Meet the Students (A.K.A. Humans) of the Boring (into words) Scholars Collective - Sara Leland & Students

Two Dyslexic Adults: What We Wish Our Teachers Knew About Language and Learning: Sara Lee talks with Marie Foley & Bruce Howlett

“If only we, as dyslexics, had learned how the English writing system works—from words to sentences—when we were in elementary school! Maybe we wouldn’t have struggled with language and literacy.”  For decades, non-dyslexic individuals have been telling dyslexics how they learn, often focusing strictly on early literacy skills. This offers a very limited view of dyslexia. Listen to two adult dyslexics, literacy instructor Marie Foley and For the Love of Literacy host Bruce Howlett, discuss their decades-long struggle with reading comprehension, complex word spelling, and written expression. Your understanding of dyslexia will be transformed. In this episode, Bruce hands over hosting duties to linguist Sara Lee. Sara works with Marie and Bruce on grammar and syntax, taking them beneath the surface of words and sentences while exploring new learning methods. Today, Marie and Bruce are utterly fascinated by language and its many connections to literacy. Best of all, written and spoken English finally make sense!

Vocabulary Development Through Morphology, Semantics and Complex Text - Elfrieda Hiebert

If your students read accurately but with limited fluency, comprehension or interest then Elfrieda “Freddy” Hiebert’s talk will be of great benefit. Freddy summarizes her decades of research, showing how vocabulary depth and richness are key components of reading comprehension and written expression.   Dr. Hiebert has created two essential materials: Teaching Words and How They Work, and TextProject.Org. Teaching Words centers literacy instruction on vocabulary development and how children learn, understand and read complex words. She notes that most students read with high accuracy, but with limited fluency and vocabulary depth.   To address this widespread problem, Freddy’s TextProject.org provides free resources for teaching vocabulary development and semantics, or word meaning. The site includes ready-to-use word webs, Exceptional Expressions and Super Synonyms as well as reading material for emerging readers, content areas and Teen Reads.   The subtitle of Teaching Words is Small Changes for Big Vocabulary Results. Dr. Hiebert talks about the importance of small changes, not wholesale shifts, for improving instruction.  TextProject.org [https://textproject.org/]

Connecting Math and Literacy Learning Difficulties - Meghan Hicks & Jennifer Petrich

Many students who struggle with literacy also struggle with math.  * Understanding the number system requires engaging linguistic, cognitive, executive functions and conceptual understanding -- just like literacy.  * Meaning is as important to math learning as it does in literacy.  * Math that is taught as a series of isolated procedures, facts and “islands of knowledge” disconnected from meaning will make little sense - just as it does with reading.  * Math makes sense when students learn the structure of math, including its syntax and vocabulary, and approach it as a coherent system. This also diminishes math anxiety.      Bruce Howlett’s Seven Layers of Literacy Approach:  ReadingShift.com  [https://www.readingshift.com/] Megan Hicks: scienceofthesentence@gmail.com  The Sentence Studio www.scienceofthesentence.com [http://www.scienceofthesentence.com/] Jen Petrich:  * Literacy Dr website:  https://www.theliteracydr.com [https://www.theliteracydr.com/] * ·         D.O.T.S. course info and registration:   https://www.theliteracydr.com/pd/dots [https://www.theliteracydr.com/pd/dots] * ·         Wednesdays with Literacy Dr (free drop-in) info and registration: https://www.theliteracydr.com/drop-in [https://www.theliteracydr.com/drop-in] * ·         Literacy Dr videos https://www.theliteracydr.com/videos [https://www.theliteracydr.com/videos] * ·         List of Resources for Further Learning [https://cb29367d-4ec0-40b5-af0b-a46966ed9d5a.filesusr.com/ugd/2c8fa0_47cff29b89e34ae2bcf16d59670de2d7.pdf]

Enriching Structured Literacy Through Integrated Word Study - Sarah Mitchell

Why do so many students continue to struggle with spelling and writing even after years of phonics instruction? In this episode, Sarah Mitchell explores the missing layer between decoding instruction and deeper literacy transfer: integrated word study. Drawing on research, classroom experience and practical teaching examples, Sarah explains how word-building using a six-layer “word study map” that develops sounds, meaning, spellings, connections, morphemes and sentences in the same lesson. The more connections a child has with a word the easier it is to recognize, comprehend and use it while writing. The conversation explores the implementation gap many teachers experience — understanding the theory but still feeling unsure how to apply it during real lessons — and introduces practical ways to make literacy instruction more connected, efficient and meaningful for older students. Sarah Mitchell  Author - Teaching Structured Literacy Series Contact Info: admin@teachingstructuredliteracy.com [admin@teachingstructuredliteracy.com]  Structured Literacy for Older Students:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/360409786946482 [https://www.facebook.com/groups/360409786946482]  Founder - Morphology Hub Website: www.morphologyhub.com [http://www.morphologyhub.com/] Social media: YouTube @sarahmitchell3941

Scripts, Sentences and Structures: Helping Students Unlock Meaning - Louise Hewitt, Meghan Hicks & Mary Beth Steven

Teaching about morphemes (the meaningful components of words), sentence structure (syntax) and grammar (the framework for organizing words and sentences) isn’t hard, once you learn about two new resources: Mary Beth Steven’s Dramatic Scripts and Meghan Hicks and Louise Hewitt’s The Sentence Studio. In fact, you can learn about these vital components of language as you teach your students by using their scripts, sentence and text practices. Their common goal is to create insightful readers and articulate writers.  These educators recognize that word study, syntax and grammar go to the heart of reading comprehension and written expression. They also focus on responsive teaching that brings these topics alive through rich highly engaging activities. Mary Beth Steven book, Enhancing the Teaching of Morphology and Grammar with Dramatic Scripts for the Classroom, uses plays to build reading comprehension while creating a collaborative classroom. Meghan and Louise’s new instructional guide, The Sentence Studio, teaches grammar and syntax with fables and a groundbreaking BubbleMap analysis strategy. Educators and students discover the artistry of sentence structure while unlocking the meaning that lies within every sentence You can find more information about Mary Beth’s book on her classroom blog mbsteven.edublogs.org [http://mbsteven.edublogs.org/] You can purchase The Sentence Studio and access free downloads and other supporting resources at Meghan and Louise’s website www.scienceofthesentence.com [http://www.scienceofthesentence.com/]