7.14 Literacy Leaders

7.14 Literacy Leaders

Author: Shannon Betts and Mary Saghafi June 14, 2025 Duration: 54:53

Shannon chats with Laura Stewart (from 95 Percent Group) about bold moves that literacy leaders can take to transform the literacy practices in their learning communities.    Laura provides stories and strategies relating to successfully implementing best practices informed by the Science of Reading into schools and classrooms, and Shannon shares some real-life examples of what she's learned to do and not to do as a literacy leader.   Listen and also download the recommended resources from the show notes to be empowered in your transformation efforts.

RESOURCES MENTIONED DURING THE EPISODE:


  1. The Courage to Lead: 10 Bold Moves for Transformational Change by Laura Stewart ebook (download link from our Google Drive)
  2. bio for Laura Stewart, 95 Percent Group's Chief Academic Officer
  3. Becoming a Literacy Leader by Jennifer Allen *Amazon affiliate link*
  4. Cox Campus Structured Literacy training
  5. The Courage to Teach:   Exploring the Inner Landscape of a Teacher's life by Parker Palmer *Amazon affiliate link
  6. Science of Reading 2.0 ebook from 95 Percent Group
  7. Uphill Climb article by Laura Stewart
  8. NIRN Hub
  9. EdWEb.net Recording with Laura Stewart and Ken Kirby regarding Professional Learning in 2025
  10. 95 Percent Group on IG
  11. 95 Percent Group on Twitter/X
  12. 95 Percent Group on Facebook
  13. Morpeheme Magic
  14. Science of Reading Defining Guide (The Reading League)



Support the show



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
Classroom Libraries with Donalyn Miller and Colby Sharp [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:44
Shannon and Mary chat with Donalyn Miller & Colby Sharp about their recently published Common Sense Guide to Your Classroom Library. The reading teachers discuss how to set up and use the library to maximize its impact w…
the Schwa [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:27
Shannon and Mary chat with Mindful Teacher Rachel about the Schwa vowel sound and how to teach it to students. She shares great stories from her classroom about teaching reading and all about her newly published book tha…
Our Favorite Literacy Resources [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:16
Shannon and Mary chat about their favorite free and low cost literacy resources to use in reading lessons and tutoring sessions. They share links to: complete phonics curriculum resources that include scope and sequences…
Supporting English Language Learners [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:39
Mary and Shannon chat with Stephaney Jones-Vo about how to best support the reading needs of English Language Learners. Stephaney describes the differences in needs of ESOL students at various levels and provides easy id…
Season 5 Opener: New School Year, New Season of the Podcast [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:17
Shannon and Mary meet up after the summer hiatus to chat about going back to school. They catch up on their personal activities from the summer and then share their instructional plans for the new school year in 2022-202…
School Year and Season 4 Wrap Up [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:31
Shannon and Mary catch up on their teaching activities and personal lives during the past school year. They share highlights from the past season and what is coming next in Season 5 and the 2022-2023 school year.Episode…
Long and Short Vowels [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:26
Shannon and Mary share some new understandings they've discovered about the differences between long and short vowels. They chat about how they'll modify some phonics activities for students after discovering these new u…
Differentiation for Different Readers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:38
Shannon and Mary chat with Nancy Young, the creator of the Ladder of Reading & Writing, about differentiated instruction for readers at different levels. [Note: Our podcast has explicit permission from Nancy Young to use…
Just Right Reading Books for Families and Students [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:16
Shannon chats with Sarah Rich, CEO of Just Right Reader, about her company that provides decodable readers to students, families, teachers, and schools. Sarah and Shannon talk about how decodable texts are important for…
Sound Walls [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:41
Shannon and Mary chat with Christina Edmondson (@literacywithmrs.e) about implementing Sound Walls into your literacy classrooms. Christina shares how Sound Walls compare to traditional word walls and provides ideas for…