Creating Readers with Savannah Campbell

Textbook adoption committees seem to be in every district right now. States are passing legislation.  Publishing companies are "coming to the rescue." And teachers are being told to follow programs with fidelity. But what happens when the program itself is overloaded, inconsistent, or simply not aligned with how children actually learn to read? In this episode, I’m diving into one of my biggest fr...

Last week, we talked all about what decodables are with Brooke Vitali. This week, we’re tackling the question everyone is quietly wondering…When do we actually stop using them? In this episode, I walk you through how to think about decodables as a tool (not the goal), what signals students are ready to move on, and what instruction should look like after decodables. Spoiler: it’s not going back to...

In this episode, I’m joined by Brooke Vitale, founder of Charge Mommy Books and a former editor at major publishing houses like Penguin and Disney. Brooke has published over 100 books and brings a unique perspective to the world of decodables, blending strong storytelling with research-aligned phonics practices. We dig into what decodables are actually for, how they should (and shouldn’t) be used,...

🎙️ Assessments Aren’t the Enemy In this episode, I’m joined by my real-life best friend and literacy expert, Rachel Beiswanger (@_readingrachel_), to talk about what assessments are actually for , and how to use them without overtesting or overwhelming teachers. If you’ve ever thought, Okay… I have the data. Now what? , then this conversation is for you. In this episode, we discuss: The difference...

Spelling multisyllabic words is not about being “naturally good” at spelling. It is about understanding what happens to base words when we add suffixes and giving students enough meaningful practice to internalize those patterns. In this episode, Savannah walks through the Three Great Spelling Rules and shares practical ways to help those rules actually stick through daily spelling and reading rou...

What does decades of research actually say about how comprehension is taught in classrooms, and how much help do textbooks really provide? In this episode, Savannah takes a deep dive into 50 years of comprehension research, beginning with Dolores Durkin’s landmark studies in the late 1970s and extending through large-scale analyses published as recently as 2023. Together, these studies paint a con...

🎙️ Teaching Research Is Not “Off You Go” Research doesn’t magically happen just because students are handed a topic and a Chromebook. In this episode of Creating Readers, Savannah Campbell is joined by Katie Walker (@katie_walker_resources) to unpack why research must be explicitly taught, carefully scaffolded, and thoughtfully supported in upper elementary classrooms. In this episode of Creating...

Morphology is often taught as a weekly prefix or suffix list, but when it’s treated that way, we miss its real power. In this episode, Savannah explains why morphology isn’t just about spelling or quizzes and how it can become one of the most effective word-learning strategies we give students. In this episode of Creating Readers, Savannah discusses: Why morphology is often misunderstood and under...

Many teachers hear the phrase “all teachers are reading teachers” and instantly panic. Don’t worry, this episode isn’t about turning math class into phonics or adding more to your already full plate. Instead, Savannah breaks down what the phrase actually means and how every content-area classroom is already positioned to boost comprehension in meaningful, doable ways. In this episode, you’ll learn...

In this week’s episode of Creating Readers, Savannah breaks down one of her favorite high-impact writing strategies from The Writing Revolution called Because, But, So. This simple routine helps students write stronger complex sentences, strengthens their understanding of content, and makes knowledge from texts stick. Savannah also looks honestly at why traditional writing workshop falls short, an...

In this episode, Savannah sits down with Melissa Gill, Director of Teaching & Learning at the Wabash Valley Education Center (WVEC) in West Lafayette, Indiana, to demystify explicit instruction. They bust common myths (no, it’s not a 45-minute lecture), unpack what “I do, we do, you do” actually looks like in practice, and dig into the essential roles of modeling, monitoring, and immediate fee...

After an extended break (and finishing her first book with Scholastic!), Savannah is back on Creating Readers with one of her most practical and passionate topics yet-improving comprehension no matter what text or curriculum you’re using. In this episode, Savannah shares five tips that teachers can implement right away, even if you’re required to use a basal or “fidelity” curriculum. Learn how to:...

Join host Savannah Campbell as she sits down with Shannon Moore, a certified reading specialist and owner of Moore Literacy Leaps. In this episode, they discuss practical strategies for implementing reading interventions, even with limited resources. Shannon shares her journey from classroom teacher to literacy coach and offers insights into data-driven instruction, small group management, and the...

Have you ever wondered what Tier 1 differentiation looks like?  If so, this episode is for you. In this episode, Savannah Campbell discusses the concept of flexible grouping in reading with guests Samantha Smusz and Sarah Robinson. They explore the differences between flexible grouping and traditional intervention methods, the reasons behind their shift to flexible grouping, and the logistics of i...

In this episode of Creating Readers, Savannah Campbell discusses effective alternatives to traditional round robin reading methods. She emphasizes the importance of student engagement in reading and presents various strategies such as echo reading, choral reading, cloze reading, and cloze drop reading. Savannah also highlights the significance of who is doing the reading and the need for accountab...

In this episode of Creating Readers, Savannah Campbell delves into the critical topic of phonemic awareness, discussing its significance in reading instruction and how it differs from phonological awareness. She shares insights from research, particularly the National Reading Panel, emphasizing the importance of teaching segmenting and blending as key skills. Savannah also addresses common misconc...

In this episode of Creating Readers, Savannah Campbell discusses strategies for addressing situations where reading interventions are not yielding the desired progress. She emphasizes the importance of focusing on factors within educators' control, such as time allocation, instructional focus, engagement strategies, and collaboration among teachers. By enhancing intervention effectiveness and ensu...

In this conversation, Michelle Sullivan (@michelle_thecolorfulclassroom), Sarah Paul (@snippetsbysarah), and Savannah Campbell discuss the significance of morphology in literacy education. They explore why teaching morphology is essential for understanding the English language, particularly its meaning components. The discussion covers effective strategies for introducing morphology to young learn...

🧠In this episode of Creating Readers, host Savannah Campbell and guest Marisa Ware discuss the critical role of executive functioning in literacy and education.  📌They explore practical strategies for teaching these skills to students, emphasizing the importance of explicit instruction and support in the classroom. The conversation highlights the interconnectedness of executive functioning and l...

In this episode of Creating Readers, host Savannah Campbell and guest Marisa Ware discuss the critical role of executive functioning in literacy and education. Marisa, an executive function specialist, explains the various skills involved in executive functioning, such as attention, organization, and self-regulation, and how these skills are essential for successful reading and learning. They expl...

#9 What's wrong with leveled texts?  Aren't books just book? Well yes, and no.  In this episode, Savannah discusses the issues with leveled texts.  She shares: how leveled texts do not actually tell us if children are reading on grade level because they are an inherently flawed form of assessment How leveled texts do not have a defined scope and sequence or take into account children's levels of b...

It wasn't long ago that Savannah saw teaching text structures as boring and something she needed to do just to check a box in her instruction. But, once she understood the importance of text structures and the role they play in comprehension, she was sold. In this podcast, Savannah shares all things text structures.  She discusses: the role text structures play as a kind of background knowledge th...

In this episode of Creating Readers, Savannah debunks the myth that English is an illogical, "crazy" language. Savannah explains how understanding the history and structure of English reveals its underlying logic. From Anglo-Saxon roots to French, Latin, and Greek influences, she takes listeners on a fascinating journey through the layers of the English language. Learn why English preserves meanin...

Join Savannah as she discusses vocabulary and meaningful ways that you can practice it in your classroom. Vocabulary is inextricably linked to comprehension.  If you aren't teaching vocabulary, then you're not teaching comprehension.  In this episode, Savannah walks you through: why vocabulary is important how to plan for vocabulary meaningful activities for strengthening vocabulary. Links Mention...

In this episode, Mike Crusco joins Savannah as they discuss the newest universal screener in Virginia-the Virginia Language and Literacy Screener (VALLSS). While the statewide universal screener, PALS, certainly needed to be updated, there are still several problems with the new screener that need to be addressed.  This episode is specific for the Virginia assessment, but is useful for all educato...