Teaching elementary students to synthesize information they’re reading can often feel like an uphill battle! In this episode, you’ll learn how to take this complex reading comprehension strategy and break it down into simple steps that your students can master!

Most of what we read in our daily life is nonfiction - street signs, dinner recipes, news articles, etc. So -let’s teach our students these critical reading nonfiction reading skills that will help them in the classroom and beyond!

Outdated or boring textbooks got you down? Ditch the textbook and tune in to this week’s episode to learn about 4 alternatives to traditional textbook teaching in the elementary classroom that will boost student engagement AND learning!

If you want students to engage more with each other about their reading, then considering adding literature circles (or book clubs as they are often called) into your instructional strategy. Literature circles are a powerful way to incorporate meaningful, student-led discussions, motivate struggling readers, and help your elementary students take more ownership of their learning.

Reading comprehension instruction doesn’t have to be complicated! When it comes to teaching reading strategies like making inferences, a simple, student-friendly approach is easier than you think. Get the step-by-step guidance to help your elementary students master inferring while they read.

Writing conferences no longer have to be a confusing, overwhelming process for elementary teachers. Take the simple goal-driven approach that gives your writing conferences the clear structure and purpose that actually improves your students’ writing.

What is one of the most valuable components of your readers and writers workshop? It might not be what you think! It’s the “Share Chair"! How can a simple chair in your classroom be so powerful in your elementary classroom? Simple - it promotes classroom community, accountable talk, student engagement, (and not to mention helps create stronger readers and writers). All that from a chair? Yep! If you need some convincing, then tune in to this week’s episode.

How you end your lessons shouldn’t be an after thought, although for many elementary teachers — it often is (at least when we are not being observed!). When you’re spending so much time planning a lesson for your students, be sure to end it on a high note. In this podcast episode, I’ll show you 10 simple, yet engaging ways to end your next lesson.

Students can’t learn in crisis mode. The foundation for any learning is a students’ social emotional health. Help set the stage for learning by implementing simple calming strategies that will allow students to manage and regulate their own feelings so that they can be more successful in the classroom and beyond.

Want your elementary students to get the most out of what they read? Then, teach them critical reading comprehension strategies like determining importance — I’ll show you how in today’s episode!

Struggling to make readers and writers workshop work in your elementary classroom? The solutions might be simpler than you think! Check out these common workshop model mistakes, and learn how to fix them.

LINKtivity Interactive Learning Guides just got BETTER - now with new interactive and engaging features (including audio support for ALL!). This highly requested feature (audio) is now being rolled out in all LINKtivities and will be available in all current LINKtivities soon, plus even more engaging features to capture the love of learning from all students! This new update makes in-person or distance learning instruction more accessible for everyone.

Are your students having the right kind of classroom conversations - the kind of talk that moves learning forward? If not - let’s fix that by teaching students the art of accountable talk, a framework for having intentional conversations in the classroom.

Learn how to help your students master the art of asking questions while reading to increase their reading comprehension. This is a must-listen episode for all upper elementary teachers looking for a simple approach to reading comprehension strategy instruction!

Increasing student participation and a strong classroom community are two sides of the same coin. One leads to the other...and back again. Tune in to the Classroom Commute podcast to learn simple strategies that will help you achieve both!