Advancing Literacy Beyond the Classroom

In this episode of Advancing Literacy Beyond the Classroom, hosts Emily Smith, Amanda Hartman, and Molly Picardi — staff developers at Advancing Literacy at Teachers College, Columbia University — explore the many ways families and caregivers can support children’s reading lives by tapping into graphic novels and books. This episode unpacks what is unique and captivating about this form of reading and why kids seem drawn to reading them. It will explore suggestions on how to tackle various genres and topics. The episode offers practical, creative recommendations for families and caregivers to encourage kids of all ages to build their repertoire of literary skills, knowledge and joy for reading, through graphic novels. 

Episode Resources and Book Recommendations: 

• Tips for Supporting Graphic Novel Readers Color | Black/White
• Hilda and Twig by Luke Pearson
• Cactus Kid - Rumble at the Rodeo by Emmanuel Guerrero
• The Cartoonists Club by Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud
• Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang and LeUyen Pham 
• The Vanishing of Lake Peignuer by Allan Wolf and Jose Pimienta
• Black Lives: Great Minds of Science by Tonya Bolden and David Wilkerson
• History Smashers: Earth Day and the Environment by Kate Messner and Brian Biggs
• Indigenous People’s History of the United States: A Graphic Interpretation by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz and Paul Peart-Smith
• Science Comics: Deep Sea Creatures by Mike Lawrence 
• Making Comics by Scott McCloud
• Animal Heroes: Supersquads! by Heather Lang and Jamie Harper
• The Amazing Generation by Jonathan Haidt, Catherine Price, and Cynthia Yuan Cheng

*Bonus book for educators, caregivers, and families: The Dreamkeepers: Successful Teachers of African American Children, Comic Edition by Gloria Ladson-Billings and Rachel Branham.

Learn more about Teachers College Advancing Literacy. 

If you’d like more tips on supporting at-home literacy, be sure to join and share our FREE Online Family and Caregiver Workshop Series and stay tuned for more podcasts episodes. 

The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the speaker to whom they are attributed. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty, administration, staff or Trustees either of Teachers College or of Columbia University.

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In this episode of Advancing Literacy Beyond the Classroom, hosts Emily Smith, Amanda Hartman, and Kristi Guinness — staff developers at Advancing Literacy at Teachers College, Columbia University — explore the many ways families and caregivers can support children’s reading fluency, which serves as the vital bridge between a child's ability to decode words and their ability to comprehend them. Drawing on research from scholars they discuss how fluency is not merely about speed, but a combination of accuracy, automaticity, and prosody that frees up cognitive resources for deeper understanding. The episode offers practical, creative recommendations for families and caregivers to encourage kids of all ages to build their confidence, voice and oral reading skills.

Episode Resources and Book Recommendations: 

• Tips for Engaging your Child  - color | black/white
• Hello, Tobi! by Andrea Cásceras
• The Ultimate Book of Water by Anne-Sophie Bauman
• Honeybee by Candace Fleming
• One Big Open Sky by Lesa Cline-Ransome
• Truth Is by Hannah Sawyerr 
• Dear America: Young Readers’ Edition by Jose Antonio Vargas

Learn more about Teachers College Advancing Literacy. 

If you’d like more tips on supporting at-home literacy, be sure to join and share our FREE Online Family and Caregiver Workshop Series and stay tuned for more podcasts episodes. 

The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the speaker to whom they are attributed. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty, administration, staff or Trustees either of Teachers College or of Columbia University.

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In this episode of Advancing Literacy Beyond the Classroom, hosts Emily Smith, Amanda Hartman, and Kim Brooks — staff developers at Advancing Literacy at Teachers College, Columbia University — explore the many ways families and caregivers can support children’s grammar and spelling development through practical, science based strategies. Drawing on research from scholars, they discuss how literacy is a lifelong journey where errors are seen as vital approximations in the learning process rather than simple mistakes. The episode offers practical, creative recommendations for fostering a love of language, including using inventive spelling to build confidence, engaging in oral language rehearsal, and shifting the focus from rigid rules to the power of clear communication.

Episode Resources and Book Recommendations: 

• Tips for Supporting Your Child with Spelling and Grammar - color | black/white
• All Blues in the Sky by Renée Watson 
• The Library in the Woods by Calvin Alexander Ramsey 
• Will’s Race for Home by Jewell Parker Rhodes
• Legendary Frybread Drive In by Cynthia Leitich Smith 
• The Pecan Sheller by Lupe Ruiz-Flores
• Alberto Salas Plays Paka Paka con la Papa by Sara Andrea Fajardo
• Fireworks by Matthew Burgess 
• Popo the Xolo by Paloma Angelina Lopez 

Learn more about Teachers College Advancing Literacy. 

If you’d like more tips on supporting at-home literacy, be sure to join and share our FREE Online Family and Caregiver Workshop Series and stay tuned for more podcasts episodes. 

The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the speaker to whom they are attributed. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty, administration, staff or Trustees either of Teachers College or of Columbia University.

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In this episode of Advancing Literacy Beyond the Classroom, hosts Emily Smith and Amanda Hartman — staff developers at Advancing Literacy at Teachers College, Columbia University — explore the many ways families and caregivers can make writing a meaningful and joyful part of everyday life. Drawing on research from scholars they discuss how writing (from grocery lists and thank-you notes to letters of advocacy and fan fiction) can build purpose, connection, and a sense of community in children of all ages. The episode offers practical, creative recommendations for weaving writing into daily routines beyond school requirements.

Episode Resources and Book Recommendations: 

• Tips for Engaging your Child in Joyful Writing - color | black/white
• The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
• The Book of Alchemy by Suleika Jaouad
• I Can Write The World by Joshunda Saunders
• Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré by Anika Aldamuy Denise
• More to the Story by Hena Khan
• The Cat I Never Named by Amra Sabic-El-Rayess
• Together We Are Sunshine by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow
• A Sea of Lemon Trees by María Dolores Águila 
• World Without End by Jean-Marc Jancovici and Christophe Blain

Learn more about Teachers College Advancing Literacy. 

If you’d like more tips on supporting at-home literacy, be sure to join and share our FREE Online Family and Caregiver Workshop Series and stay tuned for more podcasts episodes. 

The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the speaker to whom they are attributed. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty, administration, staff or Trustees either of Teachers College or of Columbia University.

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In this episode of Advancing Literacy Beyond the Classroom, hosts Emily Smith and Kristin Smith — staff developers at Advancing Literacy at Teachers College, Columbia University — explore how families and caregivers can nurture a lifelong love of fiction reading in children of all ages. Drawing on research by Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop (windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors), brain science, and vocabulary development studies, they discuss how fiction builds empathy, expands language, and helps kids navigate real-life challenges. The episode also offers practical tips for making fiction reading a joyful part of everyday life.

Episode Resources and Book Recommendations: 

• The Coquíes Still Sing by Karina Nicole González 
• El Niño by Pam Muñoz Ryan
• The Bletchley Riddle by Steve Sheinkin
• Chinese Menu by Grace Lin
• Tips for Helping Your Child Develop a Love of Fiction Reading - color | black/white

Learn more about Teachers College Advancing Literacy. 

If you’d like more tips on supporting at-home literacy, be sure to join and share our FREE Online Family and Caregiver Workshop Series and stay tuned for more podcasts episodes. 

The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the speaker to whom they are attributed. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty, administration, staff or Trustees either of Teachers College or of Columbia University.

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What types of books should beginning readers spend time reading? In this episode of Advancing Literacy Beyond the Classroom, we dive into decodable books — what they are, why they matter for beginning readers, and the research behind them. We'll break down the use of decodable books in plain language, share what makes a decodable book a good one, and give you practical tips for reading alongside your young learner. If your child is a beginning reader or if you just want to learn more and feel more confident with the support you provide, this one's for you.

Episode Resources and Book Recommendations: 

• Supporting Your Beginning Reader Beyond the Classroom - color and black and white 
• The Day the Books Disappeared by Joanna Ho and Caroline Kusin
• Ruthie Rose’s Big Idea by John Schu
• Plátanos are Love by Alyssa Reynoso-Morris
• Little Rebels by Yuyi Morales 
• Why Do Elephants Have Big Ears? by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page
• How to Bird by Rasha Hamid

Learn more about Teachers College Advancing Literacy. 

If you’d like more tips on supporting at-home literacy, be sure to join and share our FREE Online Family and Caregiver Workshop Series and stay tuned for more podcasts episodes.

The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the speaker to whom they are attributed. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty, administration, staff or Trustees either of Teachers College or of Columbia University. 

How can family members and caregivers support kids’ literacy development outside of school, beyond the classroom? In this introductory episode, Emily Butler Smith, Amanda Hartman and Natalie Louis share research, insights, and practical advice on supporting literacy development and connection with students of all ages. Bringing their experience as former classroom teachers and current staff developers, parents, and caregivers, they consider the everyday opportunities for joyful and meaningful literacy growth.

Episode Resources and Book Recommendations: 

• Five Practical Tips for Supporting Literacy at Home (Color) and Five Practical Tips for Supporting Literacy at Home (Black and White)
• How to Raise an Adult Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success by Julie Lythcott-Haims
• Culturally Responsive Teaching and The Brain by Zaretta Hammond
• Bud Finds Her Gift by Robin Wall Kimmerer
• Life After Whale by Lynn Brunelle
• Max in the House of Spies -The Tale of World War II by Adam Gidwitz
• J vs. K by Kwame Alexander and Jerry Craft
• Sisters in the Wind by Angeline Boulley
• Rising from the Ashes by Paula Yoo

Learn more about Teachers College Advancing Literacy.

If you’d like more tips on supporting at-home literacy, be sure to join and share our FREE Online Family and Caregiver Workshop Series, and stay tuned for more podcasts episodes. 

The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the speaker to whom they are attributed. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty, administration, staff or Trustees either of Teachers College or of Columbia University. 

Introducing Advancing Literacy Beyond the Classroom – a new podcast series designed for families, caregivers, and educators who want to support young readers and writers at home.

From early literacy to essay writing, AI tools to choosing great books, we're covering it all for PreK-12 students. Join us each month for a new episode where we'll explore practical strategies grounded in the latest research.

Learn more about Teachers College Advancing Literacy.

The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the speaker to whom they are attributed. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty, administration, staff or Trustees either of Teachers College or of Columbia University.