Ideas for Differentiation with Wiley Blevins

Ideas for Differentiation with Wiley Blevins

Author: Shannon Betts and Mary Saghafi January 19, 2024 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 coming book about adjustments that teachers can make before or during their lessons to better suit the learning levels of their students.   We always get some much wisdom from Wiley, whether it be from a direct chat, a webinar he hosts, or from a book he's authored.    Listen to this entire episode to get inspired about ways you can best meet your students' needs.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES AND ONES MENTIONED DURING THE EPISODE

  1. Differentiating Phonics Instruction for Maximum Impact:  How to Scaffold Whole-Group Instruction So All Students Can Access Grade-Level Content by Wiley Blevins *Amazon affiliate link (For PreOrder)
  2. Wiley's website
  3. Reading Rockets:    Differentiated Instruction for Reading
  4. Reading Rockets:  What is differentiated instruction?
  5. Differentiated Reading Instruction:  Multiple Pathways to Literacy Success (Solution Tree)
  6. Read Write Think:   Differentiating Instruction Strategy Guide Series
  7. (Kappan Online)  Teaching Reading: Development and Differentiation
  8. FCRR: Features of Effective Instruction Overview 
  9. Sadlier School: 13 Ideas for Differentiated Reading Instruction in the  Classroom
  10. (Read Naturally) Differentiating Instruction: Teaching Differently to Improve  Instruction
  11. Benchmark Decodable Books
  12. UFLI Foundations Deconudable Text Guide 
  13. Linnea Ehri Continuous Blending Study 
  14. Stanford Study (Bruce McCandliss) 
  15. Empowering Writers

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
the Comprehension Process [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:22
Shannon and Mary wrestle with understanding the nature of the comprehension process. They discuss ideas from the Blueprint for Reading Comprehension and Executive Skills and Comprehension to understand the different cogn…
Best Reading Instructional Moves [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:57
Shannon chats with Lindsay Kemeny about her new book titled 7 Mighty Moves: Research-Backed, Classroom-Tested Strategies to Ensure K-3 Reading Success. Both Shannon and Lindsay have classroom experience teaching Kinderga…
We Love Mistakes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:31
Shannon and Mary talk about why they love student mistakes. They share how to make mistakes meaningful in the ways they show insight into students' learning. They chat about establishing a trusting relationship with stud…
Intervention in the Upper Grades [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:07
Shannon and Mary meet with Kionna Squires (@DaLiteracyLady) to talk about the challenges facing older struggling readers. During the discussion, they explain how meeting students where they are IS rigorous and the right…
Etymology and Orthographic Study [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:45
Shannon and Mary host a returning guest to the Reading Teachers Lounge @MindfulTeacherRachel, who you heard in Season 5 on the Schwa episode. In this episode, Shannon, Mary, and Rachel talk about English word histories a…
Back to School Reflections and Plans [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:06
Shannon and Mary meet again to begin the 6th season of the podcast. They recap their summer activities in both professional and personal lives, update the audience on the plans they're making for their reading students t…
Summer Reading Tips [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:26
Shannon and Mary bring you a surprise bonus episode for Season 5. They chat with Dr. Amanda Alexander from Scholastic about statistics about summer reading. In the episode, they all share tips about how to make the most…
Season 5 Finale:   Ends & Beginnings [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:16
Shannon and Mary meet up to review how season 5 of the podcast has gone. They share some of the things they learned during the season and list some of their favorite episodes and guests. They also chat about the school y…
Teaching and Reaching Diverse Learners [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:47
Shannon and Mary chat with Khadijah Abdullah, a public school teacher in their area, about how she balances the wide variety of reading abilities in her classroom. Khadijah shares about her trauma-informed teaching pract…