In this episode of the Reading Teacher's Lounge, hosts Mary and Shannon welcome expert Sara Lee to discuss best practices for teaching grammar and syntax. They dive into how understanding sentence structure, grammatical functions, and modifiers can elevate both reading comprehension and writing skills for students of all ages. Sara emphasizes the importance of embedding grammar instruction within reading and writing activities, and provides practical strategies for making grammar engaging and relevant. Specific strategies, such as focusing on sentence nuclei, harnessing descriptive modifiers, and being mindful of students' language acquisition backgrounds, are discussed. Additionally, Sara emphasizes the importance of providing meaningful practice opportunities and underscores the value of understanding grammar as the structure of language. The episode is rich with actionable insights and resources to help teachers better support their students.

NOTE FROM GUEST:

Re: our discussion about adverbs at minute 33 in the episode, I want to make sure listeners understand that the word "so" can also modify adverbs (as adverbs can modify other adverbs), rather than thinking that adverbs can only modify adjectives.

01:38 Introducing Our Special Guest: Sara Lee
02:31 Diving into Grammar and Syntax
05:33 Understanding Grammatical Functions
07:55 Challenges and Resources for Teaching Grammar
10:04 Practical Applications and Student Engagement
12:41 The Importance of Sentence Structure
25:05 Using AI to Enhance Grammar Lessons
32:23 Supporting Multi-Language Learners
35:22 Challenges in Teaching Writing
36:38 Tips for Enhancing Writing Skills
39:34 Using Sentence Nucleus for Creativity
41:28 Grammar in Reading and Writing Instruction
44:30 Engaging Students in Grammar
48:41 Resources for Teaching Grammar
01:02:02 Making Grammar Fun and Approachable
01:03:18 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES RELEVANT TO THE EPISODE:

1. The Literacy Doctor
2. Sentence Composing (Don Killgallon)
3. Grammar for Middle School: A Sentence Composing Approach by Don and Jenny Killgallon *Amazon affiliate link
4. The Death of Practice (Sara's blog post)
5. Grammarism
6. Linguistics Girl
7. Word Hippo
8. Video from Dr. Bowers and Marie Foley (Nested Combinatorial Structure)
9. Timothy Shanahan's blog post: Comprehension Instruction that Really Helps-Teaching Cohesion
10. Evan Moor Daily Paragraph Editing book *Amazon affiliate link

Support the show

• Get Literacy Support through our Patreon
• Bonus Episodes access through your podcast app
• Bonus episodes access through Patreon
• Buy us a coffee
• Get a FREE Green Chef box using our link

In this episode, we explore effective practices for supporting students with homework. Join us as we discuss strategies to foster a productive & stress-free homework environment. We cover the importance of EF, the advantages and challenges of traditional homework, & how to address post-COVID implications. Also, we share insights on balancing homework with students' SEL, creative engagement techniques, & practical communication tips for accommodations.

01:14 Supporting Learners at Home
02:20 The Role of Executive Functioning in Homework
05:27 Creative Homework Approaches
09:01 Simplifying Homework for Better Engagement
10:32 Flexible and Individualized Homework Strategies
19:24 Creating a Productive Homework Environment
25:28 Understanding Executive Functioning in Children
26:07 Dealing with Meltdowns and Connection Issues
27:37 Empathy and Minimal Help Strategies
28:07 Middle School Homework Challenges
29:28 Reaching Out to Teachers for Support
29:58 Effective Homework Breaks and Routines
36:55 Positive Feedback and Encouragement
43:52 The Role of Parents in Homework Success
44:22 Reading Logs and Encouraging Curiosity
46:59 Research on Homework Benefits
48:18 Conclusion and Resources

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES RELEVANT TO THE EPISODE:

1. Reading Rockets: What the Research Says About the Value of Homework
2. Understood.org Homework Challenges & Strategies
3. 11 Tips for Helping Your Child Manage Homework
4. Why Nov. is Hard For Students and 7 Ways Parents Can Help
5. Infographic: How Does Homework Actually Affect Students?
6. Stanford Research Shows Pitfalls of Homework
7. Copy of Mary's Email
8. Scripts to Use When Requesting Support
9. Effective Practices for Homework
10. 5 Homework Strategies for Working with Students with Learning Disabilities
11. Tips for Parents
12. Timer * affiliate

Support the show

• Get Literacy Support through our Patreon
• Bonus Episodes access through your podcast app
• Bonus episodes access through Patreon
• Buy us a coffee
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Shannon and Mary revisit the topic of Structured Word Inquiry (SWI) and discuss the importance of understanding the deliberate reasons for English spellings with guests Jennifer Petrich and Bradley Johnson.

The conversation follows the hosts' and guests' experiences with SWI, detailing how it helps students understand and apply the structure of English spelling with its focus on word structures, etymology, and morphology.

Emphasizing a shift from a phonics-only approach to one that also prioritizes morphology & etymology, the episode highlights the importance of starting with word meaning and developing scientific inquiry skills in literacy teaching.

The journey into SWI is one of discovery, collaboration, & continuous learning. With the tools and strategies shared, educators can confidently embark on this path, helping their students gain a deeper understanding of the rich tapestry that is the English language.

Join the conversation and dive into the world of SWI. Whether you're an educator, a parent, or a lifelong learner, there’s always more to uncover in the fascinating study of words.

01:01 Welcome to the RTL
01:44 Introduction to SWI
03:11 Meet the Guests: Jennifer Petrich and Bradley Johnson
04:25 Jennifer's Journey with Dyslexia and SWI
07:10 Bradley's Path to SWI
12:14 Explaining SWI to Teachers
21:59 Importance of Meaning & Morphology
34:25 Importance of Lifelong Learning
35:01 Introducing SWI
35:34 Overcoming the Fear of Not Knowing
36:12 Utilizing Curricular Modules and Materials
37:26 Inquiry-Based Learning in the Classroom
38:26 Developing Content Knowledge and Pedagogical Skills
40:33 The Role of Big Ideas in Teaching
42:43 Practical Applications and Teacher Experiences
43:18 Scientific Inquiry in Word Study
44:09 Integrating Phonics & Morphology
54:17 The Importance of Community & Collaboration
59:02 Final Thoughts & Resources

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES RELEVANT TO THE EPISODE:

1. The Literacy Doctor website
2. One Step Now Education
3. Dyslexia Training Institute
4. Pete Bowers's website
5. Our Season 7 episode with Dr. Peter Bowers about SWI
6. The High Frequency Word Project book by Rebecca Loveless & Fiona Hamilton *Amazon affiliate link
7. The Literacy Doctor weekly drop-ins (on Wed. )
8. Investigating English Spelling by Bradley Johnson and Jennifer Petrich *Amazon affiliate link
9. Structured Word Inquiry in the Classroom (FB group)
10. Marie Foley's course

Support the show

• Get Literacy Support through our Patreon
• Bonus Episodes access through your podcast app
• Bonus episodes access through Patreon
• Buy us a coffee
• Get a FREE Green Chef box using our link