In today's teacher podcast, Deedee and Adam sit down to talk to literacy professional staff developer, Melissa Leach. Deedee and Adam continue their conversation surrounding balanced literacy and the implications for classroom instruction.

More on Melissa!

Melissa has been a dynamic classroom teacher (Michigan and Texas; 2000-2008), a state-level Literacy Specialist (Texas; 2008-2012) a Professional Learning Designer for the District of Columbia Public Schools (DC; 2012-2014), and a K-12 ELAR and SLAR Specialist (Texas; 2014- 2015), and she currently works full-time alongside her team of literacy consultants to run Leach’s Literacy Training, LLC.

It is Melissa’s life work to make an impact on student achievement. Leach’s Literacy trainings blend the research and knowledge of best practice Reader’s and Writer’s Workshop with hands-on application to a real-life classroom setting. Melissa’s desire to reach more students is happening, one teacher at a time.

Visit Melissa's website to learn more.

TEACHER PODCAST PHONICS INSTRUCTION

In this podcast episode, Deedee and Adam talk about a new approach to teaching sight words in elementary classrooms. Based on the research, they discuss how sight words can actually be part of your explicit phonics instruction!

Book Recommendations:

A Fresh Look at Phonics by Wiley Blevins (Judy will you link to: https://amzn.to/2UA1VPV

This is Balanced Literacy by Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey, and Nancy Akhavan Judy will you (link to: https://amzn.to/2utb9mg

Finding your authentic self with Jeff Koziatek!

Adam and Deedee had the honor of chatting with Jeff Koziatek about how teachers can be true to themselves and bring out the best in those around them.

Learn more about Jeff Koziatek and bring him to your school:

What is Balanced Literacy: Part 1-Phonics

Deedee and Adam discuss the alarming statistics on language-related learning challenges and how that influences classroom instructional practices. They offer practical advice on how to incorporate more focused implicit instruction in less time.

Read more on the article Adam shared on 2019 Educational Research:

Ep 24: Teach Better in 2020 with special guest Rae Hughart

"Teach better today than you did yesterday. Teach better tomorrow than we did today." - Rae Hughart

Three Tips for 2020:

Helpful links:

How can we make kindness an active part of our community? Adam will share the movement he started in 2013 that has spread around the nation.

Learn more and join in!

Deedee and Adam are joined by the husband and wife team behind Dave Burgess Consulting, Dave and Shelley Burgess. We discuss how they, through their company, help give voice to teacher and education leadership authors. Learn the story behind Dave's blockbuster book, Teach Like a Pirate.

You can find out more about Dave Burgess Consulting by visiting their website:

Adam and Deedee sit down with the creator of Alive Studios, Cynthia B. Kaye, to discuss the past, present, and future of her award-winning software program that engages even the most reluctant learners.