Shanahan on Literacy

Jaksot

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  Towards Better Decodables and Better Use of Decodables 05.09.2026 16min

  These days any reading program that doesn't include decodables will have a lot of trouble doing business. Research isn't particularly supportive of the use of these simplified beginning reading text, but it seems reasonable to provide kids with practice of what we teach and we should be teaching decoding. Unfortunately, most decodables provide a weak kind of practice. This essay demonstrates how this could be improved upon.
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  Should We Still Teach Close Reading? 29.08.2026 17min

  The Common Core emphasized the teaching of close reading. Many states have revised those standards. Should close reading still have a place in your classroom in reading comprehension instruction? This podcast explores what close reading is and why it still should matter as part of comprehension instruction.
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  What We Talk About When We Talk About the Love of Reading (Part II) 15.08.2026 17min

  In the previous episode, the research on how much we are reading these days was reviewed. This episode explores the reasons for the decline in reading and what can be done to change its direction. The solution will surprise you.
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  What We Talk About When We Talk About Love of Reading, Part 1 01.08.2026 20min

  Recently, a number of reports have revealed that Americans (and Brits and Australians) aren't reading for pleasure as much as they used to. This has led some to conclude that we are in big trouble. Is that the case? What does the decline in reading mean? This is the first of a two parter -- the follow up podcast will explore possible solutions.
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  What's the Role of Amount of Reading Instruction? 25.07.2026 17min

  We talk a lot about what to teach in reading, but not so much about how much reading we should teach. This episode aims at making sense of the amounts of time needed to teach reading as effectively as our society requires.
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  How Do We Deal with Fluency Instruction in the Middle and High School? Part 2 11.07.2026 18min

  This podcast explores how reading fluency is best improved in the upper grades -- explaining when instruction should shift to Tier 2 settings and the methods and texts best used for teaching.
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  Why Deal with Fluency Instruction in the Middle and High School (Or Ever)? 27.06.2026 12min

  Should we teach reading fluency in middle school and high school? This podcast explores the differences in fluency development in the primary grades and middle school grades and explains why fluency instruction matters in the upper grades. It provides a realistic explanation of what fluency development looks like over these years.
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  Do You Have Any Pet Peeves About Reading? Here Are My Top Ten 06.06.2026 23min

  A pet peeve is an irritating annoyance. We can have pet peeves about anything, including reading education and the arguments that rage around it. Here are some of the things that I find annoying about those practices and debates.
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  AI and Reading Comprehension 09.05.2026 15min

  What role should AI play in reading comprehension instruction? This first-of-two-parts podcast explores ways in which AI may undermine reading comprehension learning rather than promoting it.
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  How Would You Schedule Reading Instruction? 02.05.2026 14min

  Teachers often wonder how to schedule reading instruction. Often they are advised to make sure they include certain activities every day. My advice is to focus on the what needs to be accomplished rather than on the activities that might be used to reach those goals.
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  How Important is Reading Rate? 25.04.2026 15min

  How important is the speed of reading? This far reaching examination of rate considers how fast language must be for comprehension to result, the silent reading speeds of students in the various grade levels, speed reading, and what role instruction should play in improving reading rate.
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  Essential Fundamentals of Spelling Instruction with a Little Help from My Friends 11.04.2026 22min

  Do you want to know how to teach spelling? This engaging episode brings together the views of several spelling experts (Don Bear, Peter Bowers, Richard Gentry, Steve Graham, Louisa Moats). Lots of practical insights about how spelling should be handled in the classroom.
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  How Can Effective Teaching Do Harm? 28.03.2026 13min

  Research suggests that Reading Recovery instruction somehow penalizes students. Those who get the help do less well in ensuing years than similar kids who don't. This podcast explores possible explanations for this -- explanations that point up important lessons to be drawn from remedial interventions.
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  How Can We Take Advantage of Reading-Writing Relationships? 21.03.2026 15min

  Reading and writing are closely related. Teaching them together can have a powerful impact on both. This podcast explores three major ways that reading and writing can be combined in the classroom to increase students' literacy proficiency.
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  The Why and How of Research and the Science of Reading 14.03.2026 18min

  Despite all the interest in the "science of reading" (SOR) there are still some serious misunderstandings when it comes to recognizing and using research evidence. Even many proponents of SOR, in their zeal to get their way, misuse research as more of a rhetorical device than as a method for determining what would be best for children.
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  How Should We Plan Reading Comprehension Lessons? 27.02.2026 23min

  A teacher asks how to plan a reading comprehension lesson. Tim Shanahan talks about the research and then suggests a series of steps that should be taken to plan a reading comprehension or to revise the lesson provided by your district.
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  Are We Teaching Too Much Phonics? 14.02.2026 14min

  Over the past decade there has been a public outcry for more phonics instruction in our schools. This has resulted in legislation across the country. Now, the discussion seems to be shifting -- reading authorities who played a significant role in this movement are complaining that we are overdoing the phonics thing. This podcast explores how much phonics there should be.
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  What Are the Best Fluency Learning Targets? I Think My School is Overdoing It. 31.01.2026 11min

  Many schools have adopted fluency learning targets based upon fluency norms. Recent research shows that students are able to comprehend text reasonably well even with lower fluency levels. Does that mean that we are overdoing it with fluency instruction? The answer may surprise you.
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  When Should Reading Instruction Begin? 24.01.2026 11min

  If you would like to get into a good argument, tell someone when reading instruction should begin. I'm always surprised at how many people have an opinion on that topic, and how vociferously they sometimes share it. This podcast will reveal what we know about the best time to start teaching reading -- maybe it will help you the next time you're in that argument -- but it will likely be of more value to parents and primary grade teachers.
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  What We Talk About When We Talk About Curriculum 10.01.2026 12min

  This podcast explores the unfortunate implications of confusing curriculum and instruction. Teachers would do better to distinguish those concepts and to coordinate the one with the other.