7.12 Effective Student Engagement

7.12 Effective Student Engagement

Author: Shannon Betts and Mary Saghafi May 30, 2025 Duration: 49:50

Shannon and Mary chat with Brandi Dugal from The Fidget Game, featured on Shark Tank, about unique ways to engage and motivate students to learn.   They share methods for gamification, brain breaks, and other strategies teachers can use to increase student engagement.  Listen for ideas to make reading more fun and how to help motivate even the most reluctant readers to get excited about their learning.

RESOURCES MENTIONED DURING THE EPISODE:


  1. The Fidget Game website
  2. Fidget Game TikTok account
  3. Shannon's favorite (FREE) growth mindset activities via TpT-lower grades
  4. Shannon's favorite (FREE) growth mindset activities via TpT-upper grades
  5. The Fidget Game for purchase *Amazon affiliate link
  6. King Komodo game for purchase *Amazon affiliate link
  7. SquishyLand game for purchase *Amazon affiliate link
  8. The Vocabulary game for purchase *Amazon affiliate link
  9. ASCD:  New Thinking about Student Engagement




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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
Shared Reading [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Guided Reading [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:39
Shannon shares how guided reading groups are the non-negotiable element in her daily classroom. In this episode Mary and Shannon weigh in on the importance and power of small group teaching of guided reading.Resource Lin…
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Duration: 19:46
Mary discusses the concept of alphabetic principle and strategies for teaching blending. Resource Links:NOTE: As an Amazon Associate program, we earn a small amount from your qualifying purchases. We'd appreciate if you…
More Listener Questions Answered [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Great news! Shannon is here to help address more listener questions about Lucy Calkins, comprehension strategies and professional development for reading specialists.Resource Links:NOTE: As an Amazon Associate program, w…
Kids Who Fly Under the Radar [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:07
Mary discusses a student she is working with who flies under the radar in his general education classroom. In this discussion, she poses the question "Who are kids who fly under the radar? How can we better address their…
Listener Questions Answered [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:57
Mary responds to listener questions about time management and the components of a tutoring session. Resource Links:OG Drill informationI <3 Emily Gibbon's materials at The Literacy NestOur episode on Executive Functionin…