Teaching Made Simple

Teaching Made Simple

Hosted by: Bridget Spackman

Bridging Academics presents, Teaching Made Simple, a podcast for upper elementary teachers who want to cut through the noise and focus on what really works. Get practical strategies and research-backed insights to...

All Episodes

Episodes

014. This Routine Will Change Your Instruction

Comprehension is the heart of upper elementary instruction—and while we spend a lot of time teaching it, not all strategies give students the same results. What if there was one simple routine that could make...
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How to Start the Year Strong: 5 Simple Tips for Launching Your Literacy Block

The start of the school year is always a whirlwind—between classroom setup, professional development, and learning 25 new names (or more), it’s easy to feel like your literacy block becomes an afterthought. But those...
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012. Teaching Grammar in the Classroom Simple Strategies

If grammar instruction feels like the one part of your week that’s constantly getting shuffled, trimmed, or skipped altogether… you’re not alone. Between fitting in reading groups, writing blocks, and all the moving...
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011. Mentor Sentence Made Simple: How to Introduce Grammar in Context

In this episode of Teaching Made Simple, we’re cutting through the clutter of grammar instruction and zooming in on one powerful tool that is perfect for introducing grammar in context—mentor sentences. Whether you’re...
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010. The Writing Process Simplified for 3rd Through 6th Grade

Do your students groan when it’s time to write? You’re not alone. But here’s the good news: writing doesn’t have to feel overwhelming—for them or for you. In this episode, we’re breaking down the writing process into...
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009. How to Build a Writing Block That Actually Works

Let’s be honest—writing blocks are one of the first things to get pushed aside when the schedule gets tight. And if you’ve ever tried to teach writing while juggling pull-outs, behavior needs, and a jam-packed...
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008. The 5 Biggest Writing Myths Teachers Still Believe

Here’s the truth: most of the writing frustration we feel as teachers isn’t because we’re doing something wrong—it’s because we’ve been taught to believe things that simply aren’t true. Whether it came from...
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007. Why Writing Feels So Hard to Teach--and What to Do About It

If teaching writing feels overwhelming, frustrating, or like an endless guessing game—you’re not alone. In today’s episode, I’m sharing a story from my own journey, moving from kindergarten to fourth grade with...
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006. Clarity Over Chaos: How to Reset Your Literacy Instruction This Summer

Feeling exhausted by the end of the school year but still determined to “figure things out” this summer? This episode is your permission slip to stop trying to do all the things—and instead, focus on creating clarity...
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005. Talk It Out: How Oral Language Sparks Academic Growth

What if the key to better reading, writing, and engagement isn’t another worksheet—but a conversation? In this episode, Bridget shares how oral language lays the foundation for academic growth in upper elementary...
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004. Active Student Engagement: The Secret to Getting Every Student Involved

Is your classroom engagement strategy working for you—or against you? In this episode of Teaching Made Simple, we’re diving into the practical power of active student engagement and why it’s one of the most important...
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003. Why Rushing to Fluency Can Hurt Learning

Have you ever taught a skill over and over again, only to wonder, “Why aren’t they getting it?” It might be because we’re rushing right past acquisition and diving headfirst into fluency—and that shortcut is costing...
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