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
Sound Walls [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:41
Shannon and Mary chat with Christina Edmondson (@literacywithmrs.e) about implementing Sound Walls into your literacy classrooms. Christina shares how Sound Walls compare to traditional word walls and provides ideas for…
Phonemic Awareness:  In the Dark or With Letters? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:01
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…
Morphology [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:18
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]

Duration: 40:12
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…
The Updated Ladder of Reading and Writing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:18
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…
The Importance of Storytelling [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:31
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…
Supporting Reading Teachers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:52
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…