Classroom Libraries with Donalyn Miller and Colby Sharp

Classroom Libraries with Donalyn Miller and Colby Sharp

Author: Shannon Betts and Mary Saghafi November 11, 2022 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 with kids.   This conversation provides the WHY behind decision making and instructional use of the classroom library.

Episode Resources:

  1. The Commonsense Guide to Your Classroom Library: Building a Collection that Inspires, Engages, and Challenges Readers by Donalyn Miller & Colby Sharp * Amazon affiliate link*
  2. Colby Sharp's Blog
  3. Nerdy Book Club (joint blog)
  4. Donalyn Miller's website The Book Whisperer.com
  5. Game Changer!  Book Access for All Kids by Donalyn Miller & Colby Sharp *Amazon affiliate link*
  6. Reading Rockets: Creating a Classroom Library
  7. Scholastic:  6 Tips to Help Set Up a Classroom Library
  8. Education to the Core:   Setting Up Your Classroom Library
  9. our episode about Books as Windows, Doors, and Mirrors
  10. Building an Effective Classroom Library by Susan Catapano, Jane Fleming, and Martille Elias (Journal of Language and Literacy Education 2009)
  11. Choice Literacy:    Creating a  Student-Organized Classroom Library
  12. ASCD:  Creating a Classroom Library Together  
  13. BookSource to Organize your Collection
  14. Regie Routman:  Organize an Outstanding Classroom Library 
  15. Booksourcebanter:    Resources for Building a Classroom Library  
  16. Follett Classroom Library Manager  
  17. The Yarn (Children's Literature Podcast by Colby Sharp and Travis Jonker)
  18. Colby's Youtube  description of a Book Pass 
  19. Twitter:  https://twitter.com/colbysharp
    https://twitter.com/donalynb

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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
All About R-Controlled Vowels [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:34
Shannon and Mary discuss how they discovered the importance of teaching phonics instruction and syllable division to help their student begin to crack the code of reading. Throughout the episode they will talk about stra…
All About Long Vowels [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:05
Mary and Shannon describe how they teach long vowels to their struggling readers. They share their favorite resources and routines for conducting phonics lessons. Are you challenged by your struggling readers? Do you nee…
All About Short Vowels [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:22
Shannon and Mary discuss background and strategies for teaching short vowels. You will learn facts and tidbits about literacy and why short vowels make their short, unique sounds. Hint! It has to do with the consonant ne…
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The process for identifying a specific learning disability such as dyslexia is complicated in the public school setting. In this episode Mary explains the RTI (Response to Intervention) process. She also breaks down how…
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You've completed the benchmark assessments. You have done what has been asked of you by the administration. But really...what does that MAP score mean? Can you explain it to your students? Is it valid? Can you help your…
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Duration: 24:56
How do you get to know your readers? Shannon and Mary share some of their experience using basic assessment tools to check foundational skills of their students: oral reading fluencysight wordsphonemic awarenessdecoding…
Becoming a Reading Teacher [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:00
When was it that you first felt like you were a reading teacher who made the reading "magic" happen? When did you start to see growth from your students? What was the difference in your instruction or approach? In this e…
Introduction, Why we became teachers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:43
In this first episode, Shannon and Mary (two elementary reading teachers) introduce themselves and tell the stories about why they chose education and describe their varied teaching experiences.Support the showGet Litera…