#219 Leading Your Department

#219 Leading Your Department

Author: Jacob Chastain & Pam Ochoa November 25, 2024 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 explain what they’ve been doing and why they did not post last week’s podcast. They are back and ready to go!  Pam offers some insight regarding the Abydos Learning International Teacher and Trainer Conference for 2024!  Jacob shares a little about his past week as well– full of change!

They also spend time discussing how to lead a department.  Jacob shares leadership advice  through his role as a past department chair and a present administrator.  Pam shares some of her experiences and what she learned from her role as a department chair and academic coach.

Join Jacob and Pam as they share their tips and advice for leading a school department.

The post #219 Leading Your Department 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
#222 Standard Based Learning with a Twist of Assessment [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. Teachers are told to make sure to implemen…
#221 STAAR Writing Support [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. Jacob and Pam answer two questions from ou…
#220 State of Schools in 2025 [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 welcome eve…
A Christmas Break [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:52
Hey everyone! We just wanted to make this quick post. All will be well. Just lots of changes coming and Jacob needs some time, and Pam is on vacation for a few weeks. Stay tuned! The post A Christmas Break appeared first…
#218 Staying Strong During the Fall Season [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. The Holiday Season is in full swing and mu…
#217 Spicing Up Direct Instruction [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 talk about…
#216 Balancing Direct Instruction with Facilitation (repost) [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. Jacob and Pam discuss how they use direct…
#215 Building Relationships Through Content [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. Jacob and Pam begin the episode with a seg…
#214 Receiving Feedback and Advocating for Workshop [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 answer a li…
#213 Starting Units and Poetry (Q&A) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
Hello everyone! Bonus episode 2 is here for you to enjoy! It’s a full hour of workshop talk + we addressed a few questions you submitted. Below are the questions we tackle in this one. Thank you for supporting the show!…