Apple Blossom Teachers

Accommodations aren't just for inside our classrooms, and Erin Castillo of @AffirmationsAndAccessibility is sharing some insight on how we can make all parts of our school year engaging and accessible to all our learners.  This is such an important conversation full of eye-opening considerations. You will leave this episode feeling empowered to support each and every student during things like fie...

Guest speakers can be an easy way to make learning relevant, help students build value for skills, topics, and disciplines you are covering, and form partnerships that can open even more learning opportunities within your community. Ready for more? Join me on July 28th for a half-day, virtual, interactive workshop! I am so excited to help you collaboratively design your student-centered classroom....

Short and Sweet Episode Week 3: This is a strategy called "Step In - Step Out," which I originally learned from Michael Friermood, AKA The Thinker Builder . You can learn more about his version HERE , which is awesome for building a deeper understanding of a narrative text, as well as the impact of authors' choices.  I also have a few ideas for how we can do something similar but more focused on n...

Welcome to week two of our Short And Sweet Summer episodes! Each week I'll share one quick-win engagement strategy for your third through sixth grade classroom, along with a brain dump of ways YOU can use it!  These SASS-y episodes are great for a quick listen while running errands, or to save up for a big binge on your upcoming flight or road trip!  💡I'm sharing my two favorite "quick scan" acti...

Welcome to week one of our Short And Sweet Summer episodes! Each week I'll share one quick-win engagement strategy for your third through sixth grade classroom, along with a brain dump of ways YOU can use it!  These SASS-y episodes are great for a quick listen while running errands, or to save up for a big binge on your upcoming flight or road trip!  💡Today is all about concept attaintment - a wa...

Top 3 Tips to Maximize your Summer PD: A system for your notes, a system for your files, and a system to keep track of how well (or not!) the new ideas work when you try them! These are my top 3 tips to get the most out of the amazing summer learning you have planned.  And speaking of summer learning, are you ready to join me for a one-day virtual LIVE workshop? The Upper Elementary Engagement Aca...

     Teacher Summer Priorities: Join me in a more casual episode as I share a little behind-the-scenes of the summer reflection process we've been chatting about. If you need a little inspiration or camaraderie, this is the episode for you!       Looking for something a little more actionable? Grab the FREE on-demand video training: 5 Lasting Ways to Increase Student Engagement in Upper Elementary...

Welcome to "Choose-your-own-adventure" summer learning edition! Whether it's organization and planning, instruction in specific content areas, or even taking your teaching to the next level, here are some recommendations.  Use the guide below to quickly find what you need, or listen to the full episode so you know what else is available when you need it. I scratched the surface on why these ones m...

Have you ever come back to that one week of teacher prep time feeling like it's just NOT enough to really help you mentally and instructionally plan for a solid year? Then once we get into the day-to-day hustle, it's impossible to catch up, let alone get ahead! This leads to that slow-burning-candle vibe, which ain't it if we want to stay passionate and be our best teacher selves.  The solution? I...

It can be such a great feeling when our kids are writing solid paragraphs or essays, using the fun little acronyms or mnemonic devices we've supported them with. But just like learning to ride a bike with training wheels, it's not until those extra supports are taken off that you're truly challenged with applying your skills. Today, we are chatting all about teaching writing without a formula.  ...

Students who are BEGGING for more writing time? Yes, please! One easy key to increasing writing engagement and motivation is adding in an authentic audience. Here's why you need to be leveraging this strategy, plus real 3rd - 6th grade project ideas from no additional prep all the way to the big leagues, major audience productions. 💻 Looking for more ways to take learning from ROTE to REAL? Grab...

How can you differentiate for such a wide range of writing levels in upper elementary, especially when it feels like pulling teeth to get your kids excited about writing? Writer's Workshop is a great solution, and with a few key moves in your teacher toolbox, your students' writing will start to soar!  ***There are TONS of great references and resources shared throughout this episode. Scroll down...

Do you use literary mentor texts in your classroom? This practice has definitely gained popularity, and for good reason, but many of the resources out there offer strategies for using picture books, novels, and poetry as mentor texts for writing. The strategies from literature analysis can be applied to nonfiction sentence structure, but there are a few easy things you can add to specifically help...

Remember all those incredible types of informational text we talked about last week? (ICYMI, definitely head back to episode 27!) Today I'm spilling my secrets for bulking up your informational classroom library section on a budget.  Listen in for 6 ways you can support student learning with more (and more authentic!) informational texts for free and almost-free! You don't want to miss: 2:15 - Dan...

Welcome back! I am so pumped for this relaunch. Let's jump on in! >>> Nonfiction books and articles are often readily available in our curriculum and digital downloads, but there's a whole world of real informational text we can easily incorporate beyond that.  Grab your notepad, because I'm sharing TONS of easy ways you can expose your students to more authentic, more varied types of informationa...

Summary: Today's episode is FULL of simple and actionable strategies that will level up your students' motivation, retention of content knowledge, interpersonal skills, and so much more. The key? Sketchbooks!! I'm sharing a little about my journey with sketchbooks in the classroom, and how I use them as a tool to support student creativity and content knowledge in transferable ways. Key Points: Th...

Summary:  Were you a math lover or a "math avoider" as a student? What do you want your students to be? I had the privilege of chatting with Mona Iehl of Local Learners and Co, who is sharing her passion and strategies for building positive math identities within our students. Mona is an absolute "math teacher cheerleader" and the tips she shares in this episode are so motivating and so actionable...

Summary:  Congrats! You just landed a new teaching job...but where to begin?! You're so excited to start, but it's still a couple months until you can really meet with your team or set up your room. Even if you aren't sure of the specifics quite yet, there are a few things you can think about that can help you feel ready once back to school hits. Decide on your educational priorities: What would p...

Summary:      Elementary classrooms are notorious for cute, colorful decor and fun little projects that supplement our content, but that often comes with a cost in terms of sustainability. Today I'm interviewing Amy Louise Davis, of Alou Artist, all about how we can reduce "throw away culture" in our classrooms while also supporting mindfulness and creativity in our students.     Amy is a textile...

Summary:  Project Based Learning, PBL, is an incredible way to bring authentic learning applications to your students. Today, I'm chatting with Kristen Moore of @moorethanjustX all about getting started with PBL, some common challenges in designing authentic PBL units as well as how to avoid them, and some helpful tips for getting started! Kristen is an instructional coach at a variety of schools...

Summary:  Now that you've closed out your teacher-brain for the year and wrapped up your time with your students, it's time to think about closing out your classroom! But before you lock that door or turn in your key for the summer, follow these tips so August you will be singing your praises! I'm sharing tips for closing out your physical classroom efficiently and effectively, getting that digita...

Now that you've reflected on your school year and started to clear out your "teacher thoughts," it's time to set some plans in place for summer! Wait, aren't we just going to chill and recharge over the summer?! YES!! But if you're anything like me, without intentionally planning the things that will make me feel rested and reenergized, those summer days will slip away all too quickly! Grab your r...

Let's make sure that teacher brain of yours is ready to close out this chapter of your teaching career, rest and recharge over the summer, and prepare to start another incredible chapter in the fall! Today is definitely a grab a notepad, be ready to hit pause a few times kind of episode, so get ready! I wanted to make sure YOU left today feeling like you've really identified your own strengths and...

You and your students have made significant memories and progress as a group this year. Honor that relationship and provide great closure by tying up your loose ends, making some extra-fun lasting memories, and reflecting on your year together. Today I share some of my favorite ways to close out the school year with my students. Be sure to hop on over to Instagram to tell me which one you try, or...

No one wants to draw a blank in an interview! You know you have the experience or knowledge you need to answer confidently, but being put on the spot can lock the words on the tip of your tongue!! Doing these 3 things can help you prepare to rock your teaching interview and answer any question with confidence:  1. Review as many sample interview questions as you can! 2. Use those questions to guid...