67. Small Groups, Big Results with Dr. Julia B. Lindsey

In this episode, Michelle talks with Dr. Julia Lindsey about her brand-new book “Small Groups, Big Results: Evidence-Based Routines to Get Every Child Reading ”, a practical guide to designing effective small-group instruction with the Science of Reading in mind. Julia shares her journey to researcher and author, and explains why the “leveled-text ladder” needs to be left behind. Together they explore how to use small groups with purpose, the data that should drive them, and the mindset shifts teachers need to make every minute of instruction count.

Key Takeaways:

• Small groups are most powerful when they’re targeted, built around clear goals, practice, and feedback.
• “Guided reading” levels don’t predict growth; what matters is matching instruction to the next skill students need.
• Data should reveal what to teach, not just who is behind. Group by need, not by label.
• Flexible groupings, short bursts of focused practice, and clear feedback create more learning in less time.
• The purpose of small-group instruction is not to fill a time block; it’s to accelerate access to grade-level learning.

Resources Mentioned:

• Reading Above the Fray by Dr. Julia B. Lindsey (Scholastic’s Science of Reading in Practice Series)
• Small Groups, Big Results by Dr. Julia B. Lindsey (Scholastic’s Science of Reading in Practice Series)
• Beyond Decodables: free content-rich decodable texts
• Rock Your Literacy Block by Lindsay Kemeny (Scholastic’s Science of Reading in Practice Series)

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Connect with Dr. Julia B. Lindsey:

• Website: juliablindsey.com
• Instagram: @juliablindsey
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