Episode 143

This conversation remains one of our most downloaded episodes and for good reason.

As we focus this month on small-group instruction, we’re revisiting this important discussion with a team of authors who published the article Maximizing Small-Group Reading Instruction.

In this episode, we explore:
• Why small-group reading instruction has been so widely adopted
• What the research actually says about its effectiveness
• Common misconceptions about small-group time
• What makes small-group instruction purposeful and impactful

If you’re rethinking how small-group time fits within strong Tier 1 instruction, or wondering how to make those minutes count, this episode offers research-informed clarity.

Resources

• Maximizing Small-Group Reading Instruction
• Dr. Neena Saha’s Reading Research Recap of this research
• What Should Small Group Instruction Look Like? Tim Shanahan
• Reinterpreting the development of reading skills Scott Paris
• Applying New Visions of Reading Development in Today's Classrooms Kay Stahl
• Text Project with Freddy Hiebert
• Choice Words: How Our Language Affects Our Children’s Learning by Peter Johnston

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We offer keynotes, presentations, and live podcast-style sessions focused on practical, science of reading–aligned strategies aligned to our podcast and book, The Literacy 50. Email LiteracyPodcast@greatminds.org to learn more.

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