7.13 The Right Things for Our Learners

7.13 The Right Things for Our Learners

Author: Shannon Betts and Mary Saghafi June 7, 2025 Duration: 1:10:41

Shannon and Mary welcome Dr. Timothy Shanahan to the Reading Teachers Lounge to quiet the noise within the literacy community and help us all realize the MOST important things we should be doing for our learners according to the reading research.    Listeners will find out what practices and activities they should prioritize to improve their students' reading achievement.

RESOURCES MENTIONED DURING THE EPISODE:


  1. Leveled Reading, Leveled Lives:  How Students' Reading Achievement Has Been Held Back and What We Can Do About It by Timothy Shanahan (available for PreOrder) *Amazon affililate link
  2. Dr. Shanahan's website (Shananan on Literacy)
  3. Dr. Shanahan's blog
  4. Connect with Dr. Shananan via Facebook
  5. Dr. Shanahan's blog post about Comprehension (mentions text cohesion)
  6. Are We Teaching Reading Comprehension Part II:   6 Things Every Teacher Should Know (blog post by Dr. Shanahan)
  7. 30 Second Mysteries *Amazon affiliate link
  8. McGraw-Hill Science of Literacy Library:
    A free resource hub containing blogs, videos, research reports, and more— designed to connect teachers with practical classroom resources and Professional Learning tips. 



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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
7.6 The Reading Team [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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7.3 Book Equity [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Shannon and Mary have an informative and inspiring chat with Karen Gross. They learn details about how the Covid-19 pandemic affected teachers and students. Karen shares why the role of teachers is more difficult today,…
7.1 New Opportunities [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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 Geor…
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Duration: 1:03:21
Shannon and Mary chat with Jennifer Serravallo, whose literacy work they have long admired. Jennifer shares how her view about reading instruction have evolved over time. Jennifer's written a new book showing teachers di…
Reaching All Readers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:53
We have a summer bonus episode for you!Shannon and Mary have Anna Geiger, the Measured Mom, join them in the lounge again to discuss the best evidence based practices that teachers can use to reach all readers. Anna's ne…
Season 6 Finale [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:02
Shannon and Mary gather together to review the school year and close out the podcast season. They give updates on their personal and teaching lives and share their summer plans. Later they're joined by Kelsey (wifeteache…
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Duration: 56:19
Shannon and Mary chat with Nancy Young and Jan Hasbrouck about differentiation and the latest updates to the Ladder of Reading and Writing. Listeners will get a better understanding of WHY it's so important to make adjus…