Creating Joyful Readers – Details, episodes & analysis

This is the podcast for secondary educators who want to inspire a lifelong love of reading in their students.

Each week, we’ll chat about the amazing benefits of independent reading, dig into the latest literacy research, cover practical tips and strategies to nurture lifelong readers, break down projects that help students show off what they’ve learned in creative ways, and highlight some fresh YA books you can snag at Target right now to keep your students excited.

Tune in every Monday to find inspiration and practical tips to light that reading spark in your students. Remember, each book we introduce and every reading experience we create can change lives and foster lifelong readers.

--> Shop for your modern day literacy classroom HERE:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/samantha-in-secondary

--> For tips, book recommendations, and connection with other educators follow along on INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/samanthainsecondary/

--> Shop my favorite YA books HERE:

https://www.amazon.com/shop/samanthainsecondary

It’s hard to be in education right now. Anyone who has been inside of a school lately knows that it is not for the faint of heart. Teachers currently need more support than ever. This includes having tried-and-true strategies and relevant resources ready to implement so that you can feel confident and successful in helping students become joyful readers. Today’s episode is going to talk all about how this podcast is going to help.

Resources Mentioned:

--> Learn more about close reading HERE:

https://www.samanthainsecondary.com/2021/03/18/teaching-close-reading-in-secondary-english-language-arts/

--> Read more research about the current literacy crisis HERE:

https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/

Some links referenced here are affiliate links. Supporting the podcast through these links comes at no additional cost to you.

--> Shop for your modern day literacy classroom HERE:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/samantha-in-secondary

--> For tips, book recommendations, and connection with other educators follow along on INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/samanthainsecondary/

--> Shop my favorite YA books HERE:

https://www.amazon.com/shop/samanthainsecondary

Mentioned in this episode:

--> Did you grab my FREE Young Adult reading list already?

Are you ready to take your classroom library to the next level? I’ve got an exciting freebie just for you! It’s called "100 Young Adult Novels to Add to Your Curriculum or Classroom Library," and it’s packed with fantastic titles that will captivate and inspire your students. Imagine the look on their faces when they discover a new favorite book, all thanks to you! Head to www.samanthainsecondary.com/books to grab your free copy and start transforming your classroom library today. www.samanthainsecondary.com/books

Grab your Close Reading Toolkit

Whether you're new to close reading or just need a refresh, this toolkit has you covered. Head to www.samanthainsecondary.com and click on “reading” to get the toolkit. Start today and help your students unlock new levels of understanding in every text!

Creating a strong culture of reading in your classroom can feel like a daunting task, but today’s episode will walk you through a couple of actionable steps you can take to get started. Buckle up, joyful readers, you’re not going to want to miss this one!

Resources Mentioned:

--> Take a look at my favorite bookish tapestries in THIS ETSY SHOP and don't forget to use the code SAMANTHAINSECONDARY at checkout

https://www.etsy.com/shop/tiffinthemiddle

--> Join my email list HERE to access the monthly roundup as well as my list of 100 YA books to add to your curriculum or classroom library

www.samanthainsecondary.com/books

--> Shop for YA Quote Posters HERE

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Young-Adult-Literature-English-Language-Arts-Quote-Poster-Set-9281063?utm_source=Podcast&utm_campaign=Episode%202%20-%20YA%20Quote%20Posters

Some links referenced here are affiliate links. Supporting the podcast through these links comes at no additional cost to you.

--> Shop for your modern day literacy classroom HERE:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/samantha-in-secondary

--> For tips, book recommendations, and connection with other educators follow along on INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/samanthainsecondary/

--> Shop my favorite YA books HERE:

https://www.amazon.com/shop/samanthainsecondary

Mentioned in this episode:

Grab your Close Reading Toolkit

Whether you're new to close reading or just need a refresh, this toolkit has you covered. Head to www.samanthainsecondary.com and click on “reading” to get the toolkit. Start today and help your students unlock new levels of understanding in every text!

--> Did you grab my FREE Young Adult reading list already?

Are you ready to take your classroom library to the next level? I’ve got an exciting freebie just for you! It’s called "100 Young Adult Novels to Add to Your Curriculum or Classroom Library," and it’s packed with fantastic titles that will captivate and inspire your students. Imagine...

Pop Quiz: What do you call the instructional practice where students self-select a book or choose from a list of pre-selected titles before reading it independently and completing some kind of assessment? Did you know that most of the people listening to this podcast right now probably have a different answer? We’re going to dive into this strange conundrum today. Stay tuned.

Some links referenced here are affiliate links. Supporting the podcast through these links comes at no additional cost to you.

--> Shop for your modern day literacy classroom HERE:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/samantha-in-secondary

--> For tips, book recommendations, and connection with other educators follow along on INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/samanthainsecondary/

--> Shop my favorite YA books HERE:

https://www.amazon.com/shop/samanthainsecondary

Mentioned in this episode:

--> Did you grab my FREE Young Adult reading list already?

Are you ready to take your classroom library to the next level? I’ve got an exciting freebie just for you! It’s called "100 Young Adult Novels to Add to Your Curriculum or Classroom Library," and it’s packed with fantastic titles that will captivate and inspire your students. Imagine the look on their faces when they discover a new favorite book, all thanks to you! Head to www.samanthainsecondary.com/books to grab your free copy and start transforming your classroom library today. www.samanthainsecondary.com/books

Grab your Close Reading Toolkit

Whether you're new to close reading or just need a refresh, this toolkit has you covered. Head to www.samanthainsecondary.com and click on “reading” to get the toolkit. Start today and help your students unlock new levels of understanding in every text!

This podcast has been on my heart for a few years and I’m so excited to finally be able to bring it to you now. I’ve been working hard to plan episodes and create content that I know is going to help you nurture a love of reading with your students. I have so much to share and I’m confident that these episodes are going to be both helpful and relevant to your practice.

Some links referenced here are affiliate links. Supporting the podcast through these links comes at no additional cost to you.



--> Shop for your modern day literacy classroom HERE:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/samantha-in-secondary

--> For tips, book recommendations, and connection with other educators follow along on INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/samanthainsecondary/

--> Shop my favorite YA books HERE:

https://www.amazon.com/shop/samanthainsecondary

Mentioned in this episode:

--> Did you grab my FREE Young Adult reading list already?

Are you ready to take your classroom library to the next level? I’ve got an exciting freebie just for you! It’s called "100 Young Adult Novels to Add to Your Curriculum or Classroom Library," and it’s packed with fantastic titles that will captivate and inspire your students. Imagine the look on their faces when they discover a new favorite book, all thanks to you! Head to www.samanthainsecondary.com/books to grab your free copy and start transforming your classroom library today. www.samanthainsecondary.com/books

Grab your Close Reading Toolkit

Whether you're new to close reading or just need a refresh, this toolkit has you covered. Head to www.samanthainsecondary.com and click on “reading” to get the toolkit. Start today and help your students unlock new levels of understanding in every text!

Watching the power of literature circles in molding lifelong readers was transformative for me. Lit circles aren’t new. Maybe you’ve heard of them, but have been too afraid to try them, or maybe you’re a seasoned pro and have been running lit circles for a long time. No matter where you fall on the spectrum, tune into today’s episode because I’m going to break down exactly why this practice belongs in your 21st century ELA classroom and how we’re going to leverage it to create joyful readers.

Episode Highlights:

• A Bit of History Behind Literature Circles
• Why My Literature Circles are Different
• Why Genre?

Some links referenced here are affiliate links. Supporting the podcast through these links comes at no additional cost to you.

--> Shop for your modern day literacy classroom HERE:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/samantha-in-secondary

--> For tips, book recommendations, and connection with other educators follow along on INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/samanthainsecondary/

--> Shop my favorite YA books HERE:

https://www.amazon.com/shop/samanthainsecondary

Mentioned in this episode:

Grab your Close Reading Toolkit

Whether you're new to close reading or just need a refresh, this toolkit has you covered. Head to www.samanthainsecondary.com and click on “reading” to get the toolkit. Start today and help your students unlock new levels of understanding in every text!

--> Did you grab my FREE Young Adult reading list already?

Are you ready to take your classroom library to the next level? I’ve got an exciting freebie just for you! It’s called "100 Young Adult Novels to Add to Your Curriculum or Classroom Library," and it’s packed with fantastic titles that will captivate and inspire your students. Imagine the look on their faces when they discover a new favorite book, all thanks to you! Head to www.samanthainsecondary.com/books to grab your free copy and start transforming your classroom library today. www.samanthainsecondary.com/books

Today, I’m joined by storyteller extraordinaire Kaycee Racer—a Young Adult author, devoted reader, and retro media podcaster. Kaycee is the author of two heartfelt contemporary YA novels that capture the ups and downs of growing up with authenticity and heart. Influenced by childhood favorites like Sweet Valley High, The Baby-Sitter’s Club, and Ramona Quimby, Kaycee's love for stories only grew stronger with the sweet friendships and romances of Sarah Dessen and Meg Cabot.

In addition to her writing, Kaycee co-hosts Nostalgic Nightcaps, a podcast where she revisits and dissects the pop culture classics that shaped her youth, creating fun and meaningful conversations with listeners.

In this episode, we’re diving into romance tropes—why we love them, the ones that make our hearts race, and how they’ve evolved in both YA and beyond. Whether you’re here for the slow burns, love triangles, or second-chance stories, you’re in for a treat. Let’s get into it.

Connect with today's guest:

Visit Kaycee’s website - www.retrospect-publishing.com

Follow Kaycee on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kayceeracer

Middle of Nowhere by Kaycee Racer - https://amzn.to/4iYYmLM

Everything is Alright by Kaycee Racer - https://amzn.to/4fIAHwc

Some links referenced here are affiliate links. Supporting the podcast through these links comes at no additional cost to you.

--> Shop for your modern day literacy classroom HERE:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/samantha-in-secondary

--> For tips, book recommendations, and connection with other educators follow along on INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/samanthainsecondary/

--> Shop my favorite YA books HERE:

https://www.amazon.com/shop/samanthainsecondary

Mentioned in this episode:

Grab my romance literature circle unit today

Romance activities your students will love: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Romance-Genre-Literature-Circles-or-Choice-Reading-Unit-10524239?utm_source=Podcast&utm_campaign=Romance%20Series%20Ad%20Segment

I’m so glad you’re here for Creating Joyful Readers, your go-to show for tips, strategies, and inspiration on nurturing avid readers in secondary schools. I’m your host, Samantha, and today we’re exploring the secrets of what makes a great YA romance.

I’m so excited to be joined by Kristy Boyce, the nationally bestselling author of Dungeons and Drama, Hot British Boyfriend, and Hot Dutch Daydream. Kristy’s stories capture the highs and lows of young love with humor, heart, and unforgettable characters. 

When she’s not crafting swoon-worthy stories, Kristy is a senior lecturer in psychology at The Ohio State University, where she brings her expertise on human behavior into her writing. Today, we’re chatting about her books, her journey as an author, and her tips for creating YA romances that readers just can’t put down.

Settle in and join me as we explore what makes YA romance so captivating with Kristy Boyce



Resources Mentioned:

Kristy’s Website - https://www.kristyboyceauthor.com/

Dungeons and Drama by Kristy Boyce - https://amzn.to/4a22VRm

Dragons and Dating by Kristy Boyce - https://amzn.to/404QQGs

Some links referenced here are affiliate links. Supporting the podcast through these links comes at no additional cost to you.

--> Shop for your modern day literacy classroom HERE:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/samantha-in-secondary

--> For tips, book recommendations, and connection with other educators follow along on INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/samanthainsecondary/

--> Shop my favorite YA books HERE:

https://www.amazon.com/shop/samanthainsecondary

Mentioned in this episode:

Grab my romance literature circle unit today

Romance activities your students will love: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Romance-Genre-Literature-Circles-or-Choice-Reading-Unit-10524239?utm_source=Podcast&utm_campaign=Romance%20Series%20Ad%20Segment

Reading isn’t joyful when it’s hard, right? We all want to share amazing books and do fun, engaging activities to get kids excited about reading, but we also can’t forget the importance of those foundational skills. So today, we’re diving into some research about why having a strong, predictable close reading routine can be a total game-changer in your classroom.

Highlights:

• National Reading Panel Findings
• Vocabulary
• How it all works together

Resources Mentioned:

“Teaching Children to Read: An Evidence-Based Assessment of the Scientific Research Literature on Reading and Its Implications for Reading Instruction” https://www.nichd.nih.gov/sites/default/files/publications/pubs/nrp/Documents/ch4.pdf 

Teaching Them to Read by Dolores Durkin https://amzn.to/3Yh4fdO

Some links referenced here are affiliate links. Supporting the podcast through these links comes at no additional cost to you.

--> Shop for your modern day literacy classroom HERE:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/samantha-in-secondary

--> For tips, book recommendations, and connection with other educators follow along on INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/samanthainsecondary/

--> Shop my favorite YA books HERE:

https://www.amazon.com/shop/samanthainsecondary

Mentioned in this episode:

Grab my romance literature circle unit today

Romance activities your students will love: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Romance-Genre-Literature-Circles-or-Choice-Reading-Unit-10524239?utm_source=Podcast&utm_campaign=Romance%20Series%20Ad%20Segment

Are you making the most of the resources available within your media center? Your media center specialist is a tremendous resource for your instructional planning and for connecting students with joyful reading experiences. I hope that today's conversation with Kimberly Dyar fills you with ideas and inspiration.

Resources Mentioned:

The Arrival by Shaun Tan - https://amzn.to/4eZ56Xz

Learning Commons Inspiration from Monticello High School - https://youtu.be/ilQwPzy6mos?si=HM9m0V-A-SC-FL7i



Connect with today's guest:

You can contact Kimberly via email if you have any questions for her - [email protected]

Some links referenced here are affiliate links. Supporting the podcast through these links comes at no additional cost to you.

--> Shop for your modern day literacy classroom HERE:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/samantha-in-secondary

--> For tips, book recommendations, and connection with other educators follow along on INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/samanthainsecondary/

--> Shop my favorite YA books HERE:

https://www.amazon.com/shop/samanthainsecondary

Mentioned in this episode:

Grab my romance literature circle unit today

Romance activities your students will love: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Romance-Genre-Literature-Circles-or-Choice-Reading-Unit-10524239?utm_source=Podcast&utm_campaign=Romance%20Series%20Ad%20Segment