What exactly is the schwa sound, and why is it such an important part of the English language? Yvette Manns, author of the Phonics Read-Alouds series and founder of National Schwa Day, joins me to dive deep into everything schwa—what it is, how it functions in words, and why teaching it explicitly is a game-changer for reading and spelling instruction. We also chat about the official National Schwa Day, how teachers can celebrate, and fun, engaging strategies to help students understand this “not-so-lazy” vowel sound!

Key Takeaways:

What is the Schwa Sound?
Why Teaching Schwa Matters
How to Teach Schwa Effectively
Celebrating National Schwa Day!

Resources Mentioned:

FREE National Schwa Day Educator Toolkit (FREE 43-page resource!) - Download the toolkit and celebrate National Schwa Day on April 7th!
National Schwa Day Website: https://nationalschwaday.org/
The Not-So-Lazy-Schwa Book written by Yvette Manns
Phonics Read-Alouds Series Website – PhonicsReadAlouds.com
Phonics Read-Alouds Series on Amazon
The Viral 44 Phonemes Video featuring Yvette Manns – Watch on YouTube
Slant System Passages
From Speech to Print - Dr. Louisa Moats
See Yvette & I present at the Science of Reading Mini-Con Conference - July 10th, 2025 in Racine, WI!

This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting the podcast!

Connect with Yvette Manns:

Connect with Me:

Follow me on Instagram: @michelle_thecolorfulclassroom
Join our Facebook Community
Sign up for my Newsletter
Shop on TPT: The Colorful Classroom
Visit: www.michelleandthecolorfulclassroom.com
Join The COLORFUL Literacy Toolkit Membership

27. Celebrate National Schwa Day: What's the Schwa Sound & How to Teach It with Yvette Manns, Author of Phonics Read-Alouds