September 27, 2024
Join us for Teaching With Integrity and Heart in Difficult Times, an inspiring discussion on the critical role educators play in shaping students’ lives and fostering a love for learning. In this episode, colleagues Regie Routman and Megan Drayton share their passion for teaching and social justice, based on their experiences in the classroom.
Megan, a 5th-grade teacher from South Carolina, has spent 14 years teaching in high-poverty schools, working with students to use literacy as a tool for transformation.
The conversation explores the power of professional learning communities, mentorship, and the core beliefs that drive Megan’s teaching practice. Megan emphasizes the importance of student empowerment, respect, and literacy as a vehicle for positive change. She also shares a transformative story of a former student, highlighting how building relationships and recognizing students’ potential can lead to profound, lifelong impact. Megan and Regie also discuss the significance of community in the classroom, coping with mandates, and being intentional about our teaching. “It’s always about the kids.”
Access the transcript here.
July 5, 2024
In this insightful conversation, which we've titled Reading and Reason, I speak with Dorsey Hammond and Denise Nessel, authors of The Comprehension Experience: Engaging Readers Through Effective Inquiry and Discussion. We emphasize the importance of a reasonable approach to teaching reading that integrates phonics, comprehension, and meaningful engagement from the start. In addition, we stress the significance of integrating reading and writing, using real literature, and fostering a joy of reading through diverse, culturally responsive materials. This conversation underscores that comprehension should be taught from day one and that an overemphasis on phonics can detract from developing a deeper understanding and love of reading.
Access the transcript here.
- For ongoing professional learning around literacy, visit literacytalk.info for research, resources, practical tips, perspectives on key issues, suggested readings, and more.
- To order Dorsey's and Denise's book, The Comprehension Experience: Engaging Readers Through Effective Inquiry and Discussion, click here.
May 6, 2024
Join me in conversation with Mary Howard, treasured friend, beloved colleague, and notable educator and author as we discuss her teaching/living journey, her contributions to literacy, today’s educational challenges, teachers as professional decision makers, Mary’s advice to teachers, living in the moment, seeing the hope, and much more.
Access the transcript here.
March 4, 2024
In this video interview and conversation, lifelong educator, coach, and author Matt Renwick and I discuss the importance of building trusting relationships schoolwide, the role of coaching in professional learning, using instructional walks to highlight students’ and teachers’ strengths and efforts, collaborating with students and the school librarian to build a school library where students are empowered to set the budget, order books, and make decisions about how the library works best, and growing professionally and personally—to name some topics we discuss.
Access the transcript here.
For more information on the implementation of a School Library Project and its results, check out the following links:
-
Guiding Readers to More Complex Texts (Read by Example):https://readbyexample.substack.com/p/guiding-readers-toward-more-complex
-
The School Library Book Budget Project: Empowering Readers through Responsibility, Support, and Trust (Bring Me a Book): https://www.bringmeabook.org/the-school-library-book-budget-project-empowering-readers-through-responsibility-support-and-trust/
-
The School Library Book Budget Project Toolkit (Bring Me a Book):https://www.bringmeabook.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/BMAB_TOOLKIT_Uppena_v1.pdf
Empowering Kids to Make School Decisions (MiddleWeb):https://www.middleweb.com/50133/empowering-students-to-make-school-decisions/
October 28, 2023
"The Heart-Centered Teacher: A Conversation with Regie Routman"
In this recorded conversation with Matt Renwick, Regie talks about her process for writing The Heart-Centered Teacher. She also shares advice for teaching, learning, and living with joy in uncertain times.
September 30, 2023
"In Celebration with Regie"
In this one minute video, Regie celebrates the publication of The Heart-Centered Teacher with family and friends at Madison Books, a local independent book store in Seattle.
September 22, 2023
Video interview and conversation around my latest book, The Heart-Centered Teacher: Restoring Hope, Joy, and Possibility in Uncertain Times with renowned educators Penny Kittle and Kelly Gallagher.
"Seeing" our students, making stories central, co-creating a joyful culture, living "the good life", and much more.