Best Melissa Burch Podcasts (2024)

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47. Kickstart Vocabulary Instruction with Liz from Vocabulicious 32:12

3d ago32:12

32:12

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 powerf…

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46. [Writing Feedback Series] Streamline Feedback: Three Strategies for ELA Teachers 8:45

22d ago8:45

8:45

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 of…

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45. Transform the Way You Approach Writing Instruction with Melissa Morrison 33:05

24d ago33:05

33:05

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 b…

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44. [Writing Feedback Series] Three Benefits of Assigning Group Essays 7:14

29d ago7:14

7:14

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…

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43. [Writing Feedback Series] Three Ways to Save Grading Time When You Get Laser Focused 11:18

1M ago11:18

11:18

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 as…

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42. How to Grade Writer's Notebooks to Make it Meaningful 12:20

1M ago12:20

12:20

In this episode of Annotated ELA, Melissa tackles the often daunting task of how to grade writer's notebooks. For secondary ELA teachers who regularly integrate writing into their classrooms, assessing these notebooks can seem overwhelming. Melissa shares her approach to making this process not only manageable but also rewarding for both teachers a…

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41. Literary Analysis: A Writing Process that Works with Becca from The Teacher Rewrite 33:31

2M ago33:31

33:31

In this episode, we are discussing teaching literary analysis to middle and high school students with expert educator Becca Rice from The Teacher Rewrite. She shares her tried-and-true strategies for breaking down the complex process of literary analysis, making it accessible and engaging for students. Becca discusses the importance of starting wit…

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40. Four Reasons Why Novels in Verse are Perfect for All Reading Levels 9:15

4M ago9:15

9:15

Looking to explore novels in verse for middle grades with you students during poetry month, or any time of the year? Novels in verse provide an opportunity for reluctant readers to find books they love and more advanced readers can explore new genres. Let’s get started and dive into novels in verse for middle grades because they are perfect for all…

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39. Five Dynamic Poetry Month Activities to Engage Middle Schoolers 10:52

4M ago10:52

10:52

Poetry Month is April and I've curated a list of Poetry Month activities designed to deepen your students' appreciation for poetry while making it an engaging and accessible experience in the classroom. From poem a day and poetry explore boards to poetry analysis stations and illustrate a poem; having poetry month activities up your sleeve will eng…

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38. How to Set-Up Writer’s Notebooks for Success 12:25

5M ago12:25

12:25

Does setting up writer’s notebooks with your students have you stumped? Have you tried all the ways and still feel like nothing works? Let’s talk about intentionally setting up writer’s notebooks so it will work for you and your students. Choosing the ‘right’ notebook The seven key considerations will get you thinking about all aspects of the noteb…

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37. Are Novels the Secret Sauce for Helping Students Craft Captivating Hooks? 10:36

5M ago10:36

10:36

We are visiting the world of narrative hook writing – a skill that goes beyond just “hooking” readers; it's about transforming students into skilled communicators and creative thinkers. Why teach narrative hook writing? It's not just a standard; it's the key to engaging the reader and becoming an effective writer. A well-crafted hook not only captu…

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36. Writer's Notebooks: 7 Powerful Decisions for Success 14:57

6M ago14:57

14:57

In this episode, we uncover Writer's Notebooks: 7 Powerful Decisions for Success. These considerations are meant to create a useful writer’s notebook that will be used to improve student writing and engage them in the writing process. 1. Choosing a Notebook - from composition to digital options, the first decision encompasses selecting a suitable n…

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35. Five Simple Activities for Teaching Students to Write Narrative Hooks 14:25

6M ago14:25

14:25

In this episode, we explore teaching students to write narrative hooks. Crafting narrative hooks can be fun and a chance for students to get creative, but it often comes with its challenges—some students grasp it effortlessly, while others need more guidance and support. I've experimented with various techniques over the years and honed in on a set…

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34. Three Strategies to Engage Students and Provide Choice 10:43

7M ago10:43

10:43

Looking for ways to engage students in productive ways? This week’s episode has you covered! Join Melissa as we explore three strategies to keep students engaged that will work for just about any assignment. Discover ways to use Explore Boards, Escape Rooms, and Choice Boards to give students more choices. Explore Boards are visual displays or inte…

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33. How to Integrate Personal and Professional Life by Setting Boundaries 13:20

7M ago13:20

13:20

All the talk about self-care went in one ear and out the other, for many years I was on auto-pilot when it came to thinking about myself. I spent all the free time I had thinking about school and working on school. Then I had children and discovered that I had no balance in my life. Let’s be honest, there is no balance. There are always times when …

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32. Creating a Teacher Community: Three Teacher Authors to Add to Your Community 10:12

8M ago10:12

10:12

As teachers we love to share. Share our knowledge, share our resources, share our best tips, share germs because it’s easier to go to work sick than write sub plans. What’s even better than sharing, having colleagues who make you better and this week’s episode is all about the teachers I love to follow because they inspire me…and we share all our b…

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The Unepisode: My Three Favorite Episodes 3:36

8M ago3:36

3:36

It's Thanksgiving week! Time to rest, spend time with those who are important to us, and enjoy our favorite family recipes. This week's episode shares how grateful I am that you show up every week, and in the spirit of resting and slowing down, take a listen and take a look back at three of my favorite episodes. Episode 11: Tips for Using Picture B…

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31. Find Your Next Favorite Read: Ten Middle Grade Books to Captivate Any Reader 14:20

8M ago14:20

14:20

Melissa is exploring a treasure trove of captivating reads perfect for middle-grade book suggestions. In this episode, we're delving into a curated selection of compelling novels that not only captivate our own reading time but also serve as fantastic recommendations for our students. Join her as she explores a variety of genres, from mysteries and…

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30. Twelve of My Favorite Podcasts: From Classroom to Downtime 10:31

8M ago10:31

10:31

Welcome to another episode in the "My Favorite Things Series," tailored for all you dedicated middle school ELA teachers out there! If you're on the hunt for podcasts that can both enrich your professional life and add a touch of fun to your personal time, you're in the right place. As a fellow teacher, I'm excited to share some fantastic podcast r…

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29. Seven More of My Favorite ELA Teacher Books 8:39

9M ago8:39

8:39

If you're as passionate about reading and teaching as I am, you won't want to miss this podcast. Join me as we explore seven incredible professional development books to elevate your middle school ELA classroom. In this episode, we'll discuss gems like Notebook Know-How by Aimee Buckner, a fantastic guide to setting up and maintaining writer's note…

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28. Middle School Argument Writing: Stop Doing This One Thing and Do This Instead 9:19

9M ago9:19

9:19

Have you ever made the mistake of jumping straight into writing with your students without proper preparation? In this episode we explore effective strategies to prepare middle school students for argument writing. In this episode, we'll dive into a series of activities designed to lay a strong foundation and help students find their voice as write…

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27. Tracing and Evaluating Arguments Using the Podcast: Smash, Boom, Best 9:09

9M ago9:09

9:09

Do your students struggle to trace and evaluate an argument? You and your students will love this fun and engaging solution. Students will become proficient at tracing and evaluating arguments and identifying and analyzing claims, reasons, and evidence using the podcast Smash, Boom Best. Smash, Boom, Best is a funny, smart debate show for kids. Eve…

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26. Five Spooky Stories for Teaching Literary Analysis in Middle School 12:43

9M ago12:43

12:43

It’s the time of year when I want to watch Gilmore Girls and gear up for all the cheesy Hallmark movies, all while I’m planning our children’s Halloween costumes and one of my favorite units. And one of my favorite units is spooky stories for literary analysis. Spooky stories are always a hit in the middle school classroom and I love using them to …

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25. Seven Tools for Powerful Vocabulary Instruction & How to Use Them 17:14

10M ago17:14

17:14

Are you looking for vocabulary tools? Are you feeling stuck when it comes to vocabulary instruction? Maybe you’re a vocabulary rockstar and you’re looking for something different to engage students. Whatever your vocabulary status, these vocabulary tools are a great addition to your literacy toolbox. Seven Vocabulary Tools Word Walls Concept Circle…

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24. Liz Puma from Vocabulicious: How to Create a Word Conscious Community of Learners in Upper Grades 26:16

10M ago26:16

26:16

It’s a fantastic guest episode today! Join us as we talk all things Vocabulary with Liz Puma from Vocabulicious. She is the “Vocabulary Queen!” Liz began her career as a 4th and 5th grade teacher in Vermont. After seven years in the classroom, she transitioned to Educational Technology. She was first a Professional Development Trainer, then an Inst…

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23. Four Tips for Creating a Rich Verbal Environment 10:49

10M ago10:49

10:49

Finding time to teach vocabulary can feel impossible, but it doesn’t have to be. Let’s explore four tips for creating a rich verbal environment that will fit into your daily classroom routine. Because not everything has to be perfectly planned and curated. Sharing an interest in words with students can spark a new level of motivation and learning i…

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22. The Problem with Teaching Context Clues and How to Fix It 10:46

10M ago10:46

10:46

I don’t know about you, but the number of times I have been told to have students use context clues would make me a millionaire, and the number of times I have used the phrase myself would double that fortune. The problem was that my students didn’t know how to use context clues, and I didn’t know how to help them! Can you relate? Join me to explor…

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21. Vocabulary Instruction: How to Help Students Make Meaning 16:45

11M ago16:45

16:45

Vocabulary acquisition strategies go beyond providing a list of words and defining them. As teachers, we want students to have word ownership. We want students to be word wizards because a verbal rich environment opens the doors to comprehension and critical thinking. How do we encourage word ownership and develop an environment where students use …

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20. How to Narrow a Topic: 7 Strategies for Middle School 12:31

11M ago12:31

12:31

Asking a student to narrow a topic is like asking them to explain quantum physics. Fortunately, there are simple strategies you can use to quickly identify and focus on relevant ideas and topics. Having students consider their topic on a smaller scale helps them realize what tier focus is and stay on that narrow topic while they write. How to Narro…

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19. Why Writing is So Important - 3 Reasons for Middle School 11:44

11M ago11:44

11:44

“Is writing important?” A common question at the beginning of the year in my classroom. Many students dread writing and don’t understand why writing is so important. So I spend the first weeks of school (and the entire year) showing students why writing is so important. As ELA teachers, we have the task of guiding students through the writing proce…

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18. Seven of My Favorite Professional Development Books for ELA Teachers 11:37

11M ago11:37

11:37

A list of professional development books for ELA teachers might seem like the last thing you want to think about it…as if teachers don’t sit through enough professional development. Am I right? BUT this list of professional development books are worth the read. These books have provided more practical tips and strategies than years of professional …

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17. Essential Questions: A Tool for Novel Units 8:24

11M ago8:24

8:24

Essential questions encourage inquiry, spark more questions, invite the exploration of ideas, and encourage collaboration, allowing students to draw their own conclusions about the subject. This is one of the most powerful tools at a teacher’s disposal. With our students' apathy and lack of motivation, choice, and curiosity are a teacher’s ally. Es…

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16. Novel Unit Planning: A How to Guide for Success 15:06

12M ago15:06

15:06

The best part of novel unit planning is having a plan for the next three to four weeks. It feels liberating to have a unit planned and lessons ready to go. It’s also fun to get students excited about a topic and a story, it’s the start of something new and it’s exciting. Except when it isn’t, novel units can also feel overwhelming. Trying to fit al…

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15. Six Back to School Activities for a Successful First Week 9:47

12M ago9:47

9:47

Back to school can be exciting and stressful, so having back to school activities planned will reduce anxiety. That first week is about building relationships and getting to know each other before diving into the learning. I find the first week of school to be a quick transition from strangers to a community, and I want to squeeze an introduction t…

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Keith Rand of Mill Creek Residential | The Future of Housing In America 49:08

12M ago49:08

49:08

What does the housing crisis actually entail? To wrap up Season 3 of American Building, I’m joined by Keith Rand, Vice President at Mill Creek Residential, to discuss the main housing production issues Americans face today and different solutions to address them. We look at limitations with local and state government policy and unpack the proposed …

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Matt Giammanco of AvalonBay Communities | Thanet Circle in Princeton | Suburbia Part II 50:24

12M ago50:24

50:24

Garden-style apartments offer residents the best of both worlds: green space and lower density living without the upkeep and price tag of a single-family home. In this episode, I trace back to the origins of garden-style apartments and highlight who lives in them now. I also revisit a conversation with developer Matt Giammanco of AvalonBay Communit…

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14. How to Be a Successful Instructional Coach and Build a Partnership Approach 28:54

12M ago28:54

28:54

Alissa Crabtree from Crabtree Coaching Collaborative joins us on Annotated ELA. Alissa is an instructional coach who helps teachers and instructional leaders reach their full potential and conquer their goals. She specializes in helping coaches build relationships and provide feedback that sticks. Alissa focuses on building relationships and being …

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Arthi Krishnamoorthy of TenBerke | The Princeton Residential Colleges in Princeton | Dormitories, Then and Now 38:38

1y ago38:38

38:38

Dorm life is a quintessential part of the American university experience, but that wasn’t always the case. In this episode, I outline the history of dormitories and share an edited version of my conversation with Arthi Krishnamoorthy, Senior Principal at TenBerke, to discuss the firm’s residential college project on the Princeton campus. After thre…

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13. Five Things to do in July to Make Back to School a Breeze 11:36

1y ago11:36

11:36

Are you ready for it? We are entering the back-to-school zone. Does back-to-school time fill you with joy or dread? Maybe you have both, wherever you fall on the back-to-school emotion scale; these 5 things will eliminate some of that dread. Remember, if you are not ready to plan for back to school or you are choosing only to work contract hours, y…

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Peter Brosens of Stolar Capital Building | Chatham on Main in Chatham | What is Workforce Housing 41:41

1y ago41:41

41:41

Between the global financial crisis, tanking housing production, and rapid inflation, housing affordability for middle income workers has become increasingly out-of-reach. Workforce housing, a type of unregulated affordable housing, addresses the limitations that professionals like teachers, healthcare providers, and retail clerks are facing when i…

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12. Ten Simple Activities to Engage the Struggling Writer 18:11

1y ago18:11

18:11

Writing is hard work, and not all students love writing. In reality, plenty of students do not like writing - so what do we do with a struggling writer? As teachers, we want to find strategies for our struggling writers to engage them in writing, create writing independence, and increase stamina and volume of writing, but where do we even begin? Fi…

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11. Tips for Using Picture Books to Teach Middle School ELA 14:02

1y ago14:02

14:02

Have you been skeptical about using picture books in your classroom? Or are you already using picture books and want new ideas? If either of these sound like you, I’m glad you’re here! Picture books are usually associated with elementary education, but picture books are a hidden gem for engaging and inspiring middle school students. Far beyond thei…

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Andrew Regenstreich, Formerly of Housing and Neighborhood Development Services | Gateway Project in Orange | Nonprofits and Housing 47:50

1y ago47:50

47:50

You can’t have a conversation about affordable housing without acknowledging the impact of rent regulation. Also known as rent control, rent stabilization or rent limits, these coveted units offer occupants a sense of stability by guaranteeing their monthly rent payment won’t skyrocket year after year. So, why is regulated affordable housing so har…

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10. Using Chat GPT as an Innovative Approach to Narrative Writing Instruction 11:43

1y ago11:43

11:43

Are you avoiding and ignoring Chat GPT or any AI Writer, like I was? Maybe you’re using it for your classroom needs, and you’re loving it. In this episode, I decided to put Chat GPT to the test and asked it to suggest ways to use Chat GPT with students for narrative writing. I was pleasantly surprised with Chat GPT’s answer and wanted to share it w…

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Kirk Mitchell of AKT Designs | North Woodland Street in Englewood | Beyond McMansions 36:39

1y ago36:39

36:39

As the old adage goes, a man's home is his castle. That doesn't mean that every home is a castle or a mansion, but in this day and age, it could very well be a McMansion. In this episode, I explore the history of mansions and how the style has been interpreted by millions of suburban homeowners. I also revisit a conversation I had with Kirk Mitchel…

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9. Narrative Writing Process: A Guide for Effective Classroom Instruction 10:27

1y ago10:27

10:27

In episode 7 and 8 we explored the first six steps in a narrative writing unit. In this episode we will explore steps seven through nine in a narrative writing unit. If you have not listened to episodes seven and eight, start there before listening to this episode. The final three steps are the meat of the writing process. Students will write first…

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Johanna Anderson of Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services | Founders Way in Ithaca | Changing Needs, Changing Housing 43:27

1y ago43:27

43:27

The racially-charged NIMBY, or ‘not in my backyard’, phenomenon is at the core of zoning laws, particularly in the greater New York City area. In this episode, I take us back to the early 1900s to look at the nation’s first zoning resolution and examine how it continues to affect communities today. I also revisit a conversation with developer Johan…

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8. How to Teach Narrative Writing for Powerful Classroom Instruction 8:25

1y ago8:25

8:25

How to Teach Narrative Writing for Powerful Classroom Instruction is a continuation of episode 7. In episode 7, we explored the first three steps in a narrative writing unit. In this episode, we will explore steps four through six in a narrative writing unit. If you have not listened to episode seven, take a listen before listening to this episode.…

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Jenny Peysin of Jenny Peysin Architecture | Wilderness Drive in East Jewett | Finding Refuge in Vacation Homes 34:25

1y ago34:25

34:25

Whether it’s called a shore house, weekend home or cottage, the concept remains the same: escape from the city. The cultural phenomenon of staying at a non-primary residence during the summer is especially pervasive in New York City. In this episode, I look into the history of vacation homes in the tri-state area and how the current work-from-home …

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7. Narrative Writing: A Step-by-Step Guide for Success in Middle School 8:49

1y ago8:49

8:49

Teaching narrative writing in middle school is a remarkable opportunity to nurture young minds, encouraging them to weave words into captivating tales and find their unique voice in the process. By introducing them to the art of storytelling, we empower them to become skilled communicators, critical thinkers, and empathetic individuals. This episod…

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Melissa Burch Podcasts

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