Best Two Teachers Podcasts (2024)

1
Tackling Tricky Topics: A Digging Deeper Dialogue 37:20

5h ago37:20

37:20

We delve into the challenging subjects that often arise in elementary school writing workshops, ranging from bodily functions and violence to mental health issues. We explore the non-negotiable aspects of topic choice and discuss establishing clear boundaries in the classroom, emphasizing the importance of creating a safe space for young writers. T…

1
178. Old Hands - Part 1 1:05:50

16m ago1:05:50

1:05:50

The two old farts are in their rocking chairs on the front porch, watching the sun go down. Pull up a chair while they talk about the lessons they’ve learned and the wisdom they have accumulated over the years…and all the ways they’ve screwed up. They go so deep, it will be a two-parter. Full notes can be found here: Two Teachers Talking: twoteache…

1
Sentence Structure for Young Writers: A Tip for Tomorrow from Melanie 7:26

11h ago7:26

7:26

Writing complete sentences is tricky for most elementary school students. This week's Tip for Tomorrow provides concrete ways to make sentence construction sticky for students. From a visible, tactile teaching method to progressions of examples, Melanie shares various strategies to help kids gain a more concrete understanding of sentence structure …

1
Prepping for Fall Conferences: A Conversation with a Colleague 36:14

8d ago36:14

36:14

Leah Thomas, a co-author of the Two Writing Teachers Blog, chats with Melanie to reflect on her recent experiences with parent-teacher conferences, discussing the challenges and rewards of connecting with families. She shares effective note-taking strategies, what assessments to present, and the impact of showcasing student writing samples. Leah al…

1
Energizing Editing: A Tip for Tomorrow from Melanie 7:21

23d ago7:21

7:21

In this podcast episode, Melanie will share creative strategies to make the editing process engaging for students. Discover how to infuse fun into editing by using gamification techniques and various tools. You will also learn how to integrate editing into the drafting process and support students with scaffolds, checklists, and reminders to streng…

1
Refine Your Writing Conferences: A Digging Deeper Dialogue 35:56

30d ago35:56

35:56

Discover the art of building meaningful writer-to-writer relationships and managing time effectively in brief, impactful sessions. The discussion delves into the importance of individualized focus, highlighting how concentrating on a single aspect of writing per conference can lead to more manageable and absorbing lessons for students. Additionally…

1
Five Tangible Tools to Transform Writers: A Tip for Tomorrow from Stacey 8:22

28d ago8:22

8:22

In our 100th episode, Stacey explores the power of tangible artifacts in writing conferences. She discusses five essential tools to enhance the writer-to-writer relationship: mentor texts, demonstration texts, mini-charts, personalized word walls, and individualized checklists. Learn how to introduce and utilize these artifacts to support student w…

1
177. Smartphones in the classroom 1:10:29

1M ago1:10:29

1:10:29

This month we wrestle with the smartphone controversy. What are the issues? What are the upsides? What is the most sensible way of dealing with this bit of tech in your classroom? Plus, a big announcement. Full notes can be found here: Two Teachers Talking: twoteacherstalking.comBy Tony Silva and Charles Wiz

1
Energizing a Writing Unit: A Tip for Tomorrow from Melanie 9:34

1M ago9:34

9:34

Melanie shares four ways to reenergize student writers whose enthusiasm and stamina dwindle during more extended writing units. Her ideas are sure to reinvigorate students in engaging and meaningful ways. Go Deeper: Keeping the Energy In a Unit of Study Writing as a Gift Thanks to our sponsors! Book Creator: Listeners can get 3 months free premium …

1
Help K-8 Students with Executive Functioning Needs: A Conversation with a Colleague 37:32

2M ago37:32

37:32

This episode features Betsy Hubbard, an experienced educator and co-author at Two Writing Teachers. The discussion explores the critical role of executive functioning skills in writing and how deficits in these areas can impact students' performance. Betsy shares practical strategies for teachers to support executive functioning in writing workshop…

1
The Power of Oral Language: A Tip for Tomorrow from Melanie 8:45

2M ago8:45

8:45

In this week's episode, Melanie shares six innovative strategies for using verbal rehearsal to empower young writers. She discusses techniques such as purposeful storytelling, visual cue cards, and fostering student collaborative partnerships. Enhancing oral language skills aims to strengthen writing abilities, demonstrating the powerful connection…

1
Build Writing Confidence with the "Ready, Do, Done" Model: A Tip for Tomorrow from Stacey 7:33

2M ago7:33

7:33

In this episode, Stacey explores the "Ready, Do, Done" model by Sarah Ward and Kristen Jacobsen to help students with executive functioning challenges become confident writers. She discusses the importance of setting clear intentions and gathering necessary materials ("Ready"), breaking down tasks and using visual aids ("Do"), and celebrating accom…

1
Get to Know Writers: A Digging Deeper Dialogue 44:22

2M ago44:22

44:22

This episode delves into the importance of understanding students as writers and its benefits to educators and learners. We explore how this knowledge fosters a stronger classroom community and informs more tailored instruction. Tried-and-true methods such as kid-watching, utilizing writer's notebooks, and conducting effective one-on-one conference…

1
176. Listener Questions 1:06:55

2M ago1:06:55

1:06:55

We open the mailbag and field questions from listeners. Be sure to listen through to the end for the big reveal. Apologies for the audio not meeting our usual standards. 猿も木から落ちる! Full notes can be found here: Two Teachers Talking: twoteacherstalking.comBy Tony Silva and Charles Wiz

1
175. Digital Surveillance 1:05:30

3M ago1:05:30

1:05:30

Digital Surveillance: Who’s watching you and your students? We discuss some of the ways we are tracked daily, by both human and non-human agents. 👀 Better read those Terms of Service agreements. Full notes can be found here: Two Teachers Talking: twoteacherstalking.comBy Tony Silva and Charles Wiz

1
174. Graduation. Now what? 58:57

4M ago58:57

58:57

Charles again talks with his daughter, this time about university graduation, future plans, how it feels to set out on a new phase in life, and some of the things learned while studying to become a teacher. Full notes can be found here: Two Teachers Talking: twoteacherstalking.comBy Tony Silva and Charles Wiz

1
Exploring Best Practices and Research in Writing Instruction: A Digging Deeper Dialogue 39:02

5M ago39:02

39:02

It's the final episode of season two, so we're discussing some of the best practices for writing instruction. We cover the importance of a thriving writing community and the writing process, and we explore the role of oral language in boosting writing stamina. We also discuss the importance of dedicated and intentional writing time, the reciprocity…

1
173. Professional Suicide Intervention 1:23:54

5M ago1:23:54

1:23:54

As a non-Japanese English teacher in Japan, there are a million ways to shoot oneself in the foot…or worse. We look at some of the pitfalls that lie in wait when dealing with administration, staff, colleagues, and students. Full notes can be found here: Two Teachers Talking: twoteacherstalking.comBy Tony Silva and Charles Wiz

1
Plan Your Summer Learning: A Tip for Tomorrow from Melanie 8:14

6M ago8:14

8:14

Melanie explores critical strategies to help you plan for your summer learning. Discover practical tips for organizing your classroom, finding or forming a study group, curating mentor texts, and engaging in personal writing. You'll leave this episode invigorated to try one or more ways to enhance your teaching skills for the upcoming academic year…

1
Co-create Writing Goals: A Tip for Tomorrow from Stacey 6:09

6M ago6:09

6:09

Stacey explores the importance of co-creating goals with students to help them grow as writers. She discusses how collaboration during goal-setting enhances students' ownership, motivation, and personalized learning. It also allows for individualized growth and fosters collaboration and communication with the teacher. If you haven't tried co-creati…

1
Developing Paragraph Structure: A Tip For Tomorrow from Melanie 9:21

6M ago9:21

9:21

In this episode, Melanie guides you through the art of crafting concise and well-structured paragraphs that are easy to follow and understand. With her expert tips on oral rehearsal and the use of sentence frames, she empowers young writers to hone their writing skills and develop a unique voice. Tune in to learn how to help students move from writ…

1
Unlock Strategies for Task Initiation: A Tip for Tomorrow from Stacey 12:48

6M ago12:48

12:48

Task initiation is one key to student success, particularly in the context of writing instruction. The episode highlights some students' challenges with executive functioning skills and how they struggle to begin tasks efficiently. The host provides nine effective strategies to help students overcome task initiation challenges, such as normalizing …

1
172. Reboot! 1:11:11

6M ago1:11:11

1:11:11

It’s week three, and the course you so painstakingly crafted over the break is, well, tanking. We talk about what you can do to reboot. Never give up. Full notes can be found here: Two Teachers Talking: twoteacherstalking.comBy Tony Silva and Charles Wiz

1
Addressing Perfectionism in Writing Instruction: A Conversation with a Colleague 43:59

7M ago43:59

43:59

In today’s Conversation with a Colleague, Stacey chats with Lainie Levin, a gifted interventionist and coach, about helping learners conquer perfectionism. Lainie unveils the manifestations of perfectionism in students, particularly during writing instruction, highlighting key signs to watch for. She shares an innovative work quality continuum she …

1
Building Awareness of Sentence Structure: A Tip for Tomorrow from Melanie 7:21

7M ago7:21

7:21

Make sentence structure more straightforward for students with Melanie's intentional activities in this episode. Melanie shares ways she helps students understand the definition of sentences, create sentences with phrases and pictures, and combine sentences. You'll help students recognize and create simple and increasingly complex sentences with Me…

1
Capture Students' Progress with End-of-Year Letters: A Tip for Tomorrow from Stacey 10:14

7M ago10:14

10:14

Explore the origin and significance of end-of-year reflection letters in this week’s episode. Stacey highlights the unique nature of these letters, which go beyond self-evaluations of academics and instead focus on students reflecting on their growth as learners and individuals. Practical guidelines for structuring the letters are shared, emphasizi…

1
Explore the Potential of Student-Facing AI Tools: A Digging Deeper Dialogue 40:56

7M ago40:56

40:56

We explore the vast potential of student-facing AI tools. Join us as we delve into the benefits of tools like Co:Writer Universal, EverWrite, Grammarly, Read&Write, and Speechify. Discover how these cutting-edge tools revolutionize students' learning, writing, and communication and empower students to reach new heights of academic excellence. Check…

1
171. Welcome to retirement 1:02:44

7M ago1:02:44

1:02:44

We talk a little about last month’s podcast, and then it’s WELCOME TO RETIREMENT for Charles. Sayonara lectures, student workshops, expectations, predictions, adjustments - it’s a packed episode, even without an April Fool joke. Full notes can be found here: Two Teachers Talking: twoteacherstalking.com…

1
Bring Checklists to Life: A Tip for Tomorrow from Melanie 8:22

8M ago8:22

8:22

It is helpful to create checklists that are accessible to students so they are manageable, digestible, and possible for students to utilize. In this tip, Melanie shares ways to help students chunk checklists, think with intention, and digitize checklists. In addition, she plants the seeds to help you think about ways to help students self-create ch…

1
Boost Writing Instruction with AI: A Digging Deeper Dialogue 38:31

8M ago38:31

38:31

In this episode, we talk about content creation, personalized learning, accessibility, efficiency & productivity with artificial intelligence. We share various teacher-facing AI tools and discuss how you can incorporate them into your writing instruction. Go Deeper: Leveraging AI for Writing Miniseries on Two Writing Teachers Los Angeles Unified Sc…

1
Create Personal and Living Poetry Anthologies: A Tip for Tomorrow from Stacey 8:04

8M ago8:04

8:04

Learn about two engaging ideas for National Poetry Month, which begins on April 1. Stacey shares a bit about creating a collaborative "Living Poetry Anthology" where students curate poems to display throughout the school. Next, she discusses developing personal poetry collections featuring their work, inspirational poems, and reflections on poems t…

1
Sentence Frames and Vocabulary Words: A Tip for Tomorrow from Melanie 6:25

8M ago6:25

6:25

There's a lot of brain work involved in written expression. This week, Melanie shares a tip to help students reduce their cognitive load, which will help them express their ideas more easily. In this tip, Melanie shares how providing students with sentence frames and a bank of vocabulary words can aid students with difficulty with word retrieval. P…

1
Accommodations for Access to Writing Instruction: A Digging Deeper Dialogue 54:21

8M ago54:21

54:21

In this episode, we explore accommodations for student writers. The episode has five categories: organization, materials/tools, time, response, and seating. This episode will equip you with ways to create an inclusive, accessible learning environment. PAST TWT BLOG POSTS Exploring Voice Typing Finding Accessible Fonts for Classroom Use Flexible Sea…

1
170. Japan vs. Mexico 1:08:11

8M ago1:08:11

1:08:11

Japan vs. Mexico. No, not the flop sport where players can’t use their hands. We talk with Prof. Alison Kitzman, now at Arkansas State University, Querétaro, about the differences and similarities in teaching English to students in Japan and in Mexico. There are surprises. And dogs. ASU - Queretaro https://astate.edu.mx/ Kindai University https://e…

1
Navigate a Digital World by Seeing, Hearing, and Reading: A Tip for Tomorrow from Stacey 6:22

9M ago6:22

6:22

Stacey explores the power of pairing written explanations with oral directions to enhance understanding in the context of writing workshop. She provides an overview of Driveway, a Chrome Extension that allows educators to create step-by-step process guides with written descriptions, highlighted screenshots, and optional voiceovers. Learn how to cre…

1
Digital Texts as Mentors: A Tip for Tomorrow from Melanie 6:34

9M ago6:34

6:34

In this Tip for Tomorrow, Melanie provides three ways to use digital mentor texts. She provides insight on using videos as part of your whole-class instruction, inquiry lessons, and as a goal-setting tool. Take advantage of this episode if you need more ways to integrate digital mentor texts into your writing instruction. Read Leah Koch's Two Writi…

1
Exploring the Power of Oral Language: A Conversation with a Colleague 40:02

9M ago40:02

40:02

Discover the untapped potential of oral language in the writing process and gain valuable insights from Lainie Levin, one of our TWTBlog co-authors. Lainie and Stacey discuss the importance of oral language beyond the primary years of elementary school and how storytelling and oral language support kids in developing a sense of story and composing …

1
Research and Writing Instruction: A Tip for Tomorrow from Melanie 8:07

9M ago8:07

8:07

Research can be instrumental in supporting instructional decision-making for teachers. In this Tip for Tomorrow, Melanie gives an overview of some of the most critical research surrounding writing instruction. She will cover what the research says about: Teaching kids about different aspects of the writing process. Studying strong examples of writi…

1
169. Cheating 1:11:09

9M ago1:11:09

1:11:09

A discussion on traditional and new forms of cheating, motivations for cheating, how to deal with cheating (with or without institutional support), and a perhaps overly optimistic hope of prevention. Bonus links: - All the Times Students Thought They Got Away With Cheating but Were Very, Very Wrong https://www.weareteachers.com/bad-cheating-stories…

1
Propel Writers Forward With Reflection Shares: A Tip for Tomorrow from Stacey 5:25

10M ago5:25

5:25

Join Stacey as she delves into the power of reflection shares to promote growth and development in student writing. She discusses how whole-group reflection allows students to share insights, experiences, and strategies, and fosters a sense of community and accountability. She emphasizes the importance of students feeling valued and included in the…

1
Developing as a Writer in the Slice of Life Community: A Digging Deeper Dialogue 33:22

10M ago33:22

33:22

We explore the profound benefits of participating in the month-long writing challenge. Listeners will discover the power of making connections and gaining a true understanding of being a writer while cultivating a writing practice. The episode briefly overviews the Slice of Life Story Challenge's origins and purpose, pointing listeners to last year…

1
A Quick Game for Convention Practice: A Tip for Tomorrow from Melanie 7:00

10M ago7:00

7:00

Bring the power of play into your writing instruction. Melanie explains how to teach kids to play PROVE IT in an effort for them to show evidence of the skills you're teaching in their writing. Check out these posts on TWTBlog for more ideas: Ways to Teach Conventions: Our Favorite Things When Conventions Aren't Sticking–Some Tips and Tricks ***** …

1
Energizing Writing Lives: A Digging Deeper Dialogue 35:20

10M ago35:20

35:20

Let's explore ways to energize your writing workshop! In this episode, we discuss strategies for revving up individual minilessons and units of study by opening up options, changing perspectives, bringing in magic, promoting collaboration, and creating authentic purposes for students to think about their audience. Resources mentioned in the episode…

1
168. Looking back…way back 1:07:39

10M ago1:07:39

1:07:39

Instead of a look back at 2023, we examine how teaching English in Japan has changed since we stepped off a plane and into a classroom many years ago–and what hasn’t. Happy New Year! 明けましておめでとうございます！ Full notes can be found here: Two Teachers Talking: twoteacherstalking.comBy Tony Silva and Charles Wiz

1
Refresh and Renew with Choices for Every Writer: A Tip for Tomorrow from Stacey 9:19

11M ago9:19

9:19

In the final episode of 2023, Stacey discusses the importance of shedding anything that isn't serving us and applies this idea to the classroom, specifically focusing on providing students with a diversity of writing supplies. She offers three suggestions for obtaining different types of notebooks at a lower cost or for free. Stacey also emphasizes…

1
The Beauty of Nonfiction Writing: A Digging Deeper Dialogue 29:16

11M ago29:16

29:16

Let's explore the importance of information writing and address common problems writers face in this genre. The episode delves into the need for explicit instruction in note-taking, emphasizing the purpose of notes as a tool for critical thinking rather than mere proof or text transfer. It also offers various approaches to enhance information writi…

1
Infusing Stories Into Essays: A Tip for Tomorrow from Stacey 6:46

11M ago6:46

6:46

This Tip for Tomorrow explores the art of essay writing beyond the traditional structure and formula. Stacey delves into "writing to think" and how students can infuse microstories into their essays to enhance their ideas. From choosing relevant stories to crafting concise microstories, she provides practical guidance on engaging the reader and con…

1
167. Three for one 1:04:36

11M ago1:04:36

1:04:36

In a pre-holiday frenzy, we tackle three not-so-mini-topics: - Syllabus preparation- Grading preparation- About that winter break Happy holidays, everyone! Full notes and past episodes can be found here: Two Teachers Talking: twoteacherstalking.comBy Tony Silva and Charles Wiz

1
Maximizing Writing Time: A Digging Deeper Dialogue 34:22

12M ago34:22

34:22

In this episode, we address the challenge of finding enough time to teach writing workshop daily in elementary school. We discuss the importance of writing instruction for students' literacy development and provide practical strategies for teachers to maximize their writing instruction time. This episode covers topics such as establishing efficient…

1
Starting Off Strong With Information Writing: A Tip for Tomorrow from Melanie 6:36

12M ago6:36

6:36

Send us a text Please subscribe to our podcast and leave us ratings/reviews on your favorite listening platform. You may contact us directly if you want us to consult with your school district. Melanie Meehan: meehanmelanie@gmail.com Stacey Shubitz: stacey@staceyshubitz.com Email us at contact@twowritingteachers.org for affiliate or sponsorship opp…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Two Teachers Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide