PoPCast: Discussing Educational Practices that Support Readers and Writers

Sarah Cordova, author of The Power of Picture Books in Student Identity: Writing Lessons That Empower, joins Whitney and Travis to unpack the difference between a read aloud and a mentor text. They dig into why picture books belong in every grade level, how representation in a classroom library shapes the messages kids absorb, and share a stack of mentor texts worth adding to your shelf this year.

This episode is part two of our conversation with flow state expert Steven Purri, founder of the Sukha Company ( https://www.thesukha.co/) . In this episode, we discuss with Steven ways we can practice getting into flow state as well as how teachers can support students in getting into flow state as well.

What happens in your brain when you're 'in the zone'? In this episode, we explore flow state with Steven Puri, founder of The Sukha Company and a veteran of Hollywood studios and tech startups. We dive into the research behind flow, why the attention economy is designed to keep you out of it, and the tools that actually help—from music and timers to creating the right classroom conditions. Whether...

In this episode we are joined by homeschool educator Jaimie Thomas. She shares how she creates rich literature conversations where her multi-age students naturally engage with grammar, build confidence as writers, and develop a genuine love for language. Find Jaimie online at https://simplylearningtogether.com/

In part two of our interview with children's book author Cheryl Olsten, she shares how she crafts stories in bits and pieces, why she writes by hand, and how living with dyslexia never stopped her from finding her voice as a writer. Find out more about Cheryl at cherylolsten.com .

In this episode of PoPCast, Travis and Whitney sit down with children's book author Cheryl Olsten to talk about her picture book Punctuation to the Rescue — a story where the punctuation marks themselves are the characters. Cheryl shares how a pet peeve about exclamation point overuse sparked the idea, what it was like developing the personalities of her four punctuation mark characters, and how h...

Patty McGee joins us to share hands-on grammar strategies from Not Your Granny's Grammar that turn students into active explorers of language through play, conversation, and manipulatives. Plus, we talk next steps for teachers ready to embrace a contemporary grammarian mindset — starting with grace, curiosity, and a learning buddy. Check out Patty's book, Not Your Granny's Grammar

In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Travis and Whitney welcome author Patty McGee to explore what it means to be a contemporary grammarian. The trio shares personal grammar backstories and unpacks the shift from punitive, correction-focused grammar instruction to an approach rooted in curiosity, craft, and invitation. Stay tuned for Part 2, where Patty shares practical strategies like "s...

In this episode, Whitney and Travis are joined by Patterns of Power co-author Caroline Sweet to discuss the POWER in this instructional process of grammar instruction. Together, they explore how teachers can shift classroom dynamics by letting students speak first, honoring the linguistic resources children bring with them, and choosing texts that serve as mirrors for young writers. Whether you&#3...

In this episode of PoPCast, Travis and Whitney discuss the power of teacher-facilitated writing conferences, how to have efficient conferences focused on effective grammar usage, and practical tips for empowering students to have clear next steps after a writing conference.

In this episode, Whitney and Travis explore how student self-reflection and metacognition can transform grammar assessment from something done to students into a skill students develop themselves. They discuss practical strategies for building reflection into the Patterns of Power framework, from simple exit tickets to extended writing reflections, and share considerations for adapting these appro...

In this episode, Whitney and Travis discuss various ways of creating written products in the classroom for students to show their understanding of a grammatical pattern. They elevate options that can be used in the invitation to apply as well as beyond a specific grammar lesson set. FREE Support Resources Sample rubric with PoP pattern focus Sample rubric (informational writing) w/ pattern usage f...

Travis and Whitney kick off the new season of PoPCast by focusing on assessment in education. They discuss the importance of assessment beyond just grades and share specifics of assessing the process of grammar instruction. The episode includes practical strategies for implementing and organizing assessment tools, emphasizing the value of reflection and making student thinking visible.  FREE Suppo...

Travis is joined in this episode by co-author of Patterns of Power for Grades 9-12 Holly Durham. The two spend time in this episode building each of the invitations for a high school PoP lesson from scratch. The duo uses a model sentence from an article by Leonard Pitts Jr, which is linked below. Enjoy part two of our two part planning session with a focus on high school PoP! Episode transcript  H...

Travis is joined in this episode by co-author of Patterns of Power for Grades 9-12 Holly Durham. The two spend time in this episode setting the groundwork for building a high school PoP lesson from scratch. The duo uses a model sentence from an article by Leonard Pitts Jr, which is linked below. Enjoy part one of our two part planning session with a focus on high school PoP! Episode transcript Hel...

This episode is the second part of a two-part planning episode. Whitney and Travis plan for a Patterns of Power lesson set geared toward grades 6-8 that focuses on advanced compound sentence usage. Continue planning with the hosts as they discuss the invitations to imitate, share & celebrate, apply, and edit.  Episode transcript PoP lesson slideshow PoP lesson planning Doc CommonLit

In this episode, Travis and Whitney plan a middle school Patterns of Power lesson using advanced compound sentences, building more complexity off of our previous lesson planning session with a PoP lesson for elementary. The planning kicks off with some options for a focus phrase with the text "Farms of the Future," an informational text found in CommonLit being elevated as a focus. Travi...

In this episode, Whitney and Travis continue their planning conversation around a grammar lesson for elementary grades. Using a model from the text J.D. and the Great Barber Battle by J. Dillard, the hosts create the invitations to imitate, apply, and edit. They also include a discussion around setting your grade-level team up for success when planning out novel ways to share and celebrate student...

Travis and Whitney dive into planning effective Patterns of Power (PoP) lessons for elementary grades. They focus on the essential concept of compound sentences using coordinating conjunctions, particularly the FANBOYS (For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So). Listeners learn how to choose appropriate mentor texts and sentences to illustrate these grammar concepts effectively. This episode serves as a mi...

In this episode of Podcast Reboot, hosts Whitney and Travis outline upcoming episodes where they'll guide listeners through lesson planning that highlights the various levels of PoP, from elementary to high school levels. This episode shares with listeners an overview of the upcoming planning lessons, which can be used as mini professional learning sessions for teachers! episode transcript

In this episode, Travis and Whitney provide concrete examples from published literature to demonstrate how infinitives, participles, and active voice make writing more concise and dynamic. Resources including the Form New Verbs chart are available to support both teachers and students in mastering this powerful revision option. episode transcript episode shout-outs: Forming New Verbs chart What's...

In this episode, Whitney and Travis continue their conversation about their process of facilitating sentence combining in the elementary and middle school classroom. They share examples of lessons and talk through their teaching process. episode transcript Episode shout outs: Reviser's DRAFT Board ⁠The Ogress and the Orphans ⁠ by Kelly Barnhill ⁠Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World ⁠ by Jennif...

In this episode, Travis and Whitney explore sentence combining as a powerful revision strategy. They discuss how teaching students to combine basic sentences into more sophisticated ones significantly improves writing quality. This episode highlights the research base for this classroom practice, as well as sharing the authors' behind-the-scenes preparation for classroom implementation. episode tr...

Travis and Whitney explore the revision strategy of adding content to writing. They dive into how to teach students to add information purposefully - not just to make writing longer, but to clarify ideas and create meaningful connections between thoughts. Specific lesson examples from both elementary and middle school levels are shared, demonstrating how to help students understand when and why to...

Travis and Whitney explore the "R" in their DRAFT mnemonic for teaching revision: Rearrange. Using examples from both elementary and middle school texts, they demonstrate practical strategies for helping students understand why sentence and paragraph order matters in writing. The hosts share specific classroom techniques, like using note cards to physically move sentences around, and discuss how t...