PoPCast: Discussing Educational Practices that Support Readers and Writers

Learning Leech
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  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

This podcast is hosted by the authors of the Patterns of Power family of resources, focusing on discussions that elevate instruction in language arts classrooms. Join us as we share effective teaching strategies connected to the Patterns series resources, as well as reading and writing instruction.

  1. 1D AGO

    S02 Ep02: Assessing Written Products for Grammar Mastery

    In this episode, Whitney and Travis discuss various ways of creating written products in the classroom for students to show their understanding of a grammatical pattern. They elevate options that can be used in the invitation to apply as well as beyond a specific grammar lesson set. FREE Support Resources Sample rubric with PoP pattern focus Sample rubric (informational writing) w/ pattern usage focus

    18 min

  2. 12/27/2025

    S2 Ep01: Assessing the Process of Grammar Instruction

    Travis and Whitney kick off the new season of PoPCast by focusing on assessment in education. They discuss the importance of assessment beyond just grades and share specifics of assessing the process of grammar instruction. The episode includes practical strategies for implementing and organizing assessment tools, emphasizing the value of reflection and making student thinking visible.  FREE Support Resources & Text Shout Outs Link to purchase PoP process notebooks PoP process one graphic organizer

    21 min

  3. 07/14/2025

    Ep 23: PoP Lesson Planning, Grades 9-12 (part two)

    Travis is joined in this episode by co-author of Patterns of Power for Grades 9-12 Holly Durham. The two spend time in this episode building each of the invitations for a high school PoP lesson from scratch. The duo uses a model sentence from an article by Leonard Pitts Jr, which is linked below. Enjoy part two of our two part planning session with a focus on high school PoP! Episode transcript  Helpful Links Planning Slideshow: Article website link: https://bit.ly/439eSSi

    31 min

  4. 06/23/2025

    Ep 22: PoP Lesson Planning, Grades 9-12 (part one)

    Travis is joined in this episode by co-author of Patterns of Power for Grades 9-12 Holly Durham. The two spend time in this episode setting the groundwork for building a high school PoP lesson from scratch. The duo uses a model sentence from an article by Leonard Pitts Jr, which is linked below. Enjoy part one of our two part planning session with a focus on high school PoP! Episode transcript Helpful Links Planning Slideshow Leonard Pitts Jr. article: https://bit.ly/439eSSi

    28 min

  5. 05/30/2025

    Ep 21: PoP Lesson Planning, Grades 6-8 (part two)

    This episode is the second part of a two-part planning episode. Whitney and Travis plan for a Patterns of Power lesson set geared toward grades 6-8 that focuses on advanced compound sentence usage. Continue planning with the hosts as they discuss the invitations to imitate, share & celebrate, apply, and edit.  Episode transcript PoP lesson slideshow PoP lesson planning Doc CommonLit

    21 min

  6. 05/15/2025

    Ep 20: PoP Lesson Planning, Grades 6-8 (part 1)

    In this episode, Travis and Whitney plan a middle school Patterns of Power lesson using advanced compound sentences, building more complexity off of our previous lesson planning session with a PoP lesson for elementary. The planning kicks off with some options for a focus phrase with the text "Farms of the Future," an informational text found in CommonLit being elevated as a focus. Travis and Whitney plan through the invitations to notice and compare & contrast in this episode, offering teacher hacks and options for classroom flexibility along the way. episode transcript PoP lesson slideshow PoP lesson planning Doc

    29 min

  7. 04/23/2025

    Ep 19: PoP Lesson Planning for Grades 2-5 (part two)

    In this episode, Whitney and Travis continue their planning conversation around a grammar lesson for elementary grades. Using a model from the text J.D. and the Great Barber Battle by J. Dillard, the hosts create the invitations to imitate, apply, and edit. They also include a discussion around setting your grade-level team up for success when planning out novel ways to share and celebrate student writing within the invitational process. For more about the planning of this lesson, check out the previous episode for details on setting up the focus phrase, finding the model sentence, and deciding on a second model for comparing and contrasting. Episode transcript FREE Support Resources & Text Shout Outs ⁠PoP Lesson Planning Doc⁠ ⁠PoP Lesson Slideshow⁠ ⁠J.D. and the Great Barber Battle by J. Dillard⁠

    29 min

  8. 04/17/2025

    Ep 18: PoP Lesson Planning for Grades 2-5 (part one)

    Travis and Whitney dive into planning effective Patterns of Power (PoP) lessons for elementary grades. They focus on the essential concept of compound sentences using coordinating conjunctions, particularly the FANBOYS (For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So). Listeners learn how to choose appropriate mentor texts and sentences to illustrate these grammar concepts effectively. This episode serves as a mini professional development session, guiding teachers through the initial stages of planning their PoP lessons, with practical tips and examples to make the grammar instruction relevant and engaging for students. Episode transcript FREE Support Resources & Text Shout Outs PoP Lesson Planning Doc PoP Lesson Slideshow J.D. and the Great Barber Battle by J. Dillard

    31 min
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This podcast is hosted by the authors of the Patterns of Power family of resources, focusing on discussions that elevate instruction in language arts classrooms. Join us as we share effective teaching strategies connected to the Patterns series resources, as well as reading and writing instruction.

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