Creating Readers with Savannah Campbell – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Have you ever wondered what Tier 1 differentiation looks like?  If so, this episode is for you.

In this episode, Savannah Campbell discusses the concept of flexible grouping in reading with guests Samantha Smusz and Sarah Robinson. They explore the differences between flexible grouping and traditional intervention methods, the reasons behind their shift to flexible grouping, and the logistics of implementing this strategy in the classroom. The conversation highlights the successes and challenges faced by educators in adopting this new approach, as well as practical advice for those looking to implement flexible grouping in their own teaching practices.

Key Takeaways

• Flexible grouping allows for targeted instruction within core curriculum.
• Intervention focuses on catching up, while flexible grouping reinforces grade-level skills.
• Data-driven decisions are crucial for effective flexible grouping. 
• It's important to expose all students to grade-level material, regardless of their current skill level.
• Teachers should start small and gradually implement changes to avoid overwhelm.
• Collaboration and communication among staff are key to successful implementation.

About Samantha:

Samantha Smusz is a reading specialist in Roanoke City Public Schools with 14 years of experience—11 as a classroom teacher and 3 in her current role. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of working with diverse student populations, customizing instruction to meet the unique needs of each learner. She is just as passionate about helping students build strong reading skills as she is about supporting her colleagues in best practices for literacy instruction. She lives in Botetourt County with her husband and two children.  She enjoys spending time with her family and learning to crochet.

Samantha's E-Mail: ssmusz@rcps.info

About Sarah:

Sarah Robinson has been an elementary school teacher for 10 years. She started her teaching career with Teach for America in Atlanta, Georgia. She taught in Fulton County Public Schools before moving to Virginia and teaching in Fairfax County. Her husband's work moved them to Austin, Texas, where Sarah taught at IDEA Public Schools. After many moves, Sarah and her husband settled in Roanoke, Virginia where she teaches for Roanoke City Public Schools. She has taught Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st Grade, and 5th Grade. She is passionate about early literacy and the power it has to change the trajectory of a student's life! 

First Follower Video

In this episode of Creating Readers, Savannah Campbell discusses effective alternatives to traditional round robin reading methods. She emphasizes the importance of student engagement in reading and presents various strategies such as echo reading, choral reading, cloze reading, and cloze drop reading. Savannah also highlights the significance of who is doing the reading and the need for accountability in student reading practices. The episode concludes with a call to action for educators to implement evidence-based practices to enhance literacy education.

Key Takeaways

• Engaged students are the ones doing the most work.
• Round robin reading can lead to emotional trauma for students.
• Echo reading provides high support for students.
• Choral reading helps students engage with the text.
• Close reading focuses on comprehension at the sentence level.
• Closed drop reading encourages active participation.
• Students who read more tend to become better readers.
• Accountability is key in ensuring students are reading.
• Annotation codes can enhance student engagement during reading.
• Implementing evidence-based practices can change lives.

Resources Mentioned:

2X4 Stickers for Reading Comprehension Questions

Notice and Note

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Join Savannah as she discusses vocabulary and meaningful ways that you can practice it in your classroom.

Vocabulary is inextricably linked to comprehension.  If you aren't teaching vocabulary, then you're not teaching comprehension.  In this episode, Savannah walks you through:

• why vocabulary is important
• how to plan for vocabulary
• meaningful activities for strengthening vocabulary.

Links Mentioned in the Episode:

Vocabulary Planning Template (just make a copy!) 

Frayer Model

In this episode, Mike Crusco joins Savannah as they discuss the newest universal screener in Virginia-the Virginia Language and Literacy Screener (VALLSS).

While the statewide universal screener, PALS, certainly needed to be updated, there are still several problems with the new screener that need to be addressed.  This episode is specific for the Virginia assessment, but is useful for all educators as many states are passing literacy acts with specific requirements.

In this episode, Savannah and Mike discuss:

• What VALLSS is and how it has changed from PALS,
• Why VALLSS is NOT a universal screener, despite the claim that it is,
• Why the information is useful but not necessary,
• and what we hope will change.

Mike and Savannah both believe that the Virginia Literacy Act and VALLSS were created in good faith, but there are places we can and should improve.

If you're a teacher in Virginia, this is a must-listen.  If you're a teacher outside of Virginia, use this episode to guide you in the future as new legislation comes through wherever you live!

Join Savannah for this episode of Creating Readers, where we delve into the topic of spelling.

Have you ever heard someone say that "some people are just bad spellers"?  Or maybe you've even said "I'm a terrible speller."  

We are not destined to be poor spellers.  There are concrete ways to practice spelling with children of any age.

In this episode, Savannah discusses:

• the myth of the poor speller
• Whether or not we should teach spelling whole group
• Spelling tips for younger students (single-syllable words)
• Spelling tips for older students (multi-syllabic words)

Resources Mentioned:

Sound Boxes

In this episode of Creating Readers, Savannah Campbell dives into her top five non-negotiables for effective reading intervention. These key systems are essential for helping students make real progress towards closing the gap between what children are currently doing, and what we know our children CAN do.  These include:

1. Matching Intervention to the Child’s Needs – Tailor interventions to the specific skills students are missing, not just what’s convenient.
2. Progress Monitoring Regularly – Frequent assessments help track if students are progressing and inform instructional changes.
3. Reflecting on Data Often – Use data to make informed decisions about teaching strategies.
4. Remembering that Consistency is Critical – Ensure interventions happen consistently to close reading gaps.
5. Providing Enough Practice – Students need repeated practice to reach automaticity, especially in targeted skills.

Savannah emphasizes the importance of intentional, data-driven instruction to give every student the best chance at success.

In this episode of Creating Readers, we dive into the critical role background knowledge plays in reading comprehension. Savannah shares the research behind background knowledge and why it is so critical to comprehension.  She then offers five practical strategies you can use to actively build background knowledge for your students.

Whether you’re working with a rigid curriculum or have some flexibility, these tips will help you enhance your students' understanding and set them up for greater reading success. Tune in for advice and resources to make background knowledge a cornerstone of your literacy instruction!

Mentioned Resources:

• ReadWorks
• BrainPOP
• The Knowledge Gap by Natalie Wexler*
• The Baseball Study
• The Reading Comprehension Blueprint by Nancy Hennessy*

*As an Amazon affiliate, I may receive a small commission if you purchase items using my affiliate link.  This comes at no cost to you!

In this episode, Savannah interview Tina Atkins, a school psychologist.  Savannah and Tina dive deep into the intricacies of special education services, the role of school psychologists, and common pitfalls in the evaluation process.

Listen in as Tina shares her insights and experiences, offering valuable information for educators, parents, and administration

Join Savannah as she shares her journey from balanced literacy to structured literacy.  Savannah shares how she thought she knew what it took for children to become readers, only to be faced year after year with dismal results.  It wasn't until 2019 when she was Orton-Gillingham trained that the world of structured literacy opened up to her.  Listen in as she shares a journey that will be very familiar to many of us.

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In this trailer, host Savannah Campbell briefly shares her transition from balanced literacy towards structured literacy.  Listen in as Savannah shares some of her past mistakes as she moves forward towards a future where we end illiteracy, one child at a time.