S5 E11 Research to the Classroom - Connecting Reading and Writing Part 3 (Teacher Talk)

The Structured Literacy Podcast

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In this final episode of the research to classroom series on connecting reading and writing, Jocelyn interviews Rachael, a deputy principal at a small South Australian public school, about the practical implementation of integrated literacy instruction. Rachael shares her school's journey from concerning DIBELS and NAPLAN data to implementing daily 50-minute cross-class phonics groupings and transitioning from independent silent reading to structured fluency pairs, emphasising how vulnerable leadership and collaborative coaching supported teacher buy-in during significant instructional changes.

The discussion explores practical strategies for managing text-based units with diverse learners, including using assistive technology like voice recording tools for struggling writers, differentiating fluency groupings across five different levels, and adapting background knowledge instruction to build essential context without losing focus on learning objectives.

Rachael emphasises the importance of responsive teaching, pacing units to reach summative assessments, and differentiating professional learning support for staff at various stages of their structured literacy journey, offering practical advice for leaders implementing similar changes.

Are your students good readers, but poor spellers? If so, you are not alone. Spelling Success in Action addresses phonics, orthography, and morphology to give students a well-rounded understanding of how our language system works.
Find out how you can help your students move beyond guessing and memorisation at https://www.jocelynseamereducation.com/spelling2

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فصول

1. Episode Introduction & Context (00:00:00)

2. School Journey Toward Structured Literacy (00:04:43)

3. Building School-Wide Urgency Through Data (00:08:21)

4. Implementing Changes and Facing Challenges (00:12:20)

5. Text-Based Units and Misconceptions (00:19:28)

6. Supporting Struggling Readers with Assistive Technology (00:28:00)

7. Fluency Pairs and Differentiated Instruction (00:35:07)

8. Benefits of Integrated Reading-Writing Instruction (00:39:35)

9. Assessment Challenges and Time Management (00:47:51)

10. Advice for Schools Beginning the Journey (00:53:17)

11. Episode Closing and Final Thoughts (01:00:31)