8.1 New Season, New Stories

8.1 New Season, New Stories

Author: Shannon Betts and Mary Saghafi October 3, 2025 Duration: 45:38

Shannon and Mary kick off the new season with reflections on how far the podcast has come, from family anecdotes to stories of former students thriving—like Rigby, a once-struggling reader now headed to college. They share practical tips for using Canva to teach morphology, highlight successes from their summer tutoring, and discuss balancing work, rest, and family life. Additionally, they unveil exciting plans to feature more teacher voices in the show through their bonus episodes, available to all subscribers.

RESOURCES MENTIONED DURING THE EPISODE:


  1. Mary's husband's band Cherokee Ave Project
  2. Google form for teacher guests
  3. Marie Foley Visuals Morphology class
  4. Geodes decodables
  5. Handwriting Without Tears
  6. Bookworms
  7. Amplify CKLA
  8. Blossom & Root


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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
8.9 Teacher Preparation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:01
Shannon and Mary welcome Dr. Ellen Ballock and Julia D'Onofrio from Gordon College to talk about teacher preparation programs. Discover how they design and implement teacher prep programs focused on literacy instruction,…
8.8 Grammar and Syntax [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:56
In this episode of the Reading Teacher's Lounge, hosts Mary and Shannon welcome expert Sara Lee to discuss best practices for teaching grammar and syntax. They dive into how understanding sentence structure, grammatical…
8.7 Supporting Learning at Home [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:59
In this episode, we explore effective practices for supporting students with homework. Join us as we discuss strategies to foster a productive & stress-free homework environment. We cover the importance of EF, the advant…
8.6 Deliberate Orthography [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:17
Shannon and Mary revisit the topic of Structured Word Inquiry (SWI) and discuss the importance of understanding the deliberate reasons for English spellings with guests Jennifer Petrich and Bradley Johnson.The conversati…
8.5 The Literacy Block [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:42
Mary and Shannon are joined by Lindsay Kemeny, a returning guest and 1st grade teacher. Lindsay discusses her latest book and shares insights into structuring an effective literacy block. During the chat, Lindsay stresse…
8.4 SEL Concerns [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:52
Educator and author Erin Waters joins Shannon and Mary to discuss supporting the whole child through Social-Emotional Learning (SEL). Erin shares her teaching journey and highlights the crucial connection between SEL & l…
8.3 Affirming Practices with Dr. Jasmine Rogers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:51
In this episode, you're getting a preview of the types of conversations happening with educators in our bonus subscription episodes. This month, Shannon and Mary chat with Dr. Jasmine Rogers, a reading specialist and col…
8.2 Treasured Stories [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:21
In this special episode of the Reading Teachers Lounge, hosts Shannon and Mary have an engaging and insightful conversation with acclaimed children's author Kate DiCamillo about treasured stories. They explore Kate's jou…
7.18 Season 7 Finale [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:40
Shannon and Mary look back over Season 7 and reflect on what really matters for our reading students. "The right things for our learners" emerged as the unofficial theme of our seventh season. This phrase encapsulates wh…
7.17 Impactful Interventions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:13
Shannon and Mary chat with Dr. Katie Pace-Miles about MTSS and RTI, sharing practical tips for delivering effective reading interventions, choosing quality resources, and running efficient team meetings to support strugg…