Teaching Made Simple

Bridget Spackman
  • 4.7 (14)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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 simplify instruction, boost engagement, and support meaningful learning in every classroom.

  1. 019. Intervention Characteristics Teachers Need to Know

    11/18/2025

    019. Intervention Characteristics Teachers Need to Know

    In this episode, I’m breaking down what an intervention really is—and why so many teachers feel stressed or unsure about planning one. This lesson comes straight from the Interventions pillar inside the Bridging Literacy Community, where I teach the core components of designing interventions that actually move the needle. What You’ll Learn Why an intervention is always an intervention—no matter who delivers it. The difference between a broad area (like “comprehension”) and a true skill-based intervention. How focusing on a discrete, measurable skill keeps instruction targeted and effective. Why you can’t “intervene your way out” of system-level problems. 4 Characteristics of an Effective Intervention Prescribed Period of Time Interventions are short-term and intentional—not forever. Most run 6–8 weeks so you have enough data to make decisions.Prescribed Length Decide how many days per week and how many minutes per session you can consistently commit to. More days/minutes = more intensity, so start realistic. Prescribed Lesson Choose one discrete skill (like main idea or summarizing) based on student work. Teach it with repetition, evidence-based strategies, and multiple opportunities to respond.Progress Monitoring Track whether the intervention is working. When the data shifts, the instruction shifts. Key Reminder If half the class needs an intervention, that’s a core instruction problem—not a teacher problem. You can’t intervene your way out of a system issue. Links Bridging Literacy Community Subscribe If you’re enjoying the podcast, make sure to hit subscribe so you never miss an episode. And if today’s conversation helped you, I’d love it if you left a quick review—your feedback helps more teachers find this show!

    30 min
  2. 018. How Book Talks Can Build a Love of Reading

    11/12/2025

    018. How Book Talks Can Build a Love of Reading

    In this episode, Bridget shares how she intentionally helped students who didn’t think they were readers fall in love with books through Book Talks. Book talks are short, engaging presentations, like a mini commercial for a book, that invite students to share what they’re reading, connect with peers, and spark curiosity across the classroom. What You’ll Learn: Why Book Talks Work: Expose students to new texts and genres Strengthen comprehension, summarizing, and speaking skills Build classroom community and conversation Foster a genuine love of reading How to Get Started: Model and practice with one mentor text (Bridget used Yarn!) Use simple materials like a signup chart and student organizer Offer flexible formats—movie trailer, slides, or quick share-outs Always pre-read, model often, and build the routine over time Key Takeaway: When students talk about what they love to read, reading becomes contagious. Book talks create a classroom community where every student—especially the reluctant ones—can see themselves as readers. Links: Join the Bridging Literacy Community BLC Members Grab the Book Talks Pack Vlog on Book Talks in the classroom Book: Extra Yarn Book: The Magicians Hat  Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast and leave a review to help get my podcast out into the world! Thank you for your support.

    34 min
  3. 017. 7 Simple Strategies for Building Background Knowledge

    10/07/2025

    017. 7 Simple Strategies for Building Background Knowledge

    As a presenter, one thing I always like to acknowledge before starting any session is that teachers bring a wide range of experience and knowledge to the table. It’s nearly impossible to create a session where everything feels brand new for everyone. That’s why I tell teachers that my goal is always to do one or more of the following: ✅ Affirm what you already know and do well ✅ Remind you of something you may have forgotten ✅ Expand your understanding just a little further And that’s exactly what this episode will do for you! In Episode 016, we dug into what background knowledge is, why it’s important, and some key dos and don’ts when it comes to building it. In this episode, we’re going one step further with 7 simple strategies you can use to help your students build background knowledge—no matter the lesson or content area. 🧠 In This Episode, You’ll Learn: How to use vocabulary intentionally to connect language and comprehension Ways to create meaningful anticipation guides that spark curiosity and challenge assumptions How to leverage images and gallery walks to get students moving, talking, and thinking critically The power of multimedia—videos, sound clips, and sensory experiences—to engage students’ senses Why read-alouds and poetry shouldn’t just be saved for April Simple engagement activities that build oral language and deepen understanding How virtual field trips and inquiry tasks can make abstract concepts more tangible ✨ Key Takeaways: Building background knowledge doesn’t have to be complicated—it just needs to be intentional. When we engage students’ senses and language, we create stronger connections to new learning. Background knowledge activities are not just pre-teaching; they are opportunities for engagement, curiosity, and connection. 🏁 Try This: Choose an upcoming lesson that may be challenging for your students. ➡️ Implement one strategy from today’s episode. ➡️ Reflect on how it changed your students’ level of engagement or comprehension. Or… take a step back and reflect on how often you’re intentionally planning background knowledge into your lessons. 🔗 Resources Mentioned: The Westing Game Novel Study – Explore here 016. The Dos and Don’ts of Background Knowledge 015. Stop the Vocab Struggle: Easy Ways to Build Word Knowledge in Grades 3–6 004. Active Student Engagement: The Secret to Getting Every Student Involved

    31 min

  4. 09/16/2025

    016. The Dos and Don’ts of Background Knowledge

    Have you ever been in a situation where everyone around you seemed to know something you didn’t? That was me in a leadership team meeting when I was asked to pick my favorite Muppet character. I only knew two: Kermit and Miss Piggy. My lack of background knowledge totally changed how I approached the task—and it reminded me how often our students are in the same position with reading. In this episode of Teaching Made Simple, we’re diving into why background knowledge matters so much for comprehension, what it actually is, and the do’s and don’ts that make it work in the classroom. Here’s what you’ll learn: What background knowledge really is—and why it’s more than just a quick pre-reading activity. How it shows up on Scarborough’s Reading Rope and why it’s essential for long-term memory and comprehension. The key do’s of building background knowledge, from focusing on student diversity to building knowledge before, during, and after reading. The biggest don’ts—like piling on more passages, making it feel like another assignment, or confusing “fun” with actual learning. Simple, practical ways to assess background knowledge without extra work. By the end of this episode, you’ll see that background knowledge isn’t about giving students more to do—it’s about giving them the tools they need to actually make sense of what they read. 🎧 Listen in, reflect on your own classroom practices, and let’s simplify how we approach background knowledge together. 0:00 Intro 10:36 Do #1 16:00 Do #2 18:24 Do #3 22:06 Don't #1 24:02 Don’t #2

    31 min

  5. 08/26/2025

    015. Stop the Vocab Struggle: Easy Ways to Build Word Knowledge in Grades 3–6

    Episode 15 | Stop the Vocab Struggle: Easy Ways to Build Word Knowledge in Grades 3–6 If you’ve ever wrapped up a read-aloud or small group lesson only to hear your students describe characters as “nice,” “mean,” or “kind,” you’re not alone. It’s not that they don’t understand the character—it’s that they don’t have the vocabulary to express it. In today’s episode of Teaching Made Simple, I’m breaking down the power of vocabulary instruction and why it’s the missing link to deeper comprehension and stronger communication skills. You’ll learn: Why vocabulary is directly tied to comprehension and content mastery across subjects. How many words students need to learn each year—and the realistic number you should explicitly teach. A simple, evidence-based approach for introducing and practicing new words (without overwhelming you or your students). Fun, low-prep activities to keep word learning engaging and memorable. Whether you’ve felt stuck between word lists and fast mapping or just want a clear framework to guide your instruction, this episode will give you practical strategies you can start using right away. ✨ Free Resource: Grab my [Vocabulary Planning Page] (link here) to help you streamline word selection and make planning easier. Because when students have the right words, they’re not just answering questions—they’re making meaning.

    40 min

  6. 08/12/2025

    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 comprehension skills more concrete, support higher-level thinking, and boost your students’ ability to retell and analyze text? In this episode of Teaching Made Simple, I’m sharing exactly that: a strategy I call roadmapping. You’ll learn what it is, why it works, and how to use it in your classroom to help students break down any text into clear, manageable parts. This approach makes comprehension visible, connects directly to background knowledge, and builds the foundation for skills like author’s purpose, character analysis, and text-dependent analysis questions.  You’ll discover: The surprising research findings about comprehension strategy instruction. How roadmapping works step-by-step (and why 4 words is the magic limit). When to use this routine to get the biggest impact. Practical tips for scaffolding and starting small so students build confidence. If you’ve been looking for a way to make comprehension instruction more intentional, concrete, and connected—this is it. Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode:  Research study on comprehension strategies (insert your link) Video demonstration of roadmapping (insert your link)

    29 min

  7. 08/05/2025

    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 first few weeks? They matter. A lot. They set the tone for everything that follows. In this episode, I’m sharing 5 simple but powerful tips to help you launch your literacy block with purpose and ease—without overcomplicating things or burning yourself out by week two. Whether you’ve got your curriculum mapped out or you’re still staring at a blank lesson plan, this episode will help you start strong and build the kind of block that actually works for the rest of the year. ✏️ What You’ll Learn: Why it’s okay (and necessary!) to keep things simple at the start How to connect classroom routines directly to your lessons What “every week” skills are and why you should start teaching them now Easy ways to align your reading and writing blocks for better flow The #1 mistake teachers make when trying to fill a long block—and how to avoid it 📥 Grab the Free Resource: Grab the 10 lessons for free HERE! 🙌 Let’s Stay Connected: If this episode gave you clarity (or a much-needed sigh of relief), take a screenshot and tag me on Instagram @bridgingliteracy—I’d love to cheer you on! And if you haven’t yet, leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps more upper elementary teachers find this show and start their year strong too. 💛

    23 min
  8. 012. Teaching Grammar in the Classroom Simple Strategies

    07/29/2025

    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 parts of your literacy instruction, it’s easy for grammar to feel like an afterthought. And when you do find time for it, the pressure to make it fun, fast, and effective can feel overwhelming. But here’s the truth: teaching grammar doesn’t need to be complicated, flashy, or time-consuming. In fact, keeping it simple—and focused—is the best way to make it stick. In this episode, I’m breaking down how to approach grammar in a way that’s manageable and meaningful. I’m sharing the instructional shifts I made to move away from scattered lessons and toward a routine that’s grounded in clarity, consistency, and connection. You’ll also get a peek at the exact tools and resources I use to make grammar feel less like a guessing game and more like a confident part of your weekly rhythm. ✨ What You’ll Take Away: Why grammar needs explicit instruction (and what that actually looks like) How to simplify your grammar mini-lessons without losing impact Easy ways to offer students practice—without adding more to your plate A realistic routine that helps grammar instruction stick Where to find done-for-you grammar units that fit right into your schedule 💡 Want the Grammar Work Done for You? Inside the Bridging Literacy Community, you’ll find ready-to-go grammar mini-units with: ✔️ Google Slides for modeling and guided practice ✔️ Printables like worksheets, task cards, and exit tickets ✔️ Fun, student-approved review games (yes, even grammar can be fun!) ✔️ A clear structure that helps you teach with confidence every week 👉 [Click here to join now!] 👂Click here to listen to the Mentor Sentence episode Let’s make grammar the part of your week that works—not the part you dread.

    27 min
See All (19)

4.7
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

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 simplify instruction, boost engagement, and support meaningful learning in every classroom.

Information