Reading Teachers Lounge

Shannon and Mary record their Season 8 finale, catching up on what they've been doing during the school year.    They've both been busy with balancing personal and professional responsibilities, with work hours increasing for Shannon in tutoring and for Mary in advocacy work and supporting parents in IEP meetings.   In their tutoring practices, they're both advancing beyond decoding work with many of their students, and during the discussion, they both realized they had adopted sentence-composing activities, inspired by 8.8's guest, Sara Lee.   During the discussion, they detail how their students use literature-based model sentences and scaffolded imitation to build sentence skills, comprehension, and vocabulary.   Shannon describes how she adds language support using English Linking Blocks and word lists.   The discussion then highlights their excitement about UFLI's upcoming structured morphology curriculum, Word Origins (adapted from Australia).   In the episode chat, they also touch on the AMIRA screener, Mary's recent SWI professional learning through Word Torque, and how they're both supporting students' math knowledge and skills in their tutoring.   Listen in to catch up with these reading teachers and find out how their literacy instruction continues to evolve.

00:38 Life as Busy Parents
02:30 Tutoring and Advocacy Load
04:29 Discovering Sentence Composing
07:37 Harry Potter Hook
09:17 Linking Blocks Breakthrough
13:18 From Sentences to Writing
19:43 Structured Morphology Word Origins
22:58 Structured Morphology Wins
23:48 Curriculum Fidelity First
27:06 Word Origins Details
28:41 Australia Connections
31:17 Getting It Into Schools
32:15 Georgia Reading Screening
37:59 Math Fluency Intervention
40:22 Subitizing And Word Problems
47:12 Wrap Up Season Notes

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES RELEVANT TO THE EPISODE:

UFLI Word Origins news updates form
UFLI Word Origins Information
Hands-On English Linking Blocks
Word Torque website
Word Inquiry In Action
Reviews of Curriculum - The Reading League
GA Dyslexia Handbook related to updated laws for HS 307
Math Their Way
Aubree Teaches - conceptual, visual math
 Aubree Teaches - store (this is not an affiliated link)
Wild Critters with PBS Nature
Take your family on a wildlife adventures with 'Wild Critters' on 'Orbit!' For kids 3-11.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Support the show
Get Literacy Support through our Patreon
Bonus Episodes access through your podcast app
Bonus episodes access through Patreon
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Shannon and Mary welcome Dr. Ellen Ballock and Julia D'Onofrio from Gordon College to talk about teacher preparation programs. Discover how they design and implement teacher prep programs focused on literacy instruction, the science of reading, and practical teaching methods. Our guests shed light on the importance of comprehensive training, common misconceptions in literacy education, and the roles of explicit instruction and evidence-based practices. They also delve into how their curriculum bridges gaps in teacher knowledge, ensuring future educators are well-equipped to foster student success.   This episode will likely remind you of your own teacher training and inspire you, making you feel hopeful about the future of our field and for new teacher candidates.

01:16 Meet Today’s Guests
05:10 Teacher Prep Shifts Nationwide
10:54 Data Language and Decision Making
14:36 Unlearning Balanced Literacy
18:06 Teaching Phonemic Awareness to Adults
22:06 Modeling Explicit Instruction
25:39 Morphology and Word Study
29:49 Curriculum Partnerships and Fidelity
32:01 Adapting Curriculum with Scaffolds
35:50 Redesigning for Comprehension
38:13 Gateway Checks for Think Alouds
40:39 Coaching Struggling Candidates
43:53 Writing Methods and Sentence Work
48:22 Sentence Composing Mentor Models
52:11 Practicum Pathway and Feedback
01:03:04 Doctoral Program for Change Agents
01:07:19 Closing Thanks and Takeaways
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES RELEVANT TO THE EPISODE:
Gordon College
Sentence Composing (Don Killgallon)
Grammar for Middle School: A Sentence Composing Approach by Don and Jenny Killgallon *Amazon affiliate link
NCTQ
Early literacy observation tool (Massachusetts)
Moat's Survey of Teacher Knowledge
How Spelling Supports Reading  article by Louisa Moats
Gordon College's Science of Learning Doctoral Program
Wild Critters with PBS Nature
Take your family on a wildlife adventures with 'Wild Critters' on 'Orbit!' For kids 3-11.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Support the show
Get Literacy Support through our Patreon
Bonus Episodes access through your podcast app
Bonus episodes access through Patreon
Buy us a coffee
Get a FREE Green Chef box using our link

In this episode of the Reading Teacher's Lounge, hosts Mary and Shannon welcome expert Sara Lee to discuss best practices for teaching grammar and syntax. They dive into how understanding sentence structure, grammatical functions, and modifiers can elevate both reading comprehension and writing skills for students of all ages. Sara emphasizes the importance of embedding grammar instruction within reading and writing activities, and provides practical strategies for making grammar engaging and relevant. Specific strategies, such as focusing on sentence nuclei, harnessing descriptive modifiers, and being mindful of students' language acquisition backgrounds, are discussed. Additionally, Sara emphasizes the importance of providing meaningful practice opportunities and underscores the value of understanding grammar as the structure of language. The episode is rich with actionable insights and resources to help teachers better support their students.
NOTE FROM GUEST:
Re: our discussion about adverbs at minute 33 in the episode, I want to make sure listeners understand that the word "so" can also modify adverbs (as adverbs can modify other adverbs), rather than thinking that adverbs can only modify adjectives.

01:38 Introducing Our Special Guest: Sara Lee
02:31 Diving into Grammar and Syntax
05:33 Understanding Grammatical Functions
07:55 Challenges and Resources for Teaching Grammar
10:04 Practical Applications and Student Engagement
12:41 The Importance of Sentence Structure
25:05 Using AI to Enhance Grammar Lessons
32:23 Supporting Multi-Language Learners
35:22 Challenges in Teaching Writing
36:38 Tips for Enhancing Writing Skills
39:34 Using Sentence Nucleus for Creativity
41:28 Grammar in Reading and Writing Instruction
44:30 Engaging Students in Grammar
48:41 Resources for Teaching Grammar
01:02:02 Making Grammar Fun and Approachable
01:03:18 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES RELEVANT TO THE EPISODE:
The Literacy Doctor
Sentence Composing (Don Killgallon)
Grammar for Middle School: A Sentence Composing Approach by Don and Jenny Killgallon *Amazon affiliate link
The Death of Practice (Sara's blog post)
Grammarism
Linguistics Girl
Word Hippo
Video from Dr. Bowers and Marie Foley (Nested Combinatorial Structure)
Timothy Shanahan's blog post:   Comprehension Instruction that Really Helps-Teaching Cohesion
Evan Moor Daily Paragraph Editing book *Amazon affiliate link
Wild Critters with PBS Nature
Take your family on a wildlife adventures with 'Wild Critters' on 'Orbit!' For kids 3-11.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Support the show
Get Literacy Support through our Patreon
Bonus Episodes access through your podcast app
Bonus episodes access through Patreon
Buy us a coffee
Get a FREE Green Chef box using our link

In this episode, we explore effective practices for supporting students with homework. Join us as we discuss strategies to foster a productive & stress-free homework environment. We cover the importance of EF, the advantages and challenges of traditional homework, & how to address post-COVID implications. Also, we share insights on balancing homework with students' SEL, creative engagement techniques, & practical communication tips for accommodations.

01:14 Supporting Learners at Home
02:20 The Role of Executive Functioning in Homework
05:27 Creative Homework Approaches
09:01 Simplifying Homework for Better Engagement
10:32 Flexible and Individualized Homework Strategies
19:24 Creating a Productive Homework Environment
25:28 Understanding Executive Functioning in Children
26:07 Dealing with Meltdowns and Connection Issues
27:37 Empathy and Minimal Help Strategies
28:07 Middle School Homework Challenges
29:28 Reaching Out to Teachers for Support
29:58 Effective Homework Breaks and Routines
36:55 Positive Feedback and Encouragement
43:52 The Role of Parents in Homework Success
44:22 Reading Logs and Encouraging Curiosity
46:59 Research on Homework Benefits
48:18 Conclusion and Resources
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES RELEVANT TO THE EPISODE:
Reading Rockets: What the Research Says About the Value of Homework
Understood.org Homework Challenges & Strategies
11 Tips for Helping Your Child Manage Homework
Why Nov. is Hard For Students and 7 Ways Parents Can Help
Infographic: How Does Homework Actually Affect Students?
Stanford Research Shows Pitfalls of Homework
Copy of Mary's  Email
Scripts to Use When Requesting Support 
Effective Practices for Homework
5 Homework Strategies for Working with Students with Learning Disabilities 
Tips for Parents
 Timer * affiliate
Wild Critters with PBS Nature
Take your family on a wildlife adventures with 'Wild Critters' on 'Orbit!' For kids 3-11.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Support the show
Get Literacy Support through our Patreon
Bonus Episodes access through your podcast app
Bonus episodes access through Patreon
Buy us a coffee
Get a FREE Green Chef box using our link

Shannon and Mary revisit the topic of Structured Word Inquiry (SWI) and discuss the importance of understanding the deliberate reasons for English spellings with guests Jennifer Petrich and Bradley Johnson.

The conversation follows the hosts' and guests' experiences with SWI, detailing how it helps students understand and apply the structure of English spelling with its focus on word structures, etymology, and morphology. 

Emphasizing a shift from a phonics-only approach to one that also prioritizes morphology & etymology, the episode highlights the importance of starting with word meaning and developing scientific inquiry skills in literacy teaching. 

The journey into SWI is one of discovery, collaboration, & continuous learning. With the tools and strategies shared, educators can confidently embark on this path, helping their students gain a deeper understanding of the rich tapestry that is the English language. 

Join the conversation and dive into the world of SWI. Whether you're an educator, a parent, or a lifelong learner, there’s always more to uncover in the fascinating study of words.
01:01 Welcome to the RTL
01:44 Introduction to SWI
03:11 Meet the Guests: Jennifer Petrich and Bradley Johnson
04:25 Jennifer's Journey with Dyslexia and SWI
07:10 Bradley's Path to SWI
12:14 Explaining SWI to Teachers
21:59 Importance of Meaning & Morphology
34:25 Importance of Lifelong Learning
35:01 Introducing SWI
35:34 Overcoming the Fear of Not Knowing
36:12 Utilizing Curricular Modules and Materials
37:26 Inquiry-Based Learning in the Classroom
38:26 Developing Content Knowledge and Pedagogical Skills
40:33 The Role of Big Ideas in Teaching
42:43 Practical Applications and Teacher Experiences
43:18 Scientific Inquiry in Word Study
44:09 Integrating Phonics & Morphology
54:17 The Importance of Community & Collaboration
59:02 Final Thoughts & Resources
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES RELEVANT TO THE EPISODE:
The Literacy Doctor website
One Step Now Education
Dyslexia Training Institute
Pete Bowers's website
Our Season 7 episode with Dr. Peter Bowers about SWI
The High Frequency Word Project book by Rebecca Loveless & Fiona Hamilton *Amazon affiliate link
The Literacy Doctor weekly drop-ins (on Wed. )
Investigating English Spelling by Bradley Johnson and Jennifer Petrich *Amazon affiliate link
Structured Word Inquiry in the Classroom (FB group)
Marie Foley's course
Wild Critters with PBS Nature
Take your family on a wildlife adventures with 'Wild Critters' on 'Orbit!' For kids 3-11.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Support the show
Get Literacy Support through our Patreon
Bonus Episodes access through your podcast app
Bonus episodes access through Patreon
Buy us a coffee
Get a FREE Green Chef box using our link