Let's Chat Teaching

As a teacher with A LOT on your plate, finding ways to add ease to your life is vital. If you're looking for tips to help you not only survive but thrive in the day-to-day, this episode is for you! Tune in to hear 5 life hacks that will help make life and thus your teaching journey easier.    Check out the Podcast Blog Show Notes   HERE .   Want to connect further? Check o...

Whether you're ready to begin creating your own resources for the first time or are just ready to give the resources you've already made a facelift, you're in luck! In this episode, I share all of my secrets for making professional-looking worksheets (and trust me, it's not difficult at ALL!). Join me to learn more and take your resource game to the next level.  Check out the YouTube Link to...

If you struggle with the winter months the way that I do, this episode is for you! In this episode, I share ideas for taking control of the dreary months both at home and at school so no matter where you are, you can add some sparkle. Tune in to learn more!    Check out the Podcast Blog Show Notes HERE .   Want to connect further? Check out:   www.appletreer...

It's time to ditch New Year's Resolutions! In this episode, I share my experience with setting New Year's Resolutions and why they don't work and what we can do instead.  Tune in to learn more.   Want to connect further? Check out:   www.appletreeresources.com Prod-D Courses for Teachers:   www.appletreeresources.com/courses Resources for your classroom:   w...

Whether you're considering starting a novel study for the first time or have been doing it for years, you won't want to miss this episode where I share my top tips for teaching a novel study. In this episode, I share a few gems of wisdom to help you lead and organize your upcoming novel study with ease. Tune in to learn more!   Check out the Podcast Blog Show Notes HERE . &nbsp...

Thinking about doing a novel study with your students in the grades 5-8 classroom but not really sure where to begin? In this episode, I share some of my favorite novels to use and what makes these books a great pick for your class' upcoming novel study unit. Tune in to learn more!   Check out the Podcast Blog Show Notes HERE .   Want to connect further? Check out:   www.appletreere...

I once had a curriculum support person tell me that she didn't think teachers should do whole-class novel studies. My mind was blown! In this episode, I share my opinion on whole class novel studies (yes, yes, yes, please do them!) and give you my top reasons why I think they're important to do with our students. They're truly beneficial for so many reasons and I love sharing them with anyone who...

In this podcast so far, I've shared a lot of tips about stories. Now, I want to share my story. In this episode, I explain how I found teaching, my experiences as a classroom teacher, and how I made the transition to an online Pro-D course creator. Tune in to learn a little more about the person behind the mic!   Check out the Podcast Blog Show Notes HERE .   Want to connect fu...

If you're tired of editing your students' writing, you're in luck. In this episode, I help you put down the red pen by teaching your students to do  their own  editing. It may sound too good to be true but I promise it's not. And with the tips in this episode, you'll be teaching your class a valuable skill that they'll carry with them in later grades. Tune in to learn more...

Who knows how to teach dialogue in writing anyway!? If you're asking yourself that question, this episode is for you! In today's episode, I share the first 4 rules to use when teaching dialogue in writing. Using these rules will allow you to feel more confident when teaching writing skills that will help build stronger writers within your classroom. Tune in to learn more!   Check ou...

To help our students write a successful short story, we first need to teach them what core elements to include! Otherwise, our students just blindly create a story hoping it meets our expectations. To demystify the process it's up to us to provide a clear framework that guides our students through the writing process. In this episode, I share the five core elements that students need to inclu...

Time to teach your short story writing unit but don't really know where to begin? Let me help! Whether you've just wrapped up a short story reading unit or are beginning this writing unit from a different starting point, I share tips for making your short story writing unit exciting and meaningful for students without adding more stress for you. Join me in this episode to learn more!  &n...

What is close reading and how can you make it work in your classroom? In this episode, I answer those questions by sharing reading strategies that will help your students move beyond basic comprehension of a text into actually analyzing it and creating deeper meaning. Close reading is a skill your students will use again and again, so it's important to teach it right! You won't want to miss t...

The current reality of teaching is that all of our students don't walk into our classrooms with the same knowledge, and often when it comes to reading levels our students are all over the place! As middle grades teachers this can be a challenge because we're taught to teach students to use reading to learn, but we often aren't equipped to teach students to learn to read. In thi...

In this episode, I share 5 captivating short stories that your students in the grades 5-8 classroom will absolutely love. Filled with suspense, excitement, foreshadowing, and more, these short stories are an exciting way to help your students strengthen their reading and critical thinking skills. Plus, a s a bonus, I share 2 of my favorite creepy short stories. Ready to add these 7...

Are you a teacher in the grades 5-8 classroom gearing up to teach story structure? It doesn’t have to be a lesson you teach and ditch! In today’s episode, I show you how to easily add depth to your story structure unit by helping your students understand that all stories are connected - just like people - and that story structure can be applied to all of the stories around them. Stay tuned to disc...

Are you a teacher in the grades five to eight classroom? If so, you're in the right place! Introducing Let's Chat Teaching, a podcast for teachers who want to chat all things teaching in the grades five to eight classroom. Join your host, Nicole, as she shares stories and tips, and discusses how to add more ease to your teaching without adding to your workload.   Check out the Podcast Bl...