Best Literacy Specialist for Elementary Reading Teachers Podcasts (2024)

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Big Numbers, Big Impact. Education Statistics and What They Mean for Literacy Instruction 48:55

3h ago48:55

48:55

Our trio of experts takes a deep dive into statistics, looking at the data and trends in general education and what those numbers might mean for literacy instruction. An example? The average student-to-teacher ratio in elementary grades is 15 students to 1 teacher. What does that point to? As our hosts see it, smaller class sizes can reduce some of…

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Comprehension: It’s the Heart of the Matter 35:14

4h ago35:14

35:14

As we work to improve how we teach phonics, phonemic awareness, and word recognition while adding in writing instruction and content knowledge, we’re all working toward a key goal. It’s reading comprehension. In this episode of Literacy Talks, we turn our attention to comprehension and the tapestry of skills that come together for readers and learn…

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170. Interventions for Environmental Factors That Affect Reading Comprehension 23:56

7d ago23:56

23:56

Over the last month, we’ve been discussing all the different factors that can affect a student’s reading comprehension, even in upper elementary. We’ve gone over fundamental and cognitive factors, and now we’ve hit the last factor, which is environmental. So, in the last episode of the series, I’m sharing interventions for environmental factors tha…

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Little Literacy Controversies: Big Ideas to Find Common Ground 39:29

24d ago39:29

39:29

As momentum continues to build for instructional practices and strategies rooted in the science of reading, sometimes controversies can arise. In this episode of Literacy Talks, Stacy, Donell, and Lindsay tackle some of the little disagreements among well-meaning, well-informed educators, all from the perspective of sharing information, supporting …

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169. Interventions for Cognitive Factors That Affect Reading Comprehension 21:11

14d ago21:11

21:11

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been diving into intervention strategies for students who have difficulty with reading comprehension. The reality is that some upper elementary students aren’t proficient or on grade level when it comes to reading or reading comprehension. So, as literacy teachers, we’ve got to come up with ways to support these studen…

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21. Reaching Every Learner: Dr. Chris Reeve's Approach to Special Education 48:54

19d ago48:54

48:54

How can we best support our students with special needs inside the general education classroom when we don’t have a background in special education? Without training in special education, teachers often wonder how they can ensure their students with special needs are receiving the instruction and support they need. Dr. Chris Reeve is joining me tod…

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168. Interventions for Fundamental Factors That Affect Reading Comprehension 30:51

21d ago30:51

30:51

Getting students in upper elementary on grade level with their reading and comprehension skills can be challenging because there are so many factors and reasons why they’re lacking in that area. However, one of the biggest reasons is a lack of fundamental and foundational skills. I talked in last week’s episode about the different areas this can be…

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Spotlight on Dyslexia: Education, Advocacy, and Support 44:27

1M ago44:27

44:27

Dyslexia is often misunderstood, missed altogether, and surrounded by myths. In this episode of Literacy Talks, our literacy experts revisit the state of dyslexia. From gaps in professionals’ knowledge to challenges in early identification and intervention, we need more and better conversations, bolder advocacy, and strong systemic support. In shor…

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20. Teacher Burnout Unveiled: A Conversation with Brittany Blackwell 36:35

26d ago36:35

36:35

The demands on teachers seem to grow endlessly. There always seem to be curriculum changes, standardized testing, and all the challenges that have come along with the past few years. Teachers today are facing very high levels of exhaustion, stress, and burnout. So, what can we do to help prevent and manage this stress and burnout? Teacher burnout a…

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167. Fundamental, Cognitive, and Environmental Factors That Affect Reading Comprehension 25:24

28d ago25:24

25:24

One, if not the biggest, thing we focus on as literacy teachers is getting our students to be successful readers. But as upper elementary teachers, you know that you will have several students in your class who struggle with reading comprehension. This then becomes a major focus in our classrooms, but we know a student’s lack of reading comprehensi…

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166. 3 Scaffolds Every Reading Teacher Should Use 27:59

1M ago27:59

27:59

I’ve always made it a priority of mine to find simple yet effective strategies that support literacy teachers in the classroom. One of our main jobs as literacy teachers is to provide our students with the skills to become successful readers and writers. And one way to do that is by giving your students scaffolds to support their literacy growth an…

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Informing and Transforming with Kindness, Patience, and Consideration 39:35

2M ago39:35

39:35

As literacy instruction evolves and improves and the science of reading informs classroom practice more and more, we all need to make room for each other’s ideas, perspectives, and expertise. In this episode of Literacy Talks, our hosts ask themselves and teachers everywhere if we’re being too judgmental. How can we approach conversations with coll…

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165. Time Management Test-Taking Strategies That Work 25:37

2M ago25:37

25:37

Over the last few episodes, I’ve been covering several test-taking strategies in order to help prepare your students for the end-of-year standardized test. Unfortunately, most standardized tests are timed, so having efficient time management is so important for the success of their performance. Knowing how to pace themselves during a timed test is …

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Who Needs to Know What? Teachers and Students—Different Needs! 47:55

2M ago47:55

47:55

There is much to know as we teach foundational and more advanced literacy. Here’s where questions arise. How much do teachers need to know about the science of reading to be effective and successful in the classroom? A related question: How much do students need to know about technical reading and language terms to develop and grow their literacy s…

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164. Helping Students Manage and Overcome Test Anxiety 21:58

2M ago21:58

21:58

When it comes to preparing for a state standardized test, we tend to focus our energy and time on the content our students need to master in order to get a high-achieving score. We implement daily practice and review for weeks leading up to the test. However, one aspect that we don’t focus on but plays a big role in our students’ performances is te…

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Literacy Legislation: Challenges, Changes, and Choices 39:22

2M ago39:22

39:22

In October of 2023, The Reading Council of North America filed a lawsuit against Ohio, attempting to reverse the state’s move to align classroom instruction to the science of reading principles and practices. In this episode of Literacy Talks, our hosts discuss the growing momentum behind instruction based in the science of reading and the importan…

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163. Response Ready: Tips for Helping Your Students Understand Writing Prompts 18:16

2M ago18:16

18:16

I’m so passionate about writing and helping students develop their skills and become better writers. One aspect of writing that is often complex and difficult for students to master is learning how to understand and respond to writing prompts. This is a vital skill because it not only helps students with standardized tests, but it’s a task that can…

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New Perspectives on the Orton-Gillingham Approach 44:50

3M ago44:50

44:50

The Orton-Gillingham approach to teaching literacy is growing in popularity for students with dyslexia, and now it is often included in state-level education policy. In this episode of Literacy Talks, our hosts talk in-depth about the research supporting key components of the “OG” approach and explore where additional research is needed. The spark …

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162. Mastering the Basics: Reinforcing Core Writing Skills 23:15

2M ago23:15

23:15

Even though testing season isn’t here tomorrow, it is just around the corner and will be here before you know it. And instead of stressing and trying to prepare your students in a short amount of time, why not get started now? But whether you’re preparing students for a standardized test or wanting to work on different writing skills throughout the…

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161. Strategies for Gradually Increasing Writing Time and Complexity 25:48

3M ago25:48

25:48

Over the last few weeks, we’ve been diving into the topic of student writing stamina. We’ve explored strategies to keep students engaged in writing, challenges students face while they’re writing, and how to build stamina through practices implemented in the classroom. By having all this background information and fresh new ideas on ways to keep th…

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All the Buzz from Plain Talk About Literacy and Learning 2024 32:34

3M ago32:34

32:34

Whether you attended the Plain Talk 2024 Conference or wish you did, this episode is a whirlwind wrap-up of the event. From our hosts’ responses to several keynote presentations to quick summaries of the breakout sessions that made an impact, you’ll get the inside story about how the literacy community embraces science of reading instruction. You’l…

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160. 4 Ways to Increase Writing Endurance 38:21

3M ago38:21

38:21

In last week’s episode, we learned that writing stamina is built over time and includes more than just an amount of time, but when students are actively engaged in a particular writing task. Since having writing stamina can be difficult for students, I wanted to create a series that provided teachers with strategies that improved a student’s writin…

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19. Unveiling 5 Unpopular Opinions About Teaching Reading 18:22

3M ago18:22

18:22

There are some common methods and practices for teaching reading that I don’t agree with. Now, I don’t say this to ruffle feathers but rather to challenge the status quo and make us think deeply about how we approach literacy education and how we can make the biggest impact on our students’ reading journeys. We all want to provide the best reading …

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159. Writing Stamina: 6 Challenges Students Face and How to Help Them 38:41

3M ago38:41

38:41

I am passionate about literacy, especially finding creative and engaging ways to get students writing. However, none of that matters if their writing stamina is low. I know from my experience being in the classroom, that so many of my students didn’t have the writing endurance for longer pieces of writing, which meant I had to come up with ways to …

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A Big Conversation about Small Group Instruction 1:00:09

3M ago1:00:09

1:00:09

There is new interest in small group instruction as a key component of early literacy learning. Some educators are talking about skipping the small groups. Others have important ideas about making small group instruction better and more effective. In this episode, our hosts explore strategies and tactics for organizing, supporting, and evaluating s…

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18. How to Help Students Who Hate Reading 19:10

3M ago19:10

19:10

We’ve all come across students who hate reading. These students, for whatever reason it may be, cannot see the power and joy that reading can bring. Thankfully, we are in a position to help these students see just how amazing reading can be. With the right steps and encouragement, we can transform these students into lifelong readers! In this episo…

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158. 5 Podcasts You Should be Listening to in 2024 29:44

4M ago29:44

29:44

Podcasts are one of the fastest growing platforms to gain information in a short amount of time. I obviously love the idea of podcasts and how it can reach so many people with a variety of topics. With the availability that it brings, there are so many opportunities to make listening to podcasts part of your daily life. I want to help you discover …

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157. Sensory Storytelling: Using Sensory Details to Bring Writing to Life 29:35

4M ago29:35

29:35

Over the last month I’ve been sharing different ways you can engage your students in that helps develop their simple sentences into more detailed and complex sentences. With this being the final episode in the series, I’m finally covering my favorite way to bring writing to life, which is by using sensory details to create sensory storytelling. Usi…

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Valuable Words About Vocabulary, with Special Guest Dr. Elfrieda Hiebert 50:08

4M ago50:08

50:08

Season 5 of Literacy Talks begins with a visit from special guest Dr. Elfrieda “Freddie” Hiebert, noted researcher, educator, author, and president and CEO of TextProject, Inc., a nonprofit organization focused on bringing beginning and struggling readers to high levels of literacy using a variety of strategies and tools, particularly the texts use…

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17. What Middle School ELA Teachers Wish Elementary Educators Knew with Caitlin Mitchell 55:07

3M ago55:07

55:07

As an elementary teacher, I was always worried about whether I was doing a good enough job in preparing my students for the next level. I wanted to be a fly on the wall of their classrooms when they got to middle school to see if they were prepared. That is why I am so excited to have Caitlin Mitchell joining me today to share all about how element…

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156. Enhancing Sentences with Prepositions [Sentence Expansion Series] 31:38

4M ago31:38

31:38

We are now well into our series on how to enhance simple sentences using a variety of descriptive strategies. What I love about each new idea is that these are grammar concepts you teach your students, but now you’re able to dive deeper and use them in a whole new way. In today’s episode, I’m sharing another strategy which is using prepositions to …

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16. Small Steps, Big Impact: Teaching Goal Setting in Elementary Grades 24:32

4M ago24:32

24:32

One of the most powerful things you can do with your students inside the classroom is goal setting. It can help to drive motivation and focus and give your students the extra push they need intrinsically to meet the goals they have set for themselves. I know goal setting with your students can sound daunting, but it doesn’t need to be! Goal setting…

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155. Joining Forces: Combining Sentences with Conjunctions [Sentence Expansion Series] 30:46

4M ago30:46

30:46

Over the last two weeks, I’ve been discussing different strategies that help with sentence expansion. In today’s episode, I’m sharing the third strategy in this series. Just like the previous two strategies, you might have already talked about and taught this particular skill, but I challenge you to intentionally have your students use it in their …

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15. The Power of Read Alouds in the Classroom with Sara Soucy From The Colorful Apple 48:58

4M ago48:58

48:58

How amazing is it to witness a student’s eyes beam with excitement when they are completely captivated by a story? The great thing is, by harnessing the power of read alouds, we can get our students excited about reading while also building background knowledge, modeling fluent reading, and so much more! Sara Soucy from The Colorful Apple joins us …

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154. Make Writing Come to Life with the 5Ws and H Strategy [Sentence Expansion Series] 20:57

4M ago20:57

20:57

This series is all about how to easily get students to expand their sentences by adding details to their basic sentences. Last week’s strategy was all about adding the 2 A’s, adjectives and adverbs, to create a story and description. But today’s strategy also serves a greater purpose than just sentence expansion. In today’s episode, I’m discussing …

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14. 5 Podcasts You Need To Be Listening To In 2024 28:47

5M ago28:47

28:47

A fresh, new year always brings a spark of possibility and positivity as I look forward to all the things I hope to accomplish in the year. And if you’re feeling anything like me, you are optimistic that 2024 is finally going to be a good year! I am so ready to make 2024 an amazing year! Are you with me? If you’re looking to elevate your teaching a…

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153. Using Adjectives and Adverbs to Brighten Up Student Writing [Sentence Expansion Series] 22:32

5M ago22:32

22:32

Happy New Year, my friends! Let's jump-start 2024 with some practical and easy strategies to expand student sentences. At the beginning of the year, our goal is for students to write a complete sentence, but our goal at the end of the year is for them to add meaningful details to those sentences. And while that might seem challenging, I’ve come up …

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13. Unveiling Three Game-Changing Strategies to Transform Your Teaching in 2024 36:22

5M ago36:22

36:22

What if I told you there were simple strategies you could implement in your class that could elevate your instruction and be a total game changer for your students? Believe it or not, there are strategies that don’t require extra materials or extra prep but make a big impact. As we are heading into a new year, it’s a great time to start implementin…

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152. End of Year Inspiration: 25 Takeaways From 2023 23:53

5M ago23:53

23:53

With this being the last week of 2023, I wanted to take an opportunity to share some reflections I’ve had from this past year. I’ve been open on this podcast about certain things I went through, even resulting in me taking a break from this podcast. With that experience, along with other personal and work related things, I wanted to share some end …

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12. Binge-Worthy PD: Your Holiday Reading List for Teacher Growth 23:11

5M ago23:11

23:11

Are you looking for a simple yet impactful way to squeeze in a little professional development during the holiday break? I absolutely loved to use this time off to not only recharge but to binge a professional development book I knew I wouldn’t have time to read while in the classroom. Before diving into books, we typically like to know if they are…

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151. Differentiated Instruction for ELLs: Scaffolding Techniques for All Levels with Beth Vaucher 29:22

5M ago29:22

29:22

We discuss all the time the difficulty that students have when it comes to writing and getting their ideas out on paper. But now imagine English isn’t your first language. The challenge now becomes greater, but there’s a way to meet their needs. This is through using scaffolds with your writing. In a special episode from Beth Vaucher of the Equippi…

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Season’s Greetings and Literacy for All 33:26

5M ago33:26

33:26

As the saying goes, “That’s a wrap!” This episode closes Season 4 of Literacy Talks. Our listening audience has grown remarkably, and we’re grateful to every educator who tunes in to share the gift of literacy with us and our special guests. Join our trio of terrific literacy leaders, Stacy Hurst, Lindsay Kemeny, and Donell Pons, for a retrospectiv…

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11. Emotional Intelligence and Reading Success: A Counselor's Perspective with Sara Cottrill-Carlo 41:25

5M ago41:25

41:25

Have you ever had a student who regularly seemed stressed or anxious and was also struggling with academics? There is a strong connection between social-emotional well-being and academic success that is often overlooked. This is a huge reason that there is a strong push for social-emotional learning in schools right now. Professional school counsel…

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150. Sure-Fire Strategies for Engaging Reluctant Writers 33:47

5M ago33:47

33:47

We all have those students who don’t like writing and have a lot of negative emotions surrounding writing in general. Even though winter break is coming coon, there are still things you can either try during these last few weeks or implement when you return in January. But either way, we want our students interested and engaged in writing. So in to…

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10. Navigating the Depths of Reading Comprehension [The Fab 5 of Literacy Series] 36:22

6M ago36:22

36:22

What exactly is comprehension in the context of reading? We know that comprehension is the core of literacy. And as teachers, understanding that comprehension is what connects phonemic awareness, phonics, vocab, and fluency together is crucial for effective literacy instruction. When it comes to improving your students' reading comprehension, even …

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149. Reading Beyond the Words: Active Reading Strategies for Student Understanding 23:32

6M ago23:32

23:32

Do you ever see students reading in your classroom that have great fluency and can recall the words on the page, but can’t give any details about what happened in the text? If this describes students in your classroom, it’s time to implement active reading strategies. This comprehension strategy is used to evaluate a students’ understanding of a te…

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Writing: Rethinking How We Build the Foundation 35:28

6M ago35:28

35:28

How can we encourage young learners to become confident writers? It’s a question every elementary classroom teacher continues to ponder. In this episode of Literacy Talks, writing takes center stage as our hosts explore how to rethink writing workshop strategy and transform it so students can build a solid foundation for writing—from the basics of …

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9. Mastering Vocabulary: A Key to Elementary Literacy [The Fab 5 of Literacy Series] 39:42

6M ago39:42

39:42

We know that teaching vocabulary is crucial for students to comprehend texts, but the importance of expanding students' vocabulary goes far beyond understanding what they are reading in the classroom. Vocabulary in elementary education not only impacts comprehension but also how students engage with and understand the world. Explicitly teaching voc…

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148. Merging Vocabulary with Writing: A Powerful Execution 26:36

6M ago26:36

26:36

I’ve loved going through the different stages of vocabulary from a basic understanding, misconceptions, strategies, and now how to use it as an emphasis in student writing. When we can merge vocabulary with writing, it’s an opportunity for students to use their literacy skills in writing, while also simulating real world communication and relevance…

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8. Reading Fluency Uncovered [The Fab 5 of Literacy Series] 25:05

6M ago25:05

25:05

Have you witnessed the transformation when a student turns from a hesitant or reluctant reader into a confident reader? It is truly an amazing thing to watch unfold before your eyes! The key to this transformation is the third component of literacy: Fluency! As teachers, we know that fluency is essential to being a successful reader. But what does …

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Literacy Specialist For Elementary Reading Teachers Podcasts

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