Shanahan on Literacy

There are arguments in reading circles about the best way to teach phonics -- should the focus be on decoding from print to speech (like someone sounding out a word) or from speech to print (like someone trying to spell). This podcast will explore the evidence on both sides.

Discover the concept of 'graficacy' and its critical role in education. The discussion reveals how students can learn to interpret graphics in subjects like science and social studies. Explore the potential distractions visuals may pose for early readers. Learn how integrating graphics can enhance reading comprehension and lead to more enriching classroom discussions. This insightful conversation emphasizes the importance of teaching both textual and visual analysis skills for deeper learning.

Discover the significance of oral reading fluency in education and why it matters. Learn effective strategies for teaching fluency, including how to select the right texts. Get tips on pairing kids for reading practice and understanding the level of fluency required. This insightful dialogue emphasizes a renewed focus on fluency instruction in classrooms, ensuring educators have practical advice at their fingertips.

This discussion dives into the complexities of engaging above grade-level readers in classrooms. Strategies like literature circles and project-based instruction are highlighted to meet their advanced needs. The conversation emphasizes the importance of challenging texts, even for those who already excel in reading. Insights into school policies reveal their impact on instructional methods. The goal is to ensure all students are supported without neglecting the advanced learners who thirst for more challenging material.

Many school districts are shifting to a four-day week, pondering its impact on reading achievement. The discussion highlights how fewer instructional days could potentially affect learning, yet improved attendance and teaching quality might offset negative effects. It dives into the critical role of effective classroom time and urges a reevaluation of traditional teaching methods. Listeners are encouraged to consider research that challenges the status quo, aiming for more targeted and impactful educational strategies.

Many phonics proponents claim that the best way to teach phonics is multi-sensorilly with tracing and similar activities. This podcast reveals what research studies have to say about those claims.

The discussion dives into the effectiveness of choral reading in developing oral reading fluency. Teachers share their positive and critical experiences, highlighting the need for personalized reading strategies. Practical tips for enhancing choral reading practices are also offered, sparking a debate on its true value in literacy instruction.

This "blast from the past" revisits -- revises -- a blog posting from 2018. This podcast explains what the research has to say about teaching with decodable text. The idea of teaching students with decodables is a hot topic in reading education these days. Find out what research has to say about these materials and what they contribute to learning to read -- if anything. You might be surprised at what the "science of reading" has to say about this practice.

Recently, several organizations have started evaluating reading programs. These ratings are getting a lot of attention from school districts around the nation, but how good are they and how should they be used? This podcast will explore those issues and provide some recommendations.

Most reading interventions for older students fail. One reason for this is that they tend to focus on raising general reading achievement, instead of putting the major emphasis on helping those students to develop the reading abilities that would allow them to succeed. Think pre-remediation rather than remediation.