Stellar Teacher Podcast: A Podcast for Upper Elementary Teachers
Sara Marye, Literacy Teacher, Elementary Teacher
Welcome to the Stellar Teacher Podcast! We believe teaching literacy is a skill. It takes a lot of time, practice, and effort to be good at it. This podcast will show you how to level up your literacy instruction and make a massive impact with your students, all while having a little fun!
Your host, Sara Marye, is a literacy specialist passionate about helping elementary teachers around the world pass on their love of reading to their students. She has over a decade of experience working as a classroom teacher and school administrator. Sara has made it her mission to create high quality no-fluff resources and lesson ideas that are both meaningful and engaging for young readers.
Each week, Sara and her guests will share their knowledge, tips, and tricks so that you can feel confident in your ability to transform your students into life-long readers.
For printable and digital resources, head to stellarteacher.com. Connect with Sara on Instagram @thestellarteachercompany
Your host, Sara Marye, is a literacy specialist passionate about helping elementary teachers around the world pass on their love of reading to their students. She has over a decade of experience working as a classroom teacher and school administrator. Sara has made it her mission to create high quality no-fluff resources and lesson ideas that are both meaningful and engaging for young readers.
Each week, Sara and her guests will share their knowledge, tips, and tricks so that you can feel confident in your ability to transform your students into life-long readers.
For printable and digital resources, head to stellarteacher.com. Connect with Sara on Instagram @thestellarteachercompany
Episodes
Mentioned books
Apr 3, 2023 • 22min
128. Unleashing the Power of Poetry to Teach the Big 5 Reading Skills
We often think of poetry as something we just teach during April for National Poetry Month or in preparation for the state test at the end of the year. But in reality, poetry can be taught all year long, for poetry has all of the literary elements we teach our kids through other reading genres. In order to help you connect the two, I’m sharing how to teach the Big 5 reading skills using poetry.Grab my Poem of the Week Routine freebie here!Join us in the Stellar Teacher Reading Membership: stellarteacher.com/membershipTo check out all of the resources from this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.stellarteacher.com/episode128
Mar 27, 2023 • 27min
127. Managing Stress and Teacher Burnout with Brittany Blackwell
The topic of teacher burnout has been front and center in conversations for the last several years. And while you’ve probably heard other podcast episodes or read articles on the topic, I can guarantee you, this conversation is different. My guest Brittany Blackwell, who is a burnout and resilience coach, shares a new perspective on teacher burnout.Join us in the Stellar Teacher Reading Membership: stellarteacher.com/membershipTo check out all of the resources from this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.stellarteacher.com/episode127Connect with Brittany on Instagram @teachingmindbodyandsoul
Mar 20, 2023 • 17min
126. From Stress to Success: Strategies for Empowering Students on Testing Day
If you’ve been with us these last few weeks, I’ve been diving into ways to make students confident on testing day, particularly with the constructed response portion of the test. However, we know that there’s more to the test than writing an essay, so students should feel empowered about the whole test when the day comes. In the last episode of the series, I’m sharing 5 strategies that will make your students confident on testing day.Join us in the Stellar Teacher Reading Membership: stellarteacher.com/membershipTo check out all of the resources from this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.stellarteacher.com/episode126
Mar 12, 2023 • 16min
125. Providing Students a 5-Step Process for Writing a Constructed Response Paragraph
Welcome back to another episode of the podcast! We’re in the middle of a three part series about test prep and ways to make students feel more confident, particularly when writing a constructed response paragraph. We know that this portion of the test can be challenging for students, which is why I’ve come up with a 5-step process that will increase their confidence when writing a constructed response paragraph on test day.Check out my Constructed Response Framework Checklist here!Join us in the Stellar Teacher Reading Membership: stellarteacher.com/membershipTo check out all of the resources from this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.stellarteacher.com/episode125
Mar 6, 2023 • 17min
124. Mastering the Constructed Response: A Teacher's Guide to Boosting Student Confidence
We’re getting closer to the part of the school year that all teachers dread: standardized test season. Since giving the test is inevitable, test prep becomes part of our lessons and activities that prepare our students for success. Recently, state tests have added a written portion, which adds another stressful element for students. In this first episode of the three part series, I’m sharing how to master a constructed response, which boosts students’ confidence.Check out my Sentence Writing Routine Free Sample here!Join us in the Stellar Teacher Reading Membership: stellarteacher.com/membershipTo check out all of the resources from this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.stellarteacher.com/episode124
Feb 27, 2023 • 36min
123. Troubleshooting Classroom Management with Heidi and Emily of Second Story Window
We’re over halfway through the school year, and the procedures and routines you established at the beginning of the year might look a little different. Students might not be pushing in their chairs, putting the art supplies away, or turning in their homework in the correct location. If this sounds like your classroom, it’s time for a revamp.Heidi and Emily from Second Story Window specialize in research based and teacher approved strategies that are guaranteed to help you be a more efficient and effective teacher. We’re taking a break from literacy and they’re here to talk about how to troubleshoot your classroom management with 5 guiding questions.Check out Heidi and Emily's Procedures & Routines Planning Guide Freebie here!Join us in the Stellar Teacher Reading Membership: stellarteacher.com/membershipTo check out all of the resources from this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.stellarteacher.com/episode123
Feb 20, 2023 • 26min
122. A 5-Step Process for Decoding Big Words (That You Can Implement TODAY!)
As students move up into upper elementary, reading can sometimes turn into a struggle with the exposure to more multisyllabic words in texts that they’re reading. Coming across big words can be intimidating for students and overwhelming to try and decode. That's why I’ve come up with a simple strategy that you can start using with your students immediately. In today’s episode, I’m sharing this strategy, my 5-step process for decoding big words.Check out my Reading Big Words Poster Freebie here!Join us in the Stellar Teacher Reading Membership: stellarteacher.com/membershipTo check out all of the resources from this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.stellarteacher.com/episode122
Feb 13, 2023 • 30min
121. Your Guide to Teaching Syllabication in Upper Elementary
Let’s start off with a big question: how many of your students struggle to read big words? If students lack the foundational skills of syllables, they’re more than likely going to struggle with multisyllabic words. And the majority of these foundational skills were taught in lower elementary, but we know it may not be mastered by the time they get to upper elementary.Therefore, by intentionally teaching syllabication, it provides students with the confidence to become proficient readers and writers. In today’s episode, I’m sharing my guide to teaching syllabication in upper elementary with a focus on why and how it should be taught.Check out my Syllable Types: Lesson Plans & Activities Bundle here!Join us in the Stellar Teacher Reading Membership: stellarteacher.com/membershipTo check out all of the resources from this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.stellarteacher.com/episode121
Feb 6, 2023 • 41min
120. Reading Simplified: Help Struggling Readers Crack the Code with Dr. Marnie Ginsberg
Struggling readers. Unfortunately, this is a reality that all teachers face, yet many don’t know how to fix. Whether teachers weren’t taught how to teach the proper foundational skills, their district doesn’t have a reading program, or a combination of both, helping struggling readers can be a tall task. Although I enjoy talking about all things literacy, I love bringing on experts in the field to help fill your teaching toolbox. So in today’s episode, I’m talking with literacy expert Dr. Marnie Ginsberg on her reading program Reading Simplified, to help struggling readers get back on track. Download your FREE Reading Simplified Switch It game here!Join us in the Stellar Teacher Reading Membership: stellarteacher.com/membershipTo check out all of the resources from this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.stellarteacher.com/episode120
Jan 30, 2023 • 32min
119. 5 Steps to Teaching with Thematic Units
As elementary teachers, it’s customary to teach all of the core subject areas. But have you ever thought about teaching them in a way that connects them all together? This style of teaching is called thematic planning or cross-curricular instruction. For most, teaching in this particular style is uncommon, but it provides impactful meaning for your students. To help you get started, I’m sharing what thematic planning is and my 5 simple step process to teaching with thematic units.Join us in the Stellar Teacher Reading Membership: stellarteacher.com/membershipTo check out all of the resources from this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.stellarteacher.com/episode119
