In this August bonus episode of Reading Teacher Lounge, Mary and Shannon exchange insights on recent articles they've read. They dive into practical strategies for supporting students, especially those with ADHD. They discuss homework routines, communication between teachers and parents, and how to create structured homework environments. Mary shares guidelines from ADDitude and Edutopia on effective homework systems and collaboration between special education and general education teams. Shannon highlights a thought-provoking article from The Atlantic about Lucy Calkins' impact on the reading crisis, emphasizing the need for nuanced approaches and critical thinking in education. The episode concludes with helpful resources for teachers and parents.

00:00 Welcome to Reading Teacher Lounge

00:32 Diving into Advocacy and Action Items

01:34 ADHD Homework Strategies

05:46 Setting Up Homework Routines

13:34 Facilitating Collaboration in Special Education

19:23 Connecting with the Team Throughout the Year

19:55 Implementing the UFLI Curriculum

20:20 Functional Assessments and Monthly Check-ins

20:59 Advocacy Meetings and Solution-Oriented Approaches

21:27 Gamifying Literacy with Edutopia

23:34 The Atlantic Article on Lucy Calkins

32:10 Letters from Teachers on Reading Instruction

37:35 Subscription Hacks for Accessing Articles

39:31 Final Thoughts and Season Eight Preview

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:

1. Rief, Sandra, M.A., and ADDitude Editors. “The ADHD Homework System We Swear By.” ADDitude Magazine (updated online June 19, 2025).
2. FREE ADHD Resource: Solve Your Child's Homework Problems
3. Ellison, Samantha. “4 Strategies to Facilitate Collaboration Across Special Education Teams.” Edutopia, 7 Aug. 2025
4. “3 Games to Amp Up Reading Instruction.” Edutopia, George Lucas Educational Foundation, 25 July 2025
5. Lewis, Helen. “How One Woman Became the Scapegoat for America’s Reading Crisis.” The Atlantic, December 2024 issue (published online November 13, 2024).
6. “ ‘There Is No One-Size-Fits-All Approach to Reading Instruction’ — Readers respond to our December 2024 issue and more.” The Atlantic, March 2025 issue (published online February 18, 2025).
7. Reading Team episode 7.6
8. Engagement episode 7.12

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