Melissa & Lori Love Literacy ™

In Episode 219, Blythe Anderson discusses the importance of vocabulary instruction, specifically through the use of vocabulary talk moves. These "talk moves" are designed to promote word learning and help teachers effectively teach new vocabulary. Blythe covers various types of vocabulary moves, their research backing, and practical examples of how teachers can implement them in the classroom - emphasizing the complexity of vocabulary learning as well as the need for repeated exposure and active engagement to foster curiosity and understanding. Blythe explains effective teaching moves for vocabulary instruction, including the importance of context, repetition, and meaningful engagement with words. She outlines ten key strategies that educators can implement to enhance students' understanding and retention of vocabulary. The discussion also touches on the significance of selecting appropriate words for instruction and the role of affective and metacognitive factors in vocabulary learning. Blythe encourages educators to reflect on their current practices and gradually incorporate new strategies into their teaching.Resources"Vocabulary Talk Moves: Using Language to Promote Word Learning" by Blythe Anderson No More “Look Up The List” Vocabulary Instruction (book) "Flood, Fast, Focus" Integrated Vocabulary Instruction in the Classroom (IRA Brief) A Teacher’s Guide to Vocabulary Development Across the Day (eBook) 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.

Tricia Zucker, a pediatrics professor at the University of Texas, and Sonia Cabell, an associate professor at Florida State University, dive into the transformative 'Strive for Five Conversations' framework. They discuss how multi-turn dialogues between teachers and students can boost language comprehension and brain development. Practical tips for engaging parents and scaffolding conversations are shared, emphasizing emotional support and meaningful interactions to enhance young learners' literacy skills.

In this engaging conversation, Jami Witherell, an early elementary science teacher with a passion for multilingual learners, shares her strategies for academic discourse. She emphasizes giving students time to think before speaking and discusses innovative approaches like Socratic seminars and fishbowl discussions. Lauren Proffitt, a fourth-grade teacher, highlights the importance of oracy in education, showcasing her school's initiatives to boost students' speaking skills. Together, they explore creating supportive environments for vibrant, inclusive classroom discussions.

Episode 167: Researcher Tiffany Hogan explores the relationship between phonics and language comprehension in this episode. She shares practical ways to make these connections in the classrooms - including read-alouds, discourse, and writing. Resources Mentioned in this Episode On the Importance of Listening Comprehension  If you don't look, you don't see: Measuring language development to inform literacy instructionList of commercially available Developmental Language Disorder (DLDP) ScreenersDLDandme.orgRADLD.orgASHA Voices on Apple PodcastsUnderstanding Dyslexia in the Context of Developmental Language DisorderIncreasing Higher Level Language Skills to Improve Reading ComprehensionAdapting Curricula for Children with Language Comprehension DeficitsFive ways SLPs (and others) can positively impact children with dyslexiaA generic implementation framework for school-based research and practice'We test, not teach, comprehension' Jeanne Chall: CUBED free assessment and progress monitoring for decoding, language, and readingExecutive functions and morphological awareness explain the shared variance between word reading and listening comprehension Young-Suk Kim “the acquisition of an alphabetic code is like catching a virus… this virus infects all speech processing… Language is never the same again” Uta Frith  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 217Have you ever wondered how to get your students talking in a way that builds deeper understanding? In this episode, we chat with Jeff Zwiers, author of Academic Conversations and Next Steps with Academic Conversations, about the power of authentic discussions in the classroom.Here’s what you’ll learn:3 Key Features of Authentic Conversations: Building on ideas, clarifying and supporting, and using information gaps to spark curiosity.Practical Strategies: How to use routines like Think-Pair-Share to foster meaningful discussions.Building a Culture of Communication: Tips for helping students share opinions, argue effectively, and engage deeply.This episode is packed with actionable ideas to help you create a classroom where every student’s voice matters. Tune in to discover how academic talk can boost participation, agency, and long-term success!ResourcesArticle: Enhancing Instruction with Authentic Communication: 3 Features Conversing to Fortify Literacy, Language, and Learning Book: Academic ConversationsBook: Next Steps with Academic Conversations  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.

Struggling to make writing click for your students? In this episode, 5th-grade teacher Elise Frank shares practical strategies to tackle the challenges of teaching writing, inspired by "A Path to Better Writing" by Steve Graham and Karen Harris.Key takeaways:Simplify the hidden processes of writing for your students.Boost ownership and feedback.Integrate writing across all subjects.Packed with actionable ideas, this episode is a must-listen for every teacher! Tune in now and transform your writing instruction!Resources: Focus Article: "A Path to Better Writing" by Steve Graham and Karen HarrisSee Elise's writing instruction in action:Video: 5th Grade ELA: Writing about Esperanza Rising with SRSDVideo: 5th Grade ELA: The Power of SRSD and EL Education (Esperanza Rising)Urban teachers’ implementation of SRSD for persuasive writing following practice-based professional development: positive effects mediated by compromised fidelity. McKeown, D., FitzPatrick, E., Brown, M., Brindle, M., Owens, J., & Hendrick, R. (2019). Powerful Writing Strategies for All Students by Harris, Graham, Mason and FriedlanderPowerful Teaching: Unleash the Science of Learning by Patrice Bain and Pooja K Agarwal 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.

Steve Graham discusses the significance of writing in education, the challenges teachers face in teaching writing, and effective strategies to enhance students' writing skills. In this episode, you'll hear about: the interconnectedness of writing and readingthe importance of feedbackthe role of handwriting and typing in writing fluency the necessity of integrating writing instruction into the curriculumthe role of interactive writing as a bridge for early and progressing writersSteve also shares his thoughts on the impact of 21st-century tools like AI on writing practices, and the ethical considerations surrounding AI in education. Resources: Focus Article: "A Path to Better Writing" by Steve Graham and Karen Harris 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.

Judith Hochman and Natalie Wexler, co-authors of 'The Writing Revolution,' share insights into their innovative approach to writing education. They emphasize the importance of starting instruction at the sentence level and integrating writing across all subjects. The conversation covers effective strategies like using sentence starters, the role of planning and revising, and how grammar should be taught contextually. Hochman and Wexler reveal how these techniques can significantly enhance comprehension and retention, transforming students into confident writers.

What if young students could transform writing from a daunting task into an exciting journey of self-expression? In this episode, Laura Stam, a second-grade teacher from Wyoming, discusses her transformative journey in writing instruction. Struggling initially with an unstructured writing curriculum, Laura discovered innovative methods to support her students. You will hear how Laura has incorporated strategies fromThe Writing Revolution and self-regulated strategy development (SRSD) to empower her students to write confidently about their learning topics, such as the Revolutionary War and ancient China. Also, you will learn how strategic tools like mnemonics, goal setting, and structured sentence expansion activities have made her students more independent writers. Resources: Focus Article: "A Path to Better Writing" by Steve Graham and Karen HarrisLaura's Teaching Videos 2nd Grade Writing: CKLA, ThinkSRSD, and The Writing RevolutionWriting with Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) and ThinkSRSD (2nd grade)Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) Grade 2: Collaborative Writing with The Magic Fish (1/2) Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) Grade 2: Writing with The Magic Fish (2/2)Core Knowledge Language Arts Grade 2: Indus River Writing DemoInstitute for Excellence in WritingThe Writing RevolutionFrom Struggle to Success: Navigating the Writing Process With Self-Regulated Strategy Development (SRSD) 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.

This episode highlights the close connection between reading and writing and the importance of teaching them together. Young-Suk Kim uses a structural house analogy to explain their interdependence. Karen Harris introduces the SRSD (Self-Regulated Strategy Development) model, focusing on evidence-based practices that build self-regulation and explicit instruction for writing. We discuss the researchers brand new study with 1st and 2nd graders, including the SRSD Plus approach, which adds instruction in handwriting, spelling, and oral language. Our guests share practical tips for improving handwriting fluency and research on SRSD Plus’s positive impact on early writing and student confidence, offering valuable insights for classroom teaching.ResourcesEnhancing Reading and Writing Skills through Systematically Integrated Instruction (with HOUSE graphic that  Young explains in the beginning of the podcast) The Science of Teaching Reading is Incomplete without the Science of Writing: A Randomized Control Trial of Integrated Teaching of Reading and Writing Yes, they can: Developing transcription skills and oral language in tandem with SRSD instruction on close reading of science text to write informative essays at grades 1 and 2  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.