher. Check us out on Podbean.

**We're having a giveaway of SEVEN (yes, seven!) Jason Reynolds books from Wednesday, August 15, through Wednesday, August 22.  Check Instagram (@unabridgedpod) and Facebook (facebook.com/unabridgedpod) for details and to enter.**    timeline *Introduction and Summary of the Book: 00:00 - 02:15 *A Long Way Down: 02:15 - 15:31 *Ghost: 15:41 - 26:47 *When I Was the Greatest: 26:57 - 43:28 *Classroom Connections: 43:28 - 47:50 other mentions *T. S. Eliot's The Hollow Men *Jason Reynolds's As Brave as You *Jason Reynolds and Brennan Kiely's All American Boys Check out what's coming up next.   want to support unabridged?​Follow us @unabridgedpod on Instagram. Follow us @unabridgedpod on Twitter. Subscribe to our podcast and rate us on iTunes or on Stitcher. Check us out on Podbean.

Spoilers are inevitable throughout our discussion, so consider whether or not to listen if you haven't yet read the book!timeline *Introduction and Summary of the Book: 0:00 - 01:10 *Main Discussion: 01:10 - 39:20 *​Book Pairings: 39:44 - 47:09 *Classroom Connections: 47:09 - 50:42 book pairings and other mentions *Jen - Patricia Williams's Rabbit: The Autobiography of Ms. Pat with contributing author Jeannine Amber *The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel on Amazon Prime Video *Ashley - Roxane Gay's Bad Feminist *Sara - Kevin Hart's I Can't Make This Up: Life Lessons with contributing author Neil Strauss other mentions in classroom connections​ *Sara - Cece Bell's El Deafo and Tim Tebow's Through My Eyes *Jen - Trevor Noah's Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood Check out what's coming up next.   want to support unabridged?​Follow us @unabridgedpod on Instagram. Follow us @unabridgedpod on Twitter. Subscribe to our podcast and rate us on iTunes or on Stitcher. Check us out on Podbean.

Intro Hi and welcome to Books Between - a podcast for teachers, parents, librarians, and anyone who wants to connect middle grade kids between 8-12 to books they’ll love.  I’m your host, Corrina Allen - a mom of an 8 and 10 year old, a teacher to eighteen 11 year olds, and we are all in the home stretch for summer vacation. It’s almost here. And - if any of you of are headed to the ALA Conference in Chicago this summer, I will be be there on Saturday and Sunday to interview author Mira Bartok about her new middle grade book The Wonderling. So - if you will be there, look for that and I hope we can meet in person. This is Episode #26 and Today I am welcoming author Caroline Starr Rose to the show and then in honor of Father’s Day coming up, chatting about some of our favorite fictional dads and two fabulous new books featuring awesome fathers. But first I am excited to tell you that today’s episode is supported by OwlCrate Jr. - a book subscription box just for kids 8-12. My daughters and I have been loving it! Every month has a different theme and it is such a treat to have a package waiting on your doorstep with a box full of - not only an awesome newly released book but fun little items all connected to the theme of that middle grade book.  If you head over to owlcrate.com you can see some samples of past boxes, and if you use the code BOOKSBETWEEN, you can save 15%. I hope you check them out - I really think you’re going to love it!   This week I am welcoming to the show Caroline Starr Rose - author of the recently released middle grade historical adventure Jasper and the Riddle of Riley’s Mine. We chat about the inspirations behind her latest novel, encouraging kids to read more, and we reminisce about Little House on the Prairie. Caroline Starr Rose - Interview Outline  Your latest middle grade novel, Jasper and The Riddle of Riley’s Mine, was just released this past February. Is this your first novel that is not written in verse? Tell us about this new historical adventure - what is Jasper & the Riddle of Riley’s Mine about?   One of the things I really loved about this book was they way the boys speak - using “ain’t” and “them” instead of “those”, “it’s his own dern fault”... How did you capture the voices of Jasper and Melvin? I just noticed that you have a new picture book on the Pony Express coming out this fall, yes?  I saw that you taught Social Studies and English.   A lot of our listeners who are teachers and librarians and homeschooling parents are always trying to find ways to connect subjects to really maximize the limited time we all have. When you were teaching full time, how were you connecting social studies and English? Is there anything that you used to do as a teacher that now, looking back - you regret?   Anything you would go back and change? Even though you aren’t in the classroom anymore, your passion for connecting readers and educators with the right book is clear. I especially love the “Classroom Connections” section on your website where you interview authors about their books and include a specific section on how that book would be a good fit in a classroom. How do you think that we as parents and teachers can raise kids who love reading? How is having a teenager reader different than having a middle grade reader at home? As someone who has gone through those years and is now out the other side, what can we expect?   You recently posted on your website a quote from Donalyn Miller (one of my inspirations as well!). It said, “I am as much a composite of all the book characters I have loved as of the people I have met.” Which book characters are you a composite of?  What have you been reading lately that you’ve liked?   Book Talk - Two Novels Featuring Fantastic Fathers In this section of the show, I share with you a few books centered around a theme and discuss three things to love about each book. This week, with Father’s Day coming up, I thought I would focus on books with great dads. I know it’s such a trope with kids books that the parents get killed off or are otherwise out of the picture so that the main characters can go off on adventures unimpeded, but we’re breaking away from those books today. First, I’ll go into some detail about two newer releases that I have been loving - Amina’s Voice and Beyond the Bright Sea. And then chat about other favorite dads from both modern and classic books. Amina’s Voice This week I am starting with Amina’s Voice by an author who is new to middle grade - Hena Khan. This is a lovely and heartfelt story about a Pakistani-American Muslim girl, Amina, who is trying to navigate the complicated tides of middle school friendship where old friends are changing and old adversaries might be changing, too. Amina also has to deal with her rather traditional and more strict uncle visiting their family and figuring out for herself how to express her beliefs and culture. Here are three things to love about Amina’s Voice: Amina’s family! Her father - who is rather strict, does NOT care if he embarasses his kids by asking a million questions at Open House, but stands up for his daughter at a moment when she needs it. At first I wasn’t sure about him, but oh he grew on me! Her mom, who spends days preparing tons of traditional Pakistani food for their visiting uncle. That doesn’t quite go as planned. And Amina’s older brother, Mustafa, whose interest in trying out for the basketball team instead of joining something like Chess Club causes some friction at home. There was so much to relate to in those family moments in Amina’s Voice. That ending! I don’t want to give away too much but something bad happens in Amina’s Muslim community and the way things come together in the end makes me wish that every kid could read this story as a template of what to do in that kind of situation. It  didn’t shy away from difficult realities or make problems seem easy to solve yet it was uplifting and perfect. That this novel offers Muslim students and students from the Middle East with a main character whose background and customs might be a reflection of their own, or have pieces they can relate to. I so wish that I had this book six years ago to offer to my own Amina. She was a student of mine when I taught 6th grade and Muslim. And may have connected to this Amina’s story but she was from Bosnia so although the religious details about the Imam and Sunday school and learning passages from the Quran may have been a connection, the food and other cultural details might not have been. So while this book is absolutely a great addition to any library, I just hope that people don’t stop there and think they’ve covered a niche. It’s one girl’s story and I just can’t wait to see what else this new imprint of Simon & Schuster, Salaam Reads, will bring to the kidlit community so we have more and more stories to offer kids.     Beyond the Bright Sea Our second book this week is Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk whose novel Wolf Hollow won a Newbery Honor last year. And this book is, I think, another contender. It reminded me a little bit of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society with a touch of Orphan Island in there. This book about a 12 year old girl called Crow who as an infant washed ashore in an old boat on one of the Elizabeth Islands off the coast of Massachusetts. She is now 12 and being raised by a reclusive fisherman and painter who she calls Osh. And the other people on this tiny close-knit island essentially shun her and will not touch her or touch anything she has touched because they think she came from Penikese Island - the nearby leper colony. And this chain of events suddenly takes off when Crow sees a fire on that nearby island and starts to get curious about where she came from. It’s so good! Here are three things to love about Beyond the Bright Sea.   The timeless quality of the setting. It reminded me of Pax in that way because there are very few clues at first in the way the islanders dress or how technology is described. Eventually, you do discover precisely when everything is happening but the journey of figuring that out is part of what I liked about the book. It brought to light some real history.  It took me until half-way through to realize that the leper hospital described in the novel actually existed. And they did really dynamite it and burn it down and transform it into a bird sanctuary for awhile. But the small cemetery does remain. I love a book that brings to light a forgotten story from history. Crow’s adoptive father who she calls Osh. He has his own secrets, his own complicated backstory, but his quiet, earnest protection of her makes you love him immediately. He’s from another land, speaks in a native language that no one on this New England island knows and we really feel for him as he is so deeply afraid of losing Crow - the one thing that has keep him anchored and steady. And as she ventures out to attempt to find her parents, it’s hard for him at first. And - I don’t want to spoil anything for you but oh when you find out what his name means…. Love him!   Both Amina’s Voice and Beyond the Bright Sea are outstanding reads. If you have a kid who enjoyed Finding Perfect or Like Magic or Sticks & Stones - Amina’s Voice would be great next book to introduce them to. And if you have a child who enjoyed Midnight Without a Moon or Wolf Hollow - Beyond the Bright Sea might be the perfect next book.   Q & A Our third and final segment this week is Question & Answer time.  Question: This question stems from a conversation I had with some students who have started to notice that in lots of books they are reading the parents are missing, dead, or otherwise out of the picture. So that had me thinking about counter examples and I came up with some but wanted other opinions, too. So I put the question out there on social media and asked: “Which middle grade books have you read that had great dads?”   Answer: And actually - there were a ton! Let’s start with some classics: Obviously one of the first mentioned was Ramona and Her Father. Loved him! I still remember that scene when he’s trying to draw his foot… Pa Ingalls from the Little House series Mr. Weasley from Harry Potter - such an honorable man who took on so much risk to protect Harry And some more modern novels with dads we love: Papa (Hans Hubermann) from The Book Thief is one of my all-time favorite fathers And one new book that came up over and over again and one that has been a classroom favorite with my 5ths is The Crossover - what a great relationship he had with his twin boys. Another book that was mentioned a lot was The Family Fletcher series and the two awesome dads heading up that family. I haven’t read it yet but that title is moving up my TBR list. Melanie Conklin’s Counting Thyme and the newly released Moon Shadow by Erin Downing are both books that I’ve been dying to read that so many mentioned as having a great fathers. The dad from Gertie’s Leap to Greatness and the dad in The Penderwicks and Mr. Pullman from Wonder and the dad from Ida B and Wolf Hollow!   I know there are tons and tons more - so I hope you jump on social media share your favorite middle grade dads. Closing Alright - that wraps up our show this week. If you have a question or an idea about a topic we should cover, I would love to hear from you. You can email me at booksbetween@gmail.com or message me on Twitter/Instagram at the handle @Books_Between. Thank you so much for joining me this week. You can find an outline of interviews and a full transcript of all the other parts of our show along with all of our previous episodes at AlltheWonders.com. And thanks again to OwlCrateJr for supporting the podcast this month - don’t forget to head over to owlcrate.com and use code BOOKSBETWEEN to get 15% percent off your subscription! And, if you are liking the show, please help others find us too by telling a friend, sharing on social media, or leaving a rating on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks again and see you soon!  Bye!   Episode Links: Caroline's Official Website: https://carolinestarrrose.com Jasper and the Riddle of Riley's Mine Teaching Guide Where in the World Are We Reading? Activity Stone Mirrors: The Sculpture and Silence of Edmond Lewis (Jeannine Atkins) Wonder: A novel (Emma Donoghue) Insight (Tasha Eurich) Three Pennies (Melanie Crowder)