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Students need to be able to make a great argument to find success at school, and in many professions. They need to come up with an idea, find evidence, analyze their evidence, and tie it all together with a well-written bow. Thus, for many decades, students have written essays. We've taught them to write thesis statements, organizing sentences, transitions, topic sentences, and conclusions. We've taught them how to punctuate their quotations and how to analyze them. We've typed up fixes for common errors, guided peer editing workshops, created revision stations, and so much more to help them write better essays. Then they go home. And so often they just don't see the relevance of their essays to their lives. They see argument all around them - in the children's books they read their little siblings, the political ads on Youtube, Instagram carousels on big issues, polarized podcasts playing in the background of their lives, infographics hither and yon, Tik-Tok videos trying to convince them to dump their gummy bears in Sprite and stick it in the freezer, and in a million other places. So what if, mixed in with our essays, we pushed students to NOTICE how argument surrounds them. To learn from new ways ideas are shared and supported, outside the traditional essay sphere. Today's request for this summer's “Plan My Lesson” series comes from a teacher looking for ways to practice argument that don't revolve around an essay. This is a fun one for me, because I've designed SO many projects like this. But it's also challenging, because I've designed so many projects around this! I'd like to give you about 50 ways to practice argument without an essay, and I probably could. We could get into designing literary food trucks and arguing for each detail as a reflection of the book, hexagonal thinking for argument, designing infographics, recording podcasts, holding mock trials, creating visual research carousels to argue for an issue, real-world quick prompts with real-world audiences, argument one-pagers... honestly, there are so many ways to go. But we've covered a lot of this on the pod already, and we have just ONE class period to plan here. So instead of diving back into one of these topics, let's explore a new one - using children's books to search out fresh craft moves when it comes to argument. Today we'll explore one lesson in which students see how an author can combine visuals, humor, argument, and counterargument to make a clear, persuasive case on an issue. Sure, to children. But the same rules could apply for any argument! After exploring some fabulous mentor texts, students will try it out for themselves, focusing on the hesitations of their audience (or in other words, counterargument). Go Further: Explore alllll the Episodes of The Spark Creativity Teacher Podcast. Snag three free weeks of community-building attendance question slides Join our community, Creative High School English, on Facebook. Come hang out on Instagram. Enjoying the podcast? Please consider sharing it with a friend, snagging a screenshot to share on the ‘gram, or tapping those ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ to help others discover the show. Thank you!
Let's wrap up this season with a final episode of my key takeaways as a Neurolanguage Coach®, working with senior managers like you every single day. We will touch on how to be more clear, understand commonly confused business words and end on how to build your confidence. The new season will be back on 17th September 2025. Want to work on your English over Summer?Become more confident with business phrases in 90 days - Get 20% off my Confidence Booster Toolkit until 31st July 2025.Book a coaching session with me. August 2025 only. Limited slots! Don't forget to check out Leila Hormozi: Give me 15 minutes and I'll make you dangerously confident Want the transcripts, newsletters and extra content? Become a free memberWant to become a Supporter of the podcast? Buy me a coffeeLinkedIn @AnnaConnellyInstagram @annabusinessenglishYouTube @annabusinessenglish
I'm sure you won't forget this lesson. Even though my usual recording software won't work with my new microphone, I won't give up brining this to. I know you like to study here, so I won't disappoint you!Today, we're going to talk about a small word that packs a lot of meaning—“won't.” That's W-O-N-apostrophe-T. It's short for “will not,” but depending on the context, it can mean a lot more than just “not in the future.” Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/transcriptVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/
On this week’s Fan Out Friday, filmmaker and former college athlete Andrea Buccilla joins Khristina to share how studying journalism and competing in sports shaped her storytelling lens. She takes us behind the scenes of Shattered Glass and Power Forward, two projects focused on elevating the stories of women in the WNBA. Andrea talks about the importance of authenticity, building trust with athletes, and finding aligned brand partners while navigating the challenges of a male-dominated industry. Want more women’s basketball scoop? Follow the show on Instagram @ICYMIwithKW and X @ICYMIwithKW and for more on Khristina, follow her on Instagram @khristinawilliams Let us know what you think of the show by leaving a rating and a review! CREDITS Executive Producers: Nikki Ettore Jessie Katz Tyler Klang Jonathan Strickland Producer: Buffy Gorrilla Producer & Editor: Tari Harrison Host: Khristina WilliamsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
There's a lot of conversation happening lately around student reading stamina. Rose Horowitch's Atlantic article, "The Elite College Students who Can't Read Books," helped stir the pot. I'm sure you've seen evidence of the same issues she brings up - that students are struggling to stay focused through books, and often come to you having read a lot of excerpts and short pieces rather than full novels. Test-prep, phone culture, COVID - there are all kinds of reasons, but the bottom line for you as a teacher is, what can you do about it? Today's request for our new "Plan My Lesson" series comes from a teacher looking for ways to help her students build their reading stamina. She's wondering how she can help her students work toward longer reads and more of 'em. Perhaps you're wondering the same? This is a big question, and we're just planning one lesson. But let's zoom in on a snapshot of a class that could help students move toward longer, more-engaged reading sessions. We'll start, like The Odyssey, in medias res. Related Links: Episode 196: How Caitlin's Verse Novel Book Clubs Engaged Seniors 'Til the End: https://nowsparkcreativity.com/2023/06/how-caitlins-verse-novel-book-clubs-engaged-seniors-til-the-end.html How to Host a Book Tasting: https://nowsparkcreativity.com/2019/03/how-to-host-book-tasting-free-resource.html Episode 204: Students Need Diverse Texts and Choice, with Dr. Claudia Rodriguez-Mojica and Dr. Allison Briceño: https://nowsparkcreativity.com/2023/07/students-need-diverse-texts-and-choice-heres-help.html The Dos and Don'ts of Donors Choose: https://nowsparkcreativity.com/2019/01/the-dos-and-donts-of-donors-choose-for.html Go Further: Explore alllll the Episodes of The Spark Creativity Teacher Podcast. Launch your choice reading program with all my favorite tools and recs, and grab the free toolkit. Join our community, Creative High School English, on Facebook. Come hang out on Instagram. Enjoying the podcast? Please consider sharing it with a friend, snagging a screenshot to share on the ‘gram, or tapping those ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ to help others discover the show. Thank you!
The temperature was already 30 degrees at 7:00 this morning. Let me tell you, it's time to beat the heat. A nice dish of chocolate ice cream is one of my favorite ways to cool off, and on a day like this, that really hits the spot!It's Week 4 of our summer series, and this time, we're talking about how Americans beat the heat. Well, two things come to mind right away: ice cream and movie theaters.Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/transcriptVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/
For the penultimate episode of Confident Business English this season, I am bringing you a bonus guest episode Emma from Pronunciation with Emma. If you haven't heard of Emma already, she has 15+ years of experience and over 1 mill. followers on social media. In short, she knows her stuff. She is going to spend 30 minutes with you to hopefully help you towards feeling less self-concious about your pronunciation. Emma talks about:Her best advice if you are struggling right nowA practical method to finally say your most difficult wordsTop tips for speakers from specific languagesQ&A round from the challenges you sent in to meI really hope you take something away from this episode. See you next week on July 16th 2025 for the final episode of this season. We'll back again on the 17th September 2025.Pronunciation with Emma LinksWebsiteYoutube Want the transcripts, newsletters and extra content? Become a free memberWant to become a Supporter of the podcast? Buy me a coffeeLinkedIn @AnnaConnellyInstagram @annabusinessenglishYouTube @annabusinessenglish
This week on Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Mahogany L. Browne, the author of the new YA novel A Bird in the Air Means We Can Still Breathe. The story is a real time exploration of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York told through a chorus of young voices and borne out of Mahogany's on battle with the virus. In our conversation, Mahogany explains how poetry saved her when journalism became unsafe. Plus, what she wished she'd known sooner as she was circling the globe doing poetry in places like Poland and Australia. And the critique she got from a high school English Teacher that actually became an asset for the New York Times. Mahogany Books Mentioned in this episode:Rate & ReviewThanks for listening, family! Please do us a solid and take a quick moment to rate and/or leave a review for this podcast. It will go a long way to making sure content featuring our stories and perspectives are seen on this platform
Happy 4th of July! On a Re-Release episode of Bad Dates, host Joel Kim Booster welcomes comedians Sean Patton, Chelsea Devantez, and Scott Thompson to discuss their most iconic dating fiascos. Sean asks her out for the bit but he's the one who gets nibbled, Chelsea becomes a prisoner of the bit with the wrong kind of artist, and Scott's failed Fort Lauderdale hook up becomes a bit he can monetize. If you've had a bad date you'd like to tell us about, our number is 984-265-3283, and our email is baddatespod@gmail.com, we can't wait to hear all about it! Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video clips. Buy tickets to our live show at Dynasty Typewriter in Los Angeles, CA on July 24th, or buy tickets for streaming. Joel Kim Booster: Psychosexual, Fire Island, Loot Season 2Sean Patton: Tickets and info at MeSeanPatton.com, English Teacher on FXChelsea Devantez: Glamorous Trash podcast, @chelseadevantez on Insta Scott Thompson: FUBAR on Netflix, new Mouth Congress album, find info, links, and tickets at NewScottlandland.com Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Bad Dates ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.
I have some things to tell you today, even though I had some trouble putting this lesson together. I mean I had like some 50 different ideas, but I narrowed it down to this one. This is gonna be some lesson!Today, we're diving into a small word that does a lot of work in English—“some.” You probably already use it, but did you know that some has more than one meaning? Did you know that we have 7 ways to use some? Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/transcriptVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/Airplane, Seatbelt Sign Beep by Kinoton -- https://freesound.org/s/670297/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
Welcome to episode #59 of the Real Life English with Gabby Podcast! In this episode, you'll learn 18 commonly used phrasal verbs, slang words, and idioms that you'll hear in real American conversations about freedom, liberty and fighting for justice. The U.S.A. is currently celebrating it's Independence Day, and the year 2025 has been full of conversations about freedom and fighting for justiceYou'll learn expressions like:
The other day, I was thinking about what kind of lesson I can teach here and at first I had an idea, and then I had another idea and then another one. The first one actually brought me to the other one. Today, we're going to talk about three little words that can cause big confusion:another, other, and the other. They might seem similar, but they're used in different ways—and understanding how to use them correctly can really help you sound more natural in English. Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/transcriptVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/
This summer, I've been sharing short and fun lessons about American life—what people do, eat, and celebrate. This week, we're talking about Fireworks & Food, because it's time for one of the biggest holidays of the summer: July 4th, officially known as Independence Day, and casually called, the fourth of July.Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/transcriptVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/
Your team member is leaving, you find out a colleague is pregnant or sadly a colleague's family member has passed away. What to say in these real moments in the workplace? Let me walk you through 11 one-liners you feel confident you know exactly what to say. Hope it's useful. Anna Want the transcripts, newsletters and extra content? Become a free memberWant to become a Supporter of the podcast? Buy me a coffeeLinkedIn @AnnaConnellyInstagram @annabusinessenglishYouTube @annabusinessenglish
This week's show is all about Glastonbury festival! The UK's biggest music festival was on this weekend, and so our show brings you clips, coverage and performances from the festival. This one's probably worth catching up in full in the CFRC archives, available for 3 months (hour 1 | hour 2), than the podcasted version, but I will try and link any performances up on BBC Music YouTube in the show playlist here.Music this week by Ezra Collective, Nova Twins, Wet Leg, CMAT, Antony Smzierek, Jalen Ngonda, Wunderhorse, English Teacher, Supergrass, RAYE, Greentea Peng, Pulp, OneDa, Webmoms, Alt Blk Era, Self Esteem, Kneecap. Do try and support artists directly!ALT BLK ERA interview here.Touch that dial and tune in live! We're on at CFRC 101.9 FM in Kingston, or on cfrc.ca, Sundays 8 to 9:30 PM! Listen back to full shows in the linked CFRC archive for 3 months from broadcast.Like what we do? Donate to help keep our 102-year old radio station going!Get in touch with the show for requests, submissions, giving feedback or anything else: email yellowbritroad@gmail.com, Twitter @YellowBritCFRC, IG @yellowbritroad.PS: submissions, cc music@cfrc.ca if you'd like other CFRC DJs to spin your music on their shows as well.
I'm gonna guess that each of you listening to this podcast is interested in improving your English. I think about that ever time I write up one of these lessons. And I'm sure that today, every one of you is gonna like this lesson about each and every. Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/transcriptVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/
Esta semana, en Islas de Robinson, novedades y otras perlas recientes. Suenan: LANDLADY - "I SAW HOPE IN HALF" ("MAKE UP/LOST TIME", 2025) / BC CAMPLIGHT (FT. ABIGAIL MORRIS) - "TWO LEGGED DOG" ("A SOBER CONVERSATION", 2025) / DRUGDEALER (FT. WEYES BLOOD) - "REAL THING" (2025) / MAMALARKY - "FEELS SO WRONG" ("HEX KEY", 2025) / YVES JARVIS - "ALL CYLINDERS" ("ALL CYLINDERS", 2025) / UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA - "DEATH COMES FROM THE SKY" ("CURSE", 2025) / FINOM - "CYCLOPS" ("NOT GOD", 2024) / DAUGHTER OF SWORDS - "TALK TO YOU" ("ALEX", 2025) / MESS ESQUE - "TAKE ME TO YOUR INFINITE GARDEN" ("JAY MARIE, COMFORT ME", 2025) / TROPICAL FUCK STORM - "JOE MEEK WILL INHERIT THE EARTH" ("FAIRYLAND CODEX", 2025) / WATER FROM YOUR EYES - "LIFE SIGNS" (2025) / ENGLISH TEACHER - "NEARLY DAFFODILS" ("THIS COULD BE TEXAS", 2024) / CATE LE BON - "HEAVEN IS NO FEELING" (2025) /Escuchar audio
I believe you like learning English, don't you. In this case, I believe has the same meaning as I think. I'm pretty sure you like English. Believe me, if that's true, I believe you're gonna love this English lesson.Today, let's look at the difference between believe, believe in, and trust. These little words come up all the time in conversations, and even though they seem pretty similar, they each have their own flavor, their own feeling. Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/transcriptVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/
Welcome to episode #58 of the Real Life English with Gabby Podcast! In this fun and practical episode, you'll learn 18 commonly used phrasal verbs, slang words, and idioms that you'll hear in real American conversations about decision makingYou'll learn expressions like:
Ken Liu's short story, "The Paper Menagerie," is an easy and powerful add to your curriculum. Not only does it explore family relationships, The American Dream, and identity (themes you can easily connect to other texts as you build units), it introduces - briefly, painfully, powerfully - China's Cultural Revolution. I'll admit I've never studied the history of communism in China with much depth until recently. In college, I took a Socialist-Realist literature course that kicked off a life-long interest in how people are influenced by propaganda for me. Later, I lived in Bulgaria after the fall of communism there and my interest only increased as I taught 1984 to students whose families had lived through Communism. I visited Memento Park in Budapest, home to dozens of Communist sculptures and a terrifying video exhibit about the way the government watched its citizens. I visited the Museum of Communism in Prague, which walks visitors through daily life under communism as well as showing its frightening extremes. I moved to Slovakia, where I listened to my son's best friend's father tell me how wonderful aspects of life under Communism had been years before in the very neighborhood where our family was living. Yet despite my interest in learning about Communism and propaganda, it was Ken Liu who first made me pay attention to The Cultural Revolution. When his main character reads a letter from his mother about her life in China before she escaped to The United States as a bride in a catalogue, it woke me up dramatically. None of the other books I'd ever read throughout so many years of studying and then teaching English had ever really explored this huge event in world history. I thought of the story immediately when a teacher wrote in with her request for our new "Plan My Lesson" series, asking for a bridge to help her students prepare to read Red Scarf Girl, A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution. Since then I've dipped into Red Scarf Girl (until I got so sad I had to take a break) and done a deep dive into The New York Times' exploration of The Cultural Revolution, including three particularly striking stories: one in which a small local museum remembering victims of the Cultural Revolution was wrapped in propaganda posters, one featuring memories of folks who were students in China during the Cultural Revolution (like the narrator of Red Scarf Girl), and one about current president of China's Xi Jinping's experience as a middle schooler during the Cultural Revolution. But knowing many classrooms wouldn't have access to The New York Times, I continued into resources on the BBC and Crash Course, the Asian Society and Getty Images, which I eventually built into today's curriculum. Today, I'm going to walk you through a lesson on "The Paper Menagerie" that you can use on its own, or as a transition toward Red Scarf Girl. Our goal is to help students build some understanding of The Cultural Revolution at the same time that they explore related literature. To be honest, I really fell down the rabbit hole on this one, and could easily now spend a month building curriculum around how we know what is true, how propaganda wields influence, the cultural revolution, Ken Liu's short story, and Red Scarf Girl. And because the history surrounding these stories is so painful, and the repercussions so very real in our world, it's hard not to feel a tremendous responsibility for students to explore these questions and texts. But at the moment, we're talking about one short lesson period - probably about 38 minutes of available time. So let's focus on that, starting now. Grab your copy of the agenda and webquest curriculum: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1HSG6g7-a1U_j5y1ceh7jMGA_Q3pJFn-hatKW2aRYolY/copy Go Further: Explore alllll the Episodes of The Spark Creativity Teacher Podcast. Grab the free Better Discussions toolkit Join our community, Creative High School English, on Facebook. Come hang out on Instagram. Enjoying the podcast? Please consider sharing it with a friend, snagging a screenshot to share on the ‘gram, or tapping those ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ to help others discover the show. Thank you!
Why don't you take a short getaway from what you were just doing, and check out today's podcast English lesson. I'm pretty sure that doing so will make you a happy camper.Today, we're talking about Summer Getaways—road trips, camping, and national parks. Let's dive in!Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/transcriptVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/
Do you have to convince and persuade your colleagues on your ideas? Are you worried your points sound flat and don't make an impact because you don't have the right words? In this episode I illustrate how choosing the right vocabulary can make a big difference to how your argument comes across. Learn quick, practical tricks about what to include to sound more convincing and common pitfalls which will make your argument sound weaker. Perfect for any senior managers who need to convince execs! I hope it's useful! Anna. Want the transcripts, newsletters and extra content? Become a free memberWant to become a Supporter of the podcast? Buy me a coffeeLinkedIn @AnnaConnellyInstagram @annabusinessenglishYouTube @annabusinessenglish
Welcome to episode #57 of the Real Life English with Gabby Podcast! In this fun and practical episode, you'll learn 16 commonly used phrasal verbs, slang words, and idioms you'll hear in real American conversations about cooking and baking.You'll learn expressions like:
Recently, I've been getting the same question from my clients. "How do I use the present perfect properly? I understand the technical grammar but I have doubts about when to use it." As you are always a senior manager too, you may also lack confidence in how to use. That's why I wanted to dedicate an episode to covering this in-depth and help build your confidence with it. It is a HIGHLY useful tense to feel comfortable with as we use it all the time in business. I hope you find it useful. Anna Want the transcripts, newsletters and extra content? Become a free memberWant to support the podcast? Buy me a coffeeLinkedIn @AnnaConnellyInstagram @annabusinessenglishYouTube @annabusinessenglish
ชมวิดีโอ EP นี้ใน YouTube เพื่อประสบการณ์การรับชมที่ดีที่สุด https://youtu.be/s9dw0piCsUY . “You are a GREAT guy. I like you” อะไรทำให้พี่บิ๊กพูดกับแขกอีพีนี้แบบนี้?! . คำนี้ดี Featuring เอพิโสดนี้ เป็นคิวของพระเอกใหม่แกะกล่องจากช่อง ONE เอม สรรเพชญ์ คุณากร ลูกชายคนเดียวของดู๋ สัญญา ที่จะมาคุยเป็นภาษาอังกฤษล้วนๆ ครั้งแรก! . รู้จักเอมในแง่ที่ลึกกว่าที่เคยผ่านคำที่คัดมาเพื่อเอมโดยเฉพาะ
ชมวิดีโอ EP นี้ใน YouTube เพื่อประสบการณ์การรับชมที่ดีที่สุด https://youtu.be/s9dw0piCsUY . “You are a GREAT guy. I like you” อะไรทำให้พี่บิ๊กพูดกับแขกอีพีนี้แบบนี้?! . คำนี้ดี Featuring เอพิโสดนี้ เป็นคิวของพระเอกใหม่แกะกล่องจากช่อง ONE เอม สรรเพชญ์ คุณากร ลูกชายคนเดียวของดู๋ สัญญา ที่จะมาคุยเป็นภาษาอังกฤษล้วนๆ ครั้งแรก! . รู้จักเอมในแง่ที่ลึกกว่าที่เคยผ่านคำที่คัดมาเพื่อเอมโดยเฉพาะ
Trevor Noah's Born a Crime is trending, and for good reason. I'm seeing the evidence everywhere. This spring, as I ran our curriculum book choice tournament across the high school levels and hundreds of teachers weighed in, I watched it soar to the finals in BOTH the 9th/10th category and the 11th/12th category. Then, as summer began and I opened up this new podcast series, "Plan My Lesson" (which starts today, right now), I immediately received three separate requests for Born a Crime lessons. Naturally, with this book soaring in popularity but new to the scene, there isn't that much out there being shared yet. One teacher was searching for ways to get students connecting the text to the 5 key themes of the I.B. curriculum (identities, experiences, human ingenuity, social organization, and sharing the planet). Another teacher was planning to use it as an anchor for a memoir class, and still another wanted to help students identity rhetorical devices inside while also developing their question-asking skills and connecting key moments in the text with argument claims. Is it possible to fulfill all these needs with one lesson? I think so. What we want is an in-depth lesson on a section of Trevor Noah's Born a Crime, with a focus on connecting its big ideas to big ideas in our world today and in students' own lives, exploring text passages carefully along the way for writer's craft moves and theme development. And of course, we want it to be engaging. And fit neatly in one class period. So today, in the first of our summer "Plan My Lesson" series of podcasts, let's dive into planning an engaging, goal-fulfilling lesson for Trevor Noah's Born a Crime. Whether or not you're teaching this book, you'll find lots of ideas for lesson planning here. After we walk through the lesson itself, we'll be talking about helpful takeaways from designing THIS lesson that you can apply to designing ANY lesson, so be sure to stay tuned to the end. I'll also be telling you how to grab all the curriculum for this lesson totally free. So let's dive in! Grab all the materials for today's lesson free here: https://sparkcreativity.kartra.com/page/bornacrimelesson Go Further: Explore alllll the Episodes of The Spark Creativity Teacher Podcast. Launch your choice reading program with all my favorite tools and recs, and grab the free toolkit. Join our community, Creative High School English, on Facebook. Come hang out on Instagram. Enjoying the podcast? Please consider sharing it with a friend, snagging a screenshot to share on the ‘gram, or tapping those ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ to help others discover the show. Thank you! Camp Creative : Your Shiny New Short Story Toolbox is coming June 23-27. In this fun and free 5 day summer workshop, you'll… ⭐ Learn about 5 fabulous short story options from me (plus SO MANY others from the thousands of other teachers at camp!) ⭐ Walk through 5 creative out-of-their-seats and/or outside-the-box short story lessons (bye bye, comprehension questions) ⭐ Take away 5 classroom-ready curriculum kits for next year (hello, major time-savers!) Each day's materials are designed to take just 10 minutes to peruse, and they come straight to your email so you can join us day by day or, if you're busy (or still teaching), catch up later. Sign up here: https://sparkcreativity.kartra.com/page/CC2025
BECOME A CONFIDENT BUSINESS ENGLISH MEMBER - Full transcripts, my weekly newsletter and bonus content!Let's build your confidence with your core skills - understanding when your colleagues are speaking quickly. In this episode, I focus on business english phrases with connected speech to help you identify key sounds which will enable you to quickly recognise what people are saying.Want the transcripts, newsletter and extra content? Become a free member and join our 10k community worldwideWant to support the podcast? Buy me a coffee Say hello on LinkedIn @AnnaConnellyInstagram @annabusinessenglish
SummaryIn this episode, Jack Clabby and Kayley Melton discuss their conversation with Reginald Andre, a cybersecurity expert and CEO of ARK Solvers. They explore themes of mentorship, the evolution of cybersecurity businesses, the impact of AI, team culture, and community engagement. Andre shares his journey from aspiring English teacher to successful entrepreneur, emphasizing the importance of mentorship and personal growth in the cybersecurity field. In this engaging conversation, the speakers delve into the importance of mentorship, innovative teaching methods, and the role of AI in personal and professional development. They share personal anecdotes about mentoring students and children, emphasizing hands-on learning and real-world applications. The discussion also touches on the fun and insightful lifestyle polygraph segment, where the guest answers quirky questions that reveal his personality and approach to challenges.TakeawaysAndre is a natural mentor who emphasizes actionable advice.The importance of building a fantasy board of directors.Reginald's journey from CompUSA to CEO of ARK Solvers.The shift from IT to cybersecurity in business.AI's growing role in cybersecurity and business efficiency.Hiring based on personality and cultural fit over technical skills.Encouraging a culture of learning from mistakes.The impact of community engagement on personal growth.The significance of mentorship in shaping careers.Raising awareness on critical social issues like human trafficking. Mentorship can significantly impact a student's career trajectory.Hands-on learning is more effective than traditional lectures.Building a resume starts with taking initiative in school activities.AI can serve as a valuable tool for decision-making and mentorship.Creating a community around learning can enhance educational experiences.Students should actively seek internships and opportunities before graduation.Innovative teaching methods can fill gaps in traditional education systems.Personal anecdotes can illustrate the effectiveness of mentorship.Engaging with technology early can lead to better career prospects.Networking and building relationships are crucial for professional growth.TitlesMentorship in Cybersecurity: Lessons from Reginald AndreThe Evolution of Cybersecurity: From IT to AIBuilding a Strong Team Culture in CybersecurityCommunity Engagement: Making a Difference Beyond BusinessSound Bites"Andre is such a natural mentor.""I built my fantasy board of directors.""I had to pivot my business.""AI is not going to take your job.""I always leave him with something.""He was actually building his resume.""Everything has to be hands-on.""I would do Too Fast Too Furious.""You'd be tasked with AI education."Chapters00:00 Introduction to Cybersecurity Mentorship01:56 The Journey of Reginald Andre05:58 From IT to Cybersecurity: A Business Evolution11:55 The Impact of AI on Cybersecurity17:52 Building a Strong Team Culture22:05 Community Engagement and Personal Growth27:39 Mentorship and Impact30:21 Innovative Teaching Approaches34:04 Lifestyle Polygraph: Fun and Insightful Questions
I never met a short story I liked back in high school. If I was going to read, I wanted to READ. I wanted to get caught up in the plot, get to know the characters, inhabit the action, spend some time in another world. I certainly didn't want to finish half an hour after I began. No matter how lovely the language or innovative the miniature plot. My eyes just drifted over short story sections at bookstores and libraries like they weren't there, and I honestly can't remember the name of a single story I read in high school that has stayed with me. I know, I know, I should start my podcast with a more chipper intro. But here's the thing - I've got a new take on the world of short stories. Yes, I could talk to you about the stunning language of Hemingway short stories I discovered in grad school. (Here's looking at you, "Hills like White Elephants"). Or I could share Ursula LeGuin's unique Giver-in-miniature, Those Who Walk Away from Omelas (though you might have a little trouble keeping everyone serious during the paragraph about orgies). I could even dig into Poe, that intriguingly murky figure, with his loveably creepy Raven, and how well he lends himself to escape rooms. But I've shared about popular classic short stories before. And reviewed popular contemporary collections for teens too. Even given you a walkthrough of designing an escape room for Poe. Today, my aim is a bit different. As Camp Creative: Your Shiny New Short Story Toolbox, my summer Pd session gets closer (you can join us free here), I've been thinking a lot about different takes on the short story. Flash stories, audio stories, verse stories, graphic stories, multigenre stories. What if we added THESE to our short story toolbox? Camp Creative : Your Shiny New Short Story Toolbox is coming June 23-27. In this fun and free 5 day summer workshop, you'll… ⭐ Learn about 5 fabulous short story options from me (plus SO MANY others from the thousands of other teachers at camp!) ⭐ Walk through 5 creative out-of-their-seats and/or outside-the-box short story lessons (bye bye, comprehension questions) ⭐ Take away 5 classroom-ready curriculum kits for next year (hello, major time-savers!) Each day's materials are designed to take just 10 minutes to peruse, and they come straight to your email so you can join us day by day or, if you're busy (or still teaching), catch up later. Sign up here: https://sparkcreativity.kartra.com/page/CC2025 Go Further: Explore alllll the Episodes of The Spark Creativity Teacher Podcast. Grab the free Better Discussions toolkit Join our community, Creative High School English, on Facebook. Come hang out on Instagram. Enjoying the podcast? Please consider sharing it with a friend, snagging a screenshot to share on the ‘gram, or tapping those ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ to help others discover the show. Thank you!
BECOME A CONFIDENT BUSINESS ENGLISH MEMBER - Full transcripts, my weekly newsletter and bonus content!I'm in the UK this week and we are going to take a break from the normal schedule to bring you another Little Snippet. These are my 5-minute episode formats with tips and tricks focused on one specific Business English topic. This one focuses on understanding your native colleagues better. I hope you find it useful! AnnaWant the transcripts, newsletter and extra content? Become a free member and join our 10k community worldwideWant to support the podcast? Buy me a coffee Say hello on LinkedIn @AnnaConnellyInstagram @annabusinessenglish
In this episode, John, Mike, Drew, Kyle, Tony, Hector, Nick and I dive back into the chaos. Abandon All Hope! Shows mentioned: Daredevil: Born Again, The Punisher, Adolescence, Boardwalk Empire, Line of Duty, This is England, The Pitt, What We Do in the Shadows, Saturday Night Live (SNL) Anniversary Special, Reacher, Landman, The White Lotus (Season 3), The Traitors, The English Teacher, Corner Gas, MobLand, Severance, Dope Thief, Gangs of London.YouTube shows mentioned: Randy Makes Candy, B. Dylan Hollis, Cooking with Congress, The Gardening Channel with James Prigioni, MIgardener, GrowVeg, Pine Meadows Hobby FarmTwitter - Bluesky - Instagram - Website
In this episode, we speak with Alan Siu, a key figure in the Mac admin community, about the evolution of technology and open source software. Alan reflects on how devices like the iPod changed music consumption from ownership to streaming and shares his personal journey from high school English teacher to IT expert with tools like Munki. We discuss the importance of diverse resources for Mac administrators, the impact of Apple's security features on workflows, and the strong community support within the Mac admin space. The episode wraps up with a preview of the Mac DevOps YVR conference, highlighting the significance of in-person networking and idea exchange for the community.
Last year, at this time, I was preparing to move from Bratislava to California when I released the episode we're revisiting today, all about the easiest way to approach the last day in ELA. And it turned out to be the most popular episode I've ever released, with more than 25,000 teachers tuning in. So it seems only fitting that as the end of the year approaches once again, and my life is ONCE AGAIN in boxes, preparing for our move on Thursday for a very new and exciting job for my husband in the Midwest, I would share this episode one more time. I hope it will make your last day of school a fun, creative, LOW-STRESS day that gives you a chance to say goodbye to your kiddos in a way that feels meaningful and relaxed. Lighthouse members, you'll find the last day stations in your seasonal section under "Spring." For folks in search of my version of these stations on TPT, here they are: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Last-Day-of-School-Stations-for-ELA-13423108 Go Further: Explore alllll the Episodes of The Spark Creativity Teacher Podcast. Snag three free weeks of community-building attendance question slides Join our community, Creative High School English, on Facebook. Come hang out on Instagram. Enjoying the podcast? Please consider sharing it with a friend, snagging a screenshot to share on the ‘gram, or tapping those ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ to help others discover the show. Thank you! Camp Creative: Your Shiny New Short Story Toolbox is coming June 23-27. In this fun and free 5 day summer workshop, you'll… ⭐ Learn about 5 fabulous short story options from me (plus SO MANY others from the thousands of other teachers at camp!) ⭐ Walk through 5 creative out-of-their-seats and/or outside-the-box short story lessons (bye bye, comprehension questions) ⭐ Take away 5 classroom-ready curriculum kits for next year (hello, major time-savers!) Each day's materials are designed to take just 10 minutes to peruse, and they come straight to your email so you can join us day by day or, if you're busy (or still teaching), catch up later. Sign up here: https://sparkcreativity.kartra.com/page/CC2025
BECOME A CONFIDENT BUSINESS ENGLISH MEMBER - Full transcripts, my weekly newsletter and bonus content!This is a series called Essential Business Verbs. We continue our look at "get" one of the verbs my clients say time and time they find very confusing. I walk you through 3 more common meanings, examples and a chance to practice along with me at the end of the episode. Invest just 11 minutes of your time to build your confidence speaking and understanding your colleagues. Enjoy! AnnaWant the transcripts, newsletter and extra content? Become a free member and join our 10k community worldwideWant to support the podcast? Buy me a coffee Say hello on LinkedIn @AnnaConnellyInstagram @annabusinessenglish
Send us a textHey, have you ever seen a movie? If you're reading this, it's safe to say you probably have. So you know what a movie star is: those are the above-the-title, big-time A-listers who can pack butts into seats on opening weekend. But most movies only have one protagonist or hero. So what do you do when you need to fill the role of "Police Chief", "English Teacher" or "Scientist #2"? Well...you call a That Guy. That Guys are those awesome supporting character actors who flesh out a cast with talent and range; actors you've seen countless times before, but who aren't exactly household names. You know them. You love them. You just can't PLACE them. So on this episode, Saint and Jim give these incredible "Hey, it's THAT GUY!" performers some overdue love.
Carmen Christopher (The Bear/Joe Pera Talks with You/English Teacher) comes back to talk about going to the University of Iowa the same time as Brooks, being killer salesman in Chicago, and almost joining the military. Check out Carmen's new special: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoHTvTrfB2g Check out Carmen's old special: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-HUeu0QjLY See Brooks on tour: brookswheelan.com/dates
05-21-25 - BR - WED - Poll Of Restaurant Workers Reveals Truths About Porkopolis - Ronald Is Called Donald McDonald In Japan Leading To English Teacher Brady Character - Weinermobile 500 Happening In Indy This WeekendSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
A few engaging review activities for ELA come in handy around this time of year, as the calendar takes over and students pop off to random awards ceremonies, spirit events, and slideshows. Sometimes you see them for one day in a row, sometimes two, but getting in a groove is definitely a challenge! So, in case you're in search of creative review activities that will get students looking back over all that they've learned before a final project or exam, or just before heading off into the summer horizon, here are six. I'm going to base them on a fun review choice board I made for The Lighthouse seasonal section. So, Lighthouse members, be sure to snag it if you like the sound of all this! And if you're not in The Lighthouse yet, it will be opening up in June for new folks, so be sure you're on my email list so you don't miss the invitation. Go Further: Explore alllll the Episodes of The Spark Creativity Teacher Podcast. Get my popular free hexagonal thinking digital toolkit Join our community, Creative High School English, on Facebook. Come hang out on Instagram. Enjoying the podcast? Please consider sharing it with a friend, snagging a screenshot to share on the ‘gram, or tapping those ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ to help others discover the show. Thank you!
BECOME A FREE MEMBER OF CONFIDENT BUSINESS ENGLISH - Full Transcripts & Weekly NewsletterLet me take you through a simple structure you can use to sound great when communicating high-level trends in your sector in English. I also share lots of real-life examples sent in by other professionals listening to this podcast.Want the transcripts, newsletter and extra content? Become a free member and join our 10k community worldwideWant to support the podcast? Buy me a coffee Say hello on LinkedIn @AnnaConnelly
05-21-25 - BR - WED - Poll Of Restaurant Workers Reveals Truths About Porkopolis - Ronald Is Called Donald McDonald In Japan Leading To English Teacher Brady Character - Weinermobile 500 Happening In Indy This WeekendSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
When it comes to evidence in their argument papers, students have a tendency to mic drop way too soon. "Here's my evidence, BOOOOOOOM!" you can almost hear them saying. Because right after the evidence, they move on. Oops. That's not what we want, and I bet you've written "be sure to analyze this evidence and explain how it proves your point" a few (hundred) times. So what do we do? How do we make the idea MEMORABLE that students must analyze their evidence before moving on? There are a lot of helpful tricks and acronyms floating around out there - the quotation burger, "R.A.C.E." and "P.E.E." for example. And I think those are helpful bases from which to build. But this week on the pod, I want to try a humorous, real-world twist that can complement any of these. Something I hope will be memorable for your students. Something you can reference with a laugh and keep students interested. Meet Mr. Skeptical. Go Further: Explore alllll the Episodes of The Spark Creativity Teacher Podcast. Launch your choice reading program with all my favorite tools and recs, and grab the free toolkit. Join our community, Creative High School English, on Facebook. Come hang out on Instagram. Enjoying the podcast? Please consider sharing it with a friend, snagging a screenshot to share on the ‘gram, or tapping those ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ to help others discover the show. Thank you!
Sonics return could be closer as NBA expansion talks coming this summer// Seahawks are not for sale as owner puts Trail Blazers on the market // ESPN’s new streaming service will cost $29.99 per month // High school English teacher lets rip as she reveals technology has crippled her classroom in unfiltered exit video // LETTERS
BECOME A CONFIDENT BUSINESS ENGLISH MEMBER Join me this week for a bonus episode where I invite Oli Cooke, a mindset coach for high achievers to share his practical tips for your biggest challenges. In my opinion, Improving your mindset when communicating in English and becoming more resilient is a big part of creating a lasting change where you actually feel more comfortable speaking in a work context. I hope you enjoy the episode.As this is a bonus guest episode, it is longer than usual. To get the full transcript to follow become a free member of Confident Business English.If mindset is not your cup of tea, skip this one and come back next week for more business english vocabulary. Want the transcripts, newsletter and extra content? Become a free member and join our 10k community worldwideWant to support the podcast? Buy me a coffeeOli Cookehttps://olicookecoaching.com/https://www.instagram.com/olicooke.coaching/ Say hello on LinkedIn @AnnaConnelly
Sure, there's no one right way to write an argument paper. It can be three paragraphs, nine, or even seventeen. It can be loaded with research. It can be full of voice and personal anecdotes. It can be intensely academic, with a formal objective perspective and thirty-two sources cited with MLA. We want our students to understand the rich palette of tools available to them, and mentor texts, varied writing assignments, and encouragement to try new things are all so important. But so is a place to start. Just as I think the 5 paragraph essay isn't dead, because we need it sometimes for skill foundations, I think a clear and simple formula for introductions can be really helpful for students who are struggling to write and organize a coherent argument. Honestly, it's the base I used for my English papers through my B.A. AND M.A. in English literature, and the one I made sure all my students knew how to use when they needed it. It's the foundation for more complex options. So today, I'm going to talk you through it. Go Further: Explore alllll the Episodes of The Spark Creativity Teacher Podcast. Get my popular free hexagonal thinking digital toolkit Join our community, Creative High School English, on Facebook. Come hang out on Instagram. Enjoying the podcast? Please consider sharing it with a friend, snagging a screenshot to share on the ‘gram, or tapping those ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ to help others discover the show. Thank you!
BECOME A CONFIDENT BUSINESS ENGLISH MEMBER Join me for more of my key business english takeaways from my work as a Neurolanguage Coach. I touch on loads of topics. Vocabulary, grammar, reading tips and mindset. Don't miss out.Want the transcripts, newsletter and extra content? Become a free member and join our 10k community worldwideWant to support the podcast? Buy me a coffee Say hello on LinkedIn @AnnaConnelly
Ready to unlock your English fluency? In this game-changing episode, we're pulling back the curtain on the secrets your English teacher never shared. Discover the innovative Fluencypanion framework - a revolutionary three-level approach that transforms how you speak English.You'll learn:✨ The three-tier system for mastering English conversations
I have to admit my kids have got me fully invested in "Is it Cake?" At some point in England last year, someone begged for us to watch the show while we ate green pesto pasta on the couch after a long day of hiking in the New Forest, and I said sure. It was the beginning of our "Is it Cake?" era. We've gasped, we've squinted, we've cheered. We all love trying to tell which one is a purse and which one is a cake, and we've all exclaimed in SHOCK over those cake-based faux-leather laces. All of which is not really an ad for the show, but just my introduction for today's idea for gamifying the study of thesis statements. Because you guessed it, we're all about to ask ourselves... IS IT A THESIS? Go Further: Explore alllll the Episodes of The Spark Creativity Teacher Podcast. Grab the free Better Discussions toolkit Join our community, Creative High School English, on Facebook. Come hang out on Instagram. Enjoying the podcast? Please consider sharing it with a friend, snagging a screenshot to share on the ‘gram, or tapping those ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ to help others discover the show. Thank you!
Subscribe to Throwing Fits on Substack. Our interview with Jordan Firstman is going viral. Jordan—actor, writer, and now popstar whose new album Secrets is out April 11th—was kind enough to swing by the stu while in town to yap with us about coming on the show because James is hot which offends Lawrence, LA's thin parasocial line, hair transplants, the concept behind his new album, fake secrets, shitting your pants before a sex party, wanting to see his friends' dicks, a live reading of his dick pic-inspired fiction on OnlyFans, partying with his homie Charlie XCX, Kaia Gerber is the most fun nepo baby, gay clout chasing, revealing details on the Rachel Sennott Untitled Series, attempting R&B is hard, dissing your grandmother, his impressions that made him famous during the pandemic, the groupie potential of going on tour, the Turkish haircut experience, logging off and engagement, what to expect on the new season of English Teacher, who's the gayest person in the MCU, getting and giving oral sex on screen for real, his best in class hairiness and much more on Jordan Firstman's interview with The Only Podcast That Matters™.
Stephanie Koenig (Lessons in Chemistry, The English Teacher) and Patrick Luwis (Cobra Kai) star in a Taiwanese tale about a tiny ant, a boastful pigeon, and unexpected favors.