The Literacy Lounge: Uncover the Magic of Reading Through Ciera Harris’ Guide to Building Comprehension

If you’re a teacher, you probably know the feeling of juggling too many things all at once, taking care of all the people around you. But how often do you stop to check in with yourself? Today we’re diving into a topic that’s not talked about enough, especially in education. It’s something that impacts each one of us every day—mental health. I’ll share a vulnerable story about my mental health jou...

How can we best support our students with special needs inside the general education classroom when we don’t have a background in special education? Without training in special education, teachers often wonder how they can ensure their students with special needs are receiving the instruction and support they need. Dr. Chris Reeve is joining me today to share some incredible insight on how we can...

The demands on teachers seem to grow endlessly. There always seem to be curriculum changes, standardized testing, and all the challenges that have come along with the past few years. Teachers today are facing very high levels of exhaustion, stress, and burnout. So, what can we do to help prevent and manage this stress and burnout? Teacher burnout and sustainability strategist Brittany Blackwell jo...

There are some common methods and practices for teaching reading that I don’t agree with. Now, I don’t say this to ruffle feathers but rather to challenge the status quo and make us think deeply about how we approach literacy education and how we can make the biggest impact on our students’ reading journeys. We all want to provide the best reading instruction possible, but I believe that some of t...

We’ve all come across students who hate reading. These students, for whatever reason it may be, cannot see the power and joy that reading can bring. Thankfully, we are in a position to help these students see just how amazing reading can be. With the right steps and encouragement, we can transform these students into lifelong readers! In this episode, I am sharing practical tips and strategies to...

As an elementary teacher, I was always worried about whether I was doing a good enough job in preparing my students for the next level. I wanted to be a fly on the wall of their classrooms when they got to middle school to see if they were prepared. That is why I am so excited to have Caitlin Mitchell joining me today to share all about how elementary teachers can help prepare students for middle...

One of the most powerful things you can do with your students inside the classroom is goal setting. It can help to drive motivation and focus and give your students the extra push they need intrinsically to meet the goals they have set for themselves. I know goal setting with your students can sound daunting, but it doesn’t need to be! Goal setting can be incredibly beneficial to both you and your...

How amazing is it to witness a student’s eyes beam with excitement when they are completely captivated by a story? The great thing is, by harnessing the power of read alouds, we can get our students excited about reading while also building background knowledge, modeling fluent reading, and so much more! Sara Soucy from The Colorful Apple joins us today to share all about read alouds and how benef...

A fresh, new year always brings a spark of possibility and positivity as I look forward to all the things I hope to accomplish in the year. And if you’re feeling anything like me, you are optimistic that 2024 is finally going to be a good year! I am so ready to make 2024 an amazing year! Are you with me? If you’re looking to elevate your teaching and ignite a love of learning in your students in 2...

What if I told you there were simple strategies you could implement in your class that could elevate your instruction and be a total game changer for your students? Believe it or not, there are strategies that don’t require extra materials or extra prep but make a big impact. As we are heading into a new year, it’s a great time to start implementing some strategies that can transform your reading...

Are you looking for a simple yet impactful way to squeeze in a little professional development during the holiday break? I absolutely loved to use this time off to not only recharge but to binge a professional development book I knew I wouldn’t have time to read while in the classroom.  Before diving into books, we typically like to know if they are helpful and worth the read, especially if w...

Have you ever had a student who regularly seemed stressed or anxious and was also struggling with academics? There is a strong connection between social-emotional well-being and academic success that is often overlooked. This is a huge reason that there is a strong push for social-emotional learning in schools right now. Professional school counselor Sara Cottrill-Carlo is joining us to share some...

What exactly is comprehension in the context of reading? We know that comprehension is the core of literacy. And as teachers, understanding that comprehension is what connects phonemic awareness, phonics, vocab, and fluency together is crucial for effective literacy instruction. When it comes to improving your students' reading comprehension, even making small changes in your instructional approac...

We know that teaching vocabulary is crucial for students to comprehend texts, but the importance of expanding students' vocabulary goes far beyond understanding what they are reading in the classroom. Vocabulary in elementary education not only impacts comprehension but also how students engage with and understand the world. Explicitly teaching vocabulary is incredibly beneficial and effective in...

Have you witnessed the transformation when a student turns from a hesitant or reluctant reader into a confident reader? It is truly an amazing thing to watch unfold before your eyes! The key to this transformation is the third component of literacy: Fluency! As teachers, we know that fluency is essential to being a successful reader. But what does fluency actually entail? In this episode, I am div...

Phonics and phonemic awareness play a crucial role in our end goal of reading comprehension, and it is so important that our students are learning these foundational skills, regardless of their grade. But how can you fit phonemic awareness lessons into your already packed schedule? Kristina Harrill of Sweet for Kindergarten is joining us today to share all about the importance of phonics and phone...

Do you know the 5 components of literacy that all elementary teachers should be explicitly teaching every single day? These 5 literacy components are the building blocks that turn our students into lifelong, successful readers.  Teaching the Fab 5 of literacy regardless of what grade you teach is so important to your students’ success. In this episode, I am breaking down the 5 components you...

Teaching reading comprehension is a huge undertaking for teachers. There are various aspects and factors that impact a student’s ability to comprehend what they have read and recognizing and understanding these factors are key to effectively teaching reading comprehension. So what are some of the factors that impact instruction? As we all know, every student learns differently and every student br...

Have you found yourself struggling to figure out how you’re going to fit everything you need to cover into your reading block? I definitely have been there! The good news is that there are ways to create a reading schedule that allows you to cover all the literacy components you know you need to include to help your students be successful readers. Finding the right reading schedule to fit both you...

Our classrooms are full of invaluable tools that can equip our students with critical thinking skills and spark a lifelong love of reading and writing. Can you guess what these tools are? It’s mentor texts! Utilizing the right mentor texts can completely transform your instruction and your students’ experiences with literacy. In this episode, we will explore the purpose behind using mentor texts,...

If you constantly find yourself saying “I wish I had more time to fit everything in”, then this episode is for you. Teachers have so much content to cover each day, and it can feel like an impossible task to make it work, especially in your literacy block. That’s where routines come in. Literacy specialist, Sara Marye, joins us to share exactly why literacy routines can be a game-changed for both...

Have you ever had a student who reads like the wind but struggles to remember anything from the text? Or, if they do remember anything, they are simply regurgitating facts and details? This is a case of reading consumption vs. reading comprehension and it’s time to unpack the reasons behind it. True comprehension goes beyond remembering and repeating. It involves understanding the text on a deeper...

Are you an elementary school teacher on a mission to ignite a love of reading in your students? Looking for actionable strategies to supercharge comprehension in your classroom? Welcome to The Literacy Lounge, where you’ll accomplish this and so much more. I'm your host, Ciera Harris, a former elementary school teacher turned reaching coach. I've created this podcast to take the guesswork out of y...