S8 E10 Beyond Decoding
In this Season 8 finale, Shannon and Mary reflect on the school year and share updates from their work as reading tutors, literacy advocates, and parents. As many of their students move beyond foundational decoding skills, both educators discuss how they've incorporated sentence-composing into their structured literacy instruction after being inspired by Season 8 guest Sara Lee.
They explain how literature-based model sentences, scaffolded sentence imitation, and explicit language instruction help students strengthen syntax, comprehension, vocabulary, and writing skills. Shannon also shares how she uses English Linking Blocks and targeted word lists to provide multisensory language support during sentence work.
The conversation explores the growing role of morphology instruction in literacy intervention, including excitement about UFLI's upcoming structured morphology curriculum, Word Origins. Shannon and Mary also discuss Georgia's dyslexia screeners, Mary's recent professional learning in Structured Word Inquiry (SWI) through Word Torque, and the importance of supporting math development through number sense, fact fluency, subitizing, and conceptual understanding.
Join these reading teachers for a wide-ranging discussion on how their Science of Reading aligned practices continue to evolve to meet the needs of students.
S8 E8 Syntax and Grammar
In this episode of The Reading Teacher’s Lounge, hosts Mary and Shannon sit down with literacy expert Sara Lee to explore effective grammar and syntax instruction that supports both reading comprehension and student writing. The conversation focuses on how sentence structure, grammatical functions, and modifiers shape meaning, and why grammar should be taught as an integral part of literacy rather than in isolation.
Sara shares practical, classroom-ready strategies for embedding grammar instruction into reading and writing routines, with an emphasis on sentence-level work, sentence nuclei, and the intentional use of descriptive modifiers. The discussion also highlights the importance of responsive grammar instruction that honors students’ language acquisition backgrounds and provides meaningful, authentic practice opportunities.
This episode offers research-aligned insights and actionable strategies for educators seeking to strengthen students’ language comprehension, writing development, and overall understanding of how English works.