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.

Want more from Savannah?

Visit the Campbell Creates Readers website.

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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.

In this episode of Creating Readers, Savannah Campbell delves into the critical topic of phonemic awareness, discussing its significance in reading instruction and how it differs from phonological awareness. She shares insights from research, particularly the National Reading Panel, emphasizing the importance of teaching segmenting and blending as key skills. Savannah also addresses common misconceptions and provides practical strategies for effectively teaching phonemic awareness in the classroom, advocating for a focus on evidence-based practices to enhance literacy outcomes for students.

Resources Mentioned:

Summary of National Reading Panel's Report on Phonemic Awareness

"They Say You Can Do Phonemic Awareness 'In the Dark,' But Should You?" Article on Current research surrounding phonemic awareness.

Phoneme Lists for Segmenting/Blending List of words organized by phoneme type and number. Perfect for segmenting and blending warm-ups.

Sound Boxes  Use these boxes to solidify phoneme-grapheme correspondences (AKA connect phonemic awareness to phonics!)

In this episode of Creating Readers, Savannah Campbell discusses strategies for addressing situations where reading interventions are not yielding the desired progress. She emphasizes the importance of focusing on factors within educators' control, such as time allocation, instructional focus, engagement strategies, and collaboration among teachers. By enhancing intervention effectiveness and ensuring consistent practice, educators can better support struggling readers and foster their growth.

Resources Mentioned:

Decodable Word Lists and Sentences

The Literacy Nest Decodable Passages

In this conversation, Michelle Sullivan (@michelle_thecolorfulclassroom), Sarah Paul (@snippetsbysarah), and Savannah Campbell discuss the significance of morphology in literacy education. They explore why teaching morphology is essential for understanding the English language, particularly its meaning components.

The discussion covers effective strategies for introducing morphology to young learners, the use of tools like word matrices and word sums, and the flexible approach to teaching morphology without a strict scope and sequence.

The speakers emphasize the importance of connecting morphology to vocabulary development and reading comprehension. In this conversation Sarah, Savannah, and Michelle discuss the importance of integrating morphology into literacy instruction, emphasizing the need to teach morphemes and their meanings. They explore practical applications of morphology lessons, share resources, and provide insights for educators on how to effectively teach morphology without overwhelming students. The conversation highlights the significance of making language concrete and accessible, while also encouraging educators to embrace mistakes as part of the learning process.

Resources Mentioned

Books (affiliate links):

Everything You Want to Know and Exactly Where to Find It

Beneath the Surface of Words

Products:

Morphology Interactive Notebooks

Greek/Latin Root of the Week Posters

Read more on our blogs:

Savannah-Campbell Creates Readers

Sarah-Snippets by Sarah

Michelle-The Colorful Classroom

🧠In this episode of Creating Readers, host Savannah Campbell and guest Marisa Ware discuss the critical role of executive functioning in literacy and education. 

📌They explore practical strategies for teaching these skills to students, emphasizing the importance of explicit instruction and support in the classroom. The conversation highlights the interconnectedness of executive functioning and literacy, providing insights for educators and parents alike.

🧠In this conversation, Savannah Campbell and Marisa Ware discuss effective strategies for minimizing cognitive overload in students, the importance of organization tools like planners, and the critical role of recess in developing executive functioning skills. They explore how to support students with varying needs through tailored teaching methods, brain breaks, and the use of fidgets. The discussion emphasizes the necessity of creating an inclusive learning environment that fosters both academic and social skills.

Follow Marisa on Instagram at @mwliteracy

Find her executive functioning freebie here!

Marisa will be sharing more about executive functioning at our upcoming Unlocking the Science of Reading conference!  Register today for the premier virtual Science of Reading conference that has reached over 10,000 teachers.

In this episode of Creating Readers, host Savannah Campbell and guest Marisa Ware discuss the critical role of executive functioning in literacy and education.

Marisa, an executive function specialist, explains the various skills involved in executive functioning, such as attention, organization, and self-regulation, and how these skills are essential for successful reading and learning.

They explore practical strategies for teaching these skills to students, emphasizing the importance of explicit instruction and support in the classroom. The conversation highlights the interconnectedness of executive functioning and literacy, providing insights for educators and parents alike. The discussion emphasizes the necessity of creating an inclusive learning environment that fosters both academic and social skills.

Follow Marisa on Instagram at @mwliteracy

Find her executive functioning freebie here!

#9 What's wrong with leveled texts?  Aren't books just book?

Well yes, and no.  In this episode, Savannah discusses the issues with leveled texts.  She shares:

• how leveled texts do not actually tell us if children are reading on grade level because they are an inherently flawed form of assessment
• How leveled texts do not have a defined scope and sequence or take into account children's levels of background knowledge.
• What we can do instead

If you're not sure why leveled texts don't deliver what they promise, or if you just want to confirm what you're already thinking about leveled texts, this episode is for you!

It wasn't long ago that Savannah saw teaching text structures as boring and something she needed to do just to check a box in her instruction.

But, once she understood the importance of text structures and the role they play in comprehension, she was sold.

In this podcast, Savannah shares all things text structures.  She discusses:

• the role text structures play as a kind of background knowledge
• the different kinds of nonfiction text structures (to include descriptive, sequence, problem/solution, cause and effect)
• tips for teaching text structures

Listen in and see how teaching text structures can make a difference in your classroom!

Resources Mentioned:

• The Reading Comprehension Blueprint by Nancy Hennessy (affiliate link)
• Nonfiction Text Structures Graphic Organizers

In this episode of Creating Readers, Savannah debunks the myth that English is an illogical, "crazy" language. Savannah explains how understanding the history and structure of English reveals its underlying logic. From Anglo-Saxon roots to French, Latin, and Greek influences, she takes listeners on a fascinating journey through the layers of the English language.

Learn why English preserves meaning through spelling, how its morphophonemic structure influences pronunciation, and why spelling patterns that seem arbitrary actually make sense when we consider their origins. Savannah also addresses the infamous claim that "fish" could be spelled G-H-O-T-I and explains why George Bernard Shaw was mistaken.

If you've ever wondered why English is the way it is, this episode is for you!

Books Mentioned (Affiliate links):

Uncovering the Logic of English

The ABCs and All Their Tricks