Melissa & Lori Love Literacy ®

Episode 245
In this episode, Melissa and Lori are joined by researchers Jake Downs and Chase Young to discuss Read Like Us, a research-backed fluency routine designed to help students reread challenging texts with purpose. Jake and Chase share the findings from their recent study, explain how the routine works in real classrooms, and explore why fluency grows when students have multiple supported opportunities to read connected text.
The conversation unpacks:
what makes Read Like Us different from traditional repeated reading approaches,
how wide reading fits alongside repeated reading,
and why text choice plays such a critical role in fluency development.
You’ll also hear why the study showed especially strong results for fourth-grade readers and how teachers can think about applying this work across grade levels.
This episode offers both a clear explanation of the research and practical insights teachers can use as they plan fluency instruction that supports real reading where skills come together in text.
Resources:
Research Article: "Promoting Fluency Through Challenge: Repeated ReadingWith Texts of Varying Complexity"
Fluency Listening Guide

We answer your questions about teaching reading in The Literacy 50-A Q&A Handbook for Teachers: Real-World Answers to Questions About Reading That Keep You Up at Night.

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Episode 244 
Lindsay Kemeny shares her insights on effectively managing a literacy block in a primary classroom. She discusses her daily schedule, emphasizing the importance of routines in phonics instruction, close reading strategies, and writing lessons. Lindsay also highlights the importance of small group instruction for differentiation and explains how to manage center work for students! She encourages teachers to focus on progress rather than perfection, sharing practical tips and strategies for enhancing literacy instruction.
Lindsay's Book, Rock Your Literacy Block, is available now! 

We answer your questions about teaching reading in The Literacy 50-A Q&A Handbook for Teachers: Real-World Answers to Questions About Reading That Keep You Up at Night.

Grab free resources and episode alerts! Sign up for our email list at literacypodcast.com.

Join our community on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter.

Episode 243
Jamey Peavler discusses the importance of recognizing the varied learning needs of students in all grades! She emphasizes the distinction between comprehension and word recognition skills, advocating for differentiated instruction to better support each student's unique learning journey.
Key Takeaways
Word recognition and comprehension can develop at different rates.
Differentiated instruction is essential for meeting diverse learning needs.
Teachers should empower themselves to adapt their teaching methods.
Effective teaching requires awareness of students' varying skill levels.
Teachers play a crucial role in bridging the gap between comprehension and skill.

We answer your questions about teaching reading in The Literacy 50-A Q&A Handbook for Teachers: Real-World Answers to Questions About Reading That Keep You Up at Night.

Grab free resources and episode alerts! Sign up for our email list at literacypodcast.com.

Join our community on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter.

Episode 242
In this episode, Carl Hendrick emphasizes the critical role of timely feedback in the educational process, highlighting how immediate responses to misconceptions can significantly enhance student learning. He discusses the challenges teachers face in providing effective feedback and the importance of checking for understanding, interleaving, and retrieval practice to ensure that students grasp the material being taught.
Check out this resource we made just for you to accompany the content in this episode! Evidence-Based Practices to Make Learning Stick One-Pager 
Key Takeaways
Timely feedback is crucial for effective learning.
The closer the feedback loop, the more powerful the learning.
Checking for understanding can significantly improve teaching effectiveness.
Understanding checks guide instructional decisions.

We answer your questions about teaching reading in The Literacy 50-A Q&A Handbook for Teachers: Real-World Answers to Questions About Reading That Keep You Up at Night.

Grab free resources and episode alerts! Sign up for our email list at literacypodcast.com.

Join our community on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter.

Episode 241
Nancy Hennessy and Julia Salamone discuss the often-overlooked topic of syntax and its critical role in reading comprehension. With Melissa & Lori, they discuss the architecture of sentences, the importance of understanding parts of speech, and the interconnectedness of syntax and meaning. The conversation highlights effective teaching strategies, the challenges posed by complex sentences, and the necessity of integrating background knowledge for comprehension. Nancy and Julia share practical instructional moves, emphasizing the need for explicit instruction and cognitive preparation to enhance students' understanding of sentence structures.
Takeaways
Syntax is the architecture of a sentence. It is essential for understanding sentence structure and meaning.
Explicit instruction is necessary for effective learning of syntax.
Teaching grammar needs to focus on meaning, not just labeling.
Engaging students with authentic texts improves comprehension.
Integrating background knowledge is crucial for comprehension.
Resources 
Tips & Tools: Sentences (resource sheet) 


We answer your questions about teaching reading in The Literacy 50-A Q&A Handbook for Teachers: Real-World Answers to Questions About Reading That Keep You Up at Night.

Grab free resources and episode alerts! Sign up for our email list at literacypodcast.com.

Join our community on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter.