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 stresses the importance of routines, transitions, and frequent student responses in her data-driven instruction. Lindsay also opens up about her personal journey, detailing how her son's struggles with dyslexia transformed her teaching methods. The conversation covers practical tips for teaching phonics, spelling, high-frequency words, and integrating content into literacy. Listen to the episode to learn valuable tips for optimizing your reading instruction.

01:17 Welcoming Back Lindsay Kemeny
01:49 Lindsay's Journey and New Books
03:36 Implementing Literacy Block Changes
07:04 Structuring the Literacy Block
08:53 The Importance of Data and Intervention
21:09 Green Chef Sponsorship
22:07 Phonics and Spelling Integration
28:20 Reflecting on Classroom Data
28:39 Optimizing Lessons and Routines
35:06 The Importance of Student Responses
37:08 Focusing on Progress, Not Perfection
39:55 A Personal Journey with Dyslexia
52:36 Final Thoughts and Resources

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES RELEVANT TO THE EPISODE:

1. Our Season 6 episode with Lindsay: Best Reading Instruction Moves
2. Our Season 7 episode: The Reading Team
3. Lindsay's website
4. Lindsay's podcast: Literacy Talks
5. Rock Your Literacy Block by Lindsay Kemeny *Amazon affiliate link
6. 7 Mighty Moves by Lindsay Kemeny *Amazon affiliate link
7. 7 Mighty Moves Reading Resources (companion book) by Lindsay Kemeny *Amazon affiliate link
8. Reading Rockets: An Example of the 90 Minute Reading Block
9. Ascend (Smarter Intervention): How Do I Fit It All In?
10. Reading Rockets: What Does Your Literacy Block Look Like? It Depends.
11. Timothy Shanahan: How Would You Schedule the Reading Instruction?
12. Mississippi Dept of Ed: Suggested Instructional Routines for Teaching Reading First Through Fifth Grade

Support the show

• Get Literacy Support through our Patreon
• Bonus Episodes access through your podcast app
• Bonus episodes access through Patreon
• Buy us a coffee
• Get a FREE Green Chef box using our link

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 & literacy development—because our students aren’t just learning to read; they’re learning who they are. They explore what SEL looks like in real classrooms: morning meetings that build community, read-alouds that spark emotional awareness, and simple coping strategies that help students manage anxiety and stress. The discussion also acknowledges the lasting impact of the digital age and the COVID-19 pandemic on students’ social-emotional well-being, as more children than ever are navigating big feelings.Erin introduces her book Wally Is Worried as a relatable resource for helping children understand and express their emotions. Listeners will walk away with practical tools, recommended texts, and encouragement to make SEL an intentional part of everyday literacy instruction.

01:40 Special Guest: Erin Waters on SEL
03:06 Defining SEL and Its Importance
06:03 Real-World SEL Classroom Experiences
11:41 Impact of Digital Age on SEL
16:18 Post-COVID SEL Challenges
21:43 Coping Mechanisms and Solutions
39:16 Final Thoughts and Resources

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES RELEVANT TO THE EPISODE:

1. Wally is Worried by Erin Waters *Amazon affiliate link
2. Our engagement episode
3. Our technology episode
4. Book list with SEL topics, curated by Love Grows Learning
5. Big Little Feelings blog
6. NEA (National Education Association): SEL Resources
7. Reading Rockets: Classroom Strategies that Support SEL
8. Reading with Relevance: a CASEL-certified SEL supplemental program
9. CASEL.org
10. Centervention: 95 Social Emotional Learning Activities
11. Integrating SEL Into Your Reading Block
12. Children's Institute: SEL Resources and Tools
13. Erin Waters' website
14. Connect with Erin via IG

Support the show

• Get Literacy Support through our Patreon
• Bonus Episodes access through your podcast app
• Bonus episodes access through Patreon
• Buy us a coffee
• Get a FREE Green Chef box using our link

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 college educator, about her dual roles in literacy. Dr. Rogers discusses her research on African American English (AAE) and structured literacy, emphasizing the importance of affirming behaviors in promoting student motivation and effective communication. Drawing on personal experiences and professional expertise, she emphasizes the importance of affirming diverse dialects, including Black English, and fostering an inclusive and supportive classroom environment. The episode also covers translanguaging and strategies for teachers to support multilingual students, highlighting the significance of creating a positive, inclusive, and affirming classroom environment. Tune in to learn more about effective teaching practices, the science of reading, and how teachers can better support students from diverse linguistic backgrounds.


0:00 Welcome to the Reading Teacher Lounge

01:09 Introducing Dr. Jasmine Rogers

02:37 Understanding Black Language in Education

04:34 Research on Affirming Student Language

07:32 The Importance of Cultural Awareness in Teaching

13:55 Personal Experiences and Reflections

15:48 Journey into Structured Literacy

17:37 Merging Identity with Teaching Practices

22:14 Reflecting on Teaching Practices

23:03 The Power of Translanguaging

24:57 Effective Communication Techniques

26:55 Building Positive Classroom Environments

30:04 Supporting Teachers and Students

31:29 The Importance of Authenticity in Teaching

32:59 Insights from Research

36:12 Morphology and Language Learning

39:50 Final Thoughts and Farewells

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE

1. Dr. Jasmine's website
2. Connect with Dr. Jasmine Rogers through her website
3. Connect with Dr. Jasmine Rogers through LinkedIn
4. 44 Phonemes Video from RRFTS (Rollins Center for Language and Literacy)
5. DC Public Schools Reading Clinic
6. Frayer Model
7. Strive for Five Conversations by Tricia Zucker and Sonia Cabell *Amazon affiliate link
8. Education Week: What is Translanguaging and How Is it Used in the Classroom?

• Buy us a coffee
• Get a FREE Green Chef box with our link
• Bonus Episodes access through your podcast app
• Bonus episodes access through Patreon
• Free Rubrics Guide created by us
• Finding Good Books Guide created by us

Support the show

• Get Literacy Support through our Patreon