Melissa & Lori Love Literacy ™

Julie Brown, an experienced educator from Vermont, discusses the pressing issue of reading challenges faced by secondary students. She highlights a successful dual intervention program that complements regular English classes. The podcast emphasizes practical strategies to tailor reading instruction based on individual needs, fostering a supportive community in the classroom. Brown also shares innovative methods to engage students, including using peer influence and structured lesson plans, ultimately aiming to empower all learners in their literacy journeys.

In this discussion, Janee' Butler, Director of Program Design and Implementation at the Center for Literacy and Learning, shares her expertise on improving reading fluency for older students. She highlights the complexities of fluency instruction from early grades to high school and the unique challenges older students face, such as cognitive overload. Janee emphasizes the crucial link between fluency and comprehension and offers practical strategies to motivate struggling readers, ensuring they engage with texts and build a love for reading.

From June 3, 2022 Today middle school educators from Baltimore City Public Schools join us to discuss their focus on fluency through Continuous Improvement work with fluency using HQC. What is Continuous Improvement? Why is this a useful framework? “Possibly wrong, definitely incomplete”  is a mantra that resonates. The educators share their approach, impact, and outcomes for students. Secondary teachers… this one’s for you. Related EpisodesEp. 98: Improving Student Reading Growth in Months with Fluency Instruction and Practice Ep. 62: Effective Fluency Instruction with Tim Rasinski ResourcesCarnegie Foundation Continuous Improvement in Education Resources such as videos, tools, and publications 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.

Chase Young, an experienced literacy researcher and author, dives into the enriching world of Reader's Theater. He reveals how this dynamic approach enhances reading fluency through structured practice and engaging performances. Listeners learn practical strategies for implementing theater in various subjects, fostering collaboration among students. Young discusses the transformation in students' abilities, using engaging texts like 'Rumpelstiltskin' to tackle vocabulary challenges. His insights promise to invigorate literacy instruction with fun and effective methods.

Nathaniel Swain, author of "Harnessing the Science of Learning," dives into how understanding the science of learning can transform education. He discusses essential mindset shifts for teachers to boost engagement and the importance of coherent curriculum planning. Swain shares practical techniques like using mini whiteboards for instant feedback and strategies to close learning gaps early. Highlighting real success stories, he emphasizes the impact of early intervention and responsive teaching in ensuring every student thrives.

In this discussion, Nathaniel Swain, a Senior Lecturer at La Trobe University, dives deep into fluency instruction in literacy. He highlights the three core components of fluency: speed, accuracy, and prosody. Swain shares practical classroom strategies like choral and paired reading that engage students effectively. He also explores the impact of technology on literacy, advocating for balance between efficiency and comprehension. Delving into the self-teaching hypothesis, he emphasizes exposing students to challenging texts to enhance their reading confidence.

The authors of No More “Strategy of the Week”: Considerations for Connecting Comprehension Instruction Back to the Book discuss the importance of teaching comprehension strategies in a text-centered approach. They emphasize the need to move away from isolated strategy instruction and instead focus on using texts as the center of instruction. They highlight the importance of background knowledge, vocabulary, and text structure in preparing students for reading. During reading, they suggest using explicit think-alouds to model comprehension strategies and provide scaffolds for students. They also emphasize the need for students to do the heavy lifting during reading and for teachers to support and guide their thinking. The conversation explores the different stages of comprehension instruction: before reading, during reading, and after reading. TakeawaysTeaching comprehension strategies should be done in a text-centered approach, where the focus is on using texts as the center of instruction.Before reading, it is important to activate or build background knowledge, pre-teach vocabulary, and attend to text structure.During reading, teachers should provide explicit think-alouds to model comprehension strategies and provide scaffolds for students.Students should be doing the heavy lifting during reading, with teachers supporting and guiding their thinking.Engaging students in meaningful reading experiences and connecting comprehension strategies to authentic texts is crucial for effective comprehension instruction. Explicit strategy instruction is crucial for teaching comprehension skills.Modeling how to use comprehension strategies helps students understand how to apply them.Providing opportunities for students to practice and apply comprehension strategies is essential.Engaging students in discussions and writing activities after reading helps consolidate learning and deepen understanding.No More “Strategy of the Week”: Considerations for Connecting Comprehension Instruction Back to the Book 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.

Imagine transforming the way you teach reading. Picture your students not just passively consuming the written word, but actively producing meaning and taking purposeful actions inspired by what they've read. This is the promise of our conversation with Doug Fisher, professor at San Diego State University and renowned author, as he takes us on a journey into the depths of reading comprehension.We question the effectiveness of common literacy programs and discuss the intricate ties between vocabulary, comprehension, and prior knowledge. How do you feel about the 'letter of the week' approach? Listen as we scrutinize its validity and dig deeper into other foundational reading skills, such as letter recognition and sound blending. We also expose the symbiotic relationship between vocabulary and comprehension, underscoring the pivotal role of knowledge in decoding texts.We then traverse the landscape of oral language in reading instruction and the implications of isolating reading from writing. Can you guess the impact of these practices on student learning? Doug enlightens us on the significance of comprehension strategy instruction and the importance of developing all elements of reading literacy. To cap it off, our conversation concludes with three practical suggestions that you, as an educator, can apply in your classroom for immediate impact. Prepare to awaken a new perspective on the world of reading.ResourcesArticles by Natalie WexlerSteve Graham: Effective Writing Instruction (video)Powerful Writing Strategies for All Students, Harris & Graham (book)  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.

Imagine facing not only the struggles of growing up in a challenging environment,  but also battling a learning difference that went undiagnosed for years. Hear the inspiring story of Ameer Baraka as he discusses his book: Undiagnosed: The Ugly Side of Dyslexia.Ameer will discuss: How he grew up in New Orleans, facing unimaginable obstacles His experiences with being misunderstood and how it impacted his life How he transformed his life by reclaiming his education while incarcerated How he is now dedicated to helping others recognize their potential By the end of this episode, you'll see how Ameer’s journey not only sheds light on the challenges of dyslexia but also highlights the incredible strength it takes to overcome adversity.Want to Learn More?Undiagnosed: The Ugly Side of Dyslexia by Ameer Baraka  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.

From October 7, 2022In this episode, we talk with former balanced literacy teacher and parent, Missy Purcell. She authored a blog post titled Dear Balanced Literacy Teacher.Missy writes, “According to Nancy Young’s ladder of reading, roughly 10-15% of kids can figure out reading out with this type of instruction, but my child, who would later be diagnosed with dyslexia, would never be able to become a proficient reader with any version of balanced literacy. He, according to Young, like 85% of students, benefit from or need systematic explicit instruction that follows a scope and sequence with fidelity to become proficient readers and writers.”We want to normalize the idea that most kids CAN learn how to read with structured literacy instruction. ResourcesDear Balanced Literacy Teacher Looking for Heroes: One Boy, One Year, 100 Letters 2nd EditionThese resources from the International Dyslexia Association are helpful to spread the word on social media about October as Dyslexia Awareness Month!  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.