Our guest for this episode is Lindsay Kemeny, a dedicated teacher, parent, and author who understands the power of structured literacy firsthand. Lindsay shares stories from the classroom, discussing the challenges and successes of implementing structured literacy techniques. Join us as we uncover practical strategies for teachers and gain insight into how classroom experiences can drive meaningful change.

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Equity within Literacy Instruction: In this episode, we engage with Naomi O'Brien, a prominent education influencer and literacy advocate. We discuss how educators can use their online presence and influence to champion the cause of structured literacy. From social media to community engagement, learn how Naomi is mobilizing a network of educators to raise awareness and drive change in literacy instruction.

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In this episode of Literary Lunch Break, we sit down with Brent Conway, an instructional leader with a passion for effective literacy instruction. We dive into the crucial role assistant superintendents play in shaping curriculum decisions, resource allocation, and policy changes. Join us as we explore Brent Conway's insights on advocating for structured literacy to ensure strong foundations for students' literacy skills. 

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In Episode 7 of the Literacy Lunch Break, we continue our conversation with Amanda Hager, a reading interventionist who reveals her effective approach to using district materials in small group instruction to support reading intervention. Amanda shares her insights on how to leverage benchmarking assessments to identify students' needs, tailor instruction accordingly, and integrate phonemic awareness into reading intervention. She emphasizes the importance of teaching the "whys" of the English language to engage students and make reading practice meaningful. Join us as we explore the strategies and tools that Amanda has found success with in her reading intervention journey. Subscribe now for more bite-sized insights into literacy topics. Happy learning!

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Join us for Episode 6 of Literacy Lunch Break as we have an insightful conversation with Amanda Hager, an Orton-Gillingham certified Reading Interventionist. Amanda shares her journey from being a classroom teacher to a literacy coach and ultimately becoming a reading interventionist. She discusses the importance of phonemic awareness in reading instruction and the need to adapt teaching methods to meet the unique needs of each student. Amanda emphasizes the significance of continuous learning and research-backed approaches in improving student literacy outcomes. Tune in to discover valuable insights for enhancing reading proficiency through decodable texts and effective teaching strategies. 


Amanda is an experienced teacher, instructional coach, and literacy interventionist. She has bachelor's degrees from Western Illinois University and Aurora University and a Master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Reading from Grand Canyon University. She is also a certified level 1 dyslexia practitioner. She works as a reading interventionist in a K-5 building, delivering tier 2 and 3 literacy interventions. She is passionate about early literacy and believes that every student, no matter what deserves the best possible literacy instruction.

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Join us in Episode 5 as we delve into the diverse range of decodable texts and explore how they can be effectively matched to the appropriate stage or phase of reading. Gain valuable insights into the varying levels of decodability and learn strategies for selecting decodable texts that align with learners' needs.

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In this exciting episode, we continue our discussion with decodable book author Cheryl Allison. Cheryl shares her expertise, providing valuable insights on what specific traits to look for when selecting decodable texts. Gain a clearer understanding of the key characteristics that contribute to the success of decodable texts in supporting reading development.

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Join us as we explore the essential elements of "quality" decodable texts. Discover a comprehensive checklist and valuable insights to guide your selection of decodable texts. Unlock the secrets to finding decodable texts that effectively support early literacy instruction and empower learners on their reading journey.

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In this podcast episode, host Marjorie Bottari welcomes Cheryl Allison, a decodable book author, to discuss the importance of using decodable texts when teaching foundational reading skills to students. Cheryl shares her personal experiences with delayed reading and her journey to becoming an author of decodable texts. They discuss the significance of making decodable texts engaging and why decoding skills remain crucial for students through their elementary years. Cheryl also emphasizes the negative impact of guessing and the importance of maintaining a balance between decoding and comprehension in reading instruction. Stay tuned for more episodes on literacy topics in bite-sized formats.

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Join our host, Marjorie Bottari, on this episode of Literacy Lunch Break as we dive into the world of decodable texts and leveled readers. As you tune in, Marjorie will guide you through the definitions of decodable texts and leveled readers, providing an in-depth understanding of each. Marjorie also shares insight into the unique roles decodable texts and leveled readers play within the context of literacy instruction. 

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