Groovelit

Teaching Stories

Education EN ↓ 6 episodes

Every student has a story—and so does every teacher who helps them find their voice. Twenty minutes of real talk from real classrooms, where writing transforms from struggle to strength, and reluctant students become confident authors. Discover the moments that matter, the breakthroughs that change everything, and the daily magic happening in classrooms across the country. Hosted by Groovelit co-founders Mike Thomson and Gavin Laughlin.

Author

Groovelit

Episodes

Transforming Writing Instruction for English Learners with Julia Segovia 27.10.2025 20:07

Julia Segovia, a brilliant multilingual ESL teacher at UP Academy Holland in Boston, shares how her own journey as an English language learner fuels her passion for empowering every student to find their voice through writing. From celebrating students' home languages to crafting innovative scaffolds that meet learners at their level, Julia reveals the transformative power of patience, cultura...

Creative Writing Unleashed (2 of 2) with John Dutton and Loren Vandivere 28.08.2025 19:34

John Dutton and Loren Vandivere from Benton Middle School, Virginia, join us to share their innovative approaches to making creative writing irresistible to middle schoolers. These two passionate educators have cracked the code on transforming reluctant writers into enthusiastic storytellers through engaging structures like murder mystery crime scenes, giant family interview projects, and gamified...

Creative Writing Unleashed (1 of 2) with John Dutton and Loren Vandivere 28.08.2025 20:48

Making Writing Stick with Kathryn Cupples 07.08.2025 18:15

Kathryn Cupples, a 28-year veteran teacher, reveals how she transformed reluctant middle schoolers into excited writers who can't wait to share their work with classmates. Discover her "secret sauce" for making daily 10-minute quick writes so powerful that students who once wrote just two sentences are soon crafting full stories, and kids who "hate poetry" end up penning he...

From Student Passions to Writing Practice with Amber Duane 30.07.2025 16:46

Amber Duane, a middle school ELA teacher in North Carolina, joins us to share her passion for interest-driven learning. Known for her innovative approach to student engagement, Amber has mastered the art of tapping into what students genuinely care about to fuel their writing and reading growth. In this episode, she reveals practical strategies for identifying student interests, transforming curio...

Risk-Taking, Safety, and Connection with Amy Loiselle 27.07.2025 17:36

Join us as we sit down with Amy Loiselle from the renowned Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta to explore how creating a safe environment transforms student engagement in the classroom. Amy shares her proven strategies for building the kind of trust where every student feels brave enough to take creative risks and share their authentic voice. This conversation will leave you inspired with actionable insi...