#135 Creating Context (and all the musings)

#135 Creating Context (and all the musings)

Author: Jacob Chastain & Pam Ochoa March 31, 2023 Duration: 0:00

Welcome everyone to the Craft & Draft podcast! We are so excited to bring you what we love, talking with you about workshop, literacy, writing, reading, and real world teaching. 

The word context is derived from the Latin word contexere meaning to weave.  In a workshop environment the teacher is weaving situations that offer tools for students to think, develop voice, and discover their passion.  

In this episode, Jacob and Pam discuss how they create an atmosphere that enables students to learn about language in the context of authentic reading and writing.  Jacob shares how he and teachers on his campus empower students through diversity of thought. Pam tells how programs and some curriculum mandates paralyzes the reading and writing processes in a workshop.

Join Jacob and Pam as they meander through this idea of creating context in order to promote literacy. May you find a nugget to help you, too!

The post #135 Creating Context (and all the musings) appeared first on Craft & Draft.


Jacob Chastain, from Teach Me, Teacher, and Pam Ochoa, an Abydos trainer, bring their combined classroom and coaching experience to every conversation on Craft & Draft. This isn't a theoretical lecture; it's a practical dialogue built on their specific Craft & Draft approach, designed to make the reading-writing workshop model work in real secondary classrooms. You'll hear them unpack the nuances of workshop teaching, from structuring effective mini-lessons to facilitating meaningful student conferences. They delve into the intentional separation of craft study and drafting time, offering actionable strategies for fostering independent, engaged writers and readers. Each episode feels like pulling up a chair in the teachers' lounge with two insightful colleagues who aren't afraid to discuss the challenges and celebrate the breakthroughs. The podcast serves as a steady resource for educators looking to move beyond theory and into the day-to-day reality of building a dynamic literacy workshop. Tune in for honest reflections, concrete examples, and the collective wisdom of two practitioners dedicated to refining their craft alongside their listeners.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Craft & Draft
Podcast Episodes
#154 Workshopping the Science of Reading (Bonus Episode) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
Hello everyone! This is a small excerpt from our exclusive BONUS PATREON episode. We do these episodes every month, and they are usually fully exclusive. Do to the importance of this one, we wanted to let you hear a part…
#153 Activating Writers with Mentor Texts (Bonus Video) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
Check out the full video here, at our PatreonPLUS tier of support. Welcome everyone to the Craft & Draft podcast! We are so excited to bring you what we love, talking with you about workshop, literacy, writing, reading,…
#152 New School Year… New Us? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
Welcome everyone to the Craft & Draft podcast! We are so excited to bring you what we love, talking with you about workshop, literacy, writing, reading, and real world teaching. August is here and the new school year is…
#151 Workshop and Special Needs Students [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
Welcome everyone to the Craft & Draft podcast! We are so excited to bring you what we love, talking with you about workshop, literacy, writing, reading, and real world teaching. In this episode, Jacob and Pam explore how…
#150 Working with Difficult Colleagues (pt.2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
Welcome everyone to the Craft & Draft podcast! We are so excited to bring you what we love, talking with you about workshop, literacy, writing, reading, and real world teaching. In this two part episode, Jacob and Pam an…
#149 A Day in the Life of a Workshop Teacher (Part 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
Welcome everyone to the Craft & Draft podcast! We are so excited to bring you what we love, talking with you about workshop, literacy, writing, reading, and real world teaching. In this two part episode, Jacob and Pam an…
#148 Annotation is to Reading as Diagramming is to Grammar [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
Welcome everyone to the Craft & Draft podcast! We are so excited to bring you what we love, talking with you about workshop, literacy, writing, reading, and real world teaching. Should Jacob buy a new car? If so, what sh…
#147 Plagiarism: What Can Teachers Do About It? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
Welcome everyone to the Craft & Draft podcast! We are so excited to bring you what we love, talking with you about workshop, literacy, writing, reading, and real world teaching. With new technology such as Chat GPT, plag…
#146 We Rate ChatGPT Lessons for English Language Arts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
Welcome everyone to the Craft & Draft podcast! We are so excited to bring you what we love, talking with you about workshop, literacy, writing, reading, and real world teaching. In this episode, Jacob and Pam take a look…
#145 Artificial Intelligence is Here to Stay [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
Welcome everyone to the Craft & Draft podcast! We are so excited to bring you what we love, talking with you about workshop, literacy, writing, reading, and real world teaching. Join Jacob and Pam on an eye-opening journ…