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In this second installment of the research to classroom series on connecting reading and writing, Jocelyn presents five evidence-informed strategies for integrating literacy instruction to achieve stronger student outcomes. The strategies include integrating reading and writing in phonics instruction by having students both read and spell words with target patterns, using rich texts as foundations for text-based units that explicitly teach writing craft alongside comprehension, distributing writing opportunities across the curriculum to deepen content learning while improving writing skills, ensuring prerequisite skills like handwriting and spelling reach automaticity to free cognitive resources for higher-level processes, and using hierarchical frameworks that build from foundational skills to complex literacy abilities. 

Jocelyn emphasises that this integrated approach creates literacy instruction like a "permaculture garden" where everything serves multiple interconnected purposes, making instruction more efficient than separate reading and writing blocks while recognising the shared foundations that support both skill sets. 

Are your students good readers, but poor spellers? If so, you are not alone. Spelling Success in Action addresses phonics, orthography, and morphology to give students a well-rounded understanding of how our language system works. 

Find out how you can help your students move beyond guessing and memorisation at https://www.jocelynseamereducation.com/spelling2

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Jocelyn Seamer Education Homepage
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#jocelynseamereducation #literacy #bestpractice #earlyprimaryyears #primaryschool #primaryschools #primaryschoolteacher #earlyyearseducation #earlyyearseducator #structuredliteracy #scienceofreading #classroom #learning #learningisfun #studentsuccess #studentsupport #teacherlife #theresourceroom #theevergreenteacher #upperprimary #upperprimaryteacher #thestructuredliteracypodcast #phoneme #grapheme #phonics #syntheticphonics

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In this first episode of a new research to classroom series, Jocelyn explores the scientific foundation for integrating reading and writing instruction, moving beyond traditional separated literacy blocks toward evidence-informed approaches. Drawing on research from Fitzgerald and Shanahan's shared knowledge framework, Kim's Interactive Dynamic Literacy Model with its hierarchical structure of foundational skills supporting higher-level abilities, and Anderson and Briggs' work on reciprocal cognitive operations (searching, monitoring, and self-correcting), she demonstrates how reading and writing draw on the same underlying knowledge systems including meta-knowledge, domain knowledge, text attributes, and procedural knowledge. 

The episode traces six developmental stages from literacy roots through university-level synthesis, explaining why correlations between reading and writing skills change over time and emphasising that integrated instruction is more efficient than separated approaches because it supports rather than taxes working memory. 

Are your students good readers, but poor spellers? If so, you are not alone. Spelling Success in Action addresses phonics, orthography, and morphology to give students a well-rounded understanding of how our language system works. 

Find out how you can help your students move beyond guessing and memorisation at https://www.jocelynseamereducation.com/spelling2

Quick Links
Jocelyn Seamer Education Homepage
The Resource Room
Youtube channel
Facebook Page

#jocelynseamereducation #literacy #bestpractice #earlyprimaryyears #primaryschool #primaryschools #primaryschoolteacher #earlyyearseducation #earlyyearseducator #structuredliteracy #scienceofreading #classroom #learning #learningisfun #studentsuccess #studentsupport #teacherlife #theresourceroom #theevergreenteacher #upperprimary #upperprimaryteacher #thestructuredliteracypodcast #phoneme #grapheme #phonics #syntheticphonics

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In this episode of the Structured Literacy podcast, Jocelyn explores how to make teacher professional development more effective by applying Rosenshine's principles of instruction to adult learning contexts. Drawing on cognitive science research and the understanding that adults benefit from the same structured learning approaches as students, she demonstrates how each of Rosenshine's ten principles, from beginning with review and presenting material in small steps to providing guided practice and monitoring independent implementation, can transform professional learning from ineffective "one and done" sessions into sustained capacity building. 

Jocelyn emphasises that just as teachers wouldn't overwhelm students with multiple new concepts at once, leaders shouldn't do this with staff, advocating for modelling through video demonstrations, collaborative planning with coaching support, regular check-ins using data to measure impact, and celebrating small wins to build confidence and momentum. 

Are your students good readers, but poor spellers? If so, you are not alone. Spelling Success in Action addresses phonics, orthography, and morphology to give students a well-rounded understanding of how our language system works. 

Find out how you can help your students move beyond guessing and memorisation at https://www.jocelynseamereducation.com/spelling2

Quick Links
Jocelyn Seamer Education Homepage
The Resource Room
Youtube channel
Facebook Page

#jocelynseamereducation #literacy #bestpractice #earlyprimaryyears #primaryschool #primaryschools #primaryschoolteacher #earlyyearseducation #earlyyearseducator #structuredliteracy #scienceofreading #classroom #learning #learningisfun #studentsuccess #studentsupport #teacherlife #theresourceroom #theevergreenteacher #upperprimary #upperprimaryteacher #thestructuredliteracypodcast #phoneme #grapheme #phonics #syntheticphonics

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In this episode of the Structured Literacy podcast, Jocelyn examines the mixed research on homework effectiveness, exploring two key studies that provide insights into when homework might actually benefit students. Drawing on research by Hindin and Paratore (2007) showing gains from home repeated reading of classroom texts, and Dolean and Lervag's (2022) study of 440 second-graders demonstrating that moderate homework amounts (approximately 20 minutes daily) improved writing skills when practicing classroom-taught content, she identifies four criteria for effective homework: direct connection to classroom instruction, skills secure enough for independent work, moderate time commitment, and clear consolidation purpose. 

Jocelyn provides practical suggestions including phonics resources and connected reading materials while cautioning against one-size-fits-all homework sheets and emphasising the importance of not placing parents in unqualified teaching roles, particularly noting that some research shows parent help can actually have negative impacts on student learning. 

Are your students good readers, but poor spellers? If so, you are not alone. Spelling Success in Action addresses phonics, orthography, and morphology to give students a well-rounded understanding of how our language system works. 

Find out how you can help your students move beyond guessing and memorisation at https://www.jocelynseamereducation.com/spelling2

Quick Links
Jocelyn Seamer Education Homepage
The Resource Room
Youtube channel
Facebook Page

#jocelynseamereducation #literacy #bestpractice #earlyprimaryyears #primaryschool #primaryschools #primaryschoolteacher #earlyyearseducation #earlyyearseducator #structuredliteracy #scienceofreading #classroom #learning #learningisfun #studentsuccess #studentsupport #teacherlife #theresourceroom #theevergreenteacher #upperprimary #upperprimaryteacher #thestructuredliteracypodcast #phoneme #grapheme #phonics #syntheticphonics

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In this episode of the Structured Literacy podcast, Jocelyn addresses the challenges of successfully onboarding new staff members while maintaining instructional quality in schools that have been implementing structured literacy approaches. She emphasises that you cannot catch new staff up to the rest of the team all at once, regardless of their experience level, and advocates for managing cognitive load by focusing on essentials first and building knowledge systematically over their first 12 months, with coaching being crucial for transferring professional learning into classroom practice. 

Jocelyn discusses different support needs for early career teachers, experienced teachers new to the school, and teachers moving to unfamiliar grade levels, stressing the importance of aligned mentors who fully support the school's approach and creating structured resources like video libraries of excellent practice to provide clear examples rather than relying on potentially inconsistent peer observations. 

Are your students good readers, but poor spellers? If so, you are not alone. Spelling Success in Action addresses phonics, orthography, and morphology to give students a well-rounded understanding of how our language system works. 

Find out how you can help your students move beyond guessing and memorisation at https://www.jocelynseamereducation.com/spelling2

Quick Links
Jocelyn Seamer Education Homepage
The Resource Room
Youtube channel
Facebook Page

#jocelynseamereducation #literacy #bestpractice #earlyprimaryyears #primaryschool #primaryschools #primaryschoolteacher #earlyyearseducation #earlyyearseducator #structuredliteracy #scienceofreading #classroom #learning #learningisfun #studentsuccess #studentsupport #teacherlife #theresourceroom #theevergreenteacher #upperprimary #upperprimaryteacher #thestructuredliteracypodcast #phoneme #grapheme #phonics #syntheticphonics

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This episode discusses the nuanced role of AI in education, emphasizing that while it can enhance teaching, it should not replace the expertise of skilled educators. Listeners learn about cognitive biases impacting knowledge perception and practical strategies for using AI effectively in teacher planning. 

Key points 
• AI tools should support teachers, not replace them 
• The need for teacher expertise when using AI 
• Cognitive bias affects perceived knowledge from AI and online resources 
• Practical examples of using AI in curriculum planning 
• AI's role in contextualizing learning for students 
• Importance of professional development in effective AI use 
• Establishing boundaries for AI to enhance teaching outcomes

Are your students good readers, but poor spellers? If so, you are not alone. Spelling Success in Action addresses phonics, orthography, and morphology to give students a well-rounded understanding of how our language system works. 

Find out how you can help your students move beyond guessing and memorisation at https://www.jocelynseamereducation.com/spelling2

Quick Links
Jocelyn Seamer Education Homepage
The Resource Room
Youtube channel
Facebook Page

#jocelynseamereducation #literacy #bestpractice #earlyprimaryyears #primaryschool #primaryschools #primaryschoolteacher #earlyyearseducation #earlyyearseducator #structuredliteracy #scienceofreading #classroom #learning #learningisfun #studentsuccess #studentsupport #teacherlife #theresourceroom #theevergreenteacher #upperprimary #upperprimaryteacher #thestructuredliteracypodcast #phoneme #grapheme #phonics #syntheticphonics

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In this episode of the Structured Literacy podcast, Jocelyn addresses the common teacher concern about insufficient student writing by sharing her own failed experiment with "30 Days of Writing" that highlighted the importance of prerequisites for successful composition. She emphasises that automatic handwriting, spelling, and fluent sentence production must be in place before expecting quality writing, and advocates for explicit teaching of writing structures while ensuring students can speak what they intend to write before putting it on paper. 

Rather than confining writing to the literacy block, Seamer suggests distributing writing opportunities across the curriculum through activities like responding to learning situations, summarising lessons, and recording ideas, which research shows both improves writing quality and enhances content recall. 

The episode challenges the misconception that only multi-paragraph genre writing counts as meaningful composition, providing practical strategies for increasing authentic writing practice while maintaining realistic expectations based on students' developmental readiness and transcription skills. 

Are your students good readers, but poor spellers? If so, you are not alone. Spelling Success in Action addresses phonics, orthography, and morphology to give students a well-rounded understanding of how our language system works. 

Find out how you can help your students move beyond guessing and memorisation at https://www.jocelynseamereducation.com/spelling2

Quick Links
Jocelyn Seamer Education Homepage
The Resource Room
Youtube channel
Facebook Page

#jocelynseamereducation #literacy #bestpractice #earlyprimaryyears #primaryschool #primaryschools #primaryschoolteacher #earlyyearseducation #earlyyearseducator #structuredliteracy #scienceofreading #classroom #learning #learningisfun #studentsuccess #studentsupport #teacherlife #theresourceroom #theevergreenteacher #upperprimary #upperprimaryteacher #thestructuredliteracypodcast #phoneme #grapheme #phonics #syntheticphonics

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In this episode of the Structured Literacy podcast, Jocelyn provides a practical whole-class method for efficiently assessing phonics knowledge at the start of the school year without spending weeks on individual testing. Using whiteboards and working in manageable chunks of five graphemes per day, she demonstrates how to conduct "cold" recall tasks where students write graphemes when hearing phonemes, followed by recognition checks for struggling students, emphasising the importance of testing what's truly consolidated in long-term memory rather than recently introduced content. 

The approach includes practical tips such as taking videos and photos to document results, maintaining quick pacing to prevent copying, and beginning immediate consolidation of missed content rather than waiting for assessment completion, with the entire process taking approximately two weeks while providing crucial data to inform targeted phonics instruction based on actual student needs rather than program pacing guides. 

Are your students good readers, but poor spellers? If so, you are not alone. Spelling Success in Action addresses phonics, orthography, and morphology to give students a well-rounded understanding of how our language system works. 

Find out how you can help your students move beyond guessing and memorisation at https://www.jocelynseamereducation.com/spelling2

Quick Links
Jocelyn Seamer Education Homepage
The Resource Room
Youtube channel
Facebook Page

#jocelynseamereducation #literacy #bestpractice #earlyprimaryyears #primaryschool #primaryschools #primaryschoolteacher #earlyyearseducation #earlyyearseducator #structuredliteracy #scienceofreading #classroom #learning #learningisfun #studentsuccess #studentsupport #teacherlife #theresourceroom #theevergreenteacher #upperprimary #upperprimaryteacher #thestructuredliteracypodcast #phoneme #grapheme #phonics #syntheticphonics

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This week's episode is a little fun with a serious message. I will tell you about my most and least favourite F words, but don't worry; there won't be any swearing. Let's begin with a story.

Are your students good readers, but poor spellers? If so, you are not alone. Spelling Success in Action addresses phonics, orthography, and morphology to give students a well-rounded understanding of how our language system works. 

Find out how you can help your students move beyond guessing and memorisation at https://www.jocelynseamereducation.com/spelling2

Quick Links
Jocelyn Seamer Education Homepage
The Resource Room
Youtube channel
Facebook Page

#jocelynseamereducation #literacy #bestpractice #earlyprimaryyears #primaryschool #primaryschools #primaryschoolteacher #earlyyearseducation #earlyyearseducator #structuredliteracy #scienceofreading #classroom #learning #learningisfun #studentsuccess #studentsupport #teacherlife #theresourceroom #theevergreenteacher #upperprimary #upperprimaryteacher #thestructuredliteracypodcast #phoneme #grapheme #phonics #syntheticphonics

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We start each year with big plans and goals. In this episode of the Structured Literacy Podcast, I'd like to share five practical ways to get closer and maybe even achieve the goals you have set for yourself. 

Are your students good readers, but poor spellers? If so, you are not alone. Spelling Success in Action addresses phonics, orthography, and morphology to give students a well-rounded understanding of how our language system works. 

Find out how you can help your students move beyond guessing and memorisation at https://www.jocelynseamereducation.com/spelling2

Quick Links
Jocelyn Seamer Education Homepage
The Resource Room
Youtube channel
Facebook Page

#jocelynseamereducation #literacy #bestpractice #earlyprimaryyears #primaryschool #primaryschools #primaryschoolteacher #earlyyearseducation #earlyyearseducator #structuredliteracy #scienceofreading #classroom #learning #learningisfun #studentsuccess #studentsupport #teacherlife #theresourceroom #theevergreenteacher #upperprimary #upperprimaryteacher #thestructuredliteracypodcast #phoneme #grapheme #phonics #syntheticphonics