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8 with 8

8 with 8

By 8 with 8: A Podcast by Ohio State Support Team Region 8

Give us 8 minutes - we'll give you research-based, actionable information to improve teaching and learning TODAY. Got a couple more minutes? We'll give you 8 powerful takeaways. Have time for a deep dive? Take in an interview from some of our favorite speakers, writers, and thinkers in education. Welcome to 8 with 8, a podcast from Ohio State Support Team Region 8. Learn more at sst8.org/podcast.aspx
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Currently playing episode

Perspectives on Homework: Researchers vs. Students

8 with 8May 20, 2022

00:00
12:22
Take the Lead with Ashland University and SST8 Literacy
Mar 08, 202412:23
Stanton Middle School: A Passion for the Middle

Stanton Middle School: A Passion for the Middle

This week we wind down our season of co-teaching chronicles, exploring the myriad types of partnerships and collaborations that can best support students with and without disabilities in the general education setting. Tracy and Mike talk to two of Kent City Schools’ co-teachers from Stanton Middle School in Kent Ohio, which is a 6th through 8th grade building. The two teams we meet today are Ashley Ford, Intervention Specialist, and Kimberley White, 6th grade English Language Arts teacher. They describe their partnership as a beautiful friendship verging on sisterhood, and once again, we get to hear how these partners lean into their personal strengths and skill sets in order to maximize impact for all students, using a variety of different teaching strategies. There is no “one size fits all” going on here - which requires a lot of work but helps students get what they need.


Co-Hosts: Mike Kaschak and Tracy Mail, SST8 Educational Consultants

Feb 03, 202422:60
Early Childhood Co-Teaching Magic in Barberton City

Early Childhood Co-Teaching Magic in Barberton City

Co-teaching in a preschool setting is not a common configuration, but one that is extremely powerful when attempting to meet the needs of a classroom that spans many ages and developmental needs. As there has been a push toward serving young children with disabilities in typical early learning environments, rather than special education classrooms, co-teaching has become an increasingly important strategy for ensuring a full continuum of services for preschoolers with disabilities. Today, we’re thrilled to speak with two educators in Barberton City Schools about how to make co-teaching magic in early childhood: Sheila McGhee, Barberton Preschool Director, and Raetina Giovanini, Barberton Preschool Intervention Specialist.


Co-Hosts: Mike Kaschak and Tracy Mail, SST8 Educational Consultants

Jan 26, 202431:56
A Principal's Recipe for Co-Teaching Success

A Principal's Recipe for Co-Teaching Success

In this episode we meet Jamie Lormeau, former building principal with Cloverleaf Local Schools in Medina. She shares her personal experience with us and a principal's "recipe" for successfully implementing co-teaching as a building leader. Many of the "ingredients" she shares will sound familiar to those who are familiar with the work of Gately and Gately. With any great recipe not only are the ingredients important but how you prepare the recipe is important too. Jamie shares with us the structures and the systemic pieces needed for a successful co-teaching implementation as well.


Co-Hosts: Tracy Mail and Mike Kaschak, SST8 Educational Consultants

Jan 19, 202431:36
Cloverleaf Elementary: A Co-Teaching Partnership In and Beyond the Classroom

Cloverleaf Elementary: A Co-Teaching Partnership In and Beyond the Classroom

In this episode we meet Amber Smith & Paula Funfgeld - a co-teaching team at Cloverleaf Elementary School in Medina County. They are joined by building principal Karen Martin. This team, and their fearless leader, share with our listeners their journey in co-teaching, and how they leverage each others’ strengths. One of the best compliments to co-teachers is when a classroom visitor can’t tell who is the general educator and who is the special educator, because this shows a true integration of their roles. Paula and Amber are a great example of this!


Co-Hosts: Mike Kaschak and Tracy Mail, SST8 Educational Consultants

Jan 12, 202450:52
Medina High School: When the Co-Teaching Stars Align

Medina High School: When the Co-Teaching Stars Align

Medina High School's award-winning co-teaching team has been recognized by the district for the great work they are doing. Anne Fortney and Kelly Miller are the the two stars of the this dynamic duo, sometimes referred to by their colleagues as the Wonder Twins. They share with us what their superpowers look like in the co-taught classroom. They are joined by Ronda French, Medina City Schools' Assistant Director of Pupil Services and Katie Hartung Coordinator of Special Education.


SST8 Co-Hosts: Mike Kaschak and Tracy Mail, Educational Consultants

Jan 05, 202438:55
A Tale of Two Co-Teaching Teams: Wadsworth High School

A Tale of Two Co-Teaching Teams: Wadsworth High School

We are continuing to capture the ups, downs, ins, and outs of co-teaching… and we’re back today with two co-teaching teams from Wadsworth High School, “living the co-teaching dream” as our co-host Tracy Mail says, to support math and science. This week’s episode really highlights the alchemy of co-teaching. Personality dynamics, curriculum, student needs, and educator skills and preferences all have to come together to make something almost magical. And despite how challenging that sounds to come together, one of the Wadsworth co-teaching pairs has been a team for over 40 years - how is that even possible? Take a listen and find out. Co-Hosts: Tracy Mail and Mike Kaschak, Educational Consultants


Dec 15, 202345:54
PLCC: If a Steelers Fan and a Browns Fan Can Co-Teach... Anyone Can!

PLCC: If a Steelers Fan and a Browns Fan Can Co-Teach... Anyone Can!

Today we’re getting a window into what co-teaching is like at a career center - specifically Portage Lakes Career Center. This pair of teachers, Diane Forrest (from General Ed) and Nikki Weigand (intervention specialist) work together to teach English Language Arts for 11th and 12th grade students. They are joined by Tina Saley, PLCC's assistant principal, in talking about how support for students with disabilities has grown and become more robust over the years. This fluid partnership, which they characterize as a marriage, has been the work of 20 years and our three guests offer great suggestions for newer co-teaching pairs just starting out on this journey.


Co-Hosts: Tracy Mail and Mike Kaschak, SST8 Educational Consultants

Dec 11, 202335:50
That "Warm Cookie Out of the Oven" Feeling: Towpath Trail High School

That "Warm Cookie Out of the Oven" Feeling: Towpath Trail High School

SST8 has been doing a lot of work to support co-teachers over the past two years, and we have met some incredible educators with great stories and insights into co-teaching. Today's episode features Towpath Trail High School, a dropout recovery and prevention community school located in Akron. Their team is creative and dedicated bunch that go above and beyond to meet their students’ where they are at and then help them get to where they need to be. Listen and learn how, despite the challenges they face, students at Towpath Trail get that “warm cookie straight out of the oven” feeling.


SST8 Co-Hosts: Tracy Mail and Mike Kaschak, Educational Consultants

Dec 01, 202339:23
Season 9 Trailer - The Co-Teaching Chronicles

Season 9 Trailer - The Co-Teaching Chronicles

Welcome to the 9th season of the 8 with 8 podcast: The Co-Teaching Chronicles. The big idea behind co-teaching is that when general and special educators pair up to co-plan, co-instruct, and co-assess their students, it should provide instruction and support that is substantively better than what each teacher could provide on their own. But, like many collaborative endeavors, co-teaching is HARD to do well. So SST8 has been working like crazy over the last two years to create a range of supports for co-teachers in our region. In doing so, we have met dozens of teachers and leaders throughout our region with inspiring stories and unique angles on the art and science of co-teaching. In this season of 8 with 8, you’ll hear from teachers in a variety of settings and circumstances - from traditional districts to community schools to career centers - and across all grade levels. Regardless of what role and position in education YOU listen from, we’re confident that this season will bring you stories that ring true and ideas that will inspire. 

So get ready for a new season of 8 with 8 - The Co-Teaching Chronicles - coming to Anchor and all other podcast platforms on Friday, December 1. See you soon!


SST8 Online Co-Teaching Resources:

The Why of Co-Teaching (video | 28 min)

The What of Co-Teaching  (video | 24 min)

The How of Co-Teaching, Step 1  (video | 27 min)

The How of Co-Teaching, Step 2  (video | 12 min)

The How of Co-Teaching, Step 3  (video | 12 min)

The How of Co-Teaching, Step 4  (video | 14 min)

Nov 29, 202302:15
Why Are We Hearing So Much About Graduation, and What Should We Be Doing About it?
Mar 03, 202341:04
Are You "Hopelessly Devoted" to Positive Post-School Success?

Are You "Hopelessly Devoted" to Positive Post-School Success?

What does the movie Grease have to do with the Special Education Profile? Today’s essential question about special education focuses on students’ readiness for life beyond school: Are youth with disabilities prepared for life, work, and postsecondary education? From the perspective of Ohio's Special Education Profile, this essential question covers Indicators 1, 2, 13, and 14. In other words, at what rates are students with disabilities graduating by regular education standards, how often do they drop out, do they have a transition plan in place to guide their final years of schooling, and do they enroll in college or vocational training, enlist in the military, or obtain employment once they graduate? These are the required data points that the federal government and Ohio monitor - however, we know that there is so much more that predicts post-school success for our students. Joining us today are Helen Brophy, SST8 consultant and transition guru, and Stacia Kaschak, Career-Technical Education consultant for SST regions 7 and 8. Grab your Pink Ladies/T-Birds jacket and take a listen as we "tell you more" about what it really means to be successful beyond school, and what to focus on to promote positive post-school success.


Co-Hosts: Mike Kaschak and Helen Brophy, SST8 Educational Consultants, and Stacia Kaschak, SST7 and 8 Career-Technical Education Consultant


Additional Resources

Ohio Age-Appropriate Transition Assessment (AATA) Library

ODE's Secondary Transition and Workforce Development for Students with Disabilities Resource Page

Feb 24, 202311:10
Could You Have Dispro Lurking in the Basement of Your Profile?
Feb 17, 202334:47
"What If it Was MY Kid?"
Feb 10, 202311:13
Is it Enough Just to Be Invited to the Party?
Feb 03, 202312:32
Opening a Window and Raising the Bar for Student Achievement

Opening a Window and Raising the Bar for Student Achievement

Jan 27, 202348:10
Inclusion, Rigor, and Time: Keys to Effective Preschool Special Education
Jan 20, 202308:48
Six Questions Everyone Should Have About Special Education
Jan 13, 202312:02
Building Shared Responsibility for PBIS
Jan 06, 202310:29
Season 8 Trailer - Special Education in Ohio: We've Got Questions

Season 8 Trailer - Special Education in Ohio: We've Got Questions

We're gearing up for our great-8th season of 8 with 8! In the weeks to come, we’re going to be taking a closer look at the state of special education in Ohio - what we know from the data, what the research is pointing us to, and some examples of outstanding practices that allow districts to help students with disabilities reach their fullest potential. SST8’s special education team is going to take you on 8 brief but powerful explorations of all major areas of special education. And we’re going do it through the lens of a specific tool in Ohio that many of us have come to know well: the Special Education Profile. The data points of the Profile are aligned to six essential questions: the most powerful things we can be asking about our support for students with disabilities. And THAT is what we really want to talk about this season - we’re going to spend each of our upcoming episodes asking an important question, examining the current state of affairs, and seeing where we go from here.

So get ready for "Special Education in Ohio: We’ve Got Questions," 8 with 8’s 8th season - coming to your favorite podcast app or the Anchor website, starting next Friday, January 13th. 


Jan 06, 202302:54
The MOST Important Social Skill for Young Learners
Dec 16, 202208:46
Get a Licensing Leg Up (and SUTQ too) with PBIS
Dec 09, 202206:28
What Can We Do to Combat Educator Burnout?
Dec 02, 202210:59
Navigating the School Mental Health Crisis with PBIS
Nov 18, 202213:43
Creating Safe, Secure, and Trauma-Informed Classrooms Through PBIS
Nov 11, 202211:53
Hand in Hand: How Social-Emotional Learning & PBIS Work Together
Nov 04, 202212:17
Rethinking School Discipline
Oct 28, 202209:37
Season 7 Trailer: 8 Connections to PBIS
Oct 21, 202202:29
Author Interview: Drs. Persida and Bill Himmele, "Why Are We Still Doing That?"

Author Interview: Drs. Persida and Bill Himmele, "Why Are We Still Doing That?"

We are wrapping up a fascinating season exploring why it is that some educational practices continue to hang on, despite empirical evidence showing that they aren’t effective - or even do harm. This week, we talk to Drs. Persida and William Himmele, the authors of the great little book that inspired this season, Why Are We Still Doing That? What led them to write this book? What practices did they consider adding to the book, but didn't make the cut? Their combined wealth of experience makes them very knowledgeable and credible on the topic of evidence-based teaching practices - but what we loved about them was their down-to-earth, real life way of addressing these common challenges in our profession. We hope you enjoy hearing from them as much as we did.

Co-Host: Sarah Egan-Reeves, SST8 Educational Consultant

About Our Guests: Drs. Bill and Persida Himmele are both on the faculty of the Department of Early, Middle, and Exceptional Education at Millersville University in Pennsylvania. In addition, they have conducted over 500 keynote, featured, and professional presentations around the world, both inside and outside of the field of education. One of their major areas of interest is cognitively engaging learning experiences and they are the authors of the ASCD best-seller, Total Participation Techniques: Making Every Student an Active Learner. Prior to their careers in higher ed and on the speaking, consulting, and writing circuit, Bill and Persida both worked within a classroom environment - Bill as an Speech-Language Pathologist and ESL teacher, and Persida as elementary and middle school teacher in bilingual and multilingual classrooms and later as a district administrator serving ELL students in a high-incidence district. 

Additional Resources

Why Are We Still Doing That? (book | ASCD study guide)

Total Participation Techniques: Making Every Student an Active Learner (book | website/resources)

Jun 03, 202241:04
Why Are We Still Short-Changing Social Studies?
May 27, 202221:60
Perspectives on Homework: Researchers vs. Students

Perspectives on Homework: Researchers vs. Students

The issue has been debated for decades. A TIME cover in 1999 read: “Too much homework! Yet, you can also go back to the 1970s, when we were concerned about our global competitiveness, and find there were concerns that there was too little homework. How much homework is too much? Not enough? Who should get it? What value does homework add? These are just a few of the questions that have been debated over the years. The topic is controversial and complex because seemingly everyone has an opinion about the benefits of giving homework. In this episode, SST8's Denise Ward takes listeners through eight perspectives from leading educational researchers - and then asks the people most impacted by homework - students - to weigh in with their thoughts on the pros and cons. 


Co-Host: Denise Ward, SST8 Educational Consultant and SESC Diversity Consultant


Additional Resources:

The Cult of Homework (article | 2019 | The Atlantic)

Is Homework Good for Kids? Here's What the Research Says (article | 2016 | Time Magazine)

May 20, 202212:22
Ditch the Clip: Why Behavior Charts Don't Work
May 13, 202223:23
Formative Assessment: Imposters or Imperative?

Formative Assessment: Imposters or Imperative?

We’re continuing our exploration of educational practices that lack empirical support - yet continue to be mainstays in our profession. If you haven’t already, we encourage you to check out the book Why Are We Still Doing That? by Persida and William Himmele, which inspired this season’s focus. It’s a quick and thought-provoking read! One of the chapters focuses on formative assessment. Now, we definitely NOT saying that formative assessment is something we should turn our backs on - in fact, the authors of this book assert that the research on formative assessment suggests there is no better way to accelerate student growth. BUT there are some things we may do that SEEM like formative assessment, and in fact are not really all that helpful at all. Today we talk about what we can do to have a clear understanding of student success - and how to know with confidence when they have reached it. 


About Our Guest: Jarred Zapolnik is a middle school principal in Massillon City Schools, adjunct professor at Ashland University, and doctoral candidate in Education Leadership at Kent State.  He is also active in the conference circuit, presenting on leadership, depth of knowledge, culturally inclusive practices, and many other topics focused on improving the field of education. 

May 06, 202223:48
What ELSE Do Kids Lose When We Withhold Recess?
Apr 29, 202211:16
Author Interview: "Round Robin must fly away” and More on Ineffective Literacy Practices

Author Interview: "Round Robin must fly away” and More on Ineffective Literacy Practices

Literacy has been one of the most talked-about aspects of education over the last few years, due to a statewide focus on the science of reading, several grant opportunities, and now the dyslexia legislation going into effect next school year. And now, as our podcast delves into ineffective teaching practices this season, we are thrilled to welcome Dr. Tim Shanahan to the podcast. Dr. Shanahan is a noted researcher, speaker, and thought leader on all things literacy, and he has been a partner with the Ohio Department of Education for the last several years, as we have developed and implemented Ohio’s Plan to Raise Literacy Achievement. Today, Dr. Shanahan talks with SST8’s Sarah Egan-Reeves and gives us a lot to think about in terms of how we design literacy instruction - really, this is a master class on literacy from one of our favorite gurus. We can’t wait for you to hear all that he has to share.

Co-Host: Sarah Egan-Reeves, SST8 Educational Consultant

About Our Guest:

Dr. Timothy Shanahan is Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois at Chi­cago where he was Founding Di­rector of the UIC Center for Literacy. Previously, he was director of reading for the Chicago Public Schools. He is author/editor of more than 200 publications on literacy education, and research emphasizes the connections between reading and writing, literacy in the disciplines, and improvement of reading achievement. Tim is past president of the International Literacy Association. He served as a member of the Advisory Board of the National Institute for Literacy under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, and he helped lead the National Reading Panel, convened at the request of Congress to evaluate research on the teaching reading, a major influence on reading education. He chaired two other federal research review panels: the National Literacy Panel for Language Minority Children and Youth, and the National Early Literacy Panel, and helped write the Common Core State Standards. He was inducted to the Reading Hall of Fame in 2007, and is a former first-grade teacher.

Additional Resources:

Shanahanonliteracy.com | Dr. Shanahan's website and blog

Why Children Should Be Taught to Read With More Challenging Texts (Article, 2019)

What Constitutes a Science of Reading Instruction? (Article, 2020)

Disciplinary Literacy in Elementary Education: Video | Slides (presentation at Ohio Literacy Academy, 2020)

Apr 22, 202232:13
Why Have We Retained The Practice of Retention?

Why Have We Retained The Practice of Retention?

Welcome back to this season’s discussion about some of the “sticky” practices in our profession that have persisted, despite lack of research evidence. Today’s topic is a very polarizing one: retention. Education researcher John Hattie has been quoted as saying, “No single intervention by schools is worse than retention.” That’s a pretty serious condemnation! Yet it continues to be something that schools consider when students are encountering serious learning struggles.

In today’s episode, SST8’s Frank Gant talks with Lisa Shannon, the Director of Special Services for the Lake Local School District in Stark Co.  Throughout her career in northeast Ohio, she has had numerous opportunities to discuss retention with educators and families - starting first as a co-teacher in her district’s first co-teaching team, then as an assistant principal, assistant superintendent, and director of special services. Lisa and Frank will consider why we have retained retention as a routine educational practice, and what alternatives can be explored. They close out this episode with 8 critical factors for educators and families to consider when having a conversation about retention. Be sure to listen to the whole episode to under why these are so critical! 

  1. Present level of achievement, particularly in reading and math
  2. Gender
  3. Intellectual ability
  4. Present grade placement
  5. English language proficiency
  6. Size (height/weight)
  7. History of previous retention
  8. Presence of a disability


Co-Host: Frank Gant, SST8 Educational Consultant


About Our Guest: Lisa Shannon is the Director of Special Services for the Lake Local School District in Stark Co. She has served students with exceptionalities for the majority of her career, with more than twenty years of leadership experience in Ohio’s public schools.  Lisa started her career as the general education teaching counterpart of her district’s first co-teaching team where she provided specially designed instruction alongside an intervention specialist.  She later moved into building and district leadership roles working in positions ranging between Assistant Principal to Assistant Superintendent.  Lisa states that her greatest professional fulfillment is supporting thousands of students, staff, and families and watching children grow by leaps and bounds by maximizing their various and unique strengths. 


Additional Resources

Alternatives to Grade Retention (article) | AASA: The School Superintendents Association

Retention (book excerpt) | Hattie, J. (2008). Visible learning. Routledge.

Apr 15, 202236:22
Author Interview: "Research Based Strategies to Ignite Student Learning"
Apr 08, 202227:04
Season 6 Trailer: "Why Are We Still Doing That?"

Season 6 Trailer: "Why Are We Still Doing That?"

8 with 8 is back with a sixth season! This time, we are taking a really different approach and focusing on a range of educational practices all with one common theme: they LACK research support. Why is it that ineffective instructional practices continue to be used in schools, when we have ample research showing us that they don’t work - or even do harm? We landed on this topic after reading a 2021 book by Persida and William Himmele, Why Are We Still Doing That? Positive Alternatives to Problematic Teaching Practices. The authors focus on 16 problematic practices, including round robin reading, assigning homework as a default, rigidly adhering to pacing guides, shortchanging science and social studies, and using behavior charts. This season, we’ll dive into some of these practices by exploring the research around them and the alternatives that can help us reach our goals for students. We hope to support the work of dedicated professional educators as they reflect on their craft. Share these episodes with your educator colleagues and friends, or use them at internal staff meetings and PDs to provoke some necessary conversations about how to evolve teaching practices.

Get ready for Why Are We Still Doing That? Coming to your favorite podcast app or the Anchor website, starting this Friday, April 8th.

Apr 06, 202203:34
Bonus Episode: All About Dyslexia with Dr. Sarah Sayko

Bonus Episode: All About Dyslexia with Dr. Sarah Sayko

It's a bonus episode! We're following up on our 8 Great Literacy Learnings season because we know that here in Ohio, dyslexia is on the minds of many, many educators these days. Our new dyslexia support laws establish a variety of requirements for screening, professional development, certification to provide multi-sensory structured literacy instruction, and the Ohio Dyslexia Committee. There is so much to learn right now - both about dyslexia and about the requirements associated with this bill. Today, we want to focus on dyslexia itself: what it is, what it isn’t, and what’s most critical to understand as we move forward with the new legislative and policy requirements. We're talking with Dr. Sarah Sayko, Deputy Director of the National Center on Improving Literacy, and today she joins SST8 literacy leads  to answer 8 FAQs regarding dyslexia.


Co-Hosts: Pam Kennedy and Kim Nagy, SST8 literacy leads


About our Guest:

Sarah Sayko, Ed.D., is a Deputy Director of National Center on Improving Literacy, and leads the Parent and Family Strand of the center.  She is a Senior Research Associate at RMC Research Corporation in Arlington, VA. Sarah was previously a literacy content specialist with the Center on Instruction (COI) and a technical assistance provider with the National Reading Technical Assistance Center (NRTAC).  She was an elementary reading coach and literacy specialist in two Massachusetts public school districts and is a certified K-12 reading specialist.


Additional Resources

National Center on Improving Literacy: Improving Literacy Briefs

International Dyslexia Association  

Mar 11, 202227:44
 8 Ways to Rethink Equity in Literacy
Feb 11, 202215:17
Overcoming the Top 8 Barriers to Adolescent Literacy

Overcoming the Top 8 Barriers to Adolescent Literacy

Literacy instruction does not end in the elementary grades! It is still very much a need for our adolescent learners - but it can be hard to figure out how best to integrate that with all of the other content area instruction that secondary education demands. Well, if you are looking for ways to break down the barriers of Adolescent Literacy, you are in the right place. Today, we are joined by Roger Howard, one of Ohio's Adolescent Literacy leads and also a consultant at the ESC of NE Ohio. He has a rich history of high school and curriculum leadership, and was named 2011 Met Life Ohio Principal of the Year.  In his conversation with SST8 literacy team members, Kim Nagy and Sarah Egan-Reeves, Roger will discuss 8 common barriers to adolescent literacy, along with the research that supports how districts and teachers can make meaningful shifts that will yield noticeable results.


Co-hosts: Kim Nagy, SST8 Urban Literacy Specialist, and Sarah Egan-Reeves, SST8 Educational Consultant


About Our Guest: Roger Howard is an Adolescent Specialist–ODE Literacy Network for State Support Team - Region 3 at the Educational Service Center (ESC) of Northeast Ohio. Roger began his career as a residential treatment counselor at Parmadale/St. Anthony before serving 10 years as a teacher and coach at Tallmadge High School. He then dedicated the majority of his career to serving as a building administrator in multiple secondary schools: Tallmadge Middle School, Solon High School, Chagrin Falls High School, Hudson High School, Stow-Munroe Falls High School, and Independence High School. Roger was selected as the 2011 Met Life Ohio High School Principal of the Year and served two terms on the Ohio Association of Secondary School Administrators Board of Directors. Roger also performed multiple central office responsibilities for six years as the Director of Curriculum and Instruction for the Independence Local Schools.


Additional Resources

Literacy Lessons Learned (article) - Mel Riddile

LIteracy Lessons Learned (webinar, 1 hour) - Mel Riddile

IES Practice Guide: Adolescent Literacy

Feb 04, 202218:36
Expert Interview: Literacy Instruction for English Learners - Part 2

Expert Interview: Literacy Instruction for English Learners - Part 2

Dr. Fierro is back to help us improve our effectiveness in teaching literacy to students who are simultaneously learning the English language. This can seem like a daunting task, but it is absolutely doable. In our last episode, Dr. Fierro shared four considerations for supporting literacy development in English language learners. If you missed that episode, we encourage you to go back and listen now to the first half of Dr. Fierro’s conversation with SST8 literacy leads Kim Nagy and Pam Kennedy. Today, we’ll pick up where we left off and hear four more ideas that will take you and your students even farther!

Co-Hosts: Pam Kennedy, SST8 Regional Early Literacy Specialist, and Kim Nagy, SST8 Urban Literacy Specialist

About Our Guest

Antonio A. Fierro is a former Texas State Teacher of the Year and currently a member of the national LETRS® (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) cohort of literacy consultants led by Dr. Louisa Moats. He also is a visiting professor working with university and college professors throughout Mississippi. Dr. Fierro has more than 25 years of experience in the field of education and has contributed to several literacy curricula focusing on instruction for the English learner. He is a co-author of Kid Lips®, a curriculum that teaches the phonetics of English to young children. His areas of interest include early childhood education, all aspects of phonology, and research that impacts students’ learning of English as a second language. Dr. Fierro has a personal interest in advancing the knowledge base and understanding of dyslexia and other reading disabilities because he has a child living with dyslexia.

Additional Resources

Educator Accountability: Preparing for the Tough Literacy Challenges Faced by English Language Learners (podcast)

Best Practices in English Learner Instruction: The LETRS Gold Standard (webinar)

Jan 28, 202222:58
Expert Interview: Literacy Instruction for English Learners - Part 1

Expert Interview: Literacy Instruction for English Learners - Part 1

Over the last ten years, Ohio’s percentage of EL students has doubled to approximately 60,000 students. Spanish is the home language of almost 40% of Ohio’s English learners, along with 90 other home languages. How are we teaching these students to read WHILE we teach them to speak English?

We are thrilled to welcome to the podcast Dr. Antonio Fierro, an award-winning educator and one of our very favorite LETRS trainers. We’ve asked him to share the 8 critical considerations for teaching reading to students who are simultaneously learning the English language. Our conversation with him was so rich that we had to break it up into two episodes. Today, Dr. Fierro will share the first four tips - and we’ll bring you the final four next week.


Co-Hosts: Pam Kennedy, SST8 Regional Early Literacy Specialist, and Kim Nagy, SST8 Urban Literacy Specialist


About Our Guest

Antonio A. Fierro is a former Texas State Teacher of the Year and currently a member of the national LETRS® (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) cohort of literacy consultants led by Dr. Louisa Moats. He also is a visiting professor working with university and college professors throughout Mississippi. Dr. Fierro has more than 25 years of experience in the field of education and has contributed to several literacy curricula focusing on instruction for the English learner. He is a co-author of Kid Lips®, a curriculum that teaches the phonetics of English to young children. His areas of interest include early childhood education, all aspects of phonology, and research that impacts students’ learning of English as a second language. Dr. Fierro has a personal interest in advancing the knowledge base and understanding of dyslexia and other reading disabilities because he has a child living with dyslexia.


Additional Resources

Educator Accountability: Preparing for the Tough Literacy Challenges Faced by English Language Learners (podcast)

Best Practices in English Learner Instruction: The LETRS Gold Standard (webinar)

Jan 21, 202217:10
Blending Literacy and Social-Emotional Learning for Young Learners
Jan 14, 202212:42
Author Interview: All About Emergent Writing

Author Interview: All About Emergent Writing

We’re expanding our view of literacy by delving into the world of writing - emergent writing in particular. We are joined by another outstanding guest: researcher and author Dr. Lucy Hart Paulson. In the space of just 30 minutes, Lucy will have our listeners looking up the science of WRITING, searching for golf pencils and art easels, and maybe rethinking how and when we introduce keyboarding for young writers. Intrigued? You should be!


Co-Hosts: Pam Kennedy, SST8 Regional Early Literacy Specialist and Kim Nagy, SST8 Urban Literacy Specialist


About Our Guest

Lucy Hart Paulson, M.S., Ed.D., is a speech-language pathologist and literacy specialist with years of experience working with young children and their families and teachers in public school, Head Start, private, and university settings. She has a unique and broad- based perspective blending areas of language, literacy, and social communication together, resulting in effective and engaging learning opportunities for children and valuable foundations for teachers. She is the lead author of Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) for Early Childhood Educators, Second Edition (Voyager Sopris Learning, 2018); Building Early Literacy and Language Skills (Sopris West, 2001), a resource and activity guide for young children; and Good Talking Words (Sopris West, 1998), a social communication skills program for preschool and kindergarten. In addition, Dr. Paulson served on the faculty of the Communicative Sciences and Disorders Department at the University of Montana, sharing responsibilities for teaching, supervising, research, and service.


Additional Resources

From Scribbles to Writing: Early Literacy Foundations for Print Knowledge (slide deck)


Jan 07, 202229:18
The Role of SLPs in Supporting Literacy Development
Dec 17, 202111:12
Author Interview: 8 Ways to Power Up Reading Instruction

Author Interview: 8 Ways to Power Up Reading Instruction

Research indicates that, with effective instruction, over 90% of all students CAN read at grade level. Join us for our first episode of our 8 Great Literacy Learning season of 8 With 8, and you’ll leave with the stepping stones needed to move your instruction into that effective realm. Our very special guest, Dr. Carol Tolman, shares 8 ways to make this happen for each child in your classroom, building, and district using an approach called structured literacy. Dr. Carol Tolman, reading expert, international speaker, and co-author of Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) joins us to share her thoughts on the most important steps for employing what science tells us works for teaching all students to read.

Co-Hosts: Pam Kennedy, SST8 Regional Early Literacy Specialist, and Kim Nagy, SST8 Urban Literacy Specialist


About our Guest: Dr. Carol Tolman

In addition to spearheading many successful, long-term literacy initiatives throughout the country, Dr. Tolman has published Working Smarter, Not Harder: What Teachers of Reading Need to Know and Be Able to Do and The Relationship between Teacher Knowledge and Effective RtI: When we Know Better, we Do Better (IDA Perspectives). Carol is co-author of LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) Presenter’s Kits, co-author of LETRS Modules 1, 2nd Edition, co-author of LETRS Module 10, 2nd Edition, and co-author with Dr. Louisa Moats of the LETRS 3rd Edition series of text and on-line supports for teachers of reading and spelling. Dr. Tolman has presided over the LETRS Leadership Board, created LETRS On-Line, and provides LETRS Trainer of Trainer (TOT) workshops to prepare others for the rigorous study involved in becoming a Certified Local LETRS Trainer. Dr. Tolman has presented internationally in China and Australia and is passionate about the importance of empowering teachers with the knowledge necessary to impact change for all children. Learn more about her work at https://drcaroltolman.com/ and find her on Twitter at @drcaroltolman1. 


Additional Resources

The Science of Reading (webinar series by Dr. Tolman and Voyager-Sopris)

Phonological Awareness, Reading, and Writing: What Teachers Need to Know (webinar by Dr. Tolman, June 2020)


Dec 10, 202126:02
Season 5 Trailer: 8 Great Literacy Learnings

Season 5 Trailer: 8 Great Literacy Learnings

We are back with a fifth season we are calling 8 Great Literacy Learnings. We’ll be sharing the eight topics that have most significantly shaped how we are thinking about literacy instruction, and that we think have the power to dramatically impact the way we go about teaching reading, writing, and language in our schools. In this thought-provoking season, we’ll tackle topics both big and small, including

  • The science of reading, and 8 critical things we need to know about structured literacy (with Dr. Carol Tolman, co-author of the LETRS Professional Learning Series)
  • Keyboarding, handwriting, and the simple view of writing (with Dr. Lucy Hart-Paulson, co-author of the LETRS Early Childhood Professional Learning Series)
  • 8 considerations for teaching literacy to English language learners (with Antonio Fierro, LETRS trainer and former Texas Teacher of the Year)
  • Leveraging the power of SLPs in teaching literacy
  • Making literacy and social-emotional learning work hand in hand
  • Breaking down barriers to adolescent literacy

And more!

Get ready for 8 Great Literacy Learnings, starting this Friday, December 10th.

Dec 08, 202102:38
Rethinking Equity in Special Education: Interview with ODE Leaders

Rethinking Equity in Special Education: Interview with ODE Leaders

Oct 01, 202138:55
8 Best Practices for Supporting Students with Disabilities in Career-Tech Environments

8 Best Practices for Supporting Students with Disabilities in Career-Tech Environments

Today, we’ll be taking a look at career/technical education, also known as CTE. This is an avenue of education that has really grown and thrived in Ohio over the last decade or more, and we know that all students can benefit from the opportunity to learn job-specific skills from experts in their chosen field. For students with disabilities, CTE is a particularly exciting option because it offers additional opportunities for highly motivating, engaging learning tied to students’ transition goals. What should career centers be thinking about when working with students with disabilities? Join us in this quick listen as we share 8 best practices for supporting students with disabilities in a career-technical education environment.


Co-hosts: Mike Kaschak and Helen Brophy, SST8 Educational Consultants

Sep 24, 202112:07