SMARTER Literacy

In this episode of the SMARTER Literacy Podcast, we tackle one of the biggest challenges in education: making the science of reading actually work in Tier 1 instruction.

Whether you're a classroom teacher or a literacy leader, this episode will help you build a Tier 1 block that’s not only effective but sustainable. You’ll walk away with a clear roadmap for balancing whole group instruction, small group differentiation, and meaningful independent practice without the overwhelm.

Learn more about the training opportunities mentioned in the show:

5CCL Learning Lab ➡️ https://smarterintervention.com/learninglab

📣 Subscribe to the Smarter Literacy Podcast for more insights and actionable strategies to simplify effective literacy instruction.

❤️ Found this helpful? Leave a review or share it with a colleague who's teaching in tier 1!

Are you teaching Tier 1, 2, or 3 instruction — or some blend of all three? In this episode, we break down what the tiers of literacy instruction really mean and why it’s essential to align your strategies with the setting and support your students are receiving.

Whether you’re in a classroom, intervention setting, special education, or private practice, this episode gives you clarity on how to make structured literacy work in your context, without burning out.

Learn more about the training opportunities mentioned in the show:

5CCL Learning Lab ➡️ https://smarterintervention.com/learninglab

📣 Subscribe to the Smarter Literacy Podcast for more insights and actionable strategies to simplify effective literacy instruction.
❤️ Found this helpful? Leave a review or share it with a colleague who's navigating literacy across tiers!

In this episode, we get real about what it’s like to start in literacy intervention without having to know EVERYTHING about literacy education. Mikayla shares her journey of jumping in, learning on the go, and discovering how to adapt instruction to meet students’ individual needs. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, underprepared, or unsure where to start, this conversation is for you.

Resources & Links:
🎓 Sadly, the 2025 Summit is in the past, but you can find more professional development options here: https://smarterintervention.com/training

In this episode, we share the story behind the creation of the SMARTER Intervention Summit. If you've ever walked away from professional development feeling overwhelmed and unsupported, you're not alone. The team dives into why traditional PD often falls short—and how the Summit was intentionally designed to offer educators something different: real strategies, authentic community, and an action plan that reignites your purpose.

Resources & Links:
🎓 Sadly, the 2025 Summit is in the past, but you can find more professional development options here: https://smarterintervention.com/training

What's one of the best ways to keep your kids engaged and learning over the summer? In this bonus episode, we discuss book clubs!

Whether you're an educator looking for summer teaching strategies or a parent aiming to keep your child's mind active, this episode offers valuable tips and insights to make your book club a success - whether over the summer or any time of year!

📖 Use the links below to learn more about the resources mentioned in the bonus episode:

>>On-Demand Training for How to Use Book Clubs to Engage Your Students<<

>>Blogs about book clubs and summer groups<<

>>Our YouTube video playlist for using book clubs<<

>>Done-for-you Book Clubs you can use with your students<<

Join us as we explore building a literacy business and discuss Ascend's origin story. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or an established educator looking to expand your impact, this episode offers valuable lessons and encouragement for your journey.

From the initial spark of wanting more autonomy and creativity to making the leap to starting a business, hear firsthand how trust and hard work can transform your dream into reality.

You can learn more by joining us for the free workshop mentioned in the show:

🎉  >>How to Start a Literacy-Based Business<<

In Episode 3, we discussed the importance of language comprehension instruction as part of the literacy intervention process. Today, we wanted to share our vocabulary framework to help you incorporate vocabulary instruction in a fun and engaging way for your students. By the end of this bonus episode, you will be ready to try out the vocabulary framework with your students.

You can download the free Vocabulary Framework to use with your students, >>Here<<.

To continue learning about Vocabulary Instruction, check out our on-demand vocabulary training: https://smarterintervention.com/ondemand-pd/vocabulary

There are many misconceptions about whether or not you can teach comprehension explicitly. Many of us have been told that the only way to teach comprehension is to build background knowledge and/or through strategies like rote memorization, or vocabulary flashcards.

In this episode of SMARTER Literacy, we discuss how You CAN teach comprehension strategies to your students! We will be going over the misconception that you can’t teach comprehension explicitly and then look at strategies and tools that will help you when teaching comprehension to your students.

Check out the following resources mentioned in this episode:

>>Guided Comprehension Folder<<

>> Delivering SMARTER Intervention Program<<

>>5CCL Learning Lab<<

In Episode 2, we discussed the importance of word recognition and decoding instruction across the grade levels as part of the literacy intervention process.

Today, we share a quick tip to help you incorporate more of that word recognition instruction in a fun and engaging way for your students. By the end of this episode, we hope you will be willing to try out a spicy sound drill with your students.

Check out the Phonogram Sound Deck mentioned in this bonus episode, here: https://smarterinterventionshop.com/products/phonogram-sound-deck

One of the challenges was managing the information overload in order to familiarize ourselves with research-based literacy instruction.

Today, we'll break down the research to make it a bit more manageable. This insightful discussion sheds light on the crucial aspects often overlooked in literacy instruction, such as the importance of phonics, the role of language comprehension and vocabulary, executive functioning, and the necessity of tailoring instruction to meet individual student needs.

Whether you're an educator seeking to enrich your teaching methods or a parent aiming to support your child's literacy journey, this episode offers valuable perspectives and actionable strategies. Dive into the exploration of how to effectively address decoding, comprehension, vocabulary, and executive functioning in literacy education.

Check out the following resources mentioned in this episode:

>>Comprehensive Rules Guide<<

>> Delivering SMARTER Intervention Program<<

>>5CCL Learning Lab<<