8.8 Grammar and Syntax

8.8 Grammar and Syntax

Author: Shannon Betts and Mary Saghafi February 6, 2026 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 functions, and modifiers can elevate both reading comprehension and writing skills for students of all ages. Sara emphasizes the importance of embedding grammar instruction within reading and writing activities, and provides practical strategies for making grammar engaging and relevant. Specific strategies, such as focusing on sentence nuclei, harnessing descriptive modifiers, and being mindful of students' language acquisition backgrounds, are discussed. Additionally, Sara emphasizes the importance of providing meaningful practice opportunities and underscores the value of understanding grammar as the structure of language. The episode is rich with actionable insights and resources to help teachers better support their students.

NOTE FROM GUEST:

Re: our discussion about adverbs at minute 33 in the episode, I want to make sure listeners understand that the word "so" can also modify adverbs (as adverbs can modify other adverbs), rather than thinking that adverbs can only modify adjectives.


01:38 Introducing Our Special Guest: Sara Lee
02:31 Diving into Grammar and Syntax
05:33 Understanding Grammatical Functions
07:55 Challenges and Resources for Teaching Grammar
10:04 Practical Applications and Student Engagement
12:41 The Importance of Sentence Structure
25:05 Using AI to Enhance Grammar Lessons
32:23 Supporting Multi-Language Learners
35:22 Challenges in Teaching Writing
36:38 Tips for Enhancing Writing Skills
39:34 Using Sentence Nucleus for Creativity
41:28 Grammar in Reading and Writing Instruction
44:30 Engaging Students in Grammar
48:41 Resources for Teaching Grammar
01:02:02 Making Grammar Fun and Approachable
01:03:18 Conclusion and Final Thoughts


RECOMMENDED RESOURCES RELEVANT TO THE EPISODE:

  1. The Literacy Doctor
  2. Sentence Composing (Don Killgallon)
  3. Grammar for Middle School: A Sentence Composing Approach by Don and Jenny Killgallon *Amazon affiliate link
  4. The Death of Practice (Sara's blog post)
  5. Grammarism
  6. Linguistics Girl
  7. Word Hippo
  8. Video from Dr. Bowers and Marie Foley (Nested Combinatorial Structure)
  9. Timothy Shanahan's blog post:   Comprehension Instruction that Really Helps-Teaching Cohesion
  10. Evan Moor Daily Paragraph Editing book *Amazon affiliate link

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
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…