7.1 New Opportunities

7.1 New Opportunities

Author: Shannon Betts and Mary Saghafi September 6, 2024 Duration: 40:16

Mary and Shannon catch up with each other after the summer & podcast break.     They chat about their own children, their personal lives, and their plans for this upcoming school year.   They discuss the implementation of Georgia's dyslexia bill this year.   They share about their professional reading and learning.  And they fill listeners in on the activities they've done through their Patreon community and about some free reading guides they've created over the summer.   This new year is full of changes and possibilities!   



RESOURCES MENTIONED DURING THE EPISODE:

  1. Strive for Five by Tricia Zucker and Sonia Cabell *Amazon affiliate link
  2. List from GA DOE Universal Screeners
  3. GA Dyslexia Videos
  4. Bonus Episodes access through your podcast app
  5. Bonus episodes access through Patreon
  6. Free Rubrics Guide created by us
  7. Finding Good Books Guide created by us
  8. Information about our Patreon membership
Brilliant Beaver Guidebook - Audio Version
Engage kids aged 6-9 with fun, screen-free activities from the world of scouting

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In the Reading Teachers Lounge, hosts Shannon Betts and Mary Saghafi pull up a chair for a conversation that feels both deeply professional and warmly familiar. These two elementary reading teachers and Atlanta neighbors discovered a shared, fervent passion for literacy over a local dinner, realizing they were kindred spirits in their mission. That initial chat never really ended, and now it forms the heart of this podcast. Each episode invites you into their ongoing dialogue, where practical classroom strategies, reflections on what works, and thoughtful discussions about reaching every single learner are all on the table. It’s a space designed for fellow educators, dedicated parents, and anyone invested in how children learn to read, offering tangible ideas rather than abstract theory. The tone is collaborative and grounded in real classroom experiences, reflecting a joint belief that literacy is foundational. By tuning in, you gain access to their collective experience and earnest curiosity, all focused on the complex, rewarding world of teaching reading. This isn't about performance; it's about sharing a genuine professional conversation from their lounge to yours, making the Reading Teachers Lounge a unique podcast for those who live and breathe language education.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 129

Reading Teachers Lounge
Podcast Episodes
Delightful Word Learning with Colette Hiller [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:27
Shannon and Mary chat with critically acclaimed author and experienced actress & advocate Colette Hiller about ways to make word learning innovative and fun. Colette is releasing a new book titled Colossal Words for Kids…
Supportive Strategies for Working Memory [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:44
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. Listener…
Meaningful Professional Learning [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:46
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 Intersection of Speech, Reading, and Language [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:30
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 t…
the Importance of Handwriting [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:40
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…
Date Your Data [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:26:31
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 conn…
Building Knowledge with Linda Rhyne [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:44
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 t…
Ideas for Differentiation with Wiley Blevins [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:17
Shannon chats with her favorite literacy guru, Wiley Blevins, about the decisions and methods that go into differentiation. Shannon picks his brain about some of her reading students. Also, Wiley shares insights from his…
Gifts for Our Readers with Dr. Karen Gazith [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:32
Shannon and Mary chat with Dr. Karen Gazith about her new book The Power of Effective Reading Instruction. The conversation flowed through many topics but ultimately what you can gain from our discussion is the gifts we…
Read Aloud to Boost Comprehension [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:43
Mary and Shannon chat with Dr. Molly Ness about her new book Read Alouds for All Learners. Molly shares how teachers should intentionally plan their read alouds, with thought put into the vocabulary instruction, the purp…