97 episodes

This is the Reading Teachers Lounge where listeners can eavesdrop on professional conversations between elementary reading teachers. We are passionate about literacy and strive to find strategies to reach all learners. Shannon and Mary are neighbors who realized that they were “literacy soul sisters” at a dinner in their Atlanta neighborhood. Once they started chatting about reading they haven’t really stopped. Come join the conversation.

Reading Teachers Lounge Shannon Betts and Mary Saghafi

    • Education
    • 4.9 • 11 Ratings

This is the Reading Teachers Lounge where listeners can eavesdrop on professional conversations between elementary reading teachers. We are passionate about literacy and strive to find strategies to reach all learners. Shannon and Mary are neighbors who realized that they were “literacy soul sisters” at a dinner in their Atlanta neighborhood. Once they started chatting about reading they haven’t really stopped. Come join the conversation.

    Supportive Strategies for Working Memory

    Supportive Strategies for Working Memory

    Shannon and Mary chat about how to best support learners with working memory challenges.  This is a companion episode to a deep dive learning topic we went through with our Patreon community about Working Memory.    Listeners to this episode will walk away with increased awareness about which students may have working memory challenges AND strategies to help those students during reading instruction.


    RECOMMENDED RESOURCES AND ONES MENTIONED DURING THE EPISODE


    Working Memory and Learning: A Practical Guide for Teachers 1st Edition
    by Susan Gathercole (Author), Tracy Packiam Alloway (Author) *Amazon affiliate link*What Is Working Memory? Understanding our mental ‘scratchpad’
    Writer: Rae Jacobson Clinical Experts: Matthew Cruger, PhD , Linda Hecker, MEd8 Working Memory BoostersWhy I Can't Remember Things -- How ADHD Affects Working Memory15 Memory Exercises for Forgetful KidsImproving Working Memory Capacity | Torkel Klingberg | TEDxNorrköpingDr. Erica Warren Executive Functioning activitiesLumosity appBrain HQ appPeak appGet a free Green Chef box using our link.Support the show
    Get Literacy Support through our Patreon

    • 1 hr 11 min
    Meaningful Professional Learning

    Meaningful Professional Learning

    Shannon and Mary talk with Kelly Butler and Carla Stanford about professional learning that is meaningful.   Kelly Butler worked with the Barksdale Reading Institute to bring about systems change in reading instruction in the state of Mississippi over the last twenty years.   Kelly and Carla share about a free resource they're working on now called Reading Universe, which is a one-stop shop for teachers and interested stakeholders to learn about best practices in teaching reading.

    RECOMMENDED RESOURCES AND ONES MENTIONED DURING THE EPISODE


    ReadingUniverse.orgReading Universe TaxonomyREAP (Reading is Essential for All People)Timely Talks10 MaximsScaling Up for SuccessWhy It MattersRight to Read Project (Lunch & Lit)Simple View of Reading Episode Season 5 Episode 9Cuban Literacy InitiativeContact Kelly Butler via e-mail:    kbutler@msreads.orgContact  Carla Stanford via e-mail:   cstanford@weta.orgGet a free Green Chef box using our link.Support the show
    Get Literacy Support through our Patreon

    • 1 hr 8 min
    the Intersection of Speech, Reading, and Language

    the Intersection of Speech, Reading, and Language

    Shannon and Mary chat with speech therapist Dr. Karen Dudek Brannan about the overlaps between speech, reading, and language.   Dr. Karen helps us understand the challenges facing students with language impairments.    From this episode, teachers can understand the perspective of a speech therapist to better understand speech and language challenges.    After listening, you should walk away with ideas about conversations to have with the speech therapist in your building and an awareness of language challenges your students may face within your curriculum.

    RECOMMENDED RESOURCES AND ONES MENTIONED DURING THE EPISODE
    Dr. Karen's websiteDe Facto Leaders PodcastUltimate Guide to Sentence Structurefree Executive Functioning Implementation Guide for School Teams from Dr. KarenFree Training from Dr. Karen about the 5-component Framework for Language Intervention Free training from Dr. Karen about support that is evidence-based and neurodiversity-affirming (by building executive functioning skills) Contact Dr. Karen on LinkedInDr. Karen on IGDr. Karen on FacebookSuper Sentences graphic organizer (Bookworms) -need to sign up for a free login & then find in grades 3-5 printablesSuper Sentences rubric grade 5 (Bookworms) -need to sign up for a free login & then find in grades 3-5 printablesGet a free Green Chef box using our link.Support the show
    Get Literacy Support through our Patreon

    • 1 hr 14 min
    the Importance of Handwriting

    the Importance of Handwriting

    Shannon and Mary discuss the importance of prioritizing handwriting instruction simultaneously with reading and writing instruction in the early grades. Learn why handwriting is essential for overall literacy development and how to include it in your daily instruction.

    RECOMMENDED RESOURCES AND ONES MENTIONED DURING THE EPISODE
    The Importance of Teaching Handwriting by Louise Spear SwerlingWriting by hand may increase brain connectivity more than typing, readings of student brains suggest by Aria BendixThe unexpected connection between handwriting and learning to read by Sheldon H HorowitzHOW HANDWRITING AND LITERACY SKILLS GO HAND-IN-HANDThe Importance of Teaching Handwriting7 Reasons Why Handwriting Is Important for KidsThe Importance of teaching handwriting for cognitive development - PLD (Australia)How to Teach Handwriting—and Why It MattersWhy Don’t the Common-Core Standards Include Cursive Writing?6 Multisensory ways to teach handwritingWhat Every Teacher Should Know about Handwriting (LWT)Learning Without Tears GuidesReading UniverseThe Importance of Handwriting Experience on the Development of the Literate Brain by Karin H. JamesGet a free Green Chef box using our link.Support the show
    Get Literacy Support through our Patreon

    • 1 hr 7 min
    Date Your Data

    Date Your Data

    Shannon shares with Mary the steps she follows for analyzing student data.    This Date Your Data process requires multiple steps of looking at test scores, improvement goals, student strengths and weaknesses, and then connecting the data to standards to facilitate data-driven instruction.  This method of data review makes the test score information meaningful to teachers, students, parents, and other stakeholders.   Listen to find out how to Date Your Data to get to know your students and their learning better.


    RECOMMENDED RESOURCES AND ONES MENTIONED DURING THE EPISODE
    our Season 1 episode: Understanding the MAP testDate Your Data free handout for MAP scores *created by ShannonDate Your Data free handout for analyzing other data sources *created by ShannonNWEA MAP Test information (login needed)NWEA MAP Test website (no login needed)MAP Quadrant Chart Analysis & Reflection *created by ShannonGet a free Green Chef box using our link.Support the show
    Get Literacy Support through our Patreon

    • 1 hr 26 min
    Building Knowledge with Linda Rhyne

    Building Knowledge with Linda Rhyne

    Shannon and Mary are joined in by Linda Rhyne in the Reading Teachers Lounge. They share a deep dive of information from the book, The Knowledge Gap by Natalie Wexler. This episode is full of information and strategies to increase your student's knowledge helping them dive deep into comprehension and knowledge building.  Linda Rhyne is a returning guest to the show and shares her expertise in guiding professional discussions to help educators meet their student's literacy goals.


    RECOMMENDED RESOURCES AND ONES MENTIONED DURING THE EPISODE
    The Knowledge Gap by Natalie Wexler *Amazon affiliate linkThe Reading Comprehension Blueprint by Nancy Lewis Hennessy *Amazon affiliate linkThe Reading Comprehension Blueprint Activity book by Nancy Lewis Hennessy *Amazon affiliate linkCultivating Genius: An Equity Framework for Culturally and Historically Responsive Literacy by Gholdy Muhammad *Amazon affiliate linkLinda Rhyne ConsultingPlacing Texts at the Center of the Science Aligned ELA Classroom PDF
    M. Liben, S. PimentelPodcast recommended listening: Melissa and Lori Love Literacy, Ep. 37: Placing Text at the Center of the ELA Classroom with Meredith Liben & Sue Pimentel Knowledge Matters Campaign Tim Shananon blog: Knowledge or Comprehension Strategies?Centering Knowledge Building: An Interactive Reading Guide. Users can access the materials Shannon and Mary used in exploring The Knowledge Gap. Linda created this interactive course and now for $25 you can access this treasury of science of reading texts and recommended articles. Listeners can use the code "LOUNGE" for $5 off!Contact Linda through e-mail contact@lindarhyneconsulting.comFollow Linda on Instagram @lindarhyneconsultingour season 5 episode with Linda Balancing It AllGet a free Green Chef box using our link.Support the show
    Get Literacy Support through our Patreon

    • 1 hr 4 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
11 Ratings

11 Ratings

emmalyndz ,

Awesome!

Great information and links to resources and articles. The hosts are engaging, knowledgeable and passionate about reading. A great resource for classroom teachers, specialists and parents too.

CSgrade3Teacher ,

Awesome PD

Awesome! I love listening to, Mary and Shannon, two reading teachers. I have learned so much about helping my students read! I listen to their episodes over and over again and take notes on many of their ideas. Thanks for such helpful PD!

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