Creating Joyful Readers

I know it often feels like you just don't have time to do all the things in your classroom. And it’s true, you don’t! But you do have plenty of time to choose a few things to do well. Today we’re going to talk about a few supplementary activities to include in your mystery unit and which skills are targeted through these purposeful additions. Hope you’re ready for some fresh ideas today, joyful re...

Maybe you’d love to try literature circles in your class, but you just don’t know where to start. Or maybe you’ve tried them before, but they didn’t go over well. Today I’m going to walk you through my framework for planning and executing a flawless literature circle in the mystery genre. Get ready, joyful readers, it’s going to be a good one! Highlights: What should literature circles look like i...

Like most other teachers, I was absolutely frightened when I was told I needed to run a choice reading unit. How will I keep track of everything? How do I manage a class full of students reading different books? These questions kept me up at night! I then realized that I was expected to do this alongside my regular curriculum and then my mind was REALLY blown. Thankfully, after years of trial and...

Mysteries continue to dominate best-selling book lists worldwide. Huge names like James Patterson, Stephen King, Riley Sager, Freida McFadden, and so many more are consistently seen leading the charts when it comes to book sales. Why do people love this genre so much and how can we leverage that enthusiasm in the classroom? Stay tuned for today’s episode! We’re going to dig into all things mystery...

You've got questions about independent reading and in today's episode I've got answers. It doesn’t matter if you’re brand new to the practice or a seasoned veteran, this episode has helpful strategies no matter where you are on your journey. Episode Highlights: How do I know this book will be appropriate for my students? How do I make sure students are reading books that are the right fit for them...

Watching the power of literature circles in molding lifelong readers was transformative for me. Lit circles aren’t new. Maybe you’ve heard of them, but have been too afraid to try them, or maybe you’re a seasoned pro and have been running lit circles for a long time. No matter where you fall on the spectrum, tune into today’s episode because I’m going to break down exactly why this practice belong...

It’s hard to be in education right now. Anyone who has been inside of a school lately knows that it is not for the faint of heart. Teachers currently need more support than ever . This includes having tried-and-true strategies and relevant resources ready to implement so that you can feel confident and successful in helping students become joyful readers. Today’s episode is going to talk all about...

Creating a strong culture of reading in your classroom can feel like a daunting task, but today’s episode will walk you through a couple of actionable steps you can take to get started. Buckle up, joyful readers, you’re not going to want to miss this one! Resources Mentioned: --> Take a look at my favorite bookish tapestries in THIS ETSY SHOP and don't forget to use the code SAMANTHAINSECONDARY...

Pop Quiz: What do you call the instructional practice where students self-select a book or choose from a list of pre-selected titles before reading it independently and completing some kind of assessment? Did you know that most of the people listening to this podcast right now probably have a different answer? We’re going to dive into this strange conundrum today. Stay tuned. Some links referenced...

This podcast has been on my heart for a few years and I’m so excited to finally be able to bring it to you now. I’ve been working hard to plan episodes and create content that I know is going to help you nurture a love of reading with your students . I have so much to share and I’m confident that these episodes are going to be both helpful and relevant to your practice. Some links referenced here...

This is the podcast for secondary educators who want to inspire a lifelong love of reading in their students. Each week, we’ll chat about the amazing benefits of independent reading, dig into the latest literacy research, cover practical tips and strategies to nurture lifelong readers, break down projects that help students show off what they’ve learned in creative ways, and highlight some fresh Y...