Annotated ELA

47. Kickstart Vocabulary Instruction with Liz from Vocabulicious

Picture books in middle school? Absolutely! Discover how these treasures can captivate your students and make vocabulary lessons a breeze. Ever thought picture books were just for little kids? Think again! In this exciting episode, former elementary teacher and current consultant Liz shares her passion for read-aloud time and how it became a powerful tool for vocabulary instruction. Imagine your students' eyes lighting up as they connect new words to stories they love, all while you seamlessly integrate vocabulary into your daily routine. Ready to transform your classroom? In our chat, Liz reveals her top three picture books that not only enrich vocabulary but also teach valuable life lessons. From Peter H. Reynolds' beloved The Word Collector to Stacey Abrams' inspiring Stacey's Extraordinary Words, and the whimsical Ralph Tells a Story by Abby Hanlon, these books will become your new classroom favorites. Plus, Liz offers practical tips on choosing the perfect words and activities to keep your students engaged and learning all year long. Don't miss this episode packed with actionable strategies and heartwarming anecdotes. Tune in now and discover how to make vocabulary instruction the highlight of your ELA class. Let’s bring the magic of picture books to your students! For additional support and resources, check out  Vocabulicious Blog [https://vocabulicious.com/] Shop Vocabulicious [https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Vocabulicious] On IG @vocabulicious_liz [https://www.instagram.com/vocabulicious_liz/] More episodes on vocabulary: 25. Seven Tools for Powerful Vocabulary Instruction & How to Use Them [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/annotated-ela/id1683206095] 24. Liz Puma from Vocabulicious: How to Create a Word Conscious Community of Learners in Upper Grades [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/annotated-ela/id1683206095] 23. Four Tips for Creating a Rich Verbal Environment [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/annotated-ela/id1683206095] 22. The Problem with Teaching Context Clues and How to Fix It [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/annotated-ela/id1683206095] 21. Vocabulary Instruction: How to Help Students Make Meaning [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/annotated-ela/id1683206095] Follow along on Instagram @annotatedela [https://www.instagram.com/annotatedela/]

46. [Writing Feedback Series] Streamline Feedback: Three Strategies for ELA Teachers

Are you a secondary ELA teacher looking for ways to make your feedback process more efficient and effective?  In this episode of Annotated ELA, we explore three transformative strategies that will save you time and enhance your students' writing skills. First, discover how investing time upfront to develop a bank of commonly used feedback can pay off throughout the school year. Tips on leveraging your rubrics to generate meaningful feedback and how to organize these comments for quick and easy access will have you saving time. Next, the powerful technique of assigning colors to different writing components can help students visually organize their work, making it easier for them to identify missing elements and for you to provide quick, focused feedback. Finally, from simple checklists that students can use independently to more comprehensive versions that double as feedback sheets, we provide practical examples and tips to help you implement this writing checklists in your classroom. Join us for this insightful episode as we break down these three strategies and provide actionable steps to help you streamline your feedback process. Your students will benefit from clearer guidance, and you'll gain valuable time to focus on what matters most—teaching. Tune in now to learn how to: - Create a bank of commonly used feedback comments - Utilize color-coding to enhance student writing - Implement checklists to simplify the revision process Don't miss out on these game-changing techniques that will streamline the way you provide feedback in your ELA classroom! For additional support and resources, check out  Follow along on Instagram @annotatedela [https://www.instagram.com/annotatedela/] Episode 43. [Writing Feedback Series] Three Ways to Save Grading Time When You Get Laser Focused [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/annotated-ela/id1683206095] Episode 44. [Writing Feedback Series] Three Benefits of Assigning Group Essays [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/annotated-ela/id1683206095]

45. Transform the Way You Approach Writing Instruction with Melissa Morrison

Do you want your students to take control of their writing? Are you looking for strategies to improve your writing instruction? You won’t want to miss this episode where Melissa Morrison from Teaching to Transform LLC shares strategies and insight into how we can move your students from passive to active when it comes to writing.  Melissa Morrison brings her expertise on authentic writing instruction to the forefront, emphasizing the importance of understanding our writers rather than just focusing on their writing.  She shares why it is so important to know your students' current abilities,and when you don’t know their abilities it can either push students too hard or hold them back. By starting with a baseline and celebrating small victories, you can build a more supportive and effective writing environment.  Melissa Morrison also shares practical tips for tracking student progress in a manageable way, ensuring that each student's unique journey is acknowledged and fostered. Finally, she discusses the role of building a classroom community where students feel safe to take risks and share their writing. Melissa Morrison discusses strategies for shifting the focus from correcting mistakes to encouraging growth and self-reflection.  She highlights the importance of teachers modeling vulnerability and the impact of connecting writing to reading.  By the end of this episode, you'll be equipped with actionable insights and inspired to cultivate a classroom where every student feels like a writer. Don't miss out on this informative discussion that promises to transform your approach to teaching writing! Mentioned in this episode: Building Independent Writing Checklist [https://mailchi.mp/teaching-to-transform/euuo54vh7q] Follow Melissa @teachingtotransformllc [https://www.instagram.com/teachingtotransformllc/] Teaching to Transform [https://www.teaching-to-transform.com/] Listen to Getting Students to Write [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/getting-students-to-write-helping-teachers-transform/id1620013429]  Writefully Empowered by Jacob Chastain  [https://amzn.to/4eix94b] Carl Anderson Writing Books [https://amzn.to/4bUPKBY] More from Annotated ELA Follow @Annotatedela [https://www.instagram.com/annotatedela/]

44. [Writing Feedback Series] Three Benefits of Assigning Group Essays

Have you tried group essays?   We're unpacking the what and how of group essays and why you should give them a try. First up, group essays save us time. Fewer essays to grade means more time for you to enjoy that extra cup of coffee. But the benefits go beyond that. When students work together, they learn to peer edit and provide feedback. It's about creating a cohesive piece that sounds like one voice, pushing students to think critically and collaborate effectively. Plus, with the right upfront teaching and modeling, peer feedback can significantly improve the quality of their final submissions, reducing your workload even more. Finally, group essays foster collaborative learning and essential skill-building. As students combine their strengths and support each other's weaknesses, they develop vital interpersonal skills. This is not just about saving time on grading; it's about preparing students for real-world teamwork.  Then sit back and watch as they grow into confident writers and collaborators.  For additional support and resources, check out  Follow along on Instagram @annotatedela [https://www.instagram.com/annotatedela/] Episode 43. [Writing Feedback Series] Three Ways to Save Grading Time When You Get Laser Focused [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/annotated-ela/id1683206095]

43. [Writing Feedback Series] Three Ways to Save Grading Time When You Get Laser Focused

Welcome to the first episode in our summer series on writing feedback! This week, we're diving into three strategies that will change how you approach grading. Join Melissa as she explores how getting laser-focused can save you precious time while providing meaningful feedback to your students. From using single-point rubrics to breaking writing assignments into manageable chunks, these methods will streamline your grading process and enhance student learning. In this episode, Melissa unpacks the benefits of single-point rubrics, a game-changer for both teachers and students. Learn how focusing on specific skills or standards can reduce overwhelm and provide targeted, actionable feedback. Melissa shares practical examples and tips on how to implement these rubrics effectively, ensuring your students know exactly what they need to work on and why. The conversation continues with a discussion on chunking writing assignments and the power of writing conferences. Discover how breaking assignments into smaller parts and providing feedback in real-time can significantly improve student outcomes. Melissa also highlights the importance of writing conferences, offering insights on how to make them efficient and impactful. Tune in for a wealth of strategies to transform your feedback process and elevate your students' writing skills.  For additional support and resources, check out  Follow along on Instagram @annotatedela [https://www.instagram.com/annotatedela/]