Reading Teachers Lounge

Shannon and Mary talk with guests Louise Hewitt and Meghan Hicks from The Sentence Studio about sentence structure.   They discuss why many students who can decode still struggle with comprehension and writing because of sentence-level syntax challenges.    Their approach uses “bubble maps” and a routine of sequenced questions to help students identify the subject–predicate “kernel” and understand how sentences are expanded with where/when/why/how details.   This discussion shows how grammar, vocabulary, morphology, and comprehension intersect in students' reading and writing.   Listeners will walk away with a fresh perspective and ideas for developing students' syntactic knowledge and awareness.  

Shannon and Mary meet up to start Season 9 of the podcast.  They catch up on their summer activities and share their busy back-to-school schedules. They discuss their favorite games and instructional methods from their tutoring practices and review professional learning opportunities they're currently taking.     

00:00 Season Catch Up
00:54 Escaping Overscheduling
02:17 Middle School Rhythm
03:40 Home Study Systems
04:22 Resetting With New Students
05:52 Structured Literacy Routines
06:54 Automaticity And Handwriting
11:44 Spell It Out Strategy
15:35 Executive Functioning Course
18:08 Summer Recap And Trips
19:04 Sentence Composing Tools
21:45 Color Coding Grammar
22:24 Weaning Off Supports
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Shannon and Mary record their Season 8 finale, catching up on what they've been doing during the school year.    They've both been busy with balancing personal and professional responsibilities, with work hours increasing for Shannon in tutoring and for Mary in advocacy work and supporting parents in IEP meetings.   In their tutoring practices, they're both advancing beyond decoding work with many of their students, and during the discussion, they both realized they had adopted sentence-composing activities, inspired by 8.8's guest, Sara Lee.   During the discussion, they detail how their students use literature-based model sentences and scaffolded imitation to build sentence skil...

Shannon and Mary welcome Dr. Ellen Ballock and Julia D'Onofrio from Gordon College to talk about teacher preparation programs. Discover how they design and implement teacher prep programs focused on literacy instruction, the science of reading, and practical teaching methods. Our guests shed light on the importance of comprehensive training, common misconceptions in literacy education, and the roles of explicit instruction and evidence-based practices. They also delve into how their curriculum bridges gaps in teacher knowledge, ensuring future educators are well-equipped to foster student success.   This episode will likely remind you of your own teacher training and inspire you, m...

In this episode of the Reading Teacher's Lounge, hosts Mary and Shannon welcome expert Sara Lee to discuss best practices for teaching grammar and syntax. They dive into how understanding sentence structure, grammatical functions, and modifiers can elevate both reading comprehension and writing skills for students of all ages. Sara emphasizes the importance of embedding grammar instruction within reading and writing activities, and provides practical strategies for making grammar engaging and relevant. Specific strategies, such as focusing on sentence nuclei, harnessing descriptive modifiers, and being mindful of students' language acquisition backgrounds, are discussed. Additionally, Sara emphasizes the importance of...

In this episode, we explore effective practices for supporting students with homework. Join us as we discuss strategies to foster a productive & stress-free homework environment. We cover the importance of EF, the advantages and challenges of traditional homework, & how to address post-COVID implications. Also, we share insights on balancing homework with students' SEL, creative engagement techniques, & practical communication tips for accommodations.

01:14 Supporting Learners at Home
02:20 The Role of Executive Functioning in Homework
05:27 Creative Homework Approaches
09:01 Simplifying Homework for Better Engagement
10:32 Flexible and Individualized Homework Strategies
19:24 Creating a Productive Homework Environment
25:28 Understanding...

Shannon and Mary revisit the topic of Structured Word Inquiry (SWI) and discuss the importance of understanding the deliberate reasons for English spellings with guests Jennifer Petrich and Bradley Johnson.

The conversation follows the hosts' and guests' experiences with SWI, detailing how it helps students understand and apply the structure of English spelling with its focus on word structures, etymology, and morphology. 

Emphasizing a shift from a phonics-only approach to one that also prioritizes morphology & etymology, the episode highlights the importance of starting with word meaning and developing scientific inquiry skills in literacy teaching. 

Mary and Shannon are joined by Lindsay Kemeny, a returning guest and 1st grade teacher. Lindsay discusses her latest book and shares insights into structuring an effective literacy block. During the chat, Lindsay stresses the importance of routines, transitions, and frequent student responses in her data-driven instruction.  Lindsay also opens up about her personal journey, detailing how her son's struggles with dyslexia transformed her teaching methods. The conversation covers practical tips for teaching phonics, spelling, high-frequency words, and integrating content into literacy.  Listen to the episode to learn valuable tips for optimizing your reading instruction.

01:17 Welcoming Back Li...

Educator and author Erin Waters joins Shannon and Mary to discuss supporting the whole child through Social-Emotional Learning (SEL). Erin shares her teaching journey and highlights the crucial connection between SEL & literacy development—because our students aren’t just learning to read; they’re learning who they are. They explore what SEL looks like in real classrooms: morning meetings that build community, read-alouds that spark emotional awareness, and simple coping strategies that help students manage anxiety and stress. The discussion also acknowledges the lasting impact of the digital age and the COVID-19 pandemic on students’ social-emotional well-being, as more children...

In this episode, you're getting a preview of the types of conversations happening with educators in our bonus subscription episodes.   

This month, Shannon and Mary chat with Dr. Jasmine Rogers, a reading specialist and college educator, about her dual roles in literacy.   Dr. Rogers discusses her research on African American English (AAE) and structured literacy, emphasizing the importance of affirming behaviors in promoting student motivation and effective communication. Drawing on personal experiences and professional expertise, she emphasizes the importance of affirming diverse dialects, including Black English, and fostering an inclusive and supportive classroom environment. The episode also cov...

In this special episode of the Reading Teachers Lounge, hosts Shannon and Mary have an engaging and insightful conversation with acclaimed children's author Kate DiCamillo about treasured stories. They explore Kate's journey as a writer, discussing the profound impact of her debut novel 'Because of Winn-Dixie,' the themes of her books, and the role of animals in her stories. Kate shares her thoughts on writing with empathy, the importance of ending stories with hope, and the joy of reading aloud. Highlights include listener questions about vocabulary development and character inspirations, and Kate's reflections on the magical connection formed...

Shannon and Mary kick off the new season with reflections on how far the podcast has come, from family anecdotes to stories of former students thriving—like Rigby, a once-struggling reader now headed to college. They share practical tips for using Canva to teach morphology, highlight successes from their summer tutoring, and discuss balancing work, rest, and family life. Additionally, they unveil exciting plans to feature more teacher voices in the show through their bonus episodes, available to all subscribers.

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In this August bonus episode of Reading Teacher Lounge, Mary and Shannon exchange insights on recent articles they've read. They dive into practical strategies for supporting students, especially those with ADHD. They discuss homework routines, communication between teachers and parents, and how to create structured homework environments. Mary shares guidelines from ADDitude and Edutopia on effective homework systems and collaboration between special education and general education teams. Shannon highlights a thought-provoking article from The Atlantic about Lucy Calkins' impact on the reading crisis, emphasizing the need for nuanced approaches and critical thinking in education. The episode concludes with helpful...

Shannon and Mary look back over Season 7 and reflect on what really matters for our reading students.   "The right things for our learners" emerged as the unofficial theme of our seventh season. This phrase encapsulates what each of us strives for – cutting through the noise to identify the most impactful practices for the unique students in front of us.

The conversations with our guests this season revealed a common thread: the need to simplify and focus on what's most important. In this episode, Shannon and Mary share some of their key takeaways from the discussions with the pod...

Shannon and Mary chat with Dr. Katie Pace-Miles about MTSS and RTI, sharing practical tips for delivering effective reading interventions, choosing quality resources, and running efficient team meetings to support struggling readers.   Whether you're a classroom teacher trying to support struggling readers, a specialist designing intervention programs, or a parent advocating for your child, this conversation provides clear, actionable guidance for making literacy interventions both manageable and truly impactful.

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What's really happening when students struggle to stay on task, complete assignments, or transition between activities? In this illuminating conversation with literacy experts Dr. Matt Strader and Dr. Douglas Fisher, Shannon and Mary delve into the complex world of executive functioning and its impact on classroom performance.  Executive functioning isn't just about behavior—it's about cognitive processes happening in the brain's prefrontal cortex. Both guests help us understand the crucial distinction between the neurological processes of executive functioning and the observable skills of self-regulation. 

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Shannon and Mary talk with Dr. Jeannette Mancilla-Martinez about supporting Multi-Language Learners, exploring language development, daily classroom language demands, and practical strategies to help MLLs thrive. The information presented is relevant for teachers, administrators, and support staff seeking practical tools to enhance instruction for multilingual learners.

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Shannon chats with Laura Stewart (from 95 Percent Group) about bold moves that literacy leaders can take to transform the literacy practices in their learning communities.    Laura provides stories and strategies relating to successfully implementing best practices informed by the Science of Reading into schools and classrooms, and Shannon shares some real-life examples of what she's learned to do and not to do as a literacy leader.   Listen and also download the recommended resources from the show notes to be empowered in your transformation efforts.

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Shannon and Mary welcome Dr. Timothy Shanahan to the Reading Teachers Lounge to quiet the noise within the literacy community and help us all realize the MOST important things we should be doing for our learners according to the reading research.    Listeners will find out what practices and activities they should prioritize to improve their students' reading achievement.

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Shannon and Mary chat with Brandi Dugal from The Fidget Game, featured on Shark Tank, about unique ways to engage and motivate students to learn.   They share methods for gamification, brain breaks, and other strategies teachers can use to increase student engagement.  Listen for ideas to make reading more fun and how to help motivate even the most reluctant readers to get excited about their learning.

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Dr. Pete Bowers shared how Structured Word Inquiry (SWI) transforms spelling and vocabulary into tools for deep thinking - perfect for engaging advanced and struggling readers in the elementary reading classroom. 
We encourage the listeners to also check out this episode on YouTube to learn from the visuals Dr. Bowers shared during the discussion (link is at the top of the show notes).

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How can teachers effectively support advanced readers in elementary school? In this insightful episode, we’re joined by literacy expert Nancy Young to explore practical, evidence-based strategies for meeting the needs of gifted and high-achieving readers in the classroom.

Nancy shares her expertise on differentiation strategies, including offering choice in reading materials, using tiered assignments, and implementing project-based learning to keep advanced readers engaged. We also discuss how to encourage critical thinking, promote independent reading, and create meaningful peer discussion and mentorship opportunities.

Whether you’re a classroom teacher, reading specialist, or literacy coach, this epis...

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This is our April 2025 bonus episode of Reading Teachers Lounge podcast.  In these episodes, Shannon and Mary will share about the students they're helping in reading, the resources they're using, and the books and other materials they're studying to further their practical knowledge about the Science of Reading.  

In this April 2025 bonus podcast episode, Shannon and Mary chat about the tutoring and advocacy work they've been doing.    They talk about how they're preparing their students for the upcoming testing season.  They discuss some of the struggles and succe...

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Shannon and Mary welcome Brandon Cardet-Hernadez from Mrs. Wordsmith to the RTL to chat about smart technology resources.  They talk about intentional uses of technology resources for instructional purposes and what skills will be required as our students advance in the next part of the 21st century.  Listeners will gain ideas for ways to incorporate technology to elevate students' learning.

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Shannon and Mary welcome Brandon Cardet-Hernadez from Mrs. Wordsmith to the RTL to chat about smart technology resources.  They talk about intentional uses of technology resources for instructional purposes and what skills will be required as our students advance in the next part of the 21st century.  Listeners will gain ideas for ways to incorporate technology to elevate students' learning.

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This is our March 2025 exclusive bonus episode of Reading Teachers Lounge podcast.  In these bonus episodes, Shannon and Mary will share about the students they're helping in reading, the resources they're using, and the books and other materials they're studying to further their practical knowledge about the Science of Reading.  

In this episode, Shannon and Mary provide details about their tutoring students of various ages and how they're using different curriculum resources with their readers.    Shannon describes how she's using some Conquering Spelling Demons cards that she purc...

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This is our February 2025 exclusive bonus episode of Reading Teachers Lounge podcast.  In these bonus episodes, Shannon and Mary will share about the students they're helping in reading, the resources they're using, and the books and other materials they're studying to further their practical knowledge about the Science of Reading.  

We start this episode with an apology and explanation for the missing January episode and the delay in publishing this one.  (Back in January, Shannon's computer crashed unexpectedly and they lost 3 regular podcast episodes and the January bon...

Shannon and Mary talk with Melissa Taylor from ImaginationSoup.net about the importance of nonfiction texts in a student's reading diet.    They chat about the flexible comprehension strategies students need to organize the information gathered from nonfiction and text features and structures that are specific to nonfiction texts.    Listeners should walk away inspired to put more NF texts in their readers hands.

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Shannon and Mary talk with Melissa Taylor from ImaginationSoup.net about the importance of nonfiction texts in a student's reading diet.    They chat about the flexible comprehension strategies students need to organize the information gathered from nonfiction and text features and structures that are specific to nonfiction texts.    Listeners should walk away inspired to put more NF texts in their readers hands.

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Shannon and Mary welcome LaMonica Williams from Teaching Matters back to the Reading Teachers Lounge. This time they chat about professional development experiences and the most effective ways to bring about positive change in school systems. They discuss the differences between management and leadership and how to foster student-centered school improvement.

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Shannon and Mary welcome LaMonica Williams from Teaching Matters back to the Reading Teachers Lounge. This time they chat about professional development experiences and the most effective ways to bring about positive change in school systems. They discuss the differences between management and leadership and how to foster student-centered school improvement.

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This is our 5th exclusive bonus episode of Reading Teachers Lounge podcast.  In these episodes, Shannon and Mary will share about the students they're helping in reading, the resources they're using, and the books and other materials they're studying to further their practical knowledge about the Science of Reading.  


In this episode, Shannon continues to share about the new learning and insights she's had about her instruction since getting training in Structured Word Inquiry and spelling out orthography.  Mary updates Shannon on some patterns she's seeing thr...

Shannon and Mary chat with Katherine Hamilton about maximizing the learning impact of co-teaching.     The conversation is centered around an article from Choice Literacy written by Franki Sibberson titled Aligning Curriculum with Struggling Readers in Mind.  The article proposes that co-teachers need to reflect and determine how their various teaching activities and strategies align into a cohesive instructional plan for the students, so that the readers can build transferable skills they can apply across the school-day.

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Shannon and Mary chat with Katherine Hamilton about maximizing the learning impact of co-teaching.     The conversation is centered around an article from Choice Literacy written by Franki Sibberson titled Aligning Curriculum with Struggling Readers in Mind.  The article proposes that co-teachers need to reflect and determine how their various teaching activities and strategies align into a cohesive instructional plan for the students, so that the readers can build transferable skills they can apply across the school-day.

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This is our 4th  exclusive bonus episode of Reading Teachers Lounge podcast.  In these episodes, Shannon and Mary will share about the students they're helping in reading, the resources they're using, and the books and other materials they're studying to further their practical knowledge about the Science of Reading.  


In this episode, Shannon shares the new learning and insights she's had about her instruction since getting training in Structured Word Inquiry and spelling out orthography.  (Mary was out sick during this recording).

Shannon and Mary welcome @MindfulTeacherRachel back to the podcast to discuss strategies for helping their students strengthen spelling skills.     They talk about the stability of English spelling and the meaning-based reasons for a word's spelling, beyond sound-symbol connections.    Listeners will know what to look for in students' spelling errors and accuracies and walk away with fresh ideas for spelling instruction.  

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Shannon and Mary welcome @MindfulTeacherRachel back to the podcast to discuss strategies for helping their students strengthen spelling skills.     They talk about the stability of English spelling and the meaning-based reasons for a word's spelling, beyond sound-symbol connections.    Listeners will know what to look for in students' spelling errors and accuracies and walk away with fresh ideas for spelling instruction.  

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This is our 3rd exclusive bonus episode of Reading Teachers Lounge podcast.  In these episodes, Shannon and Mary will share about the students they're helping in reading, the resources they're using, and the books and other materials they're studying to further their practical knowledge about the Science of Reading.  

In this October 2024 bonus podcast episode, Shannon and Mary chat about the tutoring and advocacy work they've been doing.    Mary shares how she's fostering learning engagement and building relationships with her students.  Shannon talks about the new 3rd grade...

Shannon and Mary welcome Heidi Martin (@Droppin' Knowledge with Heidi) back to the podcast, and Heidi's husband, Adam, a LETRS trainer, also joins the conversation.  They talk about all the aspects that go into the topic of Word Knowledge.  What are all the things students should know and understand about a word to demonstrate complete knowledge of that term? You'll walk away from listening to this episode with a more complete understanding of all the layers of skills within Word knowledge that we need to help our readers build.

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Shannon and Mary welcome Heidi Martin (@Droppin' Knowledge with Heidi) back to the podcast, and Heidi's husband, Adam, a LETRS trainer, also joins the conversation.  They talk about all the aspects that go into the topic of Word Knowledge.  What are all the things students should know and understand about a word to demonstrate complete knowledge of that term? You'll walk away from listening to this episode with a more complete understanding of all the layers of skills within Word knowledge that we need to help our readers build.