Melissa & Lori Love Literacy ®

Lindsay Kemeny, a first-grade teacher and author of Rock Your Literacy Block, shares classroom-tested routines. She outlines a day‑in‑the‑life schedule and why phonics starts on the rug. Short takes on close reading, tying writing to reading, small‑group differentiation, and simple independent centers. Emphasis on practical routines and progress over perfection.

Jamey Peavler, a professor at Mount St. Joseph University and a literacy expert, dives into the intricacies of building a scientifically based ELA block. He distinguishes between word recognition and comprehension, emphasizing the need for differentiated instruction tailored to diverse learner needs. Jamey highlights the importance of foundational skills, effective interventions, and authentic comprehension strategies. He advocates for data-driven methods like walk-to-read to enhance student learning while urging educators to prioritize teaching over test prep.

In this engaging discussion, Carl Hendrick, a professor and author renowned for his expertise in the science of learning, shares invaluable insights on effective teaching practices. He emphasizes the critical nature of timely feedback, underscoring its role in correcting misconceptions. Hendrick also explores concepts like checking for understanding, retrieval practice, and interleaving to enhance retention. He warns that mere student engagement doesn’t equate to learning and advocates for research-backed methods to empower teachers.

Episode 241Nancy Hennessy and Julia Salamone discuss the often-overlooked topic of syntax and its critical role in reading comprehension. With Melissa & Lori, they discuss the architecture of sentences, the importance of understanding parts of speech, and the interconnectedness of syntax and meaning. The conversation highlights effective teaching strategies, the challenges posed by complex sentences, and the necessity of integrating background knowledge for comprehension. Nancy and Julia share practical instructional moves, emphasizing the need for explicit instruction and cognitive preparation to enhance students' understanding of sentence structures.TakeawaysSyntax is the architecture of a sentence. It is essential for understanding sentence structure and meaning.Explicit instruction is necessary for effective learning of syntax.Teaching grammar needs to focus on meaning, not just labeling.Engaging students with authentic texts improves comprehension.Integrating background knowledge is crucial for comprehension.Resources Tips & Tools: Sentences (resource sheet)  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 240Primary teacher Meghan Hein shares how she keeps the text front and center of learning. She discusses the shift from a skills-based focus to an approach where meaning-making drives instruction. The conversation highlights practical strategies for teachers to build knowledge through texts and create a more authentic learning experience. Meghan's insights reflect a commitment to continuous learning and adapting teaching practices to better serve students' needs.✨ You’ll definitely want to listen to the podcast that inspired this conversation! Episode 37 with Sue Pimentel and Meredith Liben dives into their article Placing Text at the Center of the Standards-Aligned ELA Classroom.TakeawaysShifting from skill-based to meaning-making instruction is crucial.Building knowledge through texts is essential for comprehension.Teachers must empower themselves through continuous learning.Curriculum should support, not dictate, teaching practices.Understanding the intent behind texts enriches the learning experience.Interleaving skills and content enhances understanding.Students thrive when they connect learning to real-world contexts.Resources Refreshed Companion Episode with Meredith Liben & Sue Pimentel (podcast)Placing Text at the Center of the Standards-Aligned ELA Classroom (article) Teacher Meghan Hein on Instagram (you might know her as always more to learn!) 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 37 The article Placing Text at the Center of the Standards-Aligned ELA Classroom is a must-read — before or after you listen to this episode!Meredith Liben and Sue Pimentel join us to unpack the true intentions behind the Common Core State Standards and how they’ve sometimes been misinterpreted in practice. They share what they’ve observed in classrooms and schools — both when high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) are in place and when they’re not.We also ask them some tough (and important!) questions:What does this mean for assessment, especially “data-driven” instruction?What are better ways to assess and track student progress?Meredith and Sue are smart, funny, and incredibly relatable — you’ll love this conversation. It’s truly a must-listen episode!📖 Read the article that inspired this episode: Placing Text at the Center of the Standards-Aligned ELA ClassroomIntroduction to Poetry - Billy Collins poem Meredith mentions Placing Text at the Center of the Standards-Aligned ELA Classroom  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.

Doug Lemov, an educator and author of 'Teach Like a Champion', joins forces with Colleen Driggs and Erica Woolway, experts in curriculum design and middle-grade teaching. They discuss the troubling decline of reading whole books in classrooms, emphasizing the benefits of full texts like empathy and stamina. The trio shares practical strategies for making assigned readings engaging, the importance of read-alouds, and the role of close reading analysis. Plus, they reveal their favorite books to teach, highlighting their rich instructional value.

Melissa Orkin, a literacy expert, and Alex Osburn, a literacy specialist, dive deep into the world of morphology and its crucial role in enhancing reading skills for upper elementary students. They share practical strategies for teaching morphemes, connecting vocabulary with content-area texts. Listeners learn about the seven-step integrated morphology routine, effective ways to introduce morphemes, and the benefits of dictation in spelling instruction. This insightful discussion emphasizes the power of morphology in bridging word meaning and comprehension.

Episode 237 Teachers know the challenge: students hit multisyllabic words and suddenly reading slows down. In this episode, researchers Jessica Toste and Brennan Chandler share research-based routines that make multisyllabic word reading easier, more automatic, and more effective. You’ll hear practical strategies rooted in the research to help your students tackle big words!📚 Resources MentionedWord Connections 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 236Catlin Goodrow discusses her role as a literacy coach and interventionist for older students, focusing on assessing student needs, implementing effective interventions, and the logistics of providing support in the classroom. She shares insights on decoding challenges, comprehension strategies, and the importance of engaging students with appropriate texts. She also emphasizes the significance of flexibility in instruction and offers practical tips for teachers to support struggling readers. Check out her new book 'Reading Beyond the Routines,' which provides research-informed strategies for teaching literacy in grades 2 through 6.ResourcesReading Beyond the Basics by Catlin Goodrow (book) Podcast Episode - Helping Students Read Multisyllabic Words with Devin Kearns (podcast)Podcast Episode: Exploring the Research Behind Paired Oral Reading with Jake Downs (podcast)Podcast Episode - No More “Strategy of the Week” (podcast)Building Background Knowledge Through Reading: Rethinking Text Sets - Sarah Lupo et. al. (research article)Rewards by Anita Archer (paid program)Word Connections by Jessica Toste (free program) 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.