Supporting English Language Learners

Supporting English Language Learners

Author: Shannon Betts and Mary Saghafi September 30, 2022 Duration: 1:22:39

Mary and Shannon chat with Stephaney Jones-Vo about how to best support the reading needs of English Language Learners.    Stephaney describes the differences in needs of ESOL students at various levels and provides easy ideas for differentiation and scaffolding for students at different levels.   Stephaney shares how to understand the language load of class assignments and assessments, and this lens will help teachers view their own learning assignments in a fresh and supportive way for their students.


Episode Resources:

  1. How Does the Science of Reading Apply to Teaching Multilingual Learners?
  2. Podcast episode about SOR and ELL
  3. Stephaney's book about Differentiation for ELLs *Amazon affiliate link*
  4. Stephaney's book: Powerful Practices for Supporting English Learners *Amazon affiliate link*
  5. Stephaney's book: Engaging English Learners Through Access to Standards *Amazon affiliate link*
  6. WIDA Can Do Descriptors for various grade levels
  7. WIDA Language Development Standards Framework (2020)
  8. About the WIDA Access assessments
  9. Reading Rockets:  What Does Research Tell Us About Teaching Reading to English Language Learners?
  10. EdSource:  Why Phonics Instruction is not Enough for English Learners
  11. What are BICS and CALP?
  12. Academic Language and ELLs: What Teachers Need to Know
  13. Academic Vocabulary Word Lists by Grade Level (Flocabulary)
  14. our Patreon site and details




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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]

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…
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…