Teaching Stories

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, cultural pride, and authentic connection in the classroom. Listen as she discusses practical strategies like leveraging Google Translate, building trust through personal stories, and helping one fourth-grader skyrocket from a level one to a level four—the highest growth in the entire school.

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 writing prompts. They discuss their "madman, architect, carpenter, judge" writing process that helps students overcome the fear of the blank page and embrace creativity without self-doubt. From power writing challenges that build fluency to collaborative projects that turn classrooms into active learning environments, John and Lauren reveal practical strategies that any teacher can implement immediately.

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 writing prompts. They discuss their "madman, architect, carpenter, judge" writing process that helps students overcome the fear of the blank page and embrace creativity without self-doubt. From power writing challenges that build fluency to collaborative projects that turn classrooms into active learning environments, John and Lauren reveal practical strategies that any teacher can implement immediately.

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 heartfelt poems. Learn why she believes quick writes move students from surface-level thinking ("there's a man standing outside") to rich, imaginative storytelling with real voice and humor.

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 curiosity into compelling writing topics, and creating classroom environments where authentic engagement thrives. Whether you're struggling to motivate reluctant writers or looking to deepen connections with your students, Amber's insights will help you harness the power of student interests to drive meaningful learning.

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 insights to help your students feel truly seen, heard, and ready to shine.