TRT Podcast#48: SOR Bootcamp #4 - What IS structured literacy, anyway? Structured literacy is all the rage these days, but what exactly is it? Today we'll discuss the HOW and the WHAT of structured literacy. Share this 6-week podcast series with friends who want to learn more about the science of reading. Also check out our online course, Teaching Every Reader! It opens for enrollment on October 4, 2021. Get the ... Read More
The Simple View of Reading and Scarborough’s Reading Rope
TRT Podcast#47: SOR Bootcamp #3 - The Simple View of Reading and Scarborough's Reading Rope If you study the science of reading, it won't be long until you hear mentions of the Simple View of Reading and Scarborough's Reading Rope. What are they? And what do they have to do with how we teach reading? Today's episode will answer those questions. Share this 6-week podcast series with friends who want to learn more ... Read More
How we read and remember words
TRT Podcast#46: SOR Bootcamp #2: How we read and remember words Orthographic mapping is one of the key concepts in the science of reading, but it can feel a little confusing at first. It's all about how we read and remember words, and this episode breaks it down into easy-to-understand language. Share this 6-week podcast series with friends who want to learn more about the science of reading! Also check out our ... Read More
3 Reasons why there’s so much disagreement around the science of reading
TRT Podcast#45 - SOR Bootcamp #1: 3 Reasons why there's so much disagreement around the science of reading We're starting a science of reading bootcamp! Share this 6-week podcast series with friends who want to learn more. In today's episode we define "science of reading" and explore why there's so much disagreement around this topic. Also check out our online course, Teaching Every Reader! It opens for enrollment ... Read More
Do’s and don’ts for teaching vocabulary
Vocabulary is the knowledge of words and their meanings. For many decades, researchers have noted that there is a strong correlation between vocabulary knowledge and reading comprehension. And yet ... Researchers tell us that, traditionally, vocabulary instruction has not been strong ... in far too many classrooms. Believe me, I get it. As I planned my daily classroom schedule each school year, I ... Read More
Do’s and don’ts for teaching comprehension
It's week four of our deep dive into "The Big Five!" So far we've explored phonemic awareness, phonics, and fluency. Today we'll take a look at do's and don'ts for teaching comprehension. Have you ever heard people say that in the primary grades, children "learn to read" and in the later stages they "read to learn"? There's some truth to that. At the very early stages, students cannot comprehend what ... Read More
Do’s and don’ts for teaching reading fluency
Have you been following along with our series about the Big 5? So far we've tackled phonemic awareness and phonics. Now it's time to discuss the do's and dont's for teaching reading fluency. As I look back on my years as a balanced literacy teacher, I realize that I misunderstood fluency and its place in the big picture. I was opposed to decodable books because I thought that leveled books, ... Read More
Do’s and don’ts for phonics instruction
In today's post, the second in our 5-part series, we'll dive into do's and don'ts for teaching phonics. Another name for this post could be "Mistakes I've Made When Teaching Phonics ..." because I've made a lot. Let's start with a little backstory. When I first started teaching first grade, I had to use a very rigid phonics program that I detested. I was a balanced literacy teacher all the way, and I didn't ... Read More
Do’s and don’ts for teaching phonemic awareness
Looking for tips for teaching phonemic awareness? In this post I'll share do's and don'ts for teaching phonemic awareness ... sharing mistakes I've made in the past and new insights I've gained through my study of the science of reading. As we consider do's and don'ts for teaching phonemic awareness skills, let's start with the basics. I admit it ... I didn't understand the difference between phonological and ... Read More
Books to read on your science of reading journey
TRT Podcast#44: Books to read on your science of reading journey This concludes our official science of reading series, but there's a lot more to learn! Check out my top recommendations for books that will help you understand the science AND apply it to your classroom. Also check out our online course, Teaching Every Reader! It's open for enrollment through May 10, 2021. Get the details here. Listen to the episode ... Read More