Shanahan on Literacy

Timothy Shanahan
  • 4.8 (48)
  • EDUCATION
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Timothy Shanahan is a renowned expert on the teaching of literacy. This podcast addresses practical issues in teaching students to read and to read better.

  1. 12/20/2025

    Should We Be Using "Words Correct Per Minute"?

    Reading ability is often measured through oral reading fluency. These days that means having students read passages aloud and counting the numbers of words per minute read accurately. While this has value, it can lead teachers to encourage reading speed over the other elements of fluency (accuracy and prosody). It is important to remember that speed and automaticity are not the same thing, though we use speed as a proxy for the latter. This podcast reviews research that suggests another possibility for evaluating automaticity.

    8 min

  2. 12/13/2025

    What Teachers Need to Know about Sentence Comprehension

    For years, teachers were told that teaching English grammar had no impact on reading comprehension or quality of writing. A more recent substantial body of evidence reveals the importance of sentence comprehension in comprehension. This podcast examines that evidence and makes instructional suggestions that can help increase reading achievement.

    19 min

  3. 12/06/2025

    Literacy Charities for 2026

    Each year, Shanahan on Literacy identifies the highest rated national, regional, and international Literacy Charities. Find out which ones you want to help -- and which might be a source of support for your students and school.

    19 min

  4. 11/29/2025

    Won’t Challenging Texts Discourage Young Readers?

    Research indicates that teaching reading at students' "reading levels" provides no advantages and may do harm when it comes to learning. However, many teachers are less worried about learning, and more concerned about the impact teaching with complex text may have on students' classroom behavior and motivation for reading. This podcast explores those concerns.

    9 min

  5. 11/08/2025

    Whole Books or Excerpts? Which Do the Most to Promote Reading Ability

    Recently, there have been claims that reading achievement is being suppressed because schools are teaching reading with excerpts and other short pieces rather than with complete books. These critics say that they want to go back to a time when reading was taught with complete books. This podcast explores those claims and reveals what research has to say on the matter.

    10 min

  6. 10/25/2025

    Don’t Confuse Reading Comprehension and Learning to Read (and to Reread)

    Are we making our instructional decisions based upon comprehension data or learning data? Is our purpose to make sure that students gain immediate comprehension of the instructional text or is it to improve kids' reading ability so they will be more successful with future texts? The answer might surprise you.

    13 min

  7. 10/11/2025

    Considering Running Records, and No, I Don’t Beat My Wife Anymore

    I've argued against teaching reading at students' instructional levels. Does that mean that I'm against running records and informal reading inventories? What could such tests possibly provide if you aren't teaching with leveled books? This podcast will answer those questions and many more.

    13 min

  8. 09/27/2025

    What Role Should Pictures Play in Teaching Reading?

    This podcast explores the role that pictures play in teaching decoding, vocabulary, and reading comprehension.

    19 min
See All (82)

4.8
out of 5
48 Ratings

About

Timothy Shanahan is a renowned expert on the teaching of literacy. This podcast addresses practical issues in teaching students to read and to read better.

Information

  • Creator
    Timothy Shanahan
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    82
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2023
  • Show Website
    Shanahan on Literacy

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