We share some of the unexpected phonics lessons that students need that aren't always obvious in the curriculum guides. These important and necessary phonics lessons are essential in phonics instruction.

phonics, Reading, sight words, TeachingMary SaghafiAugust 6, 2019phonics, Necessary Phonics Lessons, spelling generalizations, decoding, encoding, literacy, spelling, sound out words, season 1 episode 25Comment

S1 Ep23 Jargon From Encoding Episode

Two reading teachers review the terms phoneme and grapheme. They're important terms for understanding the connections between letters and sounds.

phonics, ReadingMary SaghafiAugust 6, 2019phoneme, grapheme, phonics jargon, phonemic awareness, phonological awareness, S1 Ep23 Jargon From Encoding Episode, season 1 episode 23Comment

S1 Ep22 Encoding first, Decoding second

Shannon and Mary discuss a professional article, "Why Phonics Teaching Must Change" published in Educational Leadership, September 2008 by Jeannine Herron. They talk about a different approach to teaching students to read. What if we focus more on encoding activities rather than starting with decoding activities?

phonics, Reading, TeachingMary SaghafiAugust 6, 2019phonics, decoding, encoding, reading, intervention, elementary, teaching, phonemic awareness, spelling, S1 Ep22 Encoding first, Decoding second, season 1 episode 22, reading interventionComment

S1 Ep21 Preschool Literacy

Two reading teachers talk about pre-reading skills and other school readiness skills students need before going to Kindergarten. They also discuss preschool literacy and give resources for preschool literacy activities and curriculum.

Reading, TeachingMary SaghafiAugust 6, 2019foundational skills, emotional skills, social skills, phonological awareness, early learning, preschool, preschool literacy, literacy strategiea, literacy startegies, play based cirriculum, preschool programming, early literacy skills, language and developement, pre-reading skills, season 1 episode 21Comment

S1 Ep20 Jargon Defined: Executive Functioning

What are executive functioning skills? In this episode, we will tell you what executive functioning is and what executive functioning activities are best for your students!

Reading, TeachingMary SaghafiAugust 6, 2019Executive Functioning in Plain English, Executive Functioning task cards, Executive Functioning, S1 Ep20 Jargon Defined: Executive Functioning, teaching life skills, the reading brain, season 1 episode 20, learning disabilitiesComment

S1 Ep19 Authentic Writing

Today we are talking about authentic writing strategies. We discuss writing instructions for kids and reading instructions for kids as they go hand and hand. We hope you tune in!

writing, phonics, ReadingMary SaghafiAugust 6, 2019authentic writing, writing, elementary writing, phonics, teach writing, reading and writing, writing instruction, writers workshop, empowering writers, season 1 episode 19Comment

S1 Ep18 Mindfulness about Learning

In this episode, two reading teachers discuss mindfulness activities for kids in the classroom. Teaching metacognition activities and metacognition strategies in the classroom is so important and that is why we are talking about it in this episode.

Reading, TeachingMary SaghafiAugust 6, 2019metacognition, ownership of learning, mindfulness about learning, thinking, learning strategies, performance evaluations, mindful, season 1 episode 18, 18, SELComment

S1 Ep17 All About Consonants

In today's episode, two reading teachers discuss consonants! We discuss all things consonants including consonant blends, fun consonant activities, and more! Tune in to listen to the reading teachers lounge podcast!

S1 Ep16 Let's Talk About Phonemic Awareness

Two reading teachers discuss phonemic awareness strategies with one another. Mary and Shannon give you great phonics-based activity ideas, phonemic awareness lessons, and more! Join the conversation!

phonics, syllables, ReadingMary SaghafiAugust 5, 2019reading, phonics, phonemic awareness, phonological awareness, Let's talk about phonemic awareness, push sounds, literacy, kindergarten, teaching, teaching reading, season 1 episode 16, foundational skillsComment

S1 Ep15 ZPD and Rigor

We believe that learning to read is rigorous and teachers must continue to teach students where they are while developing the lofty learning goals.

Reading, TeachingMary SaghafiAugust 5, 2019rigor, reading instruction, foundational skills, zpd, zone of proximal development, education, elememtary, ZPD and rigor, instruction, scaffolding, season 1 episode 15Comment

S1 Ep13 The Big Secret

Two reading teachers talk about struggling readers in kindergarten, first, second, and third grade and the best coping mechanisms for struggling elementary readers.

Learning Disorders, Reading, TeachingMary SaghafiAugust 5, 2019reading intervention, self-esteem, foundational skills, dyslexia, struggling learners, struggling readers, reading, classroom analysis, season 1 episode 13, episode 13, SELComment

S1 Ep12 A Conversation About Dyslexia

Today in the reading teachers' lounge, we discuss dyslexic tendencies, dyslexia-friendly classroom activities, and more concerning the ins and outs of dyslexia. Join us on our journey to deepen your understanding of dyslexia.

Learning Disorders, ReadingMary SaghafiAugust 5, 2019elementary, dyslexia, education, reading disability, literacy strategiea, reading, dyslexic, episode 12, season 1 episode 12Comment

S1 Ep11 Sight Words

Shannon and Mary share a multitude of ways to increase practice for your students as they learn sight words.

Reading, Teaching, sight wordsMary SaghafiAugust 5, 2019sight words, high frequency words, dolch, fry words, etymology, structured word inquiry, practice sight words, parent teachers, reinforce learning, spelling, spell sight words, Season 1 episode 11, episode 11, irregular wordsComment

S1 Ep8 R Controlled Vowels

Ok, we have the basics of long and short vowels and consonants, but now, let's throw in the 'bossy r' and teach you to teach them to crack the code!

phonics, Reading, syllables, VowelsMary SaghafiAugust 4, 2019reading instruction, phonics, syllable patterns, elementary reading, Bossy r, r-controlled, S1 Ep8 R Controlled Vowels, Season 1 episode 8, teaching phonics, syllable division, multisensory phonics, vowel patternsComment

S1 Ep6 All About Short Vowels

Two reading teachers chat about the best methods for teaching short vowel sounds and teaching short vowel spelling patterns. They share their favorite free resources of short vowel activities. Each teacher explains why short vowel sounds are tricky for struggling readers and how to best provide instruction and intervention.

Reading, Teaching, VowelsMary SaghafiAugust 4, 2019short vowels, vowels, learning short vowels, vowel sounds, teaching vowels, all about short vowels, Season 1 Episode 6 Comments

S1 Ep5 Learning Disabilities 101

In this episode of the reading teachers lounge two reading teachers discuss different types of learning disabilities and activities to accommodate such learning struggles.

Learning Disorders, Reading, TeachingMary SaghafiAugust 4, 2019learning disabilities, Special Education, struggling learners, season 1 episode 5, RTI, dyslexiaComment

S1 Ep3 Getting to Know Your Readers

Two experienced reading specialists share practical assessment tools they use to measure their students' decoding skills

Reading, TeachingMary SaghafiAugust 4, 2019getting to know your readers, understanding your students, reading levels, assessment tools, teaching tools, Season 1 Episode 3, fluency, sight words, oral reading, phonemic awareness, decoding skills, spellingComment

S1 Ep1 Introduction, Why We Became Teachers

Two reading teachers discuss the how and most importantly the why behind becoming teachers. As the season progresses you will learn more about teaching phonics, sight words, vowels, and more!

ReadingMary SaghafiAugust 4, 2019intro, introductions, meet the teachers, Shannon Betts, Mary Saghafi, Episode 1, Season 1 Episode 1Comment

S1 Ep4 Decoding MAP

Let's talk about decoding MAP results. Two reading teachers are here to talk about what do MAP scores even mean, the algorithm for decoding MAP, and the resources you need to understand.

Testing, ReadingMary SaghafiAugust 4, 2019reading, reading test, MAP Test, benchmark assessments, MAP score, Decoding MAP Test Scores, Season 1 Episode 4 Comment