Teaching Made Simple

Do Less. Teach Better. Focus on What Matters Most. Feeling overwhelmed by everything you’re   supposed   to be doing in your classroom? In this episode of   Teaching Made Simple , we’re talking about the   Meaningful Minimum Mindset —a way of approaching instruction that helps you cut through the noise and focus on the few practices that make the biggest impact for students. Th...

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In this episode, I’m breaking down what an intervention really is—and why so many teachers feel stressed or unsure about planning one. This lesson comes straight from the Interventions pillar inside the Bridging Literacy Community, where I teach the core components of designing interventions that actually move the needle. What You’ll Learn Why an intervention is always an intervention—no matter wh...

In this episode, Bridget shares how she intentionally helped students who didn’t think they were readers fall in love with books through Book Talks. Book talks are short, engaging presentations, like a mini commercial for a book, that invite students to share what they’re reading, connect with peers, and spark curiosity across the classroom. What You’ll Learn: Why Book Talks Work: Expose students...

As a presenter, one thing I always like to acknowledge before starting any session is that teachers bring a wide range of experience and knowledge to the table. It’s nearly impossible to create a session where everything feels brand new for everyone. That’s why I tell teachers that my goal is always to do one or more of the following: ✅ Affirm what you already know and do well ✅ Remind you of so...

Have you ever been in a situation where everyone around you seemed to know something you didn’t? That was me in a leadership team meeting when I was asked to pick my favorite Muppet character. I only knew two: Kermit and Miss Piggy. My lack of background knowledge totally changed how I approached the task—and it reminded me how often our students are in the same position with reading. In this epis...

Episode 15 | Stop the Vocab Struggle: Easy Ways to Build Word Knowledge in Grades 3–6 If you’ve ever wrapped up a read-aloud or small group lesson only to hear your students describe characters as “nice,” “mean,” or “kind,” you’re not alone. It’s not that they don’t understand the character—it’s that they don’t have the vocabulary to express it. In today’s episode of Teaching Made Simple , I’m bre...

Comprehension is the heart of upper elementary instruction—and while we spend a lot of time teaching it, not all strategies give students the same results. What if there was one simple routine that could make comprehension skills more concrete, support higher-level thinking, and boost your students’ ability to retell and analyze text? In this episode of Teaching Made Simple, I’m sharing exactly th...

The start of the school year is always a whirlwind—between classroom setup, professional development, and learning 25 new names (or more), it’s easy to feel like your literacy block becomes an afterthought. But those first few weeks? They matter. A lot. They set the tone for everything that follows. In this episode, I’m sharing 5 simple but powerful tips to help you launch your literacy block with...

If grammar instruction feels like the one part of your week that’s constantly getting shuffled, trimmed, or skipped altogether… you’re not alone. Between fitting in reading groups, writing blocks, and all the moving parts of your literacy instruction, it’s easy for grammar to feel like an afterthought. And when you do find time for it, the pressure to make it fun, fast, and effective can feel over...

In this episode of Teaching Made Simple , we’re cutting through the clutter of grammar instruction and zooming in on one powerful tool that is perfect for introducing grammar in context— mentor sentences . Whether you’re tired of grammar worksheets that don’t stick or you’re looking for a better way to integrate grammar into your literacy block, you’re in the right place. I’m sharing how my o...

Do your students groan when it’s time to write? You’re not alone. But here’s the good news: writing doesn’t have to feel overwhelming—for them or for you. In this episode, we’re breaking down the writing process into clear, teachable stages that actually work in a real classroom. You’ll walk away with strategies to simplify instruction, build student confidence, and finally create a writing routin...

Let’s be honest—writing blocks are one of the first things to get pushed aside when the schedule gets tight. And if you’ve ever tried to teach writing while juggling pull-outs, behavior needs, and a jam-packed calendar, you’re not alone. In this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes to share one of the most important lessons I learned while teaching a multiage classroom: how to make a writing...

Here’s the truth: most of the writing frustration we feel as teachers isn’t because we’re doing something wrong—it’s because we’ve been taught to believe things that simply aren’t true. Whether it came from professional development, outdated curriculum guides, or just habits passed down over time, there are writing myths that are still showing up in classrooms every single day—and they’re making w...

If teaching writing feels overwhelming, frustrating, or like an endless guessing game—you’re not alone. In today’s episode, I’m sharing a story from my own journey, moving from kindergarten to fourth grade with nothing but the standards in hand… and no writing curriculum to support me. We’ll unpack why writing feels so hard to teach—and more importantly, what you can do to shift the narrative in y...

Feeling exhausted by the end of the school year but still determined to “figure things out” this summer? This episode is your permission slip to stop trying to do all the things —and instead, focus on creating clarity and purpose in your literacy instruction. Bridget dives into why teaching feels so overwhelming right now, the 3 most common mistakes teachers make in their literacy block, and how t...

What if the key to better reading, writing, and engagement isn’t another worksheet—but a conversation? In this episode, Bridget shares how oral language lays the foundation for academic growth in upper elementary classrooms. From personal classroom stories to research-backed insights, you'll discover why purposeful talk isn’t just for early learners—it’s essential across all grade levels. Bridget...

Is your classroom engagement strategy working for you—or against you? In this episode of Teaching Made Simple , we’re diving into the practical power of active student engagement and why it’s one of the most important things you can do to boost student achievement. If you’ve ever wondered how to make sure all of your students are with you during a lesson (not just the ones who raise their hands),...

Have you ever taught a skill over and over again, only to wonder, “Why aren’t they getting it?” It might be because we’re rushing right past acquisition and diving headfirst into fluency —and that shortcut is costing our students big time. In this episode of Teaching Made Simple , Bridget breaks down what acquisition and fluency really mean, how they show up in both literacy and math instruction,...

Ever feel like your students hear everything you say… but retain almost nothing? (Cue the teacher guilt.) The truth is — it might not be your teaching at all. It might just be working memory doing its thing. In this episode, I’m breaking down Cognitive Load Theory — in plain, teacher-friendly language — and sharing exactly how working memory impacts student learning. More importantly, I’m giving y...

We’ve all heard about the Science of Reading, but what about the Science of Learning ? In this very first episode of Teaching Made Simple , we’re laying the foundation for everything to come by unpacking what the Science of Learning really is, why it’s essential for effective instruction, and how it connects to your everyday classroom practices. You’ll learn: What the Science of Learning means in...