Intervention in the Upper Grades

Intervention in the Upper Grades

Author: Shannon Betts and Mary Saghafi October 6, 2023 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 thing to do for our readers.  They also share ideas for boosting student engagement and their favorite activities for upper grade reading intervention.

RESOURCES MENTIONED DURING THE EPISODE

  1. Texas Center for Learning Disabilities: Effective Reading Interventions for Upper Elementary Students
  2. Providing Reading Interventions for Students in Grades 4-9 (What Words Clearinghouse)
  3. EdWeek: How Schools Can Support Older Students Who Lag in Reading
  4. Reading Rockets: Best Practices in Planning Interventions for Students with Reading Problems
  5. Teaching Phonics & Word Study in the Intermediate Grades by Wiley Blevins *Amazon affiliate link
  6. Florida Center for Reading Research 4th and 5th Grade Activities
  7. Assessing Reading Multiple Measures (Core Literacy) *Amazon affiliate link
  8. Structured Literacy Interventions edited by Louise Spear-Swerling *Amazon affiliate link
  9. Raffi songs 
  10. Moon Dogs books 
  11. The Big Secret Episode from Season 1
  12. Explicit Instruction: Effective and Efficient Teaching (What Works for Special-Needs Learners) by Anita L. Archer *Amazon affiliate link
  13.  Book a free call with us to tour our Patreon and see if it's right for you!
  14. Get Literacy Support through our Patreon



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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
Phonemic Awareness:  In the Dark or With Letters? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Shannon and Mary chat about the recent debate in the science of reading community about whether phonemic awareness drills without letters are a worthwhile exercise for readers. They describe activities they've done with…
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Shannon and Mary chat with Emily Conlan from @wordmorphed_ on Instagram about Morphology. Emily shows how and where Morphology fits into structured literacy instruction and the science of reading. Their discussion provid…
New Understandings about Encoding [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Shannon describes some new ways she's helping her older elementary students learn how to encode and spell. Mary shares the S.O.S strategy for Spelling and explains the research about encoding and the brain processing tha…
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Shannon and Mary discuss the revised Ladder of Reading and Writing that was recently updated by Nancy Young. [Note: Our podcast has explicit permission from Nancy Young to use her Ladder infographic image and information…
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Shannon and Mary chat with Anna Boldog from Bookr Class about the Importance of Storytelling. They share their own memories and experiences with stories as readers and teachers. And they talk about what research shares a…
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Shannon and Mary chat with LaMonica Williams, Director of Programs for Teaching Matters, about how to support reading teachers and their students through intensive but supportive coaching and literacy training. Episode L…
Scarborough's Reading Rope with Tess Kraft [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:12
Shannon chats about the different strands of Scarborough's Reading Rope with Tess Kraft. They talk about all the many different skills that weave together into skilled reading and share ideas about transferring the scien…
Science of Reading with Heidi Martin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:48
Shannon and Mary chat with Heidi Martin about her journey into learning about the Science of Reading. Heidi has been documenting her literacy transformation on Tiktok (@learningwithheidi) and Instagram (@droppinknowledge…
Chatting about Scope and Sequence with Wiley Blevins [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:25:51
Shannon and Mary chat with literacy expert Wiley Blevins about the scope and sequence of phonics instruction. Episode Links for Resources mentioned:ILA Brief Meeting the Challenges of Early Phonics Instruction by Blevins…
Season 4 Opener: Back To School & Together Again [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:45
In their Season 4 opener, Shannon & Mary update listeners on their summer activities and their plans for the upcoming school year and podcast season. They share what they've been reading and learning about lately, which…