If you ask this question in a Facebook group, watch out. People on both sides of the aisle have strong opinions, and many of them will tell you that their opinions are absolutely backed by research. At a recent Reading League event, Dr. Steven Dykstra joked that people on both sides of this debate will start pulling punches if you put them in the same room! (I think he was only sort of joking.) So … who’s ... Read More
What to do when you suspect dyslexia: A conversation with Heather O’Donnell
TRT Podcast #105: What to do when you suspect dyslexia: A conversation with Heather O'Donnell What are the signs of dyslexia? What should you do if you suspect it? And how can classroom teachers make sure they teach reading so all children learn? Heather O'Donnell, certified Dyslexia Practitioner, has answers to these questions and more! Listen to the episode here Full episode transcript Resources Dyslexia ... Read More
From Balanced Literacy to Decodable Books Author: A conversation with Elise Lovejoy
TRT Podcast #104: From Balanced Literacy to Decodable Books Author: A conversation with Elise Lovejoy Like so many of us, Elise Lovejoy began her career as a balanced literacy educator. After throwing herself into research, she created her own decodable books and reading curriculum. Listen to learn more about Express Readers! Listen to the episode here Full episode transcript Express Readers Program ... Read More
Structured literacy in kindergarten: An interview with Kate Winn
TRT Podcast #103: Structured literacy in kindergarten: An interview with Kate Winn Kate Winn is a brilliant teacher who shares how she moved from a balanced to structured approach ... and how structured literacy has reignited her passion for teaching! Listen to the episode here Full episode transcript Kate Winn's recommended resources The Art and Science of Teaching Primary Reading, by Christopher Such Know ... Read More
How to make the most of repeated reading
TRT Podcast #102: How to make the most of repeated reading The research is clear: repeated reading builds fluency! In today's quick episode we'll explore best practices for repeated reading ... so you can make the most of it. Listen to the episode here Full episode transcript Fluency resources from my shop Fluency Center MEGA Bundle Partner Plays Reader's Theater Scripts References Rasinski, T. ... Read More
How to implement Readers Theater
TRT Podcast #101: How to implement Reader's Theater: with Dr. Chase Young In today's discussion about fluency, Dr. Chase Young shows us exactly how to implement Reader's Theater in the classroom. You'll love this entertaining episode! Listen to the episode here Full episode transcript Related links ... Read More
How to use repeated reading to improve fluency
In this final post in our fluency series, we look at how to use the research-backed practice of repeated reading! Repeated reading is reading the same text multiple times until a certain (or better) level of fluency is reached. We've known since the 1970's that repeated reading improves fluency. It helps readers achieve automaticity - so that they can decode without thinking about decoding (Shanahan, ... Read More
Alternatives to round robin reading
TRT Podcast #100: Alternatives to round robin reading The jury is in! Round robin reading simply isn't effective. Try one of these alternatives, and watch your students' oral reading fluency grow! Listen to the episode here Full episode transcript Related blog posts Build fluency with partner reading Build oral reading fluency using poetry ... Read More
Books about place value
Looking for books that will help you teach place value? Try these! P.S. Find the mega list of books about math concepts at Imagination Soup! ... Read More
5 Reasons you’ll LOVE Just Right Reader decodable books!
Disclosure: This blog post is sponsored by Just Right Reader. All opinions are my own. I only promote products I know and love! Are you looking for decodable books to fill your classroom library? You can't go wrong with Just Right Reader! When Just Right Reader asked to sponsor this blog post, I jumped at the chance. That's because their giant collection of over 300 books is one every primary teacher and ... Read More