Episode 319: MTSS 101: What Every Teacher Needs to Know

MTSS is one of those education acronyms that can quickly start to feel overwhelming. What does it all actually mean, and how does it fit together?

What exactly is MTSS—and what does it mean for you as a classroom teacher?

In this episode, Emily is breaking down the basics of MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) to help you understand what it is, why it matters, and how your everyday instruction fits into the framework. She also clears up one of the biggest misconceptions about MTSS: it's not a separate program just for struggling students. It's a framework designed to make sure every student gets the right level of support at the right time.

You'll learn how Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 work together, why strong Tier 1 instruction is the foundation of an effective MTSS framework, and how data and progress monitoring can help you make better instructional decisions for your students.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What MTSS actually is and how it supports all students
• Why strong Tier 1 instruction is the foundation of an effective MTSS framework
• The key differences between Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 support
• Why tiers should describe levels of support rather than label students
• How data and progress monitoring help determine when students need additional support
• What it might mean if more than 20% of your students need intervention
• Why early intervention is so important for preventing learning gaps from continuing to grow

If MTSS has ever felt confusing or overwhelming, this episode will help you see the framework in a much simpler way. You'll walk away with a clearer understanding of how the tiers work together and how MTSS can help you provide students with the support they need to be successful.

And be sure to tune in next week as we continue our MTSS series and talk about how to put MTSS into practice in your literacy classroom.

Resources Mentioned:

⭐ The Stellar Literacy Collective: stellarteacher.com/join

Episode 318: What Kind of Teacher Do You Want to Be This Year?

As a new school year begins, it's natural to think about goals. But instead of creating a long list of everything you want to accomplish this year, we want to challenge you to start with one simple question: What kind of teacher do you want to be?

What kind of teacher do you want to be this year?

In this episode, Emily is joined by Stellar Teacher teammate and fifth-grade teacher Megan to have an honest conversation about setting meaningful goals that actually stick. Rather than trying to improve everything at once, they discuss how choosing one area of growth, creating small daily habits, and giving yourself grace can help you become the teacher you want to be.

Whether your goal is building stronger relationships with students, improving your literacy instruction, or creating a healthier work-life balance, this episode will help you create a realistic plan for growth throughout the school year.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why focusing on who you want to become is more powerful than creating a long list of goals
• How to choose one meaningful area of growth instead of trying to improve everything at once
• Practical ways to turn your goals into daily and weekly habits
• Simple ideas for building stronger relationships with students and families from the very beginning of the year
• Why giving yourself grace is an essential part of personal and professional growth
• How an accountability partner can help you stay committed to your goals all year long

If you're looking for encouragement and a practical mindset shift before the school year begins, this episode will help you start with purpose—and remind you that meaningful growth happens one small step at a time.

Resources Mentioned:

⭐ The Stellar Literacy Collective: stellarteacher.com/join

In this replay episode of The Stellar Teacher Podcast, we're giving you a behind-the-scenes look at one of our most exciting new resources—the Stellar Teacher Reading Intervention Kit! I’m joined by my teammate Emily, one of our amazing curriculum writers and the mastermind behind this new intervention resource designed specifically for upper elementary students who struggle with decoding. If you’ve ever felt unsure about how to approach reading intervention or wondered how to fit it into your already packed schedule, this episode is for you.

Emily and I talk candidly about the biggest challenges teachers face when it comes to reading intervention—limited time, lack of confidence, and keeping older students engaged—and how each of those challenges shaped the design of this kit. You’ll hear about our goals, the research that guided us, the beta testing process, and the thoughtful routines we built to make intervention practical, effective, and doable in just 15 minutes a day.

Whether you’re looking for tools to support struggling readers, or you just want to feel more confident about teaching phonics in the upper grades, I hope this episode gives you inspiration and clarity. I truly believe this resource is going to make a huge difference in classrooms—and I can’t wait for you to experience it for yourself.

Join us in the Stellar Literacy Collective Membership: stellarteacher.com/join!

Sign up for my FREE private podcast, the Confident Writer Systems Series, here!

Sign up for my FREE Revision Made Easy email series here!

Follow me on Instagram @thestellarteachercompany.

To check out all of the resources from this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.stellarteacher.com/episode261.

Back-to-school season brings a mix of excitement and nerves for just about every teacher. Whether it's your first year in the classroom or your fifteenth, those "back-to-school scaries" are completely normal.

In this episode, Stellar Team members Emily and Meghan have an honest conversation about back-to-school anxiety and share simple mindset shifts and practical strategies to help you start the school year with more confidence and less stress.

Instead of chasing perfection, they'll encourage you to focus on what matters most: building relationships with students, prioritizing the tasks that truly move the needle, and remembering that your students don't need a perfect teacher—they need you.

In this episode, we'll discuss:

✔ Why back-to-school nerves are normal (even for veteran teachers)

✔ How to shift your mindset from anxiety to excitement

✔ Why trading perfection for priorities can reduce stress and help you feel more prepared

✔ Practical tips for managing your to-do list and avoiding burnout before school even starts

✔ The importance of being present with your students instead of comparing yourself to social media or Pinterest classrooms

If you're feeling overwhelmed by everything that needs to get done before students arrive, this episode is the reminder you need. Take a deep breath, focus on what matters most, and head into the new school year knowing that you are exactly the teacher your students need.

Tune in for an encouraging conversation that will help you quiet the back-to-school anxiety and begin the year with confidence. 🎧📚🍎

Part 4: New Teacher Blueprint Series

The first day of school comes with a lot of pressure. Teachers often feel like they need the perfect lesson plans, the perfect activities, and a perfectly organized schedule to make the day successful.

But what if the goal isn't perfection?

In this episode, Meghan, Stellar Team member AND 5th Grade teacher, is sharing a different approach to planning your first day of school... one that focuses on what matters most!

You'll learn how to prioritize relationships and routines, build meaningful connections throughout the day, teach procedures in a way that feels natural, and plan transitions that keep your classroom running smoothly. We'll also share why a successful first day has less to do with checking every box and more to do with creating an environment where students feel safe, supported, and excited to return.

In this episode, we'll discuss:

✔ Why relationships and routines should be your two main priorities on the first day

✔ Simple ways to build connections with students throughout the day

✔ How to avoid common first-day pitfalls that create unnecessary stress

✔ Tips for ending the day on a positive and organized note

Whether you're a brand-new teacher or heading into another school year with experience under your belt, this episode will help you simplify your first-day plans and focus on what truly matters.

Tune in and discover why your first day of school doesn't need to be perfect—and why that's actually the goal. 🎧📚🍎

Part 3: New Teacher Blueprint Series

The first few weeks of school can make or break the rest of your year—and one of the biggest factors in creating a smooth, productive classroom is teaching procedures effectively.

In this episode of The Stellar Teacher Podcast, we're continuing our New Teacher Blueprint series by walking through a simple framework for teaching classroom procedures that actually stick. If you've ever explained a routine, watched your students nod along, and then completely forget what to do moments later, you're not alone. The reality is that procedures need to be taught the same way we teach any other skill: through explicit instruction, modeling, practice, feedback, and repetition.

📌 Join The Stellar Literacy Collective: stellarteacher.com/join

📌 Browse literacy resources and free teaching tools: stellarteacher.com

You'll learn how to move beyond simply telling students what to do and instead create routines that become automatic habits. From modeling expectations and using visual reminders to leveraging narration and providing effective feedback, this episode is packed with practical strategies you can implement immediately.

In this replay episode, literacy experts Dr. Jana Echevarría and Dr. Jeannette Mancilla-Martinez share research-backed insights and practical strategies for supporting multilingual learners in upper elementary classrooms.

You'll learn why the term multilingual learner matters, the difference between conversational and academic language, and how teachers can provide grade-level instruction while supporting language development. Our guests also share actionable ways to integrate listening, speaking, reading, and writing into everyday lessons so multilingual learners can thrive.

If you're looking for simple, effective ways to better support multilingual learners, this conversation is full of valuable takeaways you can use right away. 🎧

Part 2: New Teacher Blueprint Series

The beginning of the school year comes with a long list of classroom procedures to teach... but here's the good news: you don't have to teach all of them at once.

In this episode of The New Teacher Blueprint series, Tami is breaking down the classroom procedures that matter most during the first days of school. Instead of trying to tackle an overwhelming checklist, you'll learn how to prioritize the routines students need right away so you can create a calm, organized, and successful classroom environment.

We'll discuss:

✔ Why you don't need to teach every procedure during the first week of school

✔ The first classroom routines to teach when students arrive

✔ How to make transitions smoother throughout the day

✔ Important expectations for restroom breaks, hallway behavior, and lunch

✔ What students should do when they finish their work

Whether you're a new teacher setting up your classroom for the first time or a veteran teacher looking to refresh your routines, this episode will help you focus on the procedures that have the biggest impact.

Tune in next week as we share how to teach procedures so they actually stick all year long.

If you're working to align your literacy instruction with the science of reading, this listener favorite interview is for you!

In this conversation, literacy expert and author Lindsay Kemeny shares the 7 research-backed strategies from her book Seven Mighty Moves that help teachers strengthen reading instruction and support all learners. Lindsay discusses how her experience supporting her son with dyslexia transformed her teaching and led her to embrace structured literacy practices.

In this episode, you'll learn:

✔️ The 7 "mighty moves" that improve reading outcomes

✔️ How to bridge the gap between research and classroom practice

✔️ Common mistakes teachers make when implementing the science of reading

✔️ Practical ways to support struggling readers and build strong literacy foundations

✔️ Where to start without feeling overwhelmed

Whether you teach primary or upper elementary students, you'll leave with actionable ideas you can implement right away.

Part 1: New Teacher Blueprint

Getting your classroom ready for a new school year can feel overwhelming. Between Pinterest-perfect classrooms, endless classroom décor ideas, and a growing back-to-school to-do list, it's easy to spend time focusing on things that won't actually make your year easier.

In this first episode of our New Teacher Blueprint series, Tami and Meghan are sharing practical classroom setup tips that will help you create a space that works for both you and your students.

You'll hear why function should come before decoration, how to think through your classroom layout, and which classroom areas are most important to prioritize before students arrive.

✔ Why your classroom should function like a workspace, not a showroom

✔ How to avoid overspending on classroom décor and supplies

✔ The classroom areas every teacher should prioritize

✔ Tips for organizing classroom materials and supplies

✔ Why it's okay to change your classroom setup throughout the year

Tune in next Monday as we continue the New Teacher Blueprint series and discuss the most important classroom procedures to teach first.