The Structured Literacy Podcast
Hi there, I'm Jocelyn Seamer. Teacher, former school leader, author, and all around cheerleader for teachers everywhere. Learning to read and write is a matter of social justice. Every child deserves to learn through evidence informed practices, and every teacher deserves to be fully supported to make that happen.The Structured Literacy Podcast goes beyond the program to get to the heart of what it's really like to build a structured approach to literacy across the school.Â
S8 E2 - 5 Early Years Practices That Deserve a Comeback: Part 2
Dramatic play, screen-free singing and nursery rhymes deserve a place back in the early years classroom. Part two of this series makes that case with a structured literacy lens. The episode covers using cafĂ© role-play to build the background knowledge texts assume. It shows how songs at transition times can double as phonological awareness practice. It also looks at why “tuffet” and “curds and whey” still earn their keep.Â
Throughout, the line stays clear: these practices aren’t reading instruction, and they don’t replace the literacy block. Used with purpose, they can still do a lot for children’s...
S8 E2 - 5 Early Years Practices That Deserve a Comeback: Part 1
With a quarter of Australian children starting school developmentally vulnerable or at risk in communication and general knowledge, Jocelyn asks whether the answer to Tier 1 language support might be bringing back early childhood practices we let go of in the shift to explicit teaching, rather than buying a new program.Â
Part one of this two part series covers the first two practices: big books, for concepts of print, shared language experiences and interactive read-alouds, and puppets, as an authentic reason for children to speak, listen and retell stories. Throughout, Jocelyn focuses on the power of "and": classrooms c...
S8 E1 - What to do After You Get Your Phonics Screening Check Results
When your phonics screening check results make your stomach drop, what do you actually do next?Â
In this return episode of the Structured Literacy Podcast, Jocelyn treats the check like a blood pressure reading: it tells you whether to look closer, and the score sheets tell you where. She explains how to tell students who know the code but stumbled on the format (special hint: alien names) from those with real gaps, and why accent is never an error. She also covers why whole-class phonics and rigid pacing guides may be quietly holding students back. You'll leave w...
S7 E11 - What Does It Really Take to Make School Improvement Last?
 This episode is a little different. Australia's national education evidence body, AERO, has just released a guidance report that puts rigorous research weight behind something many educators have long known: most professional development doesn't work — and the reasons why are predictable and fixable. In this episode, Jocelyn uses AERO's findings to reflect on six years of Jocelyn Seamer Education, share what's changing about the Structured Literacy Podcast, and introduce the brand new Leading Learning Podcast — a dedicated space for school leaders, curriculum leaders, regional office staff, and system leaders ready to do the hard work of sustained school improvement. Plus...
S7 E10 - How to Evaluate Spelling Instruction
Has something in this episode resonated with you? Get in touch!
Get ready for 2027! Explore our expert-led professional learning and development options in literacy strategy and explicit teaching. Visit our website to discover programs tailored for your school, from 12-month partnerships and action-focused teach-along courses to leader programs that promote real classroom impact. Partner with us to empower your team and make lasting changes that connect to everyday teaching.
Boost your students' success. Visit jocelyncemaeducation.com
Quick Links
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S7 E9 - Why We Should Keep the Early in Early Childhood
In this episode, Jocelyn pushes back on all-day, scripted, tightly paced instruction in Foundation to Year 2 while defending responsive, teacher-led explicit instruction as essential for learning across the curriculum. She explains why young children need a better-designed school day with movement, talk, and purposeful guided play so they can regulate, engage, and learn more. Â
Has something in this episode resonated with you? Get in touch!
Get ready for 2027! Explore our expert-led professional learning and development options in literacy strategy and explicit teaching. Visit our website to discover programs tailored for yo...
S7 E8 - Why Your Spelling Approach Might Be Working Against You (Part 2)
The fastest way to make spelling instruction fail is to assume every student is starting from the same place. They are not and your planning shouldn’t pretend they are. I’m getting practical about what to do with the real mix of spellers sitting in front of you, especially in upper primary and early secondary, where gaps can hide behind “good enough” writing and familiar word memory.
I also walk you through the key design decisions behind Spelling Success in Action 1, including differentiated word lists within a shared lesson structure, 15 to 20 minute lessons across four days a week...
S7 E7 - Why Your Spelling Approach Might Be Working Against You (Part 1)
Spelling is not a side quest. When it isn’t automatic, it quietly steals the working memory students need for ideas, sentence craft, and clear argument, especially in upper primary and the early secondary years. If you are seeing capable students write small, play it safe with vocabulary, or avoid writing altogether, word-level knowledge may be the hidden barrier you cannot afford to ignore.
Jocelyn focuses on Years 3 to 8 and lays out what the research says strong spelling instruction should look like, versus what it often becomes in practice.Â
Has something in this epi...
S7 E6 - Practical Steps When Grouping for Phonics
We map out a practical path to targeted phonics that lifts every learner. We define instructional precision, show how to gather the right data, and share a step-by-step launch plan that works in real schools with limited adults.
• clarifying whole class versus grouping and why size is not the point
• defining instructional precision and cognitive load in phonics
• sorting data as a team and narrowing the range per teacher
• assigning teachers to groups
• keeping class teachers connected to progress and practice
• reducing stigma with neutral language and parent scripts
• aligning evidence, workload, and...
S7 E5 - What Does the Research Actually Say About Grouping Students for Phonics?
We challenge the assumption that whole-class phonics with a little extra is the most effective route and explore why targeted Tier 1 grouping often delivers stronger gains. Using cognitive load theory and intervention research, we show how matched content can raise progress without creating waitlists or missed learning elsewhere.
• why many Year 3 students still need foundational code
• what grouping studies actually tested and why that matters
• how targeted, explicit, code-focused teaching drives gains
• early, intensive support over waiting for intervention
• designing Tier 1 to include intervention features
• cognitive load as a lens for matching content
...
S7 E4 – The Top 5 Mistakes We Make When Using Decodable Texts
We unpack how to use decodable texts with precision so beginners practise the code instead of guessing. We share the biggest mistakes schools make, how to spot readiness to transition, and a staged text diet that blends decodables with rich literature.
• reframing the debate around suitability, not good or badÂ
• defining novice readers by code knowledge, not ageÂ
• risks of mixing leveled and decodable texts too earlyÂ
• signs students are ready to shift text typesÂ
• planning a staged text diet across early yearsÂ
• teaching set for variability while keeping decoding firstÂ
• free framework to gu...
S7 E3 - What Does Research Really Say About Decodable Texts?
In this episode, we weigh the current research on decodable and leveled texts, separate durable findings from weak claims, and explore which research findings we can confidently base decisions on.Â
Some of the research focus explored in this episode are:Â
• strengths and limits of the research base
• how decodables build early decoding and pseudoword reading
• strategy differences prompted by text type
• why early gains fade without progression
• cautions around comprehension claims and knowledge
• aligning texts to scope and sequence and student readiness
Has something in this episode resonated with...
S7 E2 - The Top 5 Ways to Ensure Reading Success in Years 3 to 6
We share five evidence-informed moves to boost reading in Years 3–6, from language-rich talk and explicit code knowledge to partner reading and smart text selection. We close with practical ways to thread reading through science, history, and geography without burning out.
• creating a language-rich classroom with explicit, natural vocabulary use
• assessing and addressing phonics and morphology gaps
• using partner reading to differentiate practice efficiently
• prioritising short, high-quality texts over length for its own sake
• integrating reading across the curriculum to build knowledge and stamina
• avoiding overestimation of foundational skills through class-wide screening
• focusing on accu...
S7 E1 - The Three Critical Questions Your Students Are Silently Asking You
In this season opener of the Structured Literacy Podcast, Jocelyn argues that before any real learning can happen, students need answers to three unspoken questions: Do you like me? Are you going to help me? Can I trust you? Drawing on brain science and classroom experience, she offers practical strategies for building the connection and emotional safety that make everything else, including literacy instruction, possible.
Has something in this episode resonated with you? Get in touch!
Get ready for 2027! Explore our expert-led professional learning and development options in literacy strategy and explicit teaching. Visit our...
Summer Series - The Key to Successfully Implementing a New Program in Your School
What is the Summer Series?
A collection of listener favourites from the Structured Literacy Podcast to get you prepared for 2026.
Today's Episode
Join us on the Structured Literacy Podcast as we unpack the critical elements of successfully rolling out these initiatives. From meticulous planning to effective execution, we guide you through the journey educators will undertake—from initial excitement to achieving high commitment and skill levels. We tackle common pitfalls, such as merging old and new methods, and share best practices for making thoughtful decisions about what to retain an...
Summer Series - Keeping Your Team's Bus on the Road When Onboarding New Staff
What is the Summer Series?
A collection of listener favourites from the Structured Literacy Podcast to get you prepared for 2026.
Today's Episode
In this episode of the Structured Literacy podcast, Jocelyn addresses the challenges of successfully onboarding new school staff members while maintaining instructional quality.
Has something in this episode resonated with you? Get in touch!
Get ready for 2027! Explore our expert-led professional learning and development options in literacy strategy and explicit teaching. Visit our website to discover programs tailored for your school, from 12-month...
Summer Series - When Repeated Reading Doesn't Work
What is the Summer Series?
A collection of listener favourites from the Structured Literacy Podcast to get you prepared for 2026.
Today's Episode
Repeated reading doesn't work for all students because fluency issues have different root causes. Understanding four reading profiles helps target the right intervention:
Speedy & accurateSlow & accurateFast & inaccurateSlow & inaccurateCritical principle: First comes accuracy, then comes speed.
Why repeated reading fails: If students lack foundational phonics knowledge (can't automatically...
Summer Series - Are Comprehension Strategies Still a Thing?
What is the Summer Series?
A collection of listener favourites from the Structured Literacy Podcast to get you prepared for 2026.
Today's Episode
In today's episode of the Structured Literacy podcast, we explore the role of comprehension strategies in our overall instruction. This episode will leave you with a clearer vision of the reading instruction landscape and the tools necessary to develop a deep understanding of texts.Â
Has something in this episode resonated with you? Get in touch!
Get ready for 2027! Explore our expert-led professional learning an...
Summer Series - How to Maintain High Engagement in Low Variance Instruction
What is the Summer Series?
A collection of listener favourites from the Structured Literacy Podcast to get you prepared for 2026.
Today's Episode
In today's episode, I discuss how you can maintain high student engagement in your low-variance instruction.
Has something in this episode resonated with you? Get in touch!
Get ready for 2027! Explore our expert-led professional learning and development options in literacy strategy and explicit teaching. Visit our website to discover programs tailored for your school, from 12-month partnerships and action-focused teach-along courses to leader...
Summer Series - Tracking Reading Growth Without a Benchmark Assessment
What is the Summer Series?
A collection of listener favourites from the Structured Literacy Podcast to get you prepared for 2026.
Today's Episode
In this week's episode of the Structured Literacy podcast, I address the common challenge of tracking student reading progress.Â
Has something in this episode resonated with you? Get in touch!
Get ready for 2027! Explore our expert-led professional learning and development options in literacy strategy and explicit teaching. Visit our website to discover programs tailored for your school, from 12-month partnerships and action-focused teach-along c...
Summer Series - What Goes into a Great Text-Based Unit?
What is the Summer Series?
A collection of listener favourites from the Structured Literacy Podcast to get you prepared for 2026.
Today's Episode
In this week's episode, I share some of my secrets for writing and teaching text-based units that will engage all your students in learning age-appropriate content.Â
Has something in this episode resonated with you? Get in touch!
Get ready for 2027! Explore our expert-led professional learning and development options in literacy strategy and explicit teaching. Visit our website to discover programs tailored for your s...
Summer Series - Do Nonsense Words Have a Place in Upper Primary?
What is the Summer Series?
A collection of listener favourites from the Structured Literacy Podcast to get you prepared for 2026.
Today's Episode
In this week's episode, we're going to talk about how Nonsense words play an important part in phonics assessment, but what about in Years 3-6? This week's episode of the structured literacy podcast explores whether middle and upper primary teachers need to include them in their classrooms.
Has something in this episode resonated with you? Get in touch!
Get ready for 2027! Explore our expert-led professional...
S6 E24 - 98 and Âľ Percent Guaranteed: Our Collective Commitment to Every Student
The difference between curiosity and commitment can make or break a literacy journey. We close our sixth season by drawing a clear line between being interested in structured literacy and being devoted to outcomes for every student, then map how teams can cross that line together. Along the way, we unpack five behaviour groups you’ll recognise in any staffroom, from early adopters to the special-case sceptics, and explain why labelling people as resistant often hides a deeper truth about capability and vulnerability.
Has something in this episode resonated with you? Get in touch!
...
S6 E23 - Text Complexity: It’s About So Much More Than Levels
This episode explores how to select rich texts for comprehension instruction by moving beyond traditional levelling systems. Jocelyn introduces four dimensions of text demand to help teachers find the "Goldilocks spot" - texts that challenge students without overwhelming them. She discusses four common reading scenarios and emphasises matching text complexity to students' abilities while considering cognitive load.
For teachers wanting to dive deeper into these frameworks and learn practical strategies for upper primary reading instruction, Jocelyn is offering a new Teach Along course: "Reading Success in the Upper Primary Years" starting Term 1, 2026. Details are available in the...
S6 E22 - When Comfort Steals Confidence – The Unintended Consequences of PowerPoints
This podcast episode argues that while PowerPoints became widespread during COVID and helped reduce teacher cognitive load, over-reliance on them can hinder teachers' development. The key takeaway: if we are removing all obstacles, how are teachers learning from experience?Â
Has something in this episode resonated with you? Get in touch!
Get ready for 2027! Explore our expert-led professional learning and development options in literacy strategy and explicit teaching. Visit our website to discover programs tailored for your school, from 12-month partnerships and action-focused teach-along courses to leader programs that promote real classroom impact. Partner with us to...
S6 E21 - Why Exposure is a Poor Substitute for Learning
The word exposure gets thrown around a lot in schools, especially when a student is behind in phonics or spelling. In this episode, Jocelyn takes a hard look at that belief and explains why presence in a lesson is not the same as learning, particularly for skills that are biologically secondary, like reading and writing. This episode covers:Â
• why exposure is not learning for secondary skills
• what explicit teaching demands of attention and practice
• how misuse of the term exposure clouds decisions
• where whole-class text work fits and when it does not
• why working memo...
S6 E20 - A Simple Way to Make School Improvement Stick
School leaders and teachers constantly face the challenge of turning great ideas into
lasting change. In this episode of the Structured Literacy Podcast, Jocelyn
shares a practical, simple strategy to keep school improvement initiatives
alive and thriving. Learn how to create consistency, maintain momentum, and
prevent your best efforts from fading away. Whether you're a school leader or
classroom teacher, this episode offers a straightforward approach to making
school improvements stick.
Has something in this episode resonated with you? Get in touch!
Get ready for 2027! Explore our expert-led professional...
S6 E19 - The Secret to Truly Universal Phonics Instruction (Part 2)
Tired of racing through content only to find the learning didn’t stick? In this episode, we take a hard look at the final 5 factors that truly drive universal success in phonics and early reading, moving from admirable intentions to instructional decisions that deliver.Â
Has something in this episode resonated with you? Get in touch!
Get ready for 2027! Explore our expert-led professional learning and development options in literacy strategy and explicit teaching. Visit our website to discover programs tailored for your school, from 12-month partnerships and action-focused teach-along courses to leader programs that promote real cla...
S6 E18 - The Secret to Truly Universal Phonics Instruction (Part 1)
This podcast episode outlines the first five of ten critical factors for achieving universal student success in phonics instruction, emphasising that student outcomes, not surface-level metrics like training completion, are what truly matter.
The Five Factors:
Engineer student success - Accept responsibility for student learning rather than blaming circumstancesWhatever it takes attitude - Commit to whole-school systemic problem-solving (not individual teacher burnout)Design for highest needs - Create Tier 1 instruction for students with the "leakiest memories" to avoid creating learning messes that require years to fix...S6 E17 - How to Streamline Your Assessment Schedule
This episode helps schools cut bloated assessment schedules by focusing on two essential questions:
1. Who is at risk?
2. What skills lead to success?
Key Principles:
Not every assessment needs one-on-one administrationAssessments must inform instruction, not just generate dataQuestion whether testing time is more valuable than teaching timeAvoid decodable text level assessments that reinforce outdated levellingThe bottom line: Only assess what directly improves student outcomes. Everything else is noise.
Has something in this episode resonated with you? Get in touch!
Get...
S6 E16 - How to Know Whether to Quit or Persist
School improvement is slow, and many quit right before breakthrough. This episode uses the story of gold miners who quit just one metre from striking gold to illustrate a critical lesson: don't give up in the middle of the hard work.
Seth Godin's Three Scenarios:
The Dip - The hard slog between starting and mastering (push through)Cul-de-sac - Going in circles with no progress (quit strategically)Cliff - Unsustainable pace that breaks the team (change approach)How to Know Which One You're In:<...
S6 E15 - What Does Research Say About Novel Study?
Novel study has gained traction in teaching circles, but important questions arise about its suitability for all students, time management challenges, and whether it's truly evidence-based for primary schools.
In this episode, Jocelyn explores
• Research comparing novels with shorter stories
• Teachers challenges in novel studies including time constraints, student stamina issues, and resource limitations
• Quality of text and instruction matters more than text length
• The role of using professional judgment about instruction based on student needsÂ
This episode invites you to give yourself permission to make thoughtful decisions based on your stude...
S6 E14 - Should We Be Teaching Phonics in Years 3-6?
Should we be teaching phonics beyond the early years? This question lands in my inbox regularly, and for good reason – it touches on critical decisions teachers must make about literacy instruction in upper primary. In this episode, Jocelyn addressesÂ
- What research tells us about spelling development
- The ideal scenario vs the reality of the current state of student knowledge
- What it means to be data responsive in spelling instruction
- The most effective path forward in making a data-informed plan
Has something in this episode resonated with you? Get in t...
S6 E13 - We Fall to the Level of Our Systems
We examine why educational practices often fail to stick in schools despite initial enthusiasm and training. The key insight is that sustainable implementation requires building systems where practices become embedded in school culture rather than being treated as temporary initiatives.
• The implementation dip occurs when the "shine of the new" wears off and teachers must embed practices for the long term
• Different teachers need different types of support – some need training, others coaching, mentoring, or collaborative relationships
• Moving beyond compliance-focused implementation to helping teachers understand the purpose behind practices
• Building systems means creating conditions where the...
S6 E12 - When Repeated Reading Doesn't Work
Repeated reading doesn't work for all students because fluency issues have different root causes. Understanding four reading profiles helps target the right intervention:
Speedy & accurateSlow & accurateFast & inaccurateSlow & inaccurateCritical principle: First comes accuracy, then comes speed.
Why repeated reading fails: If students lack foundational phonics knowledge (can't automatically decode 60-70 graphemes), no amount of text-level practice will improve fluency.
Has something in this episode resonated with you? Get in touch!
Get ready for 2027! Explore our expert-led...
S6 E11 - The Trap Inside the Teachable Moment
We must be strategic about harnessing teachable moments to ensure they enhance rather than distract from our learning objectives. Even experienced educators can get swept up in exciting classroom discussions that inadvertently create inequitable learning environments.
• The satisfaction of engaging students in rich, spontaneous discussions can sometimes lead us away from our lesson objectives
• Developing a "prompt or park" decision framework helps manage student curiosity without sacrificing focus
• An "I Wonder Board" provides space to acknowledge student questions while staying on track with lesson goals
• Creating schema requires focused attention on the "one thing" students...
S6 E10 - Before You Commit to a Program, Listen to This
In this episode of the Structured Literacy Podcast, Jocelyn provides essential guidance for educational leaders navigating the complex process of selecting instructional programs.Â
She introduces a research-informed practice model that balances research findings, professional knowledge, and student outcomes, while emphasising that the goal should never be simply to "get a program" but to genuinely improve student learning. Jocelyn outlines the NICE framework for decision-making and shares critical criteria to evaluate when choosing programs.Â
She warns against relying on social media recommendations and stresses the importance of evidence-based decisions that prioritise struggling students, offering practical advice on...
S6 E9 - From Wasted Hours to Real Impact: Research Findings About PD That Actually Works
Too much professional development feels like a box-ticking exercise with little to show for the time invested. In this episode, Jocelyn unpacks decades of research findings to reveal the seven elements that make PD truly effective, and shows how leaders and teachers can stop wasting time and start creating lasting impact in classrooms.
Has something in this episode resonated with you? Get in touch!
Get ready for 2027! Explore our expert-led professional learning and development options in literacy strategy and explicit teaching. Visit our website to discover programs tailored for your school, from 12-month partnerships and...
S6 E8 - From Compliance to Commitment: Transforming School Improvement
Sustainable school improvement happens when change is done with teachers, not to them, and when professional learning builds genuine understanding rather than just compliance with programs.
• The key difference between compliance and commitment in school change
• Why program implementation alone isn't enough to transform practice
• Starting with strengths rather than deficits when approaching improvement
• Understanding the "why" behind instructional decisions, not just the "what"
• Creating genuine space for reflection and ownership in professional learning
• How collaborative approaches lead to more sustainable changes
• Balancing clear expectations with teacher professionalism
• The importance of understanding...
S6 E7 - Is Your PL Transformative or Transactional?
In this episode, Jocelyn unpacks a crucial distinction in the world of education: the difference between professional learning that simply ticks a box and learning that leads to lasting transformation in classrooms. Drawing on her experience as both a teacher and professional learning facilitator, Jocelyn explores the essential elements of impactful PL—from long-term commitment and real-world relevance to leadership support and collaborative action. If you’ve ever sat through a PD session wondering, “Will this actually make a difference?”, this episode is for you.
Has something in this episode resonated with you? Get in touch!
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