A beautiful view of the lake as the sun rises, a steaming cup of coffee, and ear buds streaming my favorite podcast. Yes! Summer is beginning and after this unforseen year, it is more welcomed than ever.

Although you craved professional learning this year, you probably had no time for it. Catch up on that missed podcast as you continue that cup of joe or go for a walk.

This year Literacy Leaders and Coaches Network dove into a new way to share learning. Mark Raffler (Literacy and Social Studies Consultant, Kent ISD) and Sarah Shoemaker (Literacy Coach, Kent ISD) met up with several notable experts in the field of literacy on their new podcast LLCN Brief.

Five Binge Worthy Episodes

Catch up by binging these five amazing episodes from Mark and Sarah!

Episode 5: Our Kids Are Not Broken -Addressing Learning Loss with Ron Berger

In this episode, Mark and Sarah chat with Ron Berger about the increasingly prevalent use of the term “learning loss.” Ron shares that the return to classrooms should be joyous and should be celebrated.  “We should all be seeking ways to challenge and ramp up the learning.”

Episode 4: Culturally Responsive Teaching with Sommer Jabbar

Sommer, a D(BEI) – Diversity, Belonging, Equity Inclusion Project Coordinator at Kent ISD, explains culturally responsive teaching and gives examples of how it looks in our classrooms. She also shared some resources that educators will find useful no matter their role in the school setting.

Episode 3: Doug Fisher: Feedback that Promotes Academic Growth

Mark and Sarah interview Dr. Doug Fisher on his perspective related to feedback and the research surrounding the use of feedback to influence growth. Doug clarified what feedback means, the key elements of feedback, and what it looks like in this ever-changing time of education.

Episode 2: A Conversation with Erin Brown and Susan L’Allier the Authors of No More Random Acts of Literacy Coaching

Mark and Sarah chat with Erin Brown & Dr. Susan L’Allier about their new book:  No More Random Acts of Literacy Coaching. Erin Brown and Susan L’Allier give a brief overview of their new book – walking us through the content as well as structure of the text. They talk about how to get started with coaching, a few key considerations to keep in mind, and how to focus coaching to have the greatest impact on student achievement.  Dr. L’Allier provides some insight into remote coaching during this time, and Erin Brown reminds us of what the heart of coaching is all about.

Episode 1: Podcasts, Assessment Mindset, and Remote Learning

In thinking about Assessment Mindset, Sarah shares some of her thinking after a recent professional learning session with Nell Duke.  She references Literacy Essential #9 – Ongoing observation and assessment of children’s language and literacy development that informs their education. Plus, she talks about the importance of a positive mindset.

Your Voice Matters!

Because of the high praises of this years podcasts, Mark and Sarah have decided to continue LLCN Brief podcasts for the 2021-2022 school year. While LLCN prepares for the new season, we would love to hear your thoughts on topics that interest you. Please fill out this short survey and let us know what you would like to hear more about next year.

Make sure to subscribe to the LLCN Brief on your favorite podcast platform (just search for LLCN Brief).