The Literacy Teacher's Life

Bringing Authors to Life: Dr. Karen Huff and the Shenandoah University Children’s Literature Conference EP 83

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 09:00:00 -0000

Are you looking for an event that brings together children's authors, teachers, parents, and children? Well, look no further than the Shenandoah University Children’s Literature Conference!
Today, Elizabeth is joined by Dr. Karen Huff who directs the Shenandoah University Children’s Literature Conference. This year marks the 40 Anniversary of this conference and so many wonderful authors are attending.
In this episode, you will learn all about the conference - how it began, the virtual option to attend, and the in-person option to attend, the authors who will be there, and a bit about what is planned for those who attend.
Check out the conference website here: https://www.su.edu/education/special-programs/childrens-literature-conference/

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Keep A Journal

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 10:08:00 -0000

Today's tip comes from the author N. West Moss. In her book, Birdy, the main character keeps a journal. N. West Moss has been asked about the benefits of keeping a journal. Today's mini episode shares some benefits to journaling and gives steps to get your kids started!

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The Write Stuff For Early Readers with Dr. Cheryl Lundy Swift EP 82

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 09:00:00 -0000

Dr. Cheryl Lundy Swift is back on the podcast! Today she is joining Elizabeth to talk about writing -- and how writing can help boost reading skills.

In this episode, Dr. Swift discusses:

Why writing is actually a very natural activity for kids
The connection between reading and writing and why it's so important to make sure kids have the time to write during the school day (and at home!)
The importance of handwriting instruction
And, how parents can include writing into the daily routine at home

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The 'What Just Happened' Strategy

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 09:00:00 -0000

This week's mini episode tip is designed to support your child with reading comprehension. Recalling and remembering what happened in a story is an important skill that we want kids to be able to apply when they read.
If your child reads a book or a passage and can't remember what happened - then this tip is for you!
The strategy is broken down into three steps:
1) Pick up a book or passage and tell your child that they are going to be paying attention to what happened in the paragraph you read.
2) You read the first paragraph to your child.
3) Stop and ask your child the question - What just happened?
Keep listening to find out what you do when your child is able to tell you what happened as well as what you can do if your child did not understand what you just read.

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Spring into Planning with Sarah Hart-Unger EP 81

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 09:46:00 -0000

It's a new season! And, to kick off this new season, Elizabeth is joined by planning expert, Sarah Hart-Unger. Sarah is the host of the Best Laid Plans podcast and the author of the book Best Laid Plans: : A Simple Planning System for Living a Life That You Love.
Sarah joins Elizabeth to share her planning system and talk about how teachers and parents can plan for daily tasks and also longer-term goals. Sarah makes a case for adding more fun into your schedule and how you can do a fun-audit of your time. We also discuss planning with kids and teaching them to plan.
Check out Sarah's book Best Laid Plans!

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Be Positive About the Books Your Kids Read

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0000

Today's tip is to be positive about the books that your kids and students read. Our words have an impact on our kids. When adults make negative comments about the books that kids read, it impacts how they view themselves as readers. If your child is reading a book that you are not crazy about, rather than telling them to read something better, compliment them for reading. Give it a try! Happy Reading!

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Collaboration and Creativity with Laurel Snyder and LeUyen Pham - The Author and Illustrator of Shrinking Violet EP 80

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0000

Have you ever wondered how writers and illustrators work together? Well, today's episode answers that question! Joining Elizabeth on the podcast are Laurel Snyder and LeUyen Pham - the author and illustrator of the book Shrinking Violet that is coming out at the end of March.
Laurel shares how she came up with the idea for Shrinking Violet, and LeUyen talkes about how she interpreted the words in the illustrations.
At the end of the episode, Laurel and LeUyen share an idea about how you can use Shrinking Violet with children!

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Go On A Book Search Adventure

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 10:00:00 -0000

Welcome to the mini episodes! This is where Elizabeth shares a tip, a trick, or a strategy to take your kids from just reading to actually wanting to read.
Today's tip is to make searching for or finding books for your kids to read an adventure. Rather than buy a book for your child, take your child with you to the library or a bookstore to search for books -- and, you can make it extra special by adding in an extra stop!

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The Language of Self-Affirmations with Caitlin Santomauro EP 79

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 10:00:00 -0000

How we speak to ourselves is so important. Today's guest, Caitlin Santomauro is the author of the amazing book, The Language of Self-Affirmations: A Magical Practice of Manifesting Personal Power.
Caitlin begins by explaining what a self-affirmation is and why they are so important to include in our daily lives. She explains how self-affirmations can support kids - she talks about how she has used self-affirmations with her own students.
She gives listeners a taste of the content of her book by sharing a passage.
Check out Caitlin's book on Amazon!

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Tips for the New Year that Support Readers: Conversations Build Confident Readers EP 78

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 18:49:00 -0000

Today's reading tip is to talk to your parents about the books that they are reading.
Elizabeth explains why talking to kids about the books that they are reading is so supportive. These conversations can be short and informal, but they are effective because they help increase reading confidence and they help support comprehension.
Check out today's episode for the final tip of the month to support kids with reading at home - in small, but impactful ways!

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Tips for the New Year that Support Readers: Don't Make Reading a Fight EP 77

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 10:00:00 -0000

This month is focused on tips for helping kids read in 2026. And, today's episode is about not making reading a fight. What do you do when you do not like the books that your kids are reading?
Elizabeth explains what you can do if you are not loving the books your child is reading. She ends with a story from a recent article about why it's so important for your kids to be reading.

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Tips for the New Year that Support Readers: Include OR Statements When Reading With Children EP 76

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 10:00:00 -0000

Happy 2026!
To get the New Year started, Elizabeth is sharing tips and strategies that can be easily included when reading with kids - both in the classroom and at home.
In today's episode, Elizabeth shares the first tip which is to use OR Statements when reading with kids to support their knowledge of new words and keep the story moving along.
Check out today's episode to learn more about the different types of vocabulary words and to hear an example of an OR Statement in action!

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Time for a Mini-Reflection & Making Reading Happening Over the Winter Break EP 75

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 10:00:00 -0000

This episode is wrapping up 2025! It's the time to stop and take a few minutes to think about your teaching so that you have an idea of what is going well and what changes you might want to make after the winter break.
In this episode, Elizabeth gives three areas to think about with guided questions. She also talks about what worked well with her teaching this fall and what changes she wants to make in the spring semester.
There is a spotlight on an author and his books and a few fun and low-pressure ideas to keep kids reading over the winter break.

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Making Fluency Fun with Reader’s Theater EP 74

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 10:00:00 -0000

This week's episode is about using reader's theater to address fluency with kids. Elizabeth just used reader's theater in her classes to show current and future teachers how scripts can support fluent reading -- and comprehension. Her students had a lot of fun and saw the benefits of using this teaching practice with kids - at all grade levels (not just elementary school).
The episode begins with information about fluency and then Elizabeth talks about how you can use scripts with kids.
Before ending, Elizabeth shares a parenting tip to help your reader with books that they are reading in school.

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Poetry is Fun! A Conversation with Poet, Darren Sardelli EP 73

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Today's episode is such a treat! Elizabeth is joined by poet Darren Sardelli. He writes poetry and shows kids how much fun words and language can be - and how poetry is fun! His goal is to make his ideas fun and relatable for kids.
And, his work is a lot of fun! Darren shares some poetry with us - and you will be very entertained! He gives great ideas in this episode - such as start an Idea Notebook and encourage kids to check-out one poetry book when they are at the library.
Check out Darren's work here: https://laughalotpoetry.com/

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Beliefs About Books and Reading EP 72

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 10:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Elizabeth shares eight common beliefs about reading and how they can discourage kids from reading. There have been many alarming articles about kids not reading much - so it's important to try and support our young readers as best we can.
The 8 beliefs are:
- Phonics Instructions Ends After Second Grade
- Picture Books are Easy Books
- Reading With Kids Ends Once They Learn to Read
-If Kids Want to Hear a Story Rather Than Read It, They Are Being Lazy
- Kids Need to Read Books at Their Reading Level
- Kids Should Not Be Re-Reading Books
- If Comprehension Support is Needed, Find Passages & Questions
- Graphic Novels are Not as Rigorous as Novels

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Connecting Teaching to Writing A Conversation with Former Teacher and Author, Terri Lilga EP 71

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0000

This is a treat! Today, I am joined by my former colleague, Terri Lilga. Terri is a retired teacher, who is now writing books for children. We worked together in Buffalo, NY for a few years.

In this episode, Terri shares her books with us. She explains how she came up with the ideas for her books - and how she gets ideas in general. She has really great stories about how she thinks up ideas! They are great to share with young readers.
Please check out Terri's work: https://terrililgabooks.com/

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Relevance is Essential: How Teachers Can Make Literacy Learning Relevant to Our Students’ And Their Futures With Lorraine Radice EP 70

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Lorraine Radice is back on the podcast! Lorraine has a new book that recently came out, Revolving Literacy: How to Connect Relevance and Future-Ready Skills to Secondary English Instruction.
In our conversation, Lorraine talks about:

- what the term literacy includes
- her revolving literacy framework and how it benefits teachers and supports students
- books for kids in middle and high school
- ideas for teaching reading in the secondary classroom (these can be applied in upper elementary grades as well)
Check out Lorraine's book and work:
https://www.lorrainemradice.com/
https://www.solutiontree.com/lorraine-m-radice.html

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Focusing On Mood to Unlock Critical Thinking with Trevor Bryan EP 69

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0000

I'm back this week with Trevor Bryan, an educator and writer. Trevor's latest book is out and available to be purchased. It's called Narrative Know-How: A Fresh Approach to Support Comprehension and Craft in the K-6 Classroom.
In the last episode, Trevor explained the framework to this book. And, today he is back to share ideas about how this work can be implemented into the classroom to support our readers and writers. This book is full of so many lesson ideas that are ready to be used with kids. You will not want to miss this episode - and stay until the end...Trevor has a very special and kind offer for educators!
Grab a copy of Trevor's book, Narrative Know-How on Amazon or your favorite Bookstore
Follow Trevor on Instagram @trevorabryan

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All About Understanding Narratives with Trevor Bryan EP 68

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0000

We want our students to be confident readers and writers. One way to support their confidence is to teach them about structure. Today, I am joined by Trevor Bryan, who is an educator and writer! Trevor is the author of The Art of Comprehension and has written a new book that just came out this week, called Narrative Know-How: A Fresh Approach to Support Comprehension and Craft in the K-6 Classroom. His focus is on teaching kids to comprehend what they read. On today's episode, he will talk about the structure that has created to frame this book and why it can support our students as they are learning to both read and write. Trevor's ideas are so supportive of students - you won't want to miss his ideas!
Check out Trevor's new book Narrative Know-How on Amazon or any other bookseller site.

Follow him on Instagram: @trevorabryan

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Making Reading Fun (And a Priority) This School Year EP 67

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Recently, there have been studies out that discuss how reading, particularly reading for pleasure is at an all-time low. This is for kids and adults, but the findings have been seen as concerning. The UK is calling on 2026 to be the year of reading - so that kids are reading for pleasure.
In this episode, Elizabeth shares ways that teachers can make this school year a year of reading as well - and the great news -- it doesn't require extra work! These can fit right into the school day.
Some ways to accomplish this goal include:
- Sharing your reading and love of books with your students
- Matching books to students' interests
- Reading aloud to students regardless of age/grade level/content area
- Reframing the Read for 20 Minutes Each Night assignment for parents
-Have fun reading!

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Another Summer is Coming To An End Gearing Up for the New School Year – Some Tips for Teachers EP 66

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0000

It's August, and that means that the new school year is just around the corner! My semester begins in just two weeks. This episode is aimed at teachers, but can be helpful for parents, too. As I am planning for the upcoming academic year, I have six tips that I am focusing on to have a calm start to the school year. I also have a planning tip from a planning expert!

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Parents, Here's A Tip When Your Kids Do Not Want To Read! EP 65

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0000

It's the end of July and the new school year is approaching (faster than I would like!). Today's episode is for parents. I often hear comments from parents that their kids are not interested in reading. After taking my daughters and a friend to a bookstore, I have a story and some suggestions about what you can do to help get your child interested in reading a book before the end of the summer. It will take some effort on your end, but it may just work!

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Mid-Summer Check-In for Parents: Have Your Kids Been Reading? If Not, You Have Time! EP 64

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 11:23:00 -0000

It's mid-July already! This week's episode features a quick check-in with three tips to get your kids back into a reading habit this summer. Daily routines and habits shift during the summer months which can mean that reading may not be happening as regularly as it does during the school year. So, Elizabeth shares tips that you can put into practice pretty quickly to get back into reading.

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Matching Books to Readers: A Conversation with Lea Anne Borders EP 63

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 11:41:00 -0000

Lea Anne Borders is the founder of Bookelicious, a digital tool that connects kids’ interests to books that they may enjoy reading. She joins me on today's episode to talk about the features of Bookelicous and we discuss how it can be used by teachers and parents to help children find books that they are interested in reading.

This is a great tool to explore - especially at the start of the summer - so that kids can find books they want to read.

Check out Bookelicious: https://www.bookelicious.com

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Getting Kids in Middle and High School Reading with New York Times Bestselling Author Jen Calonita EP 62

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000

In today's episode, New York Times Bestselling Author, Jen Calonita comes on to discuss her books as well as why she loves writing for the middle grade and young adult kids. She shares why it is so important to meet kids where they are and why connecting to kids' interests - at any age - is so important to get and keep kids reading.

Jen is the author of many books, including The Lost Legend series, 12 to 22, The VIP series, and Isle of Ever. She has written many other books as well. And, in the fall her book, The Taylors will be released.

To check out more of Jen's work, please check out her website: https://www.jencalonitaonline.com/books/middle-grade-books/

You can also find her on Instagram @jencalonita

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Supporting Multilingual Learners with Interacting, Reading, and Listening: Learning More from Susan Katz EP 61

Thu, 22 May 2025 09:00:00 -0000

We are back with the second half of my conversation with Susan! Susan is the author of The Swirl Method: Supporting Multilingual Learners as They Speak, Write, Interact, Read, and Listen. This week, Susan is taking us through her strategies to support multilingual learners with interacting, reading, and listening. She offers excellent resources in each area - so please check them out!

This is the second part of a two-part episode. Please make sure you check out the previous episode to learn more about Susan's work. Today's episode addresses interacting, reading, and writing.

Please check out Susan's work:

The SWIRL Method: https://www.solutiontree.com/swirl-method.html
Susan Katz's Website: https://susankatzbooks.com/

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Ideas and Strategies for Teaching Multilingual Learners with Susan Katz, Author of the SWIRL Method EP 60

Thu, 08 May 2025 09:00:00 -0000

The Swirl Method: Supporting Multilingual Learners as They Speak, Write, Interact, Read, and Listen, written by Susan Katz addresses how we can support children who are multilingual learners. In this amazing resource, Susan identifies specific strategies in each area: speaking, writing, interacting, reading, and listening - that can be used in the literacy classroom to help learners thrive.

This is a two-part episode. Today's episode addresses speaking and writing.

Please check out Susan's work:

The SWIRL Method: https://www.solutiontree.com/swirl-method.html
Susan Katz's Website: https://susankatzbooks.com/

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Connecting Sports and Reading: Making Sure Kids Have Books They Want to Read with Football and Baseball Player Brian Jordan EP 59

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Brian Jordan is a former professional football and baseball player. He played football for the Atlanta Falcons and he played baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals, Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Texas Rangers.

Brian believes that all kids need to learn to read. He has written a number of children's books, such as I Told You I Can Play!, Overcoming the Fear of Baseball, and Time-Out for Bullies.

Brian is passionate about getting kids reading. In our conversation, she shares the background about his books and shares how he is partnering with schools to get kids reading.

Check out more about Brian Jordan here: https://www.brianjordanfoundation.com/

Check out Brian's Reading Challenge here: https://www.brianjordanfoundation.com/bjf-reading-challenge.html

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It's National Library Week! Get Involved and Support Your Local Library with President-Elect Sam Helmick EP 58

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

It's National Library Week!

It's a great week to get involved and support your local library. Libraries are a reflection of the community they serve. You can check out new books and see what other events are happening at your library this week.

On today's episode, American Library Association's President-Elect Sam Helmick joins me. We discuss what is happening with libraries at the moment. We also discuss National Library Week and how and why you should check-out your library this week.

Sam also discusses the upcoming National Conference which is taking place this coming June in Philadelphia. As always, it will be an engaging event.

We finish with Sam talking about how parents and teachers can support students with reading as we are heading into the summer months.

Links Mentioned:

American Library Association: https://www.ala.org/

Stand Up for Libraries: https://www.ala.org/advocacy/show-up-for-our-libraries

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Movement and Literacy: A Multi-Sensory Approach to Learning to Read EP 57

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 10:22:00 -0000

How can movement be included in learning to read? In today's episode, Elizabeth speaks with Stefanie Hohl, the creator of ABC See, Hear, Do, which is a multi-sensory approach to learning to read. Stefanie believes in getting kids moving when reading and she shares many ideas about how this can be done.

In this episode, we discuss:

- What a multi-sensory approach to literacy is?

- How active kids can be supported when they are learning to read,

- Ideas to get kids moving during literacy instruction, and

- The books that Stefanie has as a part of her program.

You can find more about Stefanie's work here: https://www.abcseeheardo.com/?srsltid=AfmBOop4Jrr5HTfGQ_e-1zFq-dvpWS1sPFXocDG6moDas31lcvzGLQkk

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Handwriting is a Foundational Skill & The Role it Plays in Supporting Reading EP 56

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 18:51:00 -0000

Is handwriting important now that kids have access to technology and devices in school? Many parents are concerned about their children's penmanship. Should handwriting be taught in schools? The answer to these questions is yes. Handwriting should be taught in school (and so should cursive writing).

Dr. Cheryl Lundy Swift is the Professional Learning Director at Learning Without Tears - the program that includes Handwriting Without Tears. She is on today's episode to talk about the role of handwriting in a literacy curriculum.

In this episode, Dr. Swift shares:

- the connection between reading and writing

- how handwriting can be included in instruction - in just 10 minutes a day!

- how digital literacy is supported by handwriting instruction

- lots of resources to support elementary aged readers and writers (many of which are free)!

Check out the resources at Learning Without Tears: https://www.lwtears.com/solutions/technology?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAlbW-BhCMARIsADnwasqc0J1mxY6zpLM5m6IyolNcneSUY2J7-qjd8xqPZsOGwp5ZsTYncagaAqhqEALw_wcB

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Three Signs that Kids May Be Frustrated with Reading and What To Do About It EP 55

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 10:00:00 -0000

What behaviors signal that kids are frustrated when they are reading?

This week's episode focuses on three behaviors that can signal that kids may be frustrated when reading. The behaviors include:

- Hanging onto one detail from the book

- Looking for a distraction

- Not having books that kids want to read

Elizabeth explains these behaviors and offers some suggestions about how we as teachers (and parents) can support our elementary and early middle schoolers with reading.

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Do Reading Responses Really Get Kids to Read? EP 54

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 10:00:00 -0000

The start of the new year brought a lot of questions about reading responses. It seems like teachers started assigning reading responses at the start of 2025. A question I kept getting is, "Do reading responses really help?"

The short answer is yes, reading responses can help kids better understand what they read.

Today's episode starts with the point of reading responses and what the research says about reading responses. I give tips for teachers to consider when assigning reading responses and suggestions for parents to support their kids at home.

The episode ends with a book recommendation for more independent readers in the upper elementary to early middle school grades. It's a wake up in the future book - similar to 13 Going on 30!

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How Can We Help Our Students Find Their Voices in Their Writing? A Conversation with Kourtney Hake & Paige Timmerman

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Happy New Year! Welcome to 2025!

In this first episode of 2025, Elizabeth is speaking with Kourtney Hake and Paige Timmerman about their recent book, Their Stories, Their Voices, which focuses on narrative writing and how to easily implement narrative writing units into your instruction.

Paige and Kourtney discuss how they define narrative writing and talk about how they structured this book. They really worked to make it possible to implement narrative writing as seamless as possible and without extra work. They give lots of examples from their own teaching and have excellent mentor texts for narrative writing. One of my favorite parts of our conversation is the discussion about how we as teachers can work with students to include their voices in all genres of writing - not only narratives.

For more ideas, check out Kourtney and Paige's book. You can find it here: https://www.solutiontree.com/their-stories-their-voices.html. It is a great resource to support your writing instruction in the new year!

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Gearing Up for 2025! EP 52

Thu, 26 Dec 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Happy Holidays! It's the holiday edition of The Literacy Teacher's Podcast.

In the spirit of the season of reflection, this week's episode is dedicated to taking the time to think about your teaching in 2024 - what went well and also what changes you want to make in 2025.

Elizabeth focused on the following areas of her teaching this year:

- Planning

- Students

- Instruction/Teaching

- Materials for Students

- Tools When Planning

Take some time to consider your own teaching and what small tweaks you can make in the new year.

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Should Kids Have Time During the School Day to Read On Their Own? Five Ways to Make Independent Reading More Effective EP 51

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Should kids have independent reading time in school?

In order for kids to become stronger and more engaged readers, they need time to read. But, that time needs to be intentional. We don't want kids spending independent reading time staring out the windows or re-reading the same page over and over to pass the time and check the work off the list.

In this episode, I share five tips to make independent reading time more intentional and effective. The great news - all of these can be implemented with a few tweaks rather than spending hours trying to make it work.

Before ending, I share my book project for the rest of the year and January.

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Solving the Literacy Puzzle: A Conversation with Norene Bunt EP 50

Thu, 28 Nov 2024 10:00:00 -0000

How can we effectively teach literacy to students? In this episode, Norene Bunt speaks about her recent book, Solving the Literacy Puzzle, and how effective literacy instruction can be implemented. Some of the topics discussed include:

- Effective literacy instruction

- Components of literacy instruction at the elementary level

- Comprehension and how to ensure that it is a focus of reading instruction

You can check out Norene's book at: https://www.solutiontree.com/solving-the-literacy-puzzle.html

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The Plateau in the Upper Elementary Grades: What Happens When Comprehension is Not Included in Instruction EP 49

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 10:00:00 -0000

This week's episode focuses on reading comprehension and how to include it into reading instruction. The following is addressed:

- Why we read

- How to assess reading comprehension

- How to include a structured approach to comprehension into reading instruction

The episode ends with ideas for how parents can address comprehension when reading with kids at home.

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Incorporating Shared Reading into Classroom Instruction EP 48

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0000

What other ways can you read with students other than through interactive read-alouds?

This week's episode is all about shared reading and how to include this into your teaching to support students' reading fluency and comprehension.

Elizabeth begins by explaining shared reading and what it looks like in practice. She talks about the types of texts that are commonly used in shared reading and how they are different from the texts used in interactive read-alouds. Shared reading supports a variety of skills - which are addressed.

Finally, Elizabeth ends with how shared reading can be beneficial to parents when they are reading at home with their kids.

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The Importance and Benefits of Coaching: A Conversation with Melissa Morrison EP 47

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0000

What is a literacy coach? How does a literacy coach support teachers, students, and schools? In today's episode, Elizabeth is speaking with Melissa Morrison, the founder of Teaching to Transform. Melissa is a coach, specifically a writing coach. She works with teachers to support their writing instruction.

In this episode, Elizabeth and Melissa discuss the role of a coach and how coaching can benefit teachers and students. They also discuss writing instruction and her advice for supporting writing at school and at home.

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A Literacy Adjacent Topic on Thriving - Especially When Life Gets Busy EP 46

Thu, 03 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0000

It's October! Today's episode is not directly related to literacy. Elizabeth sits down to speak with Dara Kurtz, an author, speaker, and breast cancer survivor. Dara has experienced setbacks in her life, but has come out stronger and is living a more intentional life. She teaches a class that focuses on helping individuals thrive after and/or during a challenging time in life. We talk about strategies to help if you are feeling overwhelmed, burned out, or just need a reset. And...good news, most of these are free!

For more information about Dara:

DARA KURTZ, after being diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of forty-two, left her twenty-year career as a financial advisor to focus on writing and speaking. Today her personal blog, Crazy Perfect Life, reaches over 200,000 followers. Dara is the author of I am My Mother’s Daughter: Wisdom on Life, Loss, and Love, Crush Cancer, and Living with Gratitude, her daily gratitude journal.

Dara’s been a guest on over 70 podcasts/TV/Radio shows. Her goal is to use her life experiences to help people strengthen their relationships and create more happiness and joy in their everyday lives.

Follow Dara:

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/crazyperflife/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/crazyperfectlife

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Phonological & Phonemic Awareness: What do these terms mean? EP 45

Thu, 19 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Literacy education has many terms that sound similar and have similar meanings. Phonological and phonemic awareness are two of those terms!

This week, Elizabeth explains these two terms and shares examples of how they can be taught. Foundational skills are a hot topic at the moment and curriculum is being implemented to address phonological and phonemic awareness - so having an understanding of what they mean and what instruction needs to be taught is helpful for supporting elementary students.

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Back to School! Updates & Getting Kids Reading EP 44

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Welcome to the new school year! This episode starts with an update. Then, Elizabeth shares what she is focusing on for this back to school time. This fall, Elizabeth is teaching three reading classes - so she discusses how teachers can think through their reading instruction and emphasizes interactive read-alouds and what to pay attention to when planning and implementing read-alouds at the beginning of the year. The episode ends with three books that Elizabeth read with her kids over the summer.

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Teaching Reading Across the Day with Jennifer Serravallo EP 43

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Jennifer Serravallo is back on today's episode! Elizabeth speaks with Jennifer about her latest book, Teaching Reading Across the Day: Methods and Structures for Engaging, Explicit Instruction. They begin by discussing the structure of the book and all of the wonderful resources that are included with the book - this includes many videos of the different types of instruction.

They chat about explicit instruction, why it's necessary to include in instruction, and what this looks like in the elementary classroom. Then, Jennifer explains the different lesson structures that she included in the book -- and takes us through some of the lessons that are included in the book.

Check out Jennifer Serravallo's website: https://www.jenniferserravallo.com/

You can find Jennifer's latest book here.

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Talking about Libraries and the Annual ALA Conference with Emily Drabinski EP 42

Fri, 17 May 2024 10:55:00 -0000

This is a fun episode! Emily Drabinski, the current president of the American Library Association (ALA) is back on the podcast!

The ALA Annual Conference will be held in San Diego from June 27-July 2, 2004 and Emily is here to share what is in store for attendees. She starts by giving us an update on her recent library visits and discusses the amazing work that libraries are doing to support their communities.

Then, she shares information about the conference – some of the topics that will be discussed, some of the authors who will be speaking, and of course – how to register! If you are interested in attending, here is the link!

https://www.ala.org/conferencesevents

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Planning for the End of the School Year EP 41

Thu, 02 May 2024 09:00:00 -0000

The end of the school year is quickly approaching! In today's episode, Elizabeth discusses some tips for teachers and parents to gear up for the end of the school year.

There are many events at this time of the year, so this episode will help you think through what you want to teach and review before the summer comes!

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Making Independent Reading Effective EP 40

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Independent reading is a common practice in elementary classrooms. It's important for kids to have time to read because research has found that children who read more are often likely to become better readers. However, it is not as straightforward as time reading equals becoming a better reader.

In order to make independent reading time more effective, Elizabeth shares three tips from research studies: consider the books that students are reading, do more than read during independent reading time, and help students set their own reading goals to work towards.

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Close the Chromebooks: Five Ideas to Set Kids Up for Success When Writing EP 39

Thu, 04 Apr 2024 11:03:00 -0000

How do we support kids with writing while not jumping to use the Chromebooks or iPads? Elizabeth shares some ideas to support elementary kids with their writing that do not require devices.

In order to set kids up for success with their writing, she shares some ideas that have helped her students when teaching writing. They include: introducing mentor texts, modeling your own writing and thinking when writing, using graphic organizers well, thinking about what writing tools you are introducing to students, and have some type of publishing party so that students can share their final writing pieces.

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Planning Globally: Ideas to Strengthen Writing Instruction with Andrea Haas EP 38

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Elizabeth is joined by Andrea Haas, a literacy consultant who supports teachers with reading and writing instruction. They discuss writing and Andrea shares ideas for how to plan globally so reading, writing, and the content areas are aligned.

They also discuss teaching the writing process and when prompts are appropriate. Finally, Andrea shares teaching moves to make small group instruction manageable as well as highlights an idea to try out when students need additional support -- this can be used at any grade level!

Check out Andrea's website: https://www.elmtreeed.com/

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On The Job Market – Crafting Strong Resumes and Cover Letters EP 37

Thu, 07 Mar 2024 10:00:00 -0000

It's the time of year when job postings are popping up! This month's episodes focus on preparing for the job market - and this episode is focused on writing resumes and cover letters. Elizabeth discusses what should be included in a resume and cover letter and what should absolutely not be included (hint: make sure everything you include is true!).

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Helping Kids Love Reading EP 36

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 10:00:00 -0000

After speaking with Lorraine Radice, who shared her idea of Falling in Love with Reading for the month of February, Elizabeth shares ideas about ways to help elementary students love reading. She shares four ideas that you can include in your teaching or even at home to help kids enjoy reading.

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Strategies to Build a Culture of Reading with Dr. Lorraine Radice EP 35

Thu, 08 Feb 2024 10:00:00 -0000

How do we get kids to read? Dr. Lorraine Radice is a literacy leader at a school district on Long Island. She has been working to build a culture of reading at all levels in the school district. Her recent book, Leading a Culture of Reading: How to Ignite and Sustain a Love of Literacy in Your School Community, addresses specific ways that school districts and teachers can work to get kids reading.

In our conversation, we discuss the framework that Lorraine established to do this work, the ideas that she has implemented with teachers to introduce new book titles that students may enjoy reading, as well as her work with getting kids involved in being reading leaders.

Lorraine is passionate about getting kids excited, interested, and engaged in reading. This conversation and her book will give district leaders, teachers, and parents ideas to try out with kids at any grade level.

Link to Lorraine's website: https://www.lorrainemradice.com/

Link to Lorraine's Book: https://www.solutiontree.com/leading-a-culture-of-reading.html

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Teaching Reading Effectively with Dr. Karen Gazith EP 34

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Welcome to Episode 34! Today I am speaking with Dr. Karen Gazith who is a professor at McGill University. She recently published the book, The Power of Effective Reading Instruction: How Neuroscience Informs Instruction Across All Grades and Disciplines, which addresses so many of the questions and issues in literacy education today.

Dr. Gazith explains neuroscience and what it says about reading instruction. She also discusses the term dyslexia and how a teacher may notice if a student is dyslexic. This book is so practical and provides strategies that can be implemented in the classroom. Karen shares some of her strategies with us during the episode - one of my personal favorites is the Word Bag to support vocabulary!

We end the episode with some ways parents can support their children with reading at home!

To purchase Karen's book: https://www.solutiontree.com/power-of-effective-reading-instruction.html

Karen's Website: https://teachingmeanslearning.com/

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Libraries and the Communities that They Serve: A Conversation with ALA President Emily Drabinski EP 33

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 10:00:00 -0000

The American Library Association is hosting an event this month! It's the LibLearnX Conference and joining me to discuss the conference is the current ALA President, Emily Drabinski.

Emily talks about the conference and what to expect. There are both in-person and digital options to attend, so if you are not able to travel to Baltimore, you can still attend the different sessions. There are many relevant topics being addressed in the sessions: AI, privacy issues with younger students, building partnerships between schools and libraries – are just a few.

Emily speaks about the issues that libraries are facing and she offers an update on book bans in the U.S. She also speaks about the crucial role that libraries play in communities and the resources that they provide - these extend beyond books!

For more information check out the LibLearnX Conference here: https://2024.alaliblearnx.org/

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Reflecting on Our Literacy Teaching EP 32

Thu, 28 Dec 2023 10:00:00 -0000

It's the end of the year, which is a great time to think about and reflect on our literacy instruction. Elizabeth identifies five areas of literacy instruction: Reading, Books, Writing, Speaking, and Listening, and goes through a guided reflection of each of these areas.

The goal is to think about what aspects of your literacy instruction are going well, then identify a few areas that could use some modifications. The last step is to make a plan for those changes.

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Talking About Graphic Novels with Author and Illustrator Stephen Shaskan EP 31

Thu, 14 Dec 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Get ready for a fun episode! If you have students or children who enjoy reading graphic novels - then this is an episode that you must listen to! In this week's episode, Stephen Shaskan joins Elizabeth to discuss graphic novels. Stephen is the author of the fun and motivating series, Pizza and Taco. He has also written and illustrated a number of other books, including the series Q & Ray, which his wife wrote and he illustrated.

Stephen discusses why graphic novels are so motivating for kids to read. He also talks about his own love of reading comic books as a kid and how important reading comic books was for him as a reader. He also talks about the Pizza and Taco book series and the videos that he has made to go along with the books.

We end the episode with a few pieces of advice for parents and teachers when kids want to read graphic novels.

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Supporting Reading Identities and Developing Lifelong Readers: A Conversation with Jennifer McCarty Plucker EP 30

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 10:00:00 -0000

In this week's episode, Elizabeth talks with Jennifer McCarty Plucker about her new book Inspiring Lifelong Readers. Jennifer talks about the inquiry work that she did with students in middle and high school to support them as readers. She provides very helpful strategies from her book that can be implemented at all grade levels. Jennifer stresses the importance of helping all students find books that they enjoy reading - and she gives a roadmap to help teachers (and parents!) with that work. At the end of the episode, Jennifer gives excellent tips to parents who want to support their upper grade children with reading at home.

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Connecting Independent Reading to Instruction, Books to Read for Thanksgiving, and a Planning Hack EP 29

Thu, 16 Nov 2023 10:00:00 -0000

After receiving some questions about independent reading, Elizabeth decided to share a structured approach to this time of the day. How can we make the most of independent reading time for kids and ensure that they are using this time to strengthen their reading skills? Elizabeth discusses the purpose of independent reading, some of the ways that independent reading falls short, and tips for how to make it purposeful for students.

Next up - Elizabeth shares some Thanksgiving books that she has used with students and gives ideas about how they can be used to support kids.

She ends with a planning hack for a busy time. After going through an intense time in October and figuring out how to use her time strategically, Elizabeth shares the layered planning system that kept her going and helped her get her work done.

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How and Why We Teach Reading Strategies to Elementary Students EP 28

Thu, 02 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Today's episode is focused on reading skills and strategies. Elizabeth begins by discussing the definitions of reading skills and reading strategies and gives examples of both. She gives an example of how strategies can be taught when reading to kids and offers ideas for teaching practices that can help when modeling strategies to students. The episode ends on a positive note with a story of how Elizabeth used the book, Black and White by David Macaulay with her students. Black and White is a postmodern picture book, which requires a lot of thinking through the text. Her students discovered all the skills that they were implementing when reading the book!

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Comprehension! What Is It and Why Is It So Important? EP 27

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0000

The conversation about reading at the moment is mainly focused on decoding - or sounding out the words - to do the actual reading of a text. Decoding is essential and important. But, comprehension or understanding what you are reading is also important.

In this episode, Elizabeth discusses the importance of teaching kids to understand or make meaning of the texts that they are reading. She models a Think Aloud strategy that she used with her daughter to teach character traits. Some ideas for the classroom and at home are presented as well.

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The Importance of Read-Alouds with Molly Ness EP 26

Thu, 05 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Read-Alouds are an essential component of reading instruction - at all grade levels. In today's episode, Elizabeth sits down with Dr. Molly Ness, a former classroom teacher, reading researcher, and teacher educator, who has a new book out, Read Alouds for All Learners. Molly begins by discussing what a read-aloud is and gives some helpful strategies for different grade levels. She also discusses how read-alouds fit into the Science of Reading. We end with Molly sharing a strategy to try out with your students! It's a good one!

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Moving Beyond Popcorn Reading: Other Ways to Implement Whole Class Reading EP 25

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0000

It's the beginning of the school year, and popcorn reading has come up quite a bit in the last week. Elizabeth begins by explaining what this teaching practice is and why it is still present in classrooms. She offers five other options for whole class reading instruction rather than popcorn reading.

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Back To School Mixed Bag Episode! EP 24

Thu, 07 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0000

It's the beginning of the school year and the start of September! This week is a mixed bag episode - where Elizabeth covers a few different topics. Elizabeth begins by following-up on the "I Statement" activity that she mentioned in Episode 23. She tried it with her graduate students - and it was a success!

Some of her students are planning on trying it out with their own elementary students during the first week of school. She shares some of the decisions that she made when trying out the activity and discusses possible extensions into the content areas. After that, she talks about the importance of stories and how they help our students form connections with us and with one another. Finally, the episode ends with the excitement of the new school year energy and season.

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Heading into the New School Year! EP 23

Thu, 24 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0000

The new school year is quickly approaching! So, this episode is dedicated to all things back to school. Elizabeth starts by discussing writing activities that can be used at the beginning of the year. Her new favorite is "I Statements" that she learned about this summer.

Then, she shares ideas for introducing yourself to your students so that they learn a little about who you are. Reading at the beginning of the year is so important because it sets the tone that reading is a part of the school day. Elizabeth highlights a few favorites that she has used with students from Kindergarten through graduate school!

Before ending, a time management hack is shared - and the idea came from reading the Little House on the Prairie books!

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The Power of Stories, Gearing Up for the New School Year, and A Book Recommendation for Emergent Readers EP 22

Thu, 10 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Elizabeth shares why stories are so important for our students. She shares three strategies to keep kids engaged with the stories that they are reading - either in school or at home.

Next, Elizabeth discusses some ideas for getting kids back into the routine of reading and writing before the new school year begins. The episode ends with a great book recommendation for emerging readers.

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The Joy of Reading Book Series! EP 21

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Summer is flying by! This week is another episode focusing on summer reading with kids. Elizabeth talks about book series and how they can help keep kids reading during the summer months. She talks about the benefits of reading book series and shares very manageable strategies to support readers during the summer months.

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Supporting Readers During the Summer Months: Spotlight on the Power of Picture Books EP 20

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0000

It's finally summer! Welcome to Episode 20! This episode is focused on parents and family members who are reading at home with kids over the summer. We will dive into picture books and how picture books can support readers of all ages.

Summer reading should be fun and a time to connect with your child so pick books that you want to read with your child and that your child will enjoy reading. Elizabeth walks through how she approaches reading a picture book with her kids and the types of questions she asks to model how she is thinking about the book. She ends with a few comprehension suggestions when reading picture books with your child. Happy reading!

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The Importance of Following the Conversation: Talking Books and Writing with Author Matt de la Peña

Thu, 29 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0000

In today's episode, Elizabeth speaks with children and young adult author, Matt de la Peña. They begin by speaking about a few of his books and where the ideas for those books came from. He also shares ideas for how teachers can use his books with students.

Matt then speaks about his writing process and how he collaborates with illustrators, such as Christian Robinson. He has some ideas for getting kids writing, too! Hint: pay attention to those verbs! They end with a great story that Matt shared about a student he met at a school visit a few years ago!

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The Power of Stories and How They Can Help Us Grow and Connect Us: A Conversation about Books, Stories, and Writing with John Schu EP 18

Thu, 15 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Elizabeth is joined by teacher, librarian, and writer John Schu! He is the author of the recent book, This is a Story and also the book This is a School. John believes in the power of stories and how stories affirm our own experiences and honor our own journeys. He shares strategies to help get children reading and writing as well. And...he ends with some great news about a book by Kate DiCamillo that is coming out in December!

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Talking All About Libraries! Talking Books and the ALA Conference with Lessa Kanani’opua Pelayo-Lozada EP 17

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0000

If you enjoy going to the library, you won't want to miss this episode! Elizabeth speaks with Lessa Kanani’opua Pelayo-Lozada, who is the President of the American Library Association. They discuss the mission of the ALA and the work that they are doing right now to support librarians, libraries, and communities.

Lessa spends time discussing the ALA's upcoming conference, which will be held in Chicago at the end of June. There is even a virtual option - in case you are interested in attending! Lessa shares her experiences as a children's librarian and how parents and teachers can work with librarians and local libraries to support young readers.

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How to Love Teaching (Again!): A Conversation with Jamie Sears EP 16

Thu, 18 May 2023 09:00:00 -0000

In today's episode, Elizabeth is joined by Jamie Sears, the founder of the Not So Wimpy Teacher - a website that makes teaching for grades 2-5 more manageable. Jamie has recently published a book, How to Love Teaching Again: Work Smarter, Beat Burnout, and Watch Your Students Thrive, and she shares tips and strategies to make teaching more sustainable.

Some of the topics discussed include planning lessons more efficiently, scheduling time to grade, and setting work hours.

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Making the Most of Your Time: A Conversation About Time Management with Laura Vanderkam EP 15

Thu, 04 May 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Today's episode has a very special guest! Laura Vanderkam, a time management and productivity author joins Elizabeth to discuss how time can be used well in the classroom and outside of the classroom.

Laura shares a variety of strategies that can be implemented to make teaching more manageable as well as strategies to enjoy life outside of the classroom.

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Getting Ready to Interview for a Teaching Job? Tips for the Interview Process EP 14

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Interview season is upon us! Districts and schools are interviewing for teaching positions. In this episode, seven interview tips are discussed. Elizabeth also provides some examples of common interview questions to help prepare for a teaching interview.

Elizabeth ends on a positive note by sharing a new book for teachers - How to Love Teaching Again: Work Smarter, Beat Burnout, and Watch Your Students Thrive by Jamie Sears.

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A Mixed Bag Episode Running Records, Long-Term Planning, and Getting Kids Writing A LOT EP 13

Thu, 06 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0000

I’m your host, Elizabeth Morphis and for today’s episode, I’m sharing a mixed bag of topics, stories, and examples you can use in teaching literacy.

Running Records

Running records are informative assessments that tell the teachers what the kids are doing so they can make informed decisions about what to teach their students. They provide teachers with what they need to know to make wise teaching decisions.

Here, the students read the text out loud, and the teacher marks what the student is doing as they’re reading. Do they need to work on their vocabulary? Their phonics? Are they struggling with comprehension?

These assessments usually last 5-10 minutes, but what would you do if they lasted 15-20 minutes instead? What if the student doesn’t say much or seems unwilling to participate? This is the exact situation I witnessed recently, and I share how the teacher handled it fantastically.

Long-Term Planning

I get it. Planning your lessons for a long period of time is a guarantee that things won’t go according to plan.. Field trips happen. Students get sick. Classes get canceled. So long-term planning can seem futile. But long-term planning helps you create lessons that are related to each other and actually helps your students develop the literacy skills they need.

Rather than thinking of your lessons and activities in isolation, you can design them to progress and build on one another. And when the time comes that things aren’t going according to plan, it will be easier for you to adjust because you have a long-term goal to guide you.

Writing Activities

I also share several writing activities such as writing centers, and opinion writing, that you can use and apply in your classroom to increase engagement. These ideas are fun for the kids, but challenging enough that it would keep their attention, and they’ll still learn the skills they need.

I hope you find this episode useful, and that you’ll find more than a few things you can apply in your own classroom.

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More Tips for Parents: Working with Kids at Home! EP 12

Thu, 23 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0000

I’m your host, Elizabeth Morphis and for today’s episode, I’m sharing with you more tips to help your child practice literacy at home—those that won’t take a lot of time!

When it comes to the actual activity of reading, especially for kids who are just starting to learn, a few strategies you can do are the tap-it-out strategy to look at the word, segment the word, or use a bookmark or finger under each word. The goal is to improve their focus while reading, and for them to learn to be comfortable with being frustrated if they encounter difficult words.

When it comes to activities you could do at home, here are a few I suggest:

Write letters to friends and families.

This would be cooler if you could have your friends and family write back to your kids.

Write journals.

Either their own or have a journal where you can write back and forth to each other. This will encourage them to express themselves more, write down their thoughts, and it would also improve communication between you and your child.

Roll storyboard.

This is a fun activity that would have kids come up with their own stories.

Choosing books with your kids.

Whether at a bookstore or the library, having your kids choose their own books would make the reading experience more fun, and they would be more invested in it.

Make it fun.

If your kids don’t enjoy sitting down with a book, find other activities they enjoy or ones you could do together, and find ways to incorporate reading into it.

You can go through each of these strategies, modify them and apply them in your own way. The key here is to find which strategy and activity works for your child.

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Tips for Parents - Supporting Your Young Readers at Home EP 11

Thu, 09 Mar 2023 10:00:00 -0000

March is often the time for Parent-Teacher conferences, so now is a great time for parents to ask what can be done at home to help their young readers, and for teachers to give some guidance about how parents can do this.

As parents, you don’t need to spend a lot of time with your kids to help them read. You just have to be creative with what time you have. Here are some ways to support your young readers.

Utilize playtime.

Whether it’s playing with their stuffed toys, playing pretend, or making pizza together, you can use these activities to engage your kids, introduce more words to their vocabulary, work their imagination, and encourage them to think more.

Talk to your child while you’re reading together.

When reading with your child, interject some observations you make. It can be about the plot, characters, words, or anything else that piques interest. Ask them what they think about different points in the story. This activity extends the thinking about the book and extends the conversations you have with your child about the book.

Have your child read to you.

This is a great practice for your kids, and it helps them with speech and oral reading. If you need help finding books at the literacy level of your child, the parent-teacher conferences are a great opportunity to consult with your teachers and ask them for suggestions.

Family reading time

Block out a few minutes each day when you and your child are all reading together. This can be done when the kids need to unwind a little bit, whether it’s from being outside or after finishing a series of activities.

For more tips and practical examples, listen to the full episode and stay tuned for the next episode if you want to hear a part 2 on this topic.

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More About Teaching Writing! Ideas to Get Students Writing & Assessing Writing EP 10

Thu, 23 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

As the literacy graduate program coordinator at SUNY Old Westbury, one of my tasks every January is to run a literacy clinic for graduate students earning their literacy specialist certifications. For today’s episode, I’m sharing with you my observations from this clinic on what’s working for both teachers and students, giving strategies on how to encourage kids to write, and tips for assessing writing.

Kids really like to write.

One of the things I noticed is that kids really like to write. The catch is that they might not like the writing they’re doing in school. I’ve encountered students who have joined the clinic for years and claim that they don’t know how to write, they don’t really like to write, or aren’t any good at it, but under the right environment and with the right activities, their ability and skill at writing really comes through. The challenge for teachers and parents is to pay attention and find the activities that the student will enjoy, find engaging, and encourage them to write.

Activities to encourage writing.

At the literacy clinic, the focus is on the individual student and each of the graduate students design lessons that are catered specifically to the student that they are working with. This provides an environment where as teachers, they can learn more about the student, recognize what help they need, what they’re interested in, and figure out how to incorporate those to any type of writing work. Here are some of the activities I explain more on in this episode:

the blank page
the heart map
saw-heard-did chart
the roller story
how-to writing
interviewing a friend

Tips for assessing students’ writing.

Assessing writing can be challenging. To keep it more manageable and help the students receive feedback better, here are some tips:

Always start with positive feedback
Use a bright-colored pen (not red!)
Keep mechanical feedback to a minimum
Process feedback vs. product feedback
Give checklists before drafting
Give a rubric before the activity
Keep a portfolio for each student

When teaching kids to read and write, it really helps them to work on activities that keep them engaged, that involve topics they are already interested in, and to keep on encouraging them. I hope this episode helps you to achieve that.

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Discussing Writing & Craft with Children's Author & Illustrator, Amy Young EP 9

Thu, 09 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

I’m your host, Elizabeth Morphis and for today’s episode, we’ll hear how we can encourage kids to write and draw more, both inside and outside the classroom. We’ll also learn that encouraging kids to have ideas isn’t that tricky, ideas for writing are all around us.

Our guest today is Amy Young. Amy has wanted to be an artist from as early as she can remember. She became a lawyer, but ended up missing art too much, so she left the practice to write and illustrate full-time. She’s the author of several children’s books such as Belinda the Ballerina and A Unicorn Named Sparkle and illustrated multiple other stories.

Amy shares the unlikely sources of her past stories. Like how Belinda the Ballerina came to her while she was having dinner with her husband one night, or how Sparkle the unicorn came about while she was walking her dog, remembered the ads for sea monkeys from when she was a kid, and asked herself, “What if it was a unicorn?”

The ideas from Amy’s stories come from everywhere. A conversation she heard, what she felt or did as a kid, some of the things her friends and family did, and even from watching animals. The trick lies in two things: writing the ideas down and recognizing when an idea is a good one.

“Once the ideas are flowing, they’re more likely to flow. So, I can tell I’m getting close to a story because things are just more fun. I have to find a place where it’s kind of fun, and the ideas are coming, and then I’ll get that Bang! out of the sky.” –Amy Young

But there are also times when she finds it really hard to come up with new ideas. Her advice? “If whatever you’re doing isn’t working, you try it for a while, and then you try something else.”

To encourage ideas for writing or drawing from kids, Amy shared multiple suggestions such as lists, prompts, journals, letters to future self, and writing from the point-of-view of someone or something else. The key is to make it fun and make it non-judgmental. That way, kids will not only be encouraged to let their ideas flow and be creative, but they will also have fun.

To hear more about Amy’s experiences and suggestions, listen to the full episode. And head on over to her website to see all the amazing books she has.

Connect with Amy Young:

Website

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Talking About Writing! EP 8

Thu, 26 Jan 2023 05:00:00 -0000

I’m your host, Elizabeth Morphis and for today’s episode, I’ll talk about writing and the purpose of writing. We’ll go deeper on this topic in the next few episodes as well.

The purpose of writing in the elementary grades

Kids love to share what they know and express themselves, and writing helps them do this. What they write varies depending on their age and grade level. Kindergarteners, for example, start with pictures of what’s important to them: their toys, their friends and family, and eventually they add print to the pictures, labeling each of them. For the higher grade levels, they learn the different forms and genres of writing which include narrative, persuasive, or even poetry.

Writing also impacts reading, as reading and writing are interconnected. When children can write and talk about what they read, they become even more motivated to read.

Setting up a workshop and time for kids to write

First, kids find it helpful to have a consistent structure. You can teach about writing processes and the craft of writing. Then give them time to write afterwards where they can apply these lessons. The setup of independent writing time would depend on your class and what your goal is.

At home, we can do small things to encourage kids to write more. If there is paper and writing utensils in each room the kids spend time in, it’s very easy for them to grab and write whenever they feel like it. Texting to friends and family members and being able to share their stories, allows kids to write in a way that they would eventually have to so they can communicate with others.

Useful tools to help kids when they’re writing

Paper and writing utensils are the most obvious, but we can utilize these tools to motivate kids to write even more. Kids love colors, so add more colors to their writing utensils. You can use crayons, colored pencils, and different markers. There is also different paper you can use now, and even different notebooks with lines, pictures, blank pages, and with fun covers.

Pay attention to the things they find interesting and use it to encourage them to write.

I hope this episode was helpful for you, and you’ll implement these in your own class or at home.

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Talking Reading Strategies with Jennifer Serravallo EP 7

Thu, 12 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0000

I’m your host, Elizabeth Morphis, and for today’s episode, I get to speak with Jennifer Serravallo. She is a literary classroom consultant, author, and former NYC public school teacher.

In this episode, we discuss Jennifer’s newly released book, The Reading Strategies Book 2.0. She shares the changes that she made in this new edition as well as how teachers can use the strategies to support the readers in their classrooms. She also shares advice for parents who may want to try out the strategies with their children at home.

Jennifer starts off by defining strategies, listing its importance, and differentiating it from skills. She also listed some of the differences with this 2.0. version of her book compared to the first one. Short answer: A lot. Enough to feel like this is a completely different book.

First off, in writing this, Jennifer worked with a research assistant who helped her go through peer-reviewed studies, citing over 700 studies, compiling them, and presenting them in a way that would be easily absorbed and implemented by teachers. In this version, out of the 302 strategies presented, over a hundred are brand new, and more than 150 have been revised so much that they are almost unrecognizable. And this book is now organized according to skill progressions, making it easier for teachers to follow.

The first version of Jennifer’s book is very well-loved and useful for teachers and parents alike. Several copies found permanent homes in classrooms. It was translated into Spanish, French, and Chinese. In fact, the market for this book in China is parents who are reading and teaching these strategies to their children who are learning English!

If you want to learn more about the strategies Jennifer so meticulously researched and shared with us, listen to this episode, and you’ll be better equipped to get back to your classroom this New Year.

Connect with Jennifer:

Website: https://www.jenniferserravallo.com/

Publications: https://www.jenniferserravallo.com/publications

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenniferserravallo/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.serravallo

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JSerravallo

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Gearing up for the New Year: Setting Goals with Students EP 6

Thu, 29 Dec 2022 10:00:00 -0000

I’m your host, Elizabeth Morphis and for today’s episode, I spoke with a former student, Talisa Cantos, who is a Bilingual Literacy Specialist about setting reading and writing goals with students for the new year.

The new year is an amazing time to touch base with students and children and set goals with them, even literacy goals. Students don’t start off knowing how to set goals, so we’ll need to help them do it, but they can set goals for themselves, and they know what it is they want to work towards.

Here are the points Talisa shared when setting goals with students:

Setting the goals

Start with a definition of good reader/writer with each student
Give your students agency and let them be a part of setting their goals
Constantly reflect on the goals

Meeting the goals

Work closely with their strengths and follow their interests
Constantly remind them of their goals and point out how their practices are helping them achieve their goals
Celebrate their victories

This episode expounds on these tips, as well as discusses practical practices to apply in the classroom. As you set your goal for the New Year, I hope this episode will be helpful for you, and remember to not be so hard on yourself and your students, and to have fun and enjoy this time.

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The Importance of Instruction for Developing Decoding Skills: A Conversation with Julia Lindsey EP 5

Wed, 14 Dec 2022 10:00:00 -0000

I’m your host, Elizabeth Morphis and for today’s episode, I have with me our guest Julia Lindsey. Julia B. Lindsey, Ph.D., is a foundational literacy expert, consultant, and proud former elementary school teacher. Her work aims to help educators implement research findings in reading instruction.

She is the author of the newly released book, Reading Above the Fray: Research-based Routines for Developing Decoding Skills. Julia is also the creator of a framework for research-tested, content-rich decodable texts used by districts, curriculum developers, and tens of thousands of teachers across the globe.

Her book comes with the label “The Science of Reading in Practice” which she defined as “all of the science, scientific knowledge and research from many disciplines that explain the phenomenon of reading.” This includes common knowledge and practices, disproven theories, and new, emerging studies. Another definition could be a “movement which is about improving the teaching of reading to match research.” In this episode, we discuss the science of reading, the research around it, and practical information on how to apply these scientific concepts in the classroom and at home.

Julia defined decoding as “using the knowledge of sound-spelling relationships in order to read a word.” When talking about decoding, she shares that we can start having kids practice decoding as early as 8-10 alphabet letters, and that when learning the alphabet, it is better to have student learn around 3 letters a week, learning the whole alphabet before the winter break. This gives students the foundational knowledge they need to learn to start reading, and this way, they get to apply what they know much sooner, have more time to practice decoding, and review the letters in cycles.

We also discussed shared reading, an effective practice for teaching reading. This is where the teacher reads a text with their students. Julia and I discuss several practices that would make shared reading more effective. The first is that the text should be around their reading level. With each session, focus on something to point out to the students, either specific letters, new words, frequently used words, capital letters, or whatever it is your class is learning at the time. More than anything, shared reading is effective because it is a shared experience with your students.

Listen to the full episode to hear more of the studies, practical suggestions, and practices Julia shared to help your student learn to read.

Connect with Julia:

Website: www.juliablindsey.com/

Website: www.beyonddecodables.com/

Twitter: www.twitter.com/juliablindsey

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/juliablindsey/

Reading Above the Fray

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Getting Kids to Read During the Holiday Season EP 4

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 10:00:00 -0000

I’m your host, Elizabeth Morphis and today, in preparation for the Holidays, I have for you 3 tips to get kids reading both in the classroom and at home, and I’ll also share some bonus suggestions along the way. In today’s digital age where children can get so easily distracted, it’s even more important to be able to instill in them the habit and discipline of reading.

Reading in the Classroom

My first suggestion for teachers is to make kids aware of books and authors they may be interested in. Beyond letting them know that a particular book exists and why you think they would like it, read the first few chapters with them, and discuss it until they themselves grow interested in it.

The second thing you can do is share details about the author. This gives students additional excitement for the book, and as they read, they get to identify details in the book that the author might have taken from personal experience.

Last suggestion for the classroom is to give the students the opportunity to talk to each other about the book they love and why they do. And let’s be honest, students are sometimes more likely to take recommendations from their peers than from a teacher.

Reading at Home

This is something I’ve done with my daughters for each holiday, and it has built their excitement for reading and the holiday we’re celebrating. Find books that are specific to a holiday and bring them out before the holiday starts. Add a few different titles each year, then after the holiday put them away, not to be seen until next year. This builds excitement around the books since kids don’t see them all the time and adds a special element to each holiday.

Another thing you can do as parents is to cook with the kids. This could be helpful for kids who don’t like to read. Have them help you with cooking and have them read off the cookbook or recipe. If they enjoy helping you in the kitchen and reading is a part of that experience, it reinforces the idea that reading is fun and enjoyable.

Read a book series over an extended period of time. Book series allows kids to stay with characters longer over new plots and storylines and it builds their reading stamina. Having it as a series also creates excitement since they know that there’s more to the story.

I hope that you find these suggestions helpful and that you and your kids will have an amazing time reading this holiday season.

Connect with Elizabeth

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What is a Literacy Specialist? EP 3

Thu, 17 Nov 2022 10:30:00 -0000

I’m Elizabeth Morphis your host and today I’m addressing the difference between a literacy specialist and a reading specialist. I also want to provide context for how the job came to be in schools.

I’m also interviewing Kasey, a literacy specialist and one of my former students about her job and what it entails.

Two questions I get often are:

● What is the difference between a reading specialist and a literacy specialist?

● What does a literacy specialist do?

In theory there isn’t much difference between the two. The term has shifted from reading to literacy recently. Hear how specialists came about. They’ve been in schools since the 1930’s, and the role they play in schools has changed over time.

The shift from reading to literacy is because schools have recognized that reading is not the only area of focus. Literacy specialists address all areas of language arts. Specialists are working to support students with reading, writing, speaking, listening, viewing and even visual representation.

Different school districts may choose to use different terms, but it’s essentially the same role.

Kasey is a reading specialist working with K-2 kids who are ages 5-8. She explains that her job is to be the point person for anything reading based and to provide additional support for children struggling with reading skills.

You’ll find Kasey in the classroom pushing into the classroom and working with a teacher as well as outside the classroom working with small groups of children using her own lessons and planning instruction to support the needs of the students.

She explains the different programs that are used both in-and-outside the classroom to help students where they are. Assessments are done by Kasey every other week and school-wide three times a year.

Writing skills are also reinforced and vary depending on the program being taught.

Sometimes kids are writing the words they are learning in a sentence or may be applying the rule or concept that they have just learned.

Kasey also explains how she works with parents. She’s accessible and wants them to know how their child is progressing with reading and writing. Elizabeth and Kasey also discuss tutoring and support outside of school and what parents may want to do to help support their child’s progress.

Kasey has a passion for teaching, and she shares how nice it is to be able to work with children from kindergarten through 2nd grade. She’s helping a new generation of readers and writers master important skills and most importantly learn to love reading and writing!

I hope this has helped you better understand the role of a reading or literacy specialist, and answered a few of your questions about what type of support they provide and how they add to the school.

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Getting to Know Your Students and Host Elizabeth Morphis EP 2

Thu, 17 Nov 2022 10:15:00 -0000

As teachers, it is important to learn about the students in your classroom and for the students to learn a little about you. This helps build trusting relationships, which are essential for students to learn and for teachers to teach effectively. This episode does just that!

I introduce myself so that you learn about me, my current position as a professor, and my teaching experiences. In the Spotlight Segment, I share a few activities that I use to learn about my students and who they are as individuals.

Here’s what I recommend to develop trust, inclusion, and motivation:

1. Spend some time getting to know the students before and as part of the lessons.

2. Let the students get to know you as well. It’s hard for students to learn from teachers they don’t trust.

3. Help students make connections between the curriculum and the students’ interests.

I’ve always loved teaching and in today’s episode you’ll hear my first experiences in the classroom and how I developed my expertise around literacy. I have had some unique teaching opportunities as well. I spent a year on the National Broadway tour of Annie. It was my job to make sure the children in the cast kept up with their class work between performances.

Bringing the curriculum to life is important to me and I’m sharing some of the ways I tried to do that for y students.

While working with Sesame Workshop I created curriculum for students in Japan to learn English with the Sesame content. As part of the project, I went to Japan, and had the opportunity to work with teachers there and I realized how much I enjoyed working with other teachers.

Teaching new teachers at the college level is rewarding. It’s wonderful to work with others who have a passion for teaching.

In the Spotlight I’m sharing some of my favorite activities to do with students to get to know them better.

· Me bag exercise.

· My Map Book by Sarah Fanelli

· The Best Part of Me by Wendy Ewald

· Looking Like Me by Walter Dean Myers

These are great activities for parents, and I’ve enjoyed doing them with my girls who are enthusiastic readers.

If you’re a teacher or a parent looking to help children enjoy reading, any of these ideas are a good place to start. Learning to love reading can happen in a variety of ways and I’ll share more ideas on the next episode.

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Literacy – More than Reading and Writing EP: 1

Thu, 17 Nov 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Welcome to the first episode of the Literacy Teacher's Life Podcast! Today's episode introduces the topic of literacy and expands on the common definition of literacy as simple "reading and writing."

Host Elizabeth Morphis Brings her experience as both a teacher and amo to two elementary school-age daughters.

Today's Topic on the Literacy List

What is Literacy and what does it mean? The most common answer most of us hear is "literacy is reading and writing," and that's correct. But it's not all. The definition also includes the meaning tht is made, the context, and the environment.

Elizabeth shares examples from her classroom to explain that often kids may read well but struggle to explain what they’ve read. Or they may understand but be unable to write about what they’ve read.

Literacy is a way of making meaning in a specific environment. What does that mean? That’s the focus of literacy education today. Skills vary depending on the specific work students engage in.

Absolutely, literacy refers to reading and writing. But it’s also the meaning that we take from a text or the meaning we make, and the environment.

For parents at home, if your child is frustrated when reading alone, try reading with them. You can slowly lead up to having them read independently.

Spotlight on Children's Books

* The Three Pigs by David Wiesner – this is one Elizabeth's favorites. The pigs leave their story and fly into other stories. The pigs are reading their world!

*Tomas and the Library Lady by Pat Mora – This book is a great example of how a child relates to the content.

*The Idea Jar by Adam Lehrhaupt – This shows how ideas for writing can come from anywhere and it encourages possibilities.

*This is a good story by Adam Lehrhaupt – This book explains the elements of the story including what happens when mistakes happen.

* You are a Reader/You are a Writer by April Jones Prince – This book shows all the content we read like signs, cereal boxes and more. It’s a great reminder that we read and write in all kinds of ways in our everyday lives.

Today’s Positive Note

This week's episode shares two resources that can be used to encourage kids to talk about books they read. It also explains comprehension wands and cubes with prompts to help extend the reading into a conversation.

You can find more resources at https://www.theliteracyteacherslife.com/

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The Literacy Teacher's Life

Wed, 09 Nov 2022 00:05:10 -0000

This podcast is for teachers and parents who are dedicated to helping young readers and writers thrive. Children are naturally curious and it’s our role as parents and teachers to provide them with support so they learn to love reading and writing. Host, teacher, and mom Elizabeth Morphis is here to help you support your kids at home or in the classroom.

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