The Spark Creativity Teacher Podcast | ELA

Today on the podcast, Brynn Allison of The Literary Maven shares her top ten current book recommendations to hook reluctant readers.  For example...  FORGED BY FIRE (TRILOGY) , BY SHARON M. DRAPER If you're going to add only one of these books to your reading library, this just might be it. It's Brynn's top recommendation. With its amazing first chapter that was originally written to stand alone a...

There are so many great places to find inspiration for ELA online!  In this episode, I'm sharing my favorite sites for free creative lesson plans and ideas for English teachers online.  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...

In this episode, I'll share five strategies for amping up student engagement by giving them authentic audiences for their work. It's more doable than it seems! Once you start looking, you'll find authentic audience options for your ELA students all over the place.  Go Further:  Explore alllll the Episodes of The Spark Creativity Teacher Podcast . Join our community, Creative High School English ,...

Let's talk about taking a break from your classroom space and getting out into other school spaces. Spend a day trying one of these mini-field trips and see if you and your students don't both feel better. 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 podc...

In this episode, I'll share the system that allows me to skip repetitive comment writing by using a list of common errors with my 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 friend, snagging a screensh...

Curious about escape rooms? For good reason!  Escape rooms are an engaging teaching strategy rapidly growing in momentum across the country. Emily Aierstok, my first ever podcast guest, will share her experiences teaching with escape rooms in her New York classroom. The show notes this week are EXTENSIVE so be sure to head to nowsparkcreativity.com  to find them.  Go Further:  Explore alllll the E...

In this episode I'll be sharing two ways you can try out ELA maker spaces in your classroom this year. They are creative, doable and inexpensive, and I think you're going to love them!  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...

Ever feel lonely at work, even though you're surrounded by people all the time? You're not alone on that.  This episode is all about finding ways to build a support structure for yourself as a creative teacher. 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...

A beautiful and inspiring work space isn't just for primary students. In this episode, I'll share ideas for age-appropriate creative decor for your high school classroom.  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 wi...

Engage your students from the opening moment with these creative first day activities. No need to read that syllabus out loud!  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 friend, snagging a screenshot to share...

In this episode, learn three simple systems you can put in place at the start of the year to make class easier and more creative all year long.  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 friend, snagging a scr...

In this episode, I'll share five ways to dip your toes in the classroom flipping ocean. There's no need to abandon your entire curriculum to experiment with this intriguing new trend. 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 s...

In this episode, I'll share why I believe in creative forms of assessment and share more than a dozen examples you can start using tomorrow in your ELA classroom.  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 fri...

Sometimes you have to be proactive to help your boss understand what a great job you're doing. But don't worry, it can actually be a lot of fun.  In this show, discover seven strategies for showing your administration your creative strengths as a teacher. Go Further:  Explore alllll the Episodes of The Spark Creativity Teacher Podcast . Join our community, Creative High School English , on Faceboo...

In this episode, discover how to use the Harkness method of discussion in your ELA classes to help students understand how to share a rich discussion and navigate group dynamics more effectively for the rest of their lives. Honestly, Harkness is one of my favorite classroom strategies of all time, and I've learned an awful lot.  Go Further:  Explore alllll the Episodes of The Spark Creativity Teac...

Are your students stressed out by poetry? Mine were too, until I started teaching them about performance poetry and holding class poetry slams.  In this episode, find out how to launch your own class poetry slam. Then get ready for fun. 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...

In this episode, discover ten ideas for creative professional development besides attending a conference. There are so many ways to learn something new (including this podcast).  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 sharin...

Want to try collaborating with another teacher? Maybe another teacher in another country? Get ideas for how to find a partner and start a project in this episode. 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 frie...

Help your ELA students getengaged through theater and performance activities in class. There are so many options! We'll get into some of my favorites in this episode. 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...

You don't have to choose between choice reading and whole class texts. You can have both, and student will benefit from each in different ways. In this episode, I explain how to create a free choice reading program for your ELA students to complement your main curriculum, and give you six fun ways to spark student engagement with it.  Go Further:  Explore alllll the Episodes of The Spark Creativit...

In this episode, discover three easy ways to use differentiation to let students play to their strengths in your ELA classroom. 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 friend, snagging a screenshot to share...

Would 12 year olds learn to spell 1000 words without the National Spelling Bee? Would high schoolers practice layups for hundreds of hours without the lure of Saturday games and the dream of college ball?  For that matter, would you be as interested in upping your teaching game if you didn't know you would have 30 curious faces staring at you come Monday? Having a REASON to learn something is half...