The Literacy Teacher's Life
This podcast supports teachers and parents in helping young children develop strong reading and writing skills. It offers guidance on literacy instruction, introducing educational terms and practices used in classrooms. The host aims to demystify the teaching process for parents and provide reassurance to educators. The focus is on building a solid literacy foundation that empowers children throughout their lives.
Episodes
What If I Don’t Like the Books My Child Wants to Read?
We're halfway through September! If your kid is coming home with books that you are not crazy about--how do you handle that? In this mini episode, Elizabeth shares a tip to honor what your kids are reading--even when you're not crazy about the books.
Give it a try--and leave a comment if it works!
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The Bag of Y-O-U and Breaking Assumptions with the Amazing John Schu EP 93
In today's episode, teacher, librarian, and author John Schu joins Elizabeth (for the second time!) to talk about his latest book, Lily-May's Joyful Day. John talks about writing in New York City and how he started writing Lily-May. He explains some of the wonderful ideas that he included in the book--specifically the Bag of Y-O-U and how this is a great way to break assumptions.Check out all of J
How Do You Make Time to Read?
It's that time again...back to school, and back to routines! If you are concerned about finding time to read with your kids on a regular basis, this mini episode is for you!Elizabeth answers the question, How Do You Make Time to Read? The truth is that you don't need to read with your kids for hours each day to have an impact--you only need 10 minutes a day.In this episode, Elizabeth explains how
Blending-In & Navigating Family & Friends: Talking All About Roxie in Color with Diane Debrovner & Stacy Cervenka EP 92
Elizabeth chats with Diane Debrovner & Stacy Cervenka, the authors of the book Roxie in Color–which is about middle-schooler Roxie who has two parents who are blind. When Roxie begins a new middle school, she makes the decision to keep the fact that her parents are blind a secret.Diane and Stacy talk about where the idea from this book came from, and how they navigated co-writing. Stacy shares how
Whose Lens Are We Looking Through?
After reading the book Roxie in Color by Diane Debrovner and Stacy Cervenka, the idea of perspective really stood out. The book is mostly written from Roxie’s perspective, but there are chapters from the dog’s perspective. The authors explained to Elizabeth that they wanted a neutral point of view.There are times when kids miss who is telling the story, so this tip can help refocus your kid on the
The Power of Illustrations: Including a Visual Element into Novels with Alan Barillaro EP 91
Alan Barillaro is a children’s author and illustrator. He is also the director of Piper, which won an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. Based on his experience reading with his children, he has written a series, Buns Rabbit–it blends illustrations into a novel, making it extremely accessible for readers.Alan talks about why he believes in this format–particualry in this digital-age. He a
Keep An Idea Notebook
Many authors talk about the benefits of keeping a notebook handy so that ideas can be documented in the moment. When speaking with children’s author, illustrator, and filmmaker, Alan Barillaro about his Buns Rabbit books, he shared his practice of keeping a sketchbook with him so that he can document what he notices and return to it at a later date. Elizabeth tried this with her younger daughter a
The Magic of Nature: Talking about Birdy with N. West Moss EP 90
Elizabeth continues speaking with authors this summer, and this week's episode features N. West Moss who is the author of the middle grade book, Birdy. Birdy is a beautiful book about a girl, Birdy, and her brother, Mouse, who move from their home in New York City to upstate New York to live with relatives they have never met. This book shows how joy can be found--even after experiencing the most
What is Our Country About?
This month, the United States is celebrating 250 years of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. After speaking with Barbara Caroll Roberts about her forthcoming picture book, When George Washington Bowed to the Nation, Barbara shared an idea for parents when reading this book, which is talking to your kids about the United States what is is about and how we got here. You may even decide
Sharing History with Younger Generations: Writing Nonfiction with Barbara Carroll Roberts EP 89
The United States is celebrating a big milestone--a 250th Birthday! And, to help younger generations learn about our history, Barbara Carroll Roberts has a book about George Washington coming out in August.In this conversation, Barbara talks about the tremendous amount of research that she did in order to write this book (check out her website to see a picture of a very thick book she read!). She
Have You Ever…
It's summer! And, that means that it's time for summer reading! If you want to encourage your kids to keep reading over the summer, talk to them about the books that they are reading. Discussing books with kids helps them think through what the book is all about. After speaking with Shifa Saltagi Safadi, the author of the Amina Banana about writing bravely, Elizabeth has been thinking about how we
Staying True to Yourself & Combatting Stereotypes with Shifa Saltagi Safadi EP 88
It's finally summer! To kick off summer reading, Elizabeth is speaking with authors about their books.
In this episode, Elizabeth speaks with Shifa Saltagi Safadi, the author of the Amina Banana series and Kareem Between. They begin by talking all about the Amina Banana series--where she got the idea for the series and how she decided to tackle tough topics in the books. Elizabeth and Shifa discu
Libraries Offer Kids Access to All Levels of Books
The American Library Association is hosting its Annual Conference this month--and to gear up for the conference, this episode is about the library!Should your child only read books on their level? The short answer is no! So, to look for books that your child will enjoy on a variety of levels, hit the library! And, now is a great time--to get your summer reading stack!
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Changes, Challenges, and Core Values: Talking about the Role of Libraries with Dan Montgomery EP 87
The American Library Association is gearing up for its Annual Conference (June 25-29, 2026)--and joining Elizabeth is Dan Montgomery, who is the Executive Director of the ALA.In our conversation, Dan talks about the importance of celebrating 150 years of the ALA, what to expect at the Annual Conference (and why you should go!), and what the ALA is facing today. Libraries are facing challenges in t
Libraries Have More Than Books
To celebrate the American Library Association's 150th Anniversary and their upcoming Annual Conference, this week's mini episode is library themed!Libraries are known for books and reading materials, but they also have materials and resources that serve their particular community. Listen to this episode to learn about some of the materials libraries lend out--then check out your library to see wha
150 Years of the American Library Association with Sam Helmick! EP 86
It's the 150th Anniversary of the American Library Association! Joining Elizabeth is the current President of the ALA, Sam Helmick, who is talking about the ALA's annual conference and why this year is so special.In this episode, you will hear Sam speak about:• The ALA’s 150th Year and how they are celebrating at this year’s conference;• A few of the speakers at this year’s conference (you won't w
What are you Reading? Kids Mimic Our Actions
Finding time to read can be a challenge. Schedules are busy and when things get hectic, reading is often the first thing that gets cut out. But...this is a tip that really pays off.
It's so beneficial to your kids to let them see you reading. Elizabeth starts with a story that highlights why kids need to see the adults in their lives reading. There are so many benefits to reading in front of you
Acknowledging Service Members with Jeff Gottesfeld and Matt Tavares EP 85
Memorial Day is quickly approaching and to talk about the importance of acknowledging service members, Elizabeth is joined by Jeff Gottesfeld and Matt Tavares. They are the author and illustrator of the books, Honor Flight: Celebrating American's Veterans and Twenty-One Steps: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier--two books that focus on veterans.Memorial Day is a great occasion to teach child
Libraries Spark Curiosity
If you are looking for ways to introduce your child to book about their interests or new books--look no further than the library! Libraries spark curiosity in many ways, which include:- Access to amazing librarians who are very knowledgable about books- The limitless topics they house- They host many events for the community- They offer more than just books for patrons!Check out this episode to le
How Experiences Impact Our Stories: Learning about Crouton the Cat with Author and Illustrator Kristine A. Lombardi EP 84
If you love cats, then this episode is for you! Elizabeth is joined by the author and illustrator, Kristine A. Lombardi. She recently wrote and published the book, Crouton, which is about a shelter cat looking for her perfect person to take her home. Crouton is a very sweet story, and Kristine talks all about where the idea came from, her illustration style in the book, and she even shares ideas a
Reading for Recall
Elizabeth was recently asked about what reading for skills looks like. In today's mini episode she shares how you can help your child with the skill of recalling what they read after reading.
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Bringing Authors to Life: Dr. Karen Huff and the Shenandoah University Children’s Literature Conference EP 83
Are you looking for an event that brings together children's authors, teachers, parents, and children? Well, look no further than the Shenandoah University Children’s Literature Conference!Today, Elizabeth is joined by Dr. Karen Huff who directs the Shenandoah University Children’s Literature Conference. This year marks the 40 Anniversary of this conference and so many wonderful authors are attend
Keep A Journal
Today's tip comes from the author N. West Moss. In her book, Birdy, the main character keeps a journal. N. West Moss has been asked about the benefits of keeping a journal. Today's mini episode shares some benefits to journaling and gives steps to get your kids started!
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The Write Stuff For Early Readers with Dr. Cheryl Lundy Swift EP 82
Dr. Cheryl Lundy Swift is back on the podcast! Today she is joining Elizabeth to talk about writing -- and how writing can help boost reading skills.
In this episode, Dr. Swift discusses:
Why writing is actually a very natural activity for kids
The connection between reading and writing and why it's so important to make sure kids have the time to write during the school day (and at home!)
The 'What Just Happened' Strategy
This week's mini episode tip is designed to support your child with reading comprehension. Recalling and remembering what happened in a story is an important skill that we want kids to be able to apply when they read.If your child reads a book or a passage and can't remember what happened - then this tip is for you!The strategy is broken down into three steps:1) Pick up a book or passage and tell
Spring into Planning with Sarah Hart-Unger EP 81
It's a new season! And, to kick off this new season, Elizabeth is joined by planning expert, Sarah Hart-Unger. Sarah is the host of the Best Laid Plans podcast and the author of the book Best Laid Plans: : A Simple Planning System for Living a Life That You Love.Sarah joins Elizabeth to share her planning system and talk about how teachers and parents can plan for daily tasks and also longer-term
Be Positive About the Books Your Kids Read
Today's tip is to be positive about the books that your kids and students read. Our words have an impact on our kids. When adults make negative comments about the books that kids read, it impacts how they view themselves as readers. If your child is reading a book that you are not crazy about, rather than telling them to read something better, compliment them for reading.
Give it a try! Happy Rea
Collaboration and Creativity with Laurel Snyder and LeUyen Pham - The Author and Illustrator of Shrinking Violet EP 80
Have you ever wondered how writers and illustrators work together? Well, today's episode answers that question! Joining Elizabeth on the podcast are Laurel Snyder and LeUyen Pham - the author and illustrator of the book Shrinking Violet that is coming out at the end of March.Laurel shares how she came up with the idea for Shrinking Violet, and LeUyen talkes about how she interpreted the words in t
Go On A Book Search Adventure
Welcome to the mini episodes! This is where Elizabeth shares a tip, a trick, or a strategy to take your kids from just reading to actually wanting to read.Today's tip is to make searching for or finding books for your kids to read an adventure. Rather than buy a book for your child, take your child with you to the library or a bookstore to search for books -- and, you can make it extra special by
The Language of Self-Affirmations with Caitlin Santomauro EP 79
How we speak to ourselves is so important. Today's guest, Caitlin Santomauro is the author of the amazing book, The Language of Self-Affirmations: A Magical Practice of Manifesting Personal Power.Caitlin begins by explaining what a self-affirmation is and why they are so important to include in our daily lives. She explains how self-affirmations can support kids - she talks about how she has used
Tips for the New Year that Support Readers: Conversations Build Confident Readers EP 78
Today's reading tip is to talk to your parents about the books that they are reading.Elizabeth explains why talking to kids about the books that they are reading is so supportive. These conversations can be short and informal, but they are effective because they help increase reading confidence and they help support comprehension.Check out today's episode for the final tip of the month to support
Tips for the New Year that Support Readers: Don't Make Reading a Fight EP 77
This month is focused on tips for helping kids read in 2026. And, today's episode is about not making reading a fight. What do you do when you do not like the books that your kids are reading?Elizabeth explains what you can do if you are not loving the books your child is reading. She ends with a story from a recent article about why it's so important for your kids to be reading.
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Tips for the New Year that Support Readers: Include OR Statements When Reading With Children EP 76
Happy 2026!To get the New Year started, Elizabeth is sharing tips and strategies that can be easily included when reading with kids - both in the classroom and at home.In today's episode, Elizabeth shares the first tip which is to use OR Statements when reading with kids to support their knowledge of new words and keep the story moving along.Check out today's episode to learn more about the differ
Time for a Mini-Reflection & Making Reading Happening Over the Winter Break EP 75
This episode is wrapping up 2025! It's the time to stop and take a few minutes to think about your teaching so that you have an idea of what is going well and what changes you might want to make after the winter break.In this episode, Elizabeth gives three areas to think about with guided questions. She also talks about what worked well with her teaching this fall and what changes she wants to mak
Making Fluency Fun with Reader’s Theater EP 74
This week's episode is about using reader's theater to address fluency with kids. Elizabeth just used reader's theater in her classes to show current and future teachers how scripts can support fluent reading -- and comprehension. Her students had a lot of fun and saw the benefits of using this teaching practice with kids - at all grade levels (not just elementary school).The episode begins with i
Poetry is Fun! A Conversation with Poet, Darren Sardelli EP 73
Today's episode is such a treat! Elizabeth is joined by poet Darren Sardelli. He writes poetry and shows kids how much fun words and language can be - and how poetry is fun! His goal is to make his ideas fun and relatable for kids.And, his work is a lot of fun! Darren shares some poetry with us - and you will be very entertained! He gives great ideas in this episode - such as start an Idea Noteboo
Beliefs About Books and Reading EP 72
In this episode, Elizabeth shares eight common beliefs about reading and how they can discourage kids from reading. There have been many alarming articles about kids not reading much - so it's important to try and support our young readers as best we can.The 8 beliefs are:- Phonics Instructions Ends After Second Grade- Picture Books are Easy Books- Reading With Kids Ends Once They Learn to Read-If
Connecting Teaching to Writing A Conversation with Former Teacher and Author, Terri Lilga EP 71
This is a treat! Today, I am joined by my former colleague, Terri Lilga. Terri is a retired teacher, who is now writing books for children. We worked together in Buffalo, NY for a few years.
In this episode, Terri shares her books with us. She explains how she came up with the ideas for her books - and how she gets ideas in general. She has really great stories about how she thinks up ideas! They
Relevance is Essential: How Teachers Can Make Literacy Learning Relevant to Our Students’ And Their Futures With Lorraine Radice EP 70
Lorraine Radice is back on the podcast! Lorraine has a new book that recently came out, Revolving Literacy: How to Connect Relevance and Future-Ready Skills to Secondary English Instruction.In our conversation, Lorraine talks about:
- what the term literacy includes- her revolving literacy framework and how it benefits teachers and supports students- books for kids in middle and high school- idea
Focusing On Mood to Unlock Critical Thinking with Trevor Bryan EP 69
I'm back this week with Trevor Bryan, an educator and writer. Trevor's latest book is out and available to be purchased. It's called Narrative Know-How: A Fresh Approach to Support Comprehension and Craft in the K-6 Classroom.In the last episode, Trevor explained the framework to this book. And, today he is back to share ideas about how this work can be implemented into the classroom to support ou
All About Understanding Narratives with Trevor Bryan EP 68
We want our students to be confident readers and writers. One way to support their confidence is to teach them about structure. Today, I am joined by Trevor Bryan, who is an educator and writer! Trevor is the author of The Art of Comprehension and has written a new book that just came out this week, called Narrative Know-How: A Fresh Approach to Support Comprehension and Craft in the K-6 Classroom
Making Reading Fun (And a Priority) This School Year EP 67
Recently, there have been studies out that discuss how reading, particularly reading for pleasure is at an all-time low. This is for kids and adults, but the findings have been seen as concerning. The UK is calling on 2026 to be the year of reading - so that kids are reading for pleasure.In this episode, Elizabeth shares ways that teachers can make this school year a year of reading as well - and
Another Summer is Coming To An End Gearing Up for the New School Year – Some Tips for Teachers EP 66
It's August, and that means that the new school year is just around the corner! My semester begins in just two weeks. This episode is aimed at teachers, but can be helpful for parents, too. As I am planning for the upcoming academic year, I have six tips that I am focusing on to have a calm start to the school year. I also have a planning tip from a planning expert!
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Parents, Here's A Tip When Your Kids Do Not Want To Read! EP 65
It's the end of July and the new school year is approaching (faster than I would like!). Today's episode is for parents. I often hear comments from parents that their kids are not interested in reading. After taking my daughters and a friend to a bookstore, I have a story and some suggestions about what you can do to help get your child interested in reading a book before the end of the summer. It
Mid-Summer Check-In for Parents: Have Your Kids Been Reading? If Not, You Have Time! EP 64
It's mid-July already! This week's episode features a quick check-in with three tips to get your kids back into a reading habit this summer. Daily routines and habits shift during the summer months which can mean that reading may not be happening as regularly as it does during the school year. So, Elizabeth shares tips that you can put into practice pretty quickly to get back into reading.
Learn
Matching Books to Readers: A Conversation with Lea Anne Borders EP 63
Lea Anne Borders is the founder of Bookelicious, a digital tool that connects kids’ interests to books that they may enjoy reading. She joins me on today's episode to talk about the features of Bookelicous and we discuss how it can be used by teachers and parents to help children find books that they are interested in reading.
This is a great tool to explore - especially at the start of the summe
Getting Kids in Middle and High School Reading with New York Times Bestselling Author Jen Calonita EP 62
In today's episode, New York Times Bestselling Author, Jen Calonita comes on to discuss her books as well as why she loves writing for the middle grade and young adult kids. She shares why it is so important to meet kids where they are and why connecting to kids' interests - at any age - is so important to get and keep kids reading.
Jen is the author of many books, including The Lost Legend serie
Supporting Multilingual Learners with Interacting, Reading, and Listening: Learning More from Susan Katz EP 61
We are back with the second half of my conversation with Susan! Susan is the author of The Swirl Method: Supporting Multilingual Learners as They Speak, Write, Interact, Read, and Listen. This week, Susan is taking us through her strategies to support multilingual learners with interacting, reading, and listening. She offers excellent resources in each area - so please check them out!
This is the
Ideas and Strategies for Teaching Multilingual Learners with Susan Katz, Author of the SWIRL Method EP 60
The Swirl Method: Supporting Multilingual Learners as They Speak, Write, Interact, Read, and Listen, written by Susan Katz addresses how we can support children who are multilingual learners. In this amazing resource, Susan identifies specific strategies in each area: speaking, writing, interacting, reading, and listening - that can be used in the literacy classroom to help learners thrive.
This
Connecting Sports and Reading: Making Sure Kids Have Books They Want to Read with Football and Baseball Player Brian Jordan EP 59
Brian Jordan is a former professional football and baseball player. He played football for the Atlanta Falcons and he played baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals, Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Texas Rangers.
Brian believes that all kids need to learn to read. He has written a number of children's books, such as I Told You I Can Play!, Overcoming the Fear of Baseball, and Time-Out for B
It's National Library Week! Get Involved and Support Your Local Library with President-Elect Sam Helmick EP 58
It's National Library Week!
It's a great week to get involved and support your local library. Libraries are a reflection of the community they serve. You can check out new books and see what other events are happening at your library this week.
On today's episode, American Library Association's President-Elect Sam Helmick joins me. We discuss what is happening with libraries at the moment. We al
Movement and Literacy: A Multi-Sensory Approach to Learning to Read EP 57
How can movement be included in learning to read? In today's episode, Elizabeth speaks with Stefanie Hohl, the creator of ABC See, Hear, Do, which is a multi-sensory approach to learning to read. Stefanie believes in getting kids moving when reading and she shares many ideas about how this can be done.
In this episode, we discuss:
- What a multi-sensory approach to literacy is?
- How active kids
Handwriting is a Foundational Skill & The Role it Plays in Supporting Reading EP 56
Is handwriting important now that kids have access to technology and devices in school? Many parents are concerned about their children's penmanship. Should handwriting be taught in schools? The answer to these questions is yes. Handwriting should be taught in school (and so should cursive writing).
Dr. Cheryl Lundy Swift is the Professional Learning Director at Learning Without Tears - the progr
Three Signs that Kids May Be Frustrated with Reading and What To Do About It EP 55
What behaviors signal that kids are frustrated when they are reading?
This week's episode focuses on three behaviors that can signal that kids may be frustrated when reading. The behaviors include:
- Hanging onto one detail from the book
- Looking for a distraction
- Not having books that kids want to read
Elizabeth explains these behaviors and offers some suggestions about how we as teachers (and
Do Reading Responses Really Get Kids to Read? EP 54
The start of the new year brought a lot of questions about reading responses. It seems like teachers started assigning reading responses at the start of 2025. A question I kept getting is, "Do reading responses really help?"
The short answer is yes, reading responses can help kids better understand what they read.
Today's episode starts with the point of reading responses and what the research say
How Can We Help Our Students Find Their Voices in Their Writing? A Conversation with Kourtney Hake & Paige Timmerman
Happy New Year! Welcome to 2025!
In this first episode of 2025, Elizabeth is speaking with Kourtney Hake and Paige Timmerman about their recent book, Their Stories, Their Voices, which focuses on narrative writing and how to easily implement narrative writing units into your instruction.
Paige and Kourtney discuss how they define narrative writing and talk about how they structured this book. They
Gearing Up for 2025! EP 52
Happy Holidays! It's the holiday edition of The Literacy Teacher's Podcast.
In the spirit of the season of reflection, this week's episode is dedicated to taking the time to think about your teaching in 2024 - what went well and also what changes you want to make in 2025.
Elizabeth focused on the following areas of her teaching this year:
- Planning
- Students
- Instruction/Teaching
- Materials fo
Should Kids Have Time During the School Day to Read On Their Own? Five Ways to Make Independent Reading More Effective EP 51
Should kids have independent reading time in school?
In order for kids to become stronger and more engaged readers, they need time to read. But, that time needs to be intentional. We don't want kids spending independent reading time staring out the windows or re-reading the same page over and over to pass the time and check the work off the list.
In this episode, I share five tips to make independ
Solving the Literacy Puzzle: A Conversation with Norene Bunt EP 50
How can we effectively teach literacy to students? In this episode, Norene Bunt speaks about her recent book, Solving the Literacy Puzzle, and how effective literacy instruction can be implemented. Some of the topics discussed include:
- Effective literacy instruction
- Components of literacy instruction at the elementary level
- Comprehension and how to ensure that it is a focus of reading instru
The Plateau in the Upper Elementary Grades: What Happens When Comprehension is Not Included in Instruction EP 49
This week's episode focuses on reading comprehension and how to include it into reading instruction. The following is addressed:
- Why we read
- How to assess reading comprehension
- How to include a structured approach to comprehension into reading instruction
The episode ends with ideas for how parents can address comprehension when reading with kids at home.
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Incorporating Shared Reading into Classroom Instruction EP 48
What other ways can you read with students other than through interactive read-alouds?
This week's episode is all about shared reading and how to include this into your teaching to support students' reading fluency and comprehension.
Elizabeth begins by explaining shared reading and what it looks like in practice. She talks about the types of texts that are commonly used in shared reading and ho
The Importance and Benefits of Coaching: A Conversation with Melissa Morrison EP 47
What is a literacy coach? How does a literacy coach support teachers, students, and schools? In today's episode, Elizabeth is speaking with Melissa Morrison, the founder of Teaching to Transform. Melissa is a coach, specifically a writing coach. She works with teachers to support their writing instruction.
In this episode, Elizabeth and Melissa discuss the role of a coach and how coaching can ben
A Literacy Adjacent Topic on Thriving - Especially When Life Gets Busy EP 46
It's October! Today's episode is not directly related to literacy. Elizabeth sits down to speak with Dara Kurtz, an author, speaker, and breast cancer survivor. Dara has experienced setbacks in her life, but has come out stronger and is living a more intentional life. She teaches a class that focuses on helping individuals thrive after and/or during a challenging time in life. We talk about strate
Phonological & Phonemic Awareness: What do these terms mean? EP 45
Literacy education has many terms that sound similar and have similar meanings. Phonological and phonemic awareness are two of those terms!
This week, Elizabeth explains these two terms and shares examples of how they can be taught. Foundational skills are a hot topic at the moment and curriculum is being implemented to address phonological and phonemic awareness - so having an understanding of w
Back to School! Updates & Getting Kids Reading EP 44
Welcome to the new school year! This episode starts with an update. Then, Elizabeth shares what she is focusing on for this back to school time. This fall, Elizabeth is teaching three reading classes - so she discusses how teachers can think through their reading instruction and emphasizes interactive read-alouds and what to pay attention to when planning and implementing read-alouds at the beginn
Teaching Reading Across the Day with Jennifer Serravallo EP 43
Jennifer Serravallo is back on today's episode! Elizabeth speaks with Jennifer about her latest book, Teaching Reading Across the Day: Methods and Structures for Engaging, Explicit Instruction. They begin by discussing the structure of the book and all of the wonderful resources that are included with the book - this includes many videos of the different types of instruction.
They chat about expli
Talking about Libraries and the Annual ALA Conference with Emily Drabinski EP 42
This is a fun episode! Emily Drabinski, the current president of the American Library Association (ALA) is back on the podcast!
The ALA Annual Conference will be held in San Diego from June 27-July 2, 2004 and Emily is here to share what is in store for attendees. She starts by giving us an update on her recent library visits and discusses the amazing work that libraries are doing to support thei
Planning for the End of the School Year EP 41
The end of the school year is quickly approaching! In today's episode, Elizabeth discusses some tips for teachers and parents to gear up for the end of the school year.
There are many events at this time of the year, so this episode will help you think through what you want to teach and review before the summer comes!
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Making Independent Reading Effective EP 40
Independent reading is a common practice in elementary classrooms. It's important for kids to have time to read because research has found that children who read more are often likely to become better readers. However, it is not as straightforward as time reading equals becoming a better reader.
In order to make independent reading time more effective, Elizabeth shares three tips from research st
Close the Chromebooks: Five Ideas to Set Kids Up for Success When Writing EP 39
How do we support kids with writing while not jumping to use the Chromebooks or iPads? Elizabeth shares some ideas to support elementary kids with their writing that do not require devices.
In order to set kids up for success with their writing, she shares some ideas that have helped her students when teaching writing. They include: introducing mentor texts, modeling your own writing and thinking
Planning Globally: Ideas to Strengthen Writing Instruction with Andrea Haas EP 38
In this episode, Elizabeth is joined by Andrea Haas, a literacy consultant who supports teachers with reading and writing instruction. They discuss writing and Andrea shares ideas for how to plan globally so reading, writing, and the content areas are aligned.
They also discuss teaching the writing process and when prompts are appropriate. Finally, Andrea shares teaching moves to make small group
On The Job Market – Crafting Strong Resumes and Cover Letters EP 37
It's the time of year when job postings are popping up! This month's episodes focus on preparing for the job market - and this episode is focused on writing resumes and cover letters. Elizabeth discusses what should be included in a resume and cover letter and what should absolutely not be included (hint: make sure everything you include is true!).
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Helping Kids Love Reading EP 36
After speaking with Lorraine Radice, who shared her idea of Falling in Love with Reading for the month of February, Elizabeth shares ideas about ways to help elementary students love reading. She shares four ideas that you can include in your teaching or even at home to help kids enjoy reading.
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Strategies to Build a Culture of Reading with Dr. Lorraine Radice EP 35
How do we get kids to read? Dr. Lorraine Radice is a literacy leader at a school district on Long Island. She has been working to build a culture of reading at all levels in the school district. Her recent book, Leading a Culture of Reading: How to Ignite and Sustain a Love of Literacy in Your School Community, addresses specific ways that school districts and teachers can work to get kids reading
Teaching Reading Effectively with Dr. Karen Gazith EP 34
Welcome to Episode 34! Today I am speaking with Dr. Karen Gazith who is a professor at McGill University. She recently published the book, The Power of Effective Reading Instruction: How Neuroscience Informs Instruction Across All Grades and Disciplines, which addresses so many of the questions and issues in literacy education today.
Dr. Gazith explains neuroscience and what it says about reading
Libraries and the Communities that They Serve: A Conversation with ALA President Emily Drabinski EP 33
The American Library Association is hosting an event this month! It's the LibLearnX Conference and joining me to discuss the conference is the current ALA President, Emily Drabinski.
Emily talks about the conference and what to expect. There are both in-person and digital options to attend, so if you are not able to travel to Baltimore, you can still attend the different sessions. There are many r
Reflecting on Our Literacy Teaching EP 32
It's the end of the year, which is a great time to think about and reflect on our literacy instruction. Elizabeth identifies five areas of literacy instruction: Reading, Books, Writing, Speaking, and Listening, and goes through a guided reflection of each of these areas.
The goal is to think about what aspects of your literacy instruction are going well, then identify a few areas that could use s
Talking About Graphic Novels with Author and Illustrator Stephen Shaskan EP 31
Get ready for a fun episode! If you have students or children who enjoy reading graphic novels - then this is an episode that you must listen to! In this week's episode, Stephen Shaskan joins Elizabeth to discuss graphic novels. Stephen is the author of the fun and motivating series, Pizza and Taco. He has also written and illustrated a number of other books, including the series Q & Ray, which hi
Supporting Reading Identities and Developing Lifelong Readers: A Conversation with Jennifer McCarty Plucker EP 30
In this week's episode, Elizabeth talks with Jennifer McCarty Plucker about her new book Inspiring Lifelong Readers. Jennifer talks about the inquiry work that she did with students in middle and high school to support them as readers. She provides very helpful strategies from her book that can be implemented at all grade levels. Jennifer stresses the importance of helping all students find books
Connecting Independent Reading to Instruction, Books to Read for Thanksgiving, and a Planning Hack EP 29
After receiving some questions about independent reading, Elizabeth decided to share a structured approach to this time of the day. How can we make the most of independent reading time for kids and ensure that they are using this time to strengthen their reading skills? Elizabeth discusses the purpose of independent reading, some of the ways that independent reading falls short, and tips for how t
