S8 E6 Deliberate Orthography
In this episode, Deliberate Orthography, Shannon and Mary revisit Structured Word Inquiry (SWI) with guests Jennifer Petrich and Bradley Johnson to explore the intentional structure behind English spelling. Together, they discuss how SWI helps students understand word meaning, morphology, and etymology — moving beyond a phonics-only approach to a deeper, inquiry-based study of words.
Through real classroom experiences and collaborative learning, the conversation highlights how SWI empowers educators to teach spelling as a meaningful, logical system. Listeners will hear strategies for guiding students to analyze word structure, build scientific inquiry skills, and appreciate the rich history of the English language.
Join the discussion and discover how viewing spelling through the lens of deliberate orthography supports stronger literacy instruction and more confident readers, writers, and spellers.
S8 E 1 New Season, New Stories
Shannon and Mary open Season 8 of The Reading Teachers Lounge with stories and strategies every elementary reading teacher can use. They reflect on the podcast’s journey, share how a former student with dyslexia is thriving as he gets ready for college, and highlight practical ways to teach morphology and word study using Canva. The episode includes summer tutoring takeaways, phonics, and structured literacy strategies for struggling readers, and tips for balancing teaching with family life. Shannon and Mary also preview upcoming episodes packed with best practices from the science of reading, as well as opportunities for listeners to connect with other reading teachers through our exclusive bonus episodes.