Unabridged Podcast

Welcome to Unabridged! Ashley and Jen (shown left to right in the photo) talk books, share recommendations, and celebrate all things bookish. On our blog (see our posts below!) we share bookish faves, pub day shout-outs, show notes, and book reviews.

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Mar 16
2 min

221: Teaching Tidbits - Sara with 3 More Google Extensions

In this Unabridged Episode, Sara discusses three more Google extensions and how to use them to assist in the classroom and in the Google environment. She talks specifically about these excellent extensions to try out immediately. All of these extensions can be found in the Chrome Web Store. The extensions discussed today are Eyedropper, SmallPDF, and Dualless. Bookish Check-in Stanley Tucci's Taste: My Life Through Food (Libro.fm | Bookshop.org) Mentioned in Episode Google Ex

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Mar 4
1 min

Teaching Tidbits 29: The Power of Revision with Jen

In this Unabridged Episode, Jen discusses how she navigates revision in her writing instruction. She talks about the logistics of assessing revision, the writing process she currently asks students to navigate, and some of the questions she's considered as she balances writing process and product. #shownotes #ownvoices #teachingtidbits #teachers #teaching #jensteachingtidbits (A note to our readers: click on the hashtags above to see our other blog posts with the same hashta

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Feb 18
1 min

Teaching Tidbits 28: Asana with Ashley

In this Unabridged Teaching Tidbits Episode, Ashley shares a workflow tool, Asana, that can really help teachers manage both individual projects and team projects. This tool has collaborative features and a robust free version that works well and can really help streamline and organize tasks. Like Slack and Google Keep, which we've shared in other Teaching Tidbits, this is another project management tool that can be really helpful! #shownotes #ownvoices #teachingtidbits #tea

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Feb 4
1 min

Teaching Tidbits 27: Sara with Using Google Extensions

In this Unabridged Episode, Sara discusses what extensions are and how to use them to assist in the classroom. She talks specifically about three excellent extensions to try out immediately. All of these extensions can be found in the Chrome Web Store. The extensions discussed today are: My Bib, qSnap, and Sir Links-A-Lot. #shownotes #google #teachingtidbits #teachers #teaching #sarasteachingtidbit (A note to our readers: click on the hashtags above to see our other blog pos

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Jan 21
1 min

Teaching Tidbits 26: Student Websites with Jen

In this Unabridged Episode, Jen discusses reasons to use student-created websites in the classroom, potential projects they can house, and some of the logistics of starting them with students. She provides a few things to consider and identifies some of the long-range skills students can gain by creating their own websites. #shownotes #ownvoices #teachingtidbits #teachers #teaching #jensteachingtidbits (A note to our readers: click on the hashtags above to see our other blog

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Jan 7
1 min

Teaching Tidbits 25: Ashley with Google Keep

In this Unabridged Teaching Tidbits Episode, Ashley talks about a favorite teaching and life hack that she uses to keep things organized - Google Keep. Ashley shares why Keep works well for her and some tips and tricks that you can leverage to maximize Keep's effectiveness in your life and in your classroom! #shownotes #ownvoices #teachingtidbits #teachers #teaching #ashleysteachingtidbits (A note to our readers: click on the hashtags above to see our other blog posts with t

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Dec 3, 2021
1 min

Teaching Tidbits 24: Using Slack for Communication

In this Unabridged Episode, Sara talks about using Slack as a communication tool for teams, content groups, schools, etc. She discusses how she, Ashley, and Jen use it for the podcast and how her instructional technology team uses it in her school district. In addition, she discusses the importance of finding tools to simplify the lives of teachers after a very stressful 2021. #shownotes #technology #teachingtidbits #teachers #teaching #sarasteachingtidbits (A note to our re

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Nov 5, 2021
1 min

Teaching Tidbits 23 - Student Seminars

In this Unabridged Teaching Tidbits Episode, Jen talks about student seminars. She defines what they are, shares some of the benefits, and offers different ways to implement them in the classroom. She also provides a detailed example of the way she's created a seminar assignment for her English classroom and discusses the reflection process. #shownotes #ownvoices #teachingtidbits #teachers #teaching #jensteachingtidbits (A note to our readers: click on the hashtags above to

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Oct 21, 2021
1 min

Teaching Tidbits 22 - Using the Calm App in the Classroom

In this Unabridged Episode, Ashley shares about using the Calm App both for self care and in the classroom. The Calm site and app include an entire suite of resources to help with encouraging mindfulness, practicing meditation, and getting better sleep. Ashley talks about how the resources are grouped by age range and shares some of the ways that she has used the app. She mentions the free resources for teachers Calm provides, and she talks about how teachers can get started

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Oct 8, 2021
1 min

Teaching Tidbits 21: Self-Care for Educators

In today's teaching tidbit episode, Sara talks about the book Tina H. Boogren's 180 Days of Self-care for Busy Educators (Amazon | Bookshop.org). She discusses a both the content and setup of the book. In addition, she discusses the importance of self-care and how teaching is even more difficult due to the events going on in our world. We appreciate educators so much, and hope you find this episode helpful. #shownotes #ownvoices #teachingtidbits #teachers #teaching #sarastea

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Sep 24, 2021
2 min

Teaching Tidbits 20: Facilitating Discussion

In today's teaching tidbit episode, Jen talks about ways to facilitate discussion. She suggests alternate types of discussions and ways to reduce the pressure of sharing ideas aloud in class. She mentions programs like Nearpod, Flipgrid, and Schoology that can offer new ways for students to share ideas, both ahead of class and in the moment. (Don't miss Teaching Tidbits 5, where Jen talks about literature circles, and 18, where Sara talks about Flipgrid.) If you like our teac

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Sep 10, 2021
2 min

Teaching Tidbits 19: Podcasting in the Classroom with Students

We're back with our Teaching Tidbits episodes for this school year! In our first teaching tidbit episode of season five, Ashley talks about podcasting in the classroom and different ways that teachers can incorporate podcast creation into class activities. Ashley mentions programs like WeVideo and Adobe Spark, which can be used to create the podcasts. (Don't miss Teaching Tidbit 6 where Sara talks about using Adobe Spark!) If you like our teaching ideas and want to see more t

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May 28, 2021
1 min

Teaching Tidbits 18: Sara with Using Flipgrid for Reflection

In this Unabridged Episode, Sara talks about Flipgrid, a versatile tool that can be used in the classroom. Flipgrid allows students to record video responses and view each other's responses. Listen to the episode for ideas on how to use this awesome (FREE!) tool in the classroom! #shownotes #ownvoices #teachingtidbits #teachers #teaching #sarasteachingtidbits (A note to our readers: click on the hashtags above to see our other blog posts with the same hashtag.) Interested in

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May 14, 2021
1 min

Teaching Tidbits 17: Reflecting on the Year with Students

In this Unabridged Episode, Jen discusses the process of reflecting on the school year with your students. She talks about different methods of reflection, types of feedback she has received, and changes she hopes to make on the basis of her conversations with students. #shownotes #teachingtidbits #teachers #teaching #jensteachingtidbits (A note to our readers: click on the hashtags above to see our other blog posts with the same hashtag.) Interested in what else we're readin

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Apr 30, 2021
2 min

Teaching Tidbits 16: Teaching Tools to Use on the Go

In this Unabridged Teaching Tidbits episode, Ashley shares some teaching tools she'll be taking with her as her family prepares for their big trip. Three tools that she shares are Rocketbooks (which work with Frixion pens), games like Bananagrams, and Osmo games, which work with iPads or Kindle Fire tablets. Some specific things Ashley uses are the Fusion Rocketbook, this pack of Frixion pens, and My First Bananagrams. The Osmo kits her girls love are the Genius kit and the L

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Apr 16, 2021
1 min

Teaching Tidbits 15: A Writing Resource for the Classroom

In this Unabridged Episode, Sara talks about one of her favorite writing resources for the classroom. Writing can be a difficult subject to teach with students of all different levels. Sara loves Kelly Gallagher's work, and one of her must-have books is Write Like This: Teaching Real-World Writing Through Modeling and Mentor Texts. She thinks this is an essential resource for anyone who wants excellent ideas for teaching writing not only in English class, but across the curri

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Apr 2, 2021
1 min

Teaching Tidbits 14: Using Film in the Classroom

In this Unabridged Episode, Jen discusses reasons to use film in the classroom and ways to approach interpreting film with students. She suggests giving students Roger Ebert's "How to Read a Movie," an essay that is a helpful introduction to interpreting movies and points listeners to a short film, Rodrigo Blaas's Alma, that is an excellent introduction to film analysis. #shownotes #ownvoices #teachingtidbits #teachers #teaching #jensteachingtidbits (A note to our readers: c

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Mar 19, 2021
1 min

Teaching Tidbits 13: Canva Graphic Design for Educators

In this Unabridged Episode, Ashley talks about the graphic design program Canva. She shares about the benefits of signing up for an educators' account with Canva, and she shares a few tips about using Canva to create images for various purposes as well as suggestions for how it can be used in the classroom with students. To sign up for the Educators' account with Canva, click here. For a quick slideshow with examples and more information about Canva, click here. #shownotes #t

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Mar 5, 2021
1 min

Teaching Tidbits 12: Using Graphic Memoirs in the Classroom

In this Unabridged Podcast Episode, Sara talks about using graphic memoirs in the classroom. She goes over ideas to use graphic memoirs in literature circles, and some ideas to encourage reluctant readers. Sara also discusses three specific recommendations for graphic memoirs to use in literature circles in your classroom. #shownotes #ownvoices #teachingtidbits #teachers #teaching #sarateachingtidbits (A note to our readers: click on the hashtags above to see our other blog

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Feb 19, 2021
1 min

Teaching Tidbits 11: Google Tips to Support Reading

In this Unabridged Podcast Episode, Jen talks about ways to use some of the features of Google Apps for Education to support reading. She goes over the best ways to distribute Google files to students, the benefits of annotation, and some ideas to support the re-reading of complex texts. Jen also discusses ways to implement collaborative adaptations of these activities in your classroom. #shownotes #ownvoices #teachingtidbits #teachers #teaching #jensteachingtidbits (A note

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