Melissa & Lori Love Literacy ™

Episode 231Working with students who struggle to make sense of complex texts? You’re not alone! Christina Cover, a high school special educator, interventionist, English teacher, and literacy coordinator, is here to help! In this episode, Christina shares real-world, research-based strategies she uses to help her students break down and make sense of challenging texts. From her go-to routine Getting the Gist to building vocabulary and using morphology instruction in context, Christina walks us through what works in her classroom.You’ll hear:How to support students in summarizing and understanding complex textsWhy vocabulary and morphology matter so much for comprehensionWays to make test prep meaningful without sacrificing deeper readingHow writing can be a powerful tool for reading comprehensionIf you teach in grades 3 and up, this episode is full of tools and inspiration you can take straight back to your classroom.Resources:Getting the G.I.S.T. Word Matrices Frayer Models Collaborative Strategic Reading (CSR) The Writing RevolutionQFT: Question Formulation TechniqueProject for Adolescent Literacy: email: pal@seekcommonground.org   We answer your questions about teaching reading in The Literacy 50-A Q&A Handbook for Teachers: Real-World Answers to Questions About Reading That Keep You Up at Night.Grab free resources and episode alerts! Sign up for our email list at literacypodcast.com.Join our community on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter.

Bonus EpisodeIn this episode, Melissa and Lori sit down with Freddy Hiebert, founder of Text Project, to dive deep into the critical role texts play in reading instruction. They explore how the types of texts provided to students not only shape their reading practice but also influence their self-perception as readers.Freddy shares her expertise on understanding text features and the vital role of repetition in vocabulary acquisition. The conversation highlights how background knowledge supports comprehension and the thoughtful development of decodable texts to support early readers.They also discuss exciting advancements like the use of AI for generating reading materials and the importance of designing engaging, relevant texts for middle and high school students.Freddy unpacks the significance of morphological families, polysemy, and semantic mapping, stressing how teachers must grasp these complexities to support deeper word learning and understanding. She underscores the importance of offering students a diverse “text diet” to build vocabulary and comprehension skills.Listeners will come away with fresh insights on creating engaging texts for diverse learners and innovative strategies for vocabulary teaching that combine context, repetition, and thoughtful text design.Visit TextProject.org for more info.  We answer your questions about teaching reading in The Literacy 50-A Q&A Handbook for Teachers: Real-World Answers to Questions About Reading That Keep You Up at Night.Grab free resources and episode alerts! Sign up for our email list at literacypodcast.com.Join our community on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter.

In this enlightening discussion, Kristin Conradi Smith, a reading motivation expert, John Strong, an associate professor specializing in informational texts, and Steve Amendum, a literacy complexity guru, tackle the importance of challenging texts in education. They clarify differences between text complexity and difficulty, emphasizing thoughtful scaffolding to help students thrive. The conversation highlights strategies for assessing diverse learners, the role of decodable texts, and the value of read-alouds in early grades, packed with insights to inspire educators.

Episode 229In this episode, Katie Pace Miles and Molly Ness define and explain orthographic mapping as a crucial cognitive process for reading fluency and comprehension. They discuss the importance of mapping words in long-term memory, the difference between memorization and mapping, and the trifecta of phonology, orthography, and meaning that supports effective word learning. They share a four-step protocol from their new book, Making Words, Stick, for supporting orthographic mapping. They provide insights into effective teaching strategies and resources available for educators.ResourcesMaking Words Stick - Molly & Katie’s book! Making Words Stick One Pager - Preview the Big Ideas in the book! Katie’s Non-Profit - Readinginstitutenyc.orgRosenthal & Ehri 2008 Study The Science of Learning to Read Words - Ehri Grapheme-Phoneme Knowledge - Ehri Laura Steacy’s research  We answer your questions about teaching reading in The Literacy 50-A Q&A Handbook for Teachers: Real-World Answers to Questions About Reading That Keep You Up at Night.Grab free resources and episode alerts! Sign up for our email list at literacypodcast.com.Join our community on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter.

Episode 228 If you’ve ever wondered how to help your students decode longer words, this episode is for you! We’re joined by literacy researcher and professor Devin Kearns to talk all about teaching multisyllabic words.Many phonics programs focus on single-syllable words, but what happens when students hit big words and get stuck? Devin unpacks the research behind why that happens and what we can do instead. We talk about:flexible decoding strategies,when and how to teach syllables and morphemes,and what “set for variability” really looks like in the classroom (spoiler: it’s not guessing!).You’ll walk away with practical, research-backed ideas to help your students read longer words with confidence.Devin M. Kearns, Ph.D., is the Goodnight Distinguished Professor in Early Literacy at NC State, where he studies early reading and collaborates with experts in psychology, cognitive science, and neuroscience to explore the brain basis of reading.RESOURCESHelping Students With Dyslexia Read Long Words: Using Syllables and Morphemes by Devin M. Kearns and Victoria M. WhaleyFollowing the Rules in an Unruly WritingSystem: The Cognitive Science ofLearning to Read Englishby Devin M. Kearns and Matthew J. Cooper BorkenhagenSyllable Division: New Data that Can Inform Intervention by Joanne Marttila Pierson, Ph.D., CCC-SLPOn Eating Elephants and Teaching Syllabication by Tim Shanahan We answer your questions about teaching reading in The Literacy 50-A Q&A Handbook for Teachers: Real-World Answers to Questions About Reading That Keep You Up at Night.Grab free resources and episode alerts! Sign up for our email list at literacypodcast.com.Join our community on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter.

Episode 227In this episode, Jan Hasbrouck discusses the critical components of reading fluency, focusing on automaticity and its measurement through words correct per minute (WCPM). The discussion highlights the relationship between fluency and comprehension, the role of oral reading fluency in assessing student progress, and the importance of frequent assessments in the classroom. Jan also reflects on recent research findings from NAEP scores that challenge previous assumptions about fluency and automaticity, emphasizing the need for educators to adapt their understanding and practices based on evolving research.  The discussion also touches on the debate between repeated reading and wide reading, advocating for an approach to reading instruction that incorporates both methods. Hasbrouck encourages educators to embrace continuous learning and adapt their teaching strategies based on evolving research.Resources Hasbrouck Tindal 2017 ORF Norms Chart2018 NAEP Oral Reading Fluency Study by White, S., et. al. Listen to more Melissa & Lori podcast episodes on Fluency!  We answer your questions about teaching reading in The Literacy 50-A Q&A Handbook for Teachers: Real-World Answers to Questions About Reading That Keep You Up at Night.Grab free resources and episode alerts! Sign up for our email list at literacypodcast.com.Join our community on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter.

In this engaging discussion, renowned author Maryanne Wolf, a leader in dyslexia research, joins former teacher Melissa Orkin, who has collaborated with Wolf for 15 years. They delve into the vital concept of reading fluency, emphasizing its impact on comprehension and social-emotional well-being, especially for struggling readers. They introduce the innovative POSSUM approach, which integrates various aspects of word knowledge, helping educators adopt holistic strategies for teaching reading and ensuring that students thrive in their literacy journeys.

Virginia Quinn Mooney, a dedicated first-grade teacher, dives into the essentials of reading fluency for young learners. She emphasizes the significance of fluency in enhancing comprehension and shares dynamic strategies, like partner reading and engaging read-alouds. Virginia highlights the power of expression and prosody, recommending the incorporation of songs and poems for richer reading experiences. Her insights are invaluable for educators seeking to foster confident, independent readers in their classrooms.

Aaron Grossman, a fourth-grade teacher passionate about enhancing reading skills, shares insights on transforming fluency instruction. He introduces a structured five-day protocol using Reader’s Theater, which boosts student engagement through performance-based learning. The discussion covers how repeated reading fosters fluency, the value of students creating their own scripts, and effective strategies for varying reading levels. Listeners will uncover actionable tips for making literacy skills more dynamic and accessible in the classroom.

In this engaging discussion, Chase Young, an author and literacy researcher, dives into the transformative power of Reader's Theater in the classroom. He advocates for structured practice to enhance fluency and expression while exploring how this method can integrate with various subjects. Young highlights the importance of choosing challenging texts and the role of repetition in scaffolding skills. He also shares strategies for tackling vocabulary, using the tale of 'Rumpelstiltskin' as a case study, making reading both fun and effective for students.