Episodes
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This week's episode focuses on reading comprehension and how to include it into reading instruction. The following is addressed:
- Why we read
- How to assess reading comprehension
- How to include a structured approach to comprehension into reading instruction
The episode ends with ideas for how parents can address comprehension when reading with kids at home.
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What other ways can you read with students other than through interactive read-alouds?
This week's episode is all about shared reading and how to include this into your teaching to support students' reading fluency and comprehension.
Elizabeth begins by explaining shared reading and what it looks like in practice. She talks about the types of texts that are commonly used in shared reading and how they are different from the texts used in interactive read-alouds. Shared reading supports a variety of skills - which are addressed.
Finally, Elizabeth ends with how shared reading can be beneficial to parents when they are reading at home with their kids.
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Missing episodes?
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What is a literacy coach? How does a literacy coach support teachers, students, and schools? In today's episode, Elizabeth is speaking with Melissa Morrison, the founder of Teaching to Transform. Melissa is a coach, specifically a writing coach. She works with teachers to support their writing instruction.
In this episode, Elizabeth and Melissa discuss the role of a coach and how coaching can benefit teachers and students. They also discuss writing instruction and her advice for supporting writing at school and at home.
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It's October! Today's episode is not directly related to literacy. Elizabeth sits down to speak with Dara Kurtz, an author, speaker, and breast cancer survivor. Dara has experienced setbacks in her life, but has come out stronger and is living a more intentional life. She teaches a class that focuses on helping individuals thrive after and/or during a challenging time in life. We talk about strategies to help if you are feeling overwhelmed, burned out, or just need a reset. And...good news, most of these are free!
For more information about Dara:
DARA KURTZ, after being diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of forty-two, left her twenty-year career as a financial advisor to focus on writing and speaking. Today her personal blog, Crazy Perfect Life, reaches over 200,000 followers. Dara is the author of I am My Mother’s Daughter: Wisdom on Life, Loss, and Love, Crush Cancer, and Living with Gratitude, her daily gratitude journal.
Dara’s been a guest on over 70 podcasts/TV/Radio shows. Her goal is to use her life experiences to help people strengthen their relationships and create more happiness and joy in their everyday lives.
Follow Dara:
Sign up for Dara’s Newsletter https://crazyperfectlife.com/join/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/crazyperflife/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/crazyperfectlife
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Literacy education has many terms that sound similar and have similar meanings. Phonological and phonemic awareness are two of those terms!
This week, Elizabeth explains these two terms and shares examples of how they can be taught. Foundational skills are a hot topic at the moment and curriculum is being implemented to address phonological and phonemic awareness - so having an understanding of what they mean and what instruction needs to be taught is helpful for supporting elementary students.
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Welcome to the new school year! This episode starts with an update. Then, Elizabeth shares what she is focusing on for this back to school time. This fall, Elizabeth is teaching three reading classes - so she discusses how teachers can think through their reading instruction and emphasizes interactive read-alouds and what to pay attention to when planning and implementing read-alouds at the beginning of the year. The episode ends with three books that Elizabeth read with her kids over the summer.
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Jennifer Serravallo is back on today's episode! Elizabeth speaks with Jennifer about her latest book, Teaching Reading Across the Day: Methods and Structures for Engaging, Explicit Instruction. They begin by discussing the structure of the book and all of the wonderful resources that are included with the book - this includes many videos of the different types of instruction.
They chat about explicit instruction, why it's necessary to include in instruction, and what this looks like in the elementary classroom. Then, Jennifer explains the different lesson structures that she included in the book -- and takes us through some of the lessons that are included in the book.
Check out Jennifer Serravallo's website: https://www.jenniferserravallo.com/
You can find Jennifer's latest book here.
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This is a fun episode! Emily Drabinski, the current president of the American Library Association (ALA) is back on the podcast!
The ALA Annual Conference will be held in San Diego from June 27-July 2, 2004 and Emily is here to share what is in store for attendees. She starts by giving us an update on her recent library visits and discusses the amazing work that libraries are doing to support their communities.
Then, she shares information about the conference – some of the topics that will be discussed, some of the authors who will be speaking, and of course – how to register! If you are interested in attending, here is the link!
https://www.ala.org/conferencesevents
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The end of the school year is quickly approaching! In today's episode, Elizabeth discusses some tips for teachers and parents to gear up for the end of the school year.
There are many events at this time of the year, so this episode will help you think through what you want to teach and review before the summer comes!
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Independent reading is a common practice in elementary classrooms. It's important for kids to have time to read because research has found that children who read more are often likely to become better readers. However, it is not as straightforward as time reading equals becoming a better reader.
In order to make independent reading time more effective, Elizabeth shares three tips from research studies: consider the books that students are reading, do more than read during independent reading time, and help students set their own reading goals to work towards.
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How do we support kids with writing while not jumping to use the Chromebooks or iPads? Elizabeth shares some ideas to support elementary kids with their writing that do not require devices.
In order to set kids up for success with their writing, she shares some ideas that have helped her students when teaching writing. They include: introducing mentor texts, modeling your own writing and thinking when writing, using graphic organizers well, thinking about what writing tools you are introducing to students, and have some type of publishing party so that students can share their final writing pieces.
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In this episode, Elizabeth is joined by Andrea Haas, a literacy consultant who supports teachers with reading and writing instruction. They discuss writing and Andrea shares ideas for how to plan globally so reading, writing, and the content areas are aligned.
They also discuss teaching the writing process and when prompts are appropriate. Finally, Andrea shares teaching moves to make small group instruction manageable as well as highlights an idea to try out when students need additional support -- this can be used at any grade level!
Check out Andrea's website: https://www.elmtreeed.com/
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It's the time of year when job postings are popping up! This month's episodes focus on preparing for the job market - and this episode is focused on writing resumes and cover letters. Elizabeth discusses what should be included in a resume and cover letter and what should absolutely not be included (hint: make sure everything you include is true!).
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After speaking with Lorraine Radice, who shared her idea of Falling in Love with Reading for the month of February, Elizabeth shares ideas about ways to help elementary students love reading. She shares four ideas that you can include in your teaching or even at home to help kids enjoy reading.
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How do we get kids to read? Dr. Lorraine Radice is a literacy leader at a school district on Long Island. She has been working to build a culture of reading at all levels in the school district. Her recent book, Leading a Culture of Reading: How to Ignite and Sustain a Love of Literacy in Your School Community, addresses specific ways that school districts and teachers can work to get kids reading.
In our conversation, we discuss the framework that Lorraine established to do this work, the ideas that she has implemented with teachers to introduce new book titles that students may enjoy reading, as well as her work with getting kids involved in being reading leaders.
Lorraine is passionate about getting kids excited, interested, and engaged in reading. This conversation and her book will give district leaders, teachers, and parents ideas to try out with kids at any grade level.
Link to Lorraine's website: https://www.lorrainemradice.com/
Link to Lorraine's Book: https://www.solutiontree.com/leading-a-culture-of-reading.html
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Welcome to Episode 34! Today I am speaking with Dr. Karen Gazith who is a professor at McGill University. She recently published the book, The Power of Effective Reading Instruction: How Neuroscience Informs Instruction Across All Grades and Disciplines, which addresses so many of the questions and issues in literacy education today.
Dr. Gazith explains neuroscience and what it says about reading instruction. She also discusses the term dyslexia and how a teacher may notice if a student is dyslexic. This book is so practical and provides strategies that can be implemented in the classroom. Karen shares some of her strategies with us during the episode - one of my personal favorites is the Word Bag to support vocabulary!
We end the episode with some ways parents can support their children with reading at home!
To purchase Karen's book: https://www.solutiontree.com/power-of-effective-reading-instruction.html
Karen's Website: https://teachingmeanslearning.com/
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The American Library Association is hosting an event this month! It's the LibLearnX Conference and joining me to discuss the conference is the current ALA President, Emily Drabinski.
Emily talks about the conference and what to expect. There are both in-person and digital options to attend, so if you are not able to travel to Baltimore, you can still attend the different sessions. There are many relevant topics being addressed in the sessions: AI, privacy issues with younger students, building partnerships between schools and libraries – are just a few.
Emily speaks about the issues that libraries are facing and she offers an update on book bans in the U.S. She also speaks about the crucial role that libraries play in communities and the resources that they provide - these extend beyond books!
For more information check out the LibLearnX Conference here: https://2024.alaliblearnx.org/
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It's the end of the year, which is a great time to think about and reflect on our literacy instruction. Elizabeth identifies five areas of literacy instruction: Reading, Books, Writing, Speaking, and Listening, and goes through a guided reflection of each of these areas.
The goal is to think about what aspects of your literacy instruction are going well, then identify a few areas that could use some modifications. The last step is to make a plan for those changes.
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Get ready for a fun episode! If you have students or children who enjoy reading graphic novels - then this is an episode that you must listen to! In this week's episode, Stephen Shaskan joins Elizabeth to discuss graphic novels. Stephen is the author of the fun and motivating series, Pizza and Taco. He has also written and illustrated a number of other books, including the series Q & Ray, which his wife wrote and he illustrated.
Stephen discusses why graphic novels are so motivating for kids to read. He also talks about his own love of reading comic books as a kid and how important reading comic books was for him as a reader. He also talks about the Pizza and Taco book series and the videos that he has made to go along with the books.
We end the episode with a few pieces of advice for parents and teachers when kids want to read graphic novels.
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In this week's episode, Elizabeth talks with Jennifer McCarty Plucker about her new book Inspiring Lifelong Readers. Jennifer talks about the inquiry work that she did with students in middle and high school to support them as readers. She provides very helpful strategies from her book that can be implemented at all grade levels. Jennifer stresses the importance of helping all students find books that they enjoy reading - and she gives a roadmap to help teachers (and parents!) with that work. At the end of the episode, Jennifer gives excellent tips to parents who want to support their upper grade children with reading at home.
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