Welcome to the inaugural episode of Literacy in Color, where we’re diving into the rich world of words and why you should become a fellow logophile (literally ‘lover of words’) on this journey with me! Celebrating my 37th birthday today, I feel a renewed sense of purpose to tackle the literacy crisis in our classrooms. As educators, we have the extraordinary power to transform lives—our students' and our own—by cultivating a love for language through phonics, morphology and vocabulary.

This episode explores how these three components are not just separate entities but vital, interconnected parts of the literacy puzzle. Phonics teaches students the relationship between sounds and letters, while morphology reveals the structure and meaning of words, and vocabulary builds a rich understanding of language. When taught together, they empower students to decode, comprehend and truly engage with words, fostering deeper connections and confidence in their reading journey.

Join me as we delve into why mere decoding isn't enough, how comprehension starts at the word level and why a multifaceted approach to word knowledge can revolutionize literacy instruction. Let’s embrace the intricate beauty of language together and transform how we teach literacy in our classrooms!

In this episode, I share:

• My mission to address the literacy crisis and empower teachers in literacy instruction
• Key components of literacy instruction - phonics, morphology and vocabulary
• Definitions and explanations of phonics, morphology and vocabulary
• Literacy models and frameworks
• Why integrated instruction is so important and effective
• Reasons to embrace word-level knowledge

Resources Mentioned:

Free Guide: Phonics and Morphology Terms Every Teacher Needs to Know

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