82. Inside an Upper-Elementary Reading Intervention Toolkit with Sara Marye, Stellar Teacher Company

Sara Marye, founder of The Stellar Teacher Company, joins Michelle to unpack what effective upper-elementary reading intervention can actually look like in the general classroom setting. Together, they explore why students in grades 3–5 may continue to struggle with decoding, how phonics gaps impact both reading and writing, and what classroom teachers can realistically do to support older students who still need foundational skill support.

Sara shares the thinking behind the Stellar Reading Intervention Toolkit, including its intentional structure, focus on multisyllabic words, and commitment to dignity-preserving, age-appropriate materials for older students.

Key Takeaways

1. Reading challenges do not end in second grade and they don’t resolve themselves without explicit instruction
2. Upper-elementary students often struggle not because they can’t learn phonics, but because they were never explicitly taught
3. Short, systematic, and well-structured lessons are more likely to be used consistently by classroom teachers
4. Intervention should feel connected to Tier 1 instruction, not isolated or “in a box”
5. It is never too late to address reading gaps, but supports become harder to access as students get older

Resources

1. Stellar Reading Intervention Toolkit
2. The Stellar Literacy Collective Membership

Connect with Sara Marye

1. Email: sara@stellarteacher.com
2. Podcast: The Stellar Teacher Podcast
3. Instagram: @thestellarteachercompany
4. YouTube: @thestellarteachercompany
5. Website: stellarteacher.com
6. LinkedIn: The Stellar Teacher Company

Thank you to Express Readers for supporting the production of this episode.

Express Readers creates thoughtfully designed decodable texts that align with the Science of Reading and support developing readers at every stage. You can visit their website to learn more and grab a free sample to try with your students!

1. https://expressreaders.org/
2. Instagram: @expressreaders
3. LinkedIn: Express Readers
4. Facebook: Express Readers Inc.

Connect with Michelle:

1. Follow me on Instagram: @michelle_thecolorfulclassroom & @logosliteracyacademy
2. Join our Facebook Community
3. Sign up for my Newsletter
4. Shop on TPT: The Colorful Classroom
5. Visit: www.michelleandthecolorfulclassroom.com
6. Join The COLORFUL Literacy Toolkit Membership

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1. Make a Donation to Support Production

Interested in Learning More about Morphology?

1. Logos Literacy Academy
2. Course 1: Mastering Morphology: Foundations for Every Educator
3. Course 2 & Curriculum: K-2 Morphology
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Mentioned in this episode:

Express Readers

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Reading.com

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