The Spark Creativity Teacher Podcast | ELA

Want to showcase Black authors, poets, artists and activists in your ELA classroom? Celebrate Black History Month all year long with these ideas.  Black History Month is here, and while it's vital that we celebrate Black poets, authors, leaders, playwrights, and activists throughout our curriculum, this is a great time to put a special focus on spotlighting all the wonderful Black voices in the EL...

Try using graphic novels in your ELA classroom to create powerful reading ladders, launch literature circles, help make the classics accessible, and more! Today on the podcast, you'll find six perspectives on why graphic novels are a GREAT addition to your ELA program, and how you might use them in different creative ways. Each of our five creative guests brings something wholly unique to the tabl...

Want to introduce your ELA students to the creative joys of graphic novels? Find out how to run a quick and productive book tasting to help introduce them to the genre.   Maybe you've got some new titles for your choice reading library, a graphic novel or two lined up for First Chapter Friday, or even a graphic novel on the horizon as a whole-class read, and you wish your students were more aware...

Gareth Hinds has created appealing  graphic novel versions of many great classics of English literature, like The Odyssey, The Iliad, Beowulf, and Shakespeare's plays. In this episode, find out how to use them in class to help deepen engagement. Gareth Hinds is an English Teacher's superhero. He takes the most challenging works of classic literature for our students, spends years studying them dee...

Worried about the new AI and its repercussions in the world of ELA? In this quick episode, let me share why I think it might actually be a good thing for our profession.  For many years now, students who are so inclined have been able to grab a paper off the internet. I remember the paranoia I felt after learning that the students at a new school where I was teaching a decade ago had actually crea...

Featuring contemporary Indigenous voices in your ELA classroom - on your walls, in your research and writing projects, and on your shelves - can make a big difference in fighting erasure. Help your students of all backgrounds learn about Indigenous leaders, artists, and activists.  In today's episode, I'm sharing concrete options to help. Discover the best free posters, leaders to feature in your...

Want to help the independent readers in your ELA classroom enjoy audiobooks? Whether you want to use Audible, Libro FM (do you know about their free educator advance listening program?), Libby, or Sora, in this episode I'll walk you through the process of creating easy access for your students at your own classroom listening station. The bookstores of Bratislava, where I live now, are quite dazzli...

Want to improve your classroom dynamics? Start with relationships, and watch how they can positively impact your daily life as a teacher in so many ways. In this episode, learn fun and easy strategies like post-it compliments and the googly eye connection from our guest CJ Reynolds, from Real Rap with Reynolds. Then watch - as your relationships deepen, your pedagogy will strengthen too.  Today's...

Looking to engage your secondary ELA students in creative public speaking projects? Try podcasting, debate, mock trials, mini speeches, or genius hour talks! Who hasn't felt a few cold chills at the prospect of public speaking? Teaching year in and year out definitely helps though. As you stand up in front of groups of kids over and over, it starts to feel normal. Not for our students though. Publ...

Find out how veteran teacher Jane Wisdom successfully incorporated a social media twist on the traditional research project, with great results from her students.   Go Further:  Explore alllll the Episodes of The Spark Creativity Teacher Podcast . Join our community, Creative High School English , on Facebook. Come hang out on Instagram .  Enjoying the podcast? Please consider sharing it with a fr...

Beat the after-lunch lethargy with these active classroom strategies for ELA. Learn how to use stations, escape rooms, speed debating, hexagonal thinking, performance, and more to help keep your students up an engaged. In this episode, we're running through my favorite ways to help shake it up with movement in the English classroom.  Go Further:  Explore alllll the Episodes of  The Spark Creativit...

First Chapter Fridays let you introduce students to a wide range of diverse compelling authors even if you can only spare a few minutes a week. In this episode, discover book choice inspiration, display options, author video options, sketchnotes templates for students, and more. Plus, get some ideas for how to save your voice!  I've been singing the First Chapter Friday song for years, but here's...

Need help teaching the college essay to your students? Learn about what makes a strong college essay from four experienced college admissions officers and high school college counselors from around the United States. Play this episode for your students too!  Find the show notes and grab the free companion curriculum at: https://nowsparkcreativity.com/podcast

Want to teach sentence structure in a creative way that really helps? Try these three fun twists on the traditional worksheet.  Check out the visuals at nowsparkcreativity.com. Just click the "podcasts" tab at the top of the page! 

Want to try an international classroom collaboration? Learn the tips and tricks from Andrea Greer, who runs a five country collaboration from Japan.  Check out the show notes and find a collab partner through the link inside at nowsparkcreativity.com.   

What if faculty meetings deepened relationships and helped people feel connected and inspired? In this interview, get ideas for changing the design of back-to-school with Dr. Susie Wise of the Stanford D School. 

Want to build more contemporary poetry into your ELA classroom? Find out how with #teachlivingpoets founder Mel Alter Smith. Discover poetry collections, activities, and full units ready to use in class through her work at teachlivingpoets.com. 

Goodbye chapter comprehension questions, hello creative lesson ideas!  In today's episode, discover 21 creative lessons, activities, and units you can use in any ELA class. These are the most popular tried-and-true options I've discovered over the last decade! Try blackout poetry, silent discussions, hexagonal thinking, literary food trucks, book tastings, digital poetry tiles, and so many more! 

Looking for creative vocabulary activities that aren't boring? Want students to get excited about using words in interesting ways? Check out these colorful vocabulary options for your secondary ELA classroom.  See the images and sign up for the vocabulary quiz templates in the show notes at: https://nowsparkcreativity.com  Come hang out on Instagram @nowsparkcreativity. 

Looking for creative multimedia mentor texts for your ELA students? Check out these options, from picture books to podcasts, videos to poetry, student work to YA novels. Get mentor texts kids will reallys it up and pay attention to!   Sign up for Camp Creative: The Roadmap to Student Podcasting here. 

Want to get started with class podcast projects? Good for you! Get inspired with this creative list of options for your high school English students.  Don't forget to sign up for Camp Creative: The Student Podcasting Roadmap coming June 13-15. Visit the show notes at nowsparkcreativity.com. 

Looking for the teacher technology that will really make an impact in your classroom, not just replace processes you use with newer, more complicated ones? In this fun conversation with Jennifer Gonzalez, we talk about the tools and ideas inside her Teacher's Guide to Tech and how they can help in your ELA Classroom. 

Discover the power of choice reading, modern mentor texts, and writer's notebooks in this actionable podcast workshop with Penny Kittle.  Get Penny's tips on gently challenging what's not working at your school. Find out how she integrates choice reading and writer's notebooks to ignite student interest.  Discover her favorite choice reads for students right now and the authors who have helped ins...

Want to try having students write nonfiction children's books? How about perform plays based on their favorite children's books? Learn all about these two wonderful children's book projects and more in this interview with Pernille Ripp.  Let's connect!  Facebook Group: Creative High School English Instagram: @nowsparkcreativity

Picture books have so much to offer readers of all ages. In this interview with literacy dynamo Pernille Ripp (part one of two), find out how to use children's books to introduce big ideas, demonstrate writer's craft, and start important conversations.