Literacy Talks

There is new interest in small group instruction as a key component of early literacy learning. Some educators are talking about skipping the small groups. Others have important ideas about making small group instruction better and more effective. In this episode, our hosts explore strategies and tactics for organizing, supporting, and evaluating small group instructional time. From carefully grou...

Season 5 of Literacy Talks begins with a visit from special guest Dr. Elfrieda “Freddie” Hiebert , noted researcher, educator, author, and president and CEO of TextProject, Inc., a nonprofit organization focused on bringing beginning and struggling readers to high levels of literacy using a variety of strategies and tools, particularly the texts used for reading instruction. In this episode, our h...

As the saying goes, “That’s a wrap!” This episode closes Season 4 of Literacy Talks . Our listening audience has grown remarkably, and we’re grateful to every educator who tunes in to share the gift of literacy with us and our special guests. Join our trio of terrific literacy leaders, Stacy Hurst, Lindsay Kemeny, and Donell Pons, for a retrospective look at the season’s most memorable guests and...

How can we encourage young learners to become confident writers? It’s a question every elementary classroom teacher continues to ponder. In this episode of Literacy Talks , writing takes center stage as our hosts explore how to rethink writing workshop strategy and transform it so students can build a solid foundation for writing—from the basics of letter formation to the creativity that comes fro...

Students’ ability to write fluently is important for literacy success. This episode tackles how we can confidently and carefully teach handwriting so students can make critical connections between the shape of letters, the construction of words, and the meaning of their writing and reading. From helping young learners write legibly to building knowledge of the alphabet, this episode will give ever...

The Reading League Conference 2023 was a high-energy, high-impact event, and our three Literacy Talks hosts were there. This episode voices their observations on the conference’s many noteworthy sessions, key takeaways, and new insights about research and classroom practice. From Kareem Weaver’s unforgettable message of love to standout sessions from the profession’s leading researchers and practi...

With this episode of Literacy Talks , our literacy experts wrap up a four-part mini-series exploring the article Ending the Reading Wars: Reading Acquisition from Novice to Expert by Anne Castles, Kathleen Rastle, and Kate Nation. The trio shines a spotlight on the complex, multi-faceted nature of reading comprehension and how both decoding and linguistic comprehension come together as students le...

“There’s more to learning to read than phonics…”  This statement is true, but without phonics at the core of foundational literacy, the progression from beginning reading to fluent reading is at risk. In this episode of Literacy Talks , our three hosts look at skilled word reading and how the process develops in children. From decoding to spelling, from spelling to sound, and then from sound to me...

This episode focuses on cracking the alphabetic code in part two of studying the article Ending the Reading Wars: Reading Acquisition From Novice to Expert by Anne Castles, Kathleen Rastle, and Kate Nation. The discussion emphasizes the significance of spoken language comprehension for young learners and the crucial role of engaging students in the writing system in connecting spoken and written l...

Whether you participate in more formal professional learning communities or informal study groups with colleagues, you know the power of sharing and discussing articles and information that are important, thought-provoking, and meaningful. In this episode of Literacy Talks , we launch a four-part conversation centered on the article Ending the Reading Wars: Reading Acquisition From Novice to Exper...

This installment of Literacy Talks features and celebrates the publication of our own Lindsay Kemeny’s new bestselling book, 7 Mighty Moves: Research-Backed, Classroom-Tested Strategies to Ensure K-to-3 Reading Success , from Scholastic. It’s an opportunity to hear how Lindsay, a first-grade reading teacher and popular presenter, decided to write the book while giving listeners an inside look at h...

In this episode of Literacy Talks , the trio excitedly welcomes Emily Hanford, the award-winning journalist and media producer whose work and Sold a Story podcast have changed the literacy landscape. You’ll hear Emily talk about her career reporting on education and how she uncovered problems in reading instruction, which were, in her words, hiding in plain sight. Her work has enlightened a growin...

In this episode of Literacy Talks , our trio of literacy experts unpacks all the information first introduced in Episode 3 of this season, featuring special guest Dr. Matt Burns. Why? Because the conversations surrounding reading levels, assessments, and the unwavering pursuit of reading proficiency are pivotal. From underscoring the importance of informal observations, pre-teaching, and scaffoldi...

Classroom teachers, families, reading coaches, and, most importantly, students have all experienced reading levels. In this compelling episode of Literacy Talks , special guest Dr. Matt Burns shares his research and insights and their application to literacy learning, extra support, and growth. It’s a candid and refreshing look at assessment, measurement, and the changes in how the profession can...

How many times have you heard the phrase, “Get real”? This episode extends our back-to-school conversation and focuses on the data and real-time information that will help teachers create classrooms that are places of success for every student. From recognizing that nearly a third of all fourth graders score below basic in reading, with another third at very basic levels, to early assessments that...

Whether you’re teaching for the first time or a seasoned classroom educator, the words ‘back to school’ always signal excitement, energy, and new enthusiasm for the year ahead. As we launch season 4 of Literacy Talks , our trio explores ideas and strategies to create classroom, at-home, and tutoring environments that support readers and reading. You’ll pick up helpful tips for classroom setup. You...

Pop some popcorn. Find a comfy couch. Settle in and listen to this episode of Literacy Talks as our terrific trio shares a lineup of films about literacy. From The Right to Read to Blame It On Gutenberg , there are new and now classic films about the critical importance of literacy that you’ll want to watch. In this episode, our trio shares their responses to the movies and why they believe it’s i...

Every educator can relate to this episode as it delves into the complex issue of students encountering difficulties in reading. Our podcast hosts approach this issue through various lenses, revisiting the essentials of effective reading instruction, highlighting the significance of diagnostic assessments, and emphasizing the importance of early identification of learning gaps. This episode underli...

Words that are spelled the same but are pronounced differently depending on their context can be perplexing for readers of all ages. What can you do? The answer comes from helping young readers build the skill known as set for variability . This episode of Literacy Talks unpacks this essential literacy skill and distinguishes it from the notion of guessing at the right pronunciation. It requires s...

Whether you attended the March 2023 Plain Talk Conference in New Orleans or wish you did, this Literacy Talks episode will give you a front-row seat for an insightful wrap-up on all the news and sessions from the conference. From favorite breakout sessions to highlights of the keynote addresses, this episode will take you on a round trip to Plain Talk and back without ever packing a suitcase. 💬 W...

We’re all familiar with the phrase, “It takes a village to raise a child.” When it comes to literacy, that village includes teachers, families, and caregivers alike. In this episode of Literacy Talks , our trio of literacy experts looks at how educators and those in students’ home lives can play a cooperative, collaborative role in raising confident, capable readers. From productive conversations...

As schools and districts transform literacy instruction, invest in new professional learning for teachers, and train literacy coaches to implement instruction anchored in the science of reading, a key question arises—When will we see results? This episode of Literacy Talks addresses the question and provides insights into how changes in literacy instruction will deliver measurable and observable i...

Reading and literacy statistics offer valuable insights. In this episode of Literacy Talks , our trio of reading experts takes a helpful look at the numbers of reading. The “one in five” stat underscores the need to provide services and support to striving readers. There’s also the 50/50 split that tells us an equal number of girls and boys grapple with dyslexia. You can count on new information a...

Once students can master decoding, their vocabularies can blossom. In this episode of Literacy Talks , our trio of literacy experts tackles the challenges and joys of helping students build their vocabulary skills, along with the how’s and why’s of using the techniques of vocabulary-rich teaching.  💬 Want more insights like this? Subscribe to the Literacy Talks Podcast Digest   for episode recaps...

How can we, as educators, caregivers, and family members, encourage a love of reading in students? This episode of Literacy Talks explores the challenges and joys of teaching students to read, our priority, and encouraging their love of reading along the way. From helping them experience and feel success as they decode their first words to giving every student the opportunity to succeed, this epis...