Reading Wars

Reading Wars

Author: Shannon Betts and Mary Saghafi January 24, 2020 Duration: 37:30


Shannon and Mary talk about the recent discussions in the news and educational circles related to the reading wars. Additionally, based on listener questions, they recommend some resources for teachers who want to implement more structured literacy into their classroom practices.


Resource Links:

  1. Emily Hanford APM Reports Educate Podcast New Salvos in the Battles over Reading Instruction 
  2. Emily Hanford APM Reports How a Flawed Idea is Teaching Millions of Kids to be Poor Readers
  3. Lucy Calkins' response: No One Gets to Own the Term "The Science of Reading"
  4. Need to practice Phonics instruction?   *Speech to Print Workbook by Louisa Cook Moats and Bruce Rosow *
  5. Shannon recommends *Phonics A to Z by Wiley Blevins*
  6. Shannon recommends *Teaching Phonics & Word Study in the Intermediate Grades by Wiley Blevins*
  7. Free webinars IDA Upper Midwest Branch
  8. IDA PDF Structured Literacy: Effective Instruction for Students with Dyslexia and Related Reading Difficulties
  9. Comprehensive List of Programs based on Structured Literacy 
  10. Mary recommends Equipped for Reading Success by David Kilpatrick
  11. our Encoding episode (Season 1, episode 22):  Encoding First, Decoding Second

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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…
8.1 New Season, New Stories [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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 sha…
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…