The Literacy Teacher's Life

It's summer! And, that means that it's time for summer reading! If you want to encourage your kids to keep reading over the summer, talk to them about the books that they are reading. Discussing books with kids helps them think through what the book is all about. After speaking with Shifa Saltagi Safadi, the author of the Amina Banana about writing bravely, Elizabeth has been thinking about how we...

It's finally summer! To kick off summer reading, Elizabeth is speaking with authors about their books. In this episode, Elizabeth speaks with Shifa Saltagi Safadi, the author of the Amina Banana series and Kareem Between. They begin by talking all about the Amina Banana series--where she got the idea for the series and how she decided to tackle tough topics in the books. Elizabeth and Shifa discus...

The American Library Association is hosting its Annual Conference this month--and to gear up for the conference, this episode is about the library! Should your child only read books on their level? The short answer is no! So, to look for books that your child will enjoy on a variety of levels, hit the library! And, now is a great time--to get your summer reading stack! Learn more about your ad cho...

The American Library Association is gearing up for its Annual Conference (June 25-29, 2026)--and joining Elizabeth is Dan Montgomery, who is the Executive Director of the ALA.In our conversation, Dan talks about the importance of celebrating 150 years of the ALA, what to expect at the Annual Conference (and why you should go!), and what the ALA is facing today. Libraries are facing challenges in t...

To celebrate the American Library Association's 150th Anniversary and their upcoming Annual Conference, this week's mini episode is library themed! Libraries are known for books and reading materials, but they also have materials and resources that serve their particular community. Listen to this episode to learn about some of the materials libraries lend out--then check out your library to see wh...

It's the 150th Anniversary of the American Library Association! Joining Elizabeth is the current President of the ALA, Sam Helmick, who is talking about the ALA's annual conference and why this year is so special. In this episode, you will hear Sam speak about:• The ALA’s 150th Year and how they are celebrating at this year’s conference;• A few of the speakers at this year’s conference (you won't...

Finding time to read can be a challenge. Schedules are busy and when things get hectic, reading is often the first thing that gets cut out. But...this is a tip that really pays off. It's so beneficial to your kids to let them see you reading. Elizabeth starts with a story that highlights why kids need to see the adults in their lives reading. There are so many benefits to reading in front of your...

Memorial Day is quickly approaching and to talk about the importance of acknowledging service members, Elizabeth is joined by Jeff Gottesfeld and Matt Tavares. They are the author and illustrator of the books, Honor Flight: Celebrating American's Veterans and Twenty-One Steps: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier--two books that focus on veterans. Memorial Day is a great occasion to teach chil...

If you are looking for ways to introduce your child to book about their interests or new books--look no further than the library! Libraries spark curiosity in many ways, which include:- Access to amazing librarians who are very knowledgable about books- The limitless topics they house- They host many events for the community- They offer more than just books for patrons! Check out this episode to l...

If you love cats, then this episode is for you! Elizabeth is joined by the author and illustrator, Kristine A. Lombardi. She recently wrote and published the book, Crouton, which is about a shelter cat looking for her perfect person to take her home. Crouton is a very sweet story, and Kristine talks all about where the idea came from, her illustration style in the book, and she even shares ideas a...

Elizabeth was recently asked about what reading for skills looks like. In today's mini episode she shares how you can help your child with the skill of recalling what they read after reading. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 atten...

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 impo...

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 tel...

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...

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 Read...

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...

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...

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...

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 suppor...

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. Learn more about...

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 diff...

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 ma...

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 i...