Stellar Teacher Podcast: A Podcast for Upper Elementary Teachers

[Listen Again] The one thing teachers wish they could have more of is time. Time to plan, time to teach, time to make copies, and time to have fun with their students. The day goes by so quickly that it’s hard to fit everything in, but one thing that helps with that is time management. In order to help you gain some time back in your classroom, I’m sharing 3 tips that are effective and help free up brain space.Download my Free Mini-Lesson Plan and Sample Slides here!Check out my Free Literacy Workshop. For more information click here.Sign up for my FREE private podcast, the Confident Writer Systems Series here!Join us in the Stellar Literacy Collective Membership: stellarteacher.com/joinTo check out all of the resources from this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.stellarteacher.com/episode152

[Listen Again] We’re bringing back this episode because it’s just too good not to share again! As we continue talking about supporting struggling readers, this conversation feels just as relevant today. If you missed it the first time—or could use a refresher—we’re revisiting some of the biggest lessons we learned about phonics, intervention, and foundational reading skills in upper elementary.Many upper elementary teachers know their struggling readers need support with foundational reading skills, but knowing exactly what to teach—and how to fit it into an already-packed school day—can feel overwhelming. In this Dear Stellar Teacher episode, we're sharing our biggest phonics confessions, including the mistakes we made in our own classrooms and what we wish we had known about supporting struggling readers.In this episode, we're talking all things phonics, phonemic awareness, and reading intervention in upper elementary. We'll share why we didn't always prioritize systematic phonics instruction, why intervention can't simply become someone else's responsibility, and what we've learned about helping older students strengthen the foundational skills they need to become more confident readers.In this episode, we'll discuss:The biggest mistakes we made when supporting struggling readers in our own classroomsWhy systematic phonics instruction still matters in upper elementaryWhy we wish we had incorporated more phonemic awareness into our literacy instructionHow a lack of knowledge and confidence can make foundational skills instruction feel overwhelmingWhy classroom teachers still play an important role in supporting students who need interventionWhat we've learned about providing more effective decoding and foundational skills supportResources Mentioned:⭐ The Stellar Literacy Collective: stellarteacher.com/intervention

Episode 320: A Simple Framework for Your Tier 1 Literacy InstructionWhen students are struggling with reading, it's easy to immediately start thinking about intervention and small groups. But before we add more intervention, it's important to take a closer look at the instruction every student receives every day: Tier 1.How can you strengthen your Tier 1 literacy instruction without adding more to your already-full literacy block?In this episode, Tami is kicking off our Supporting Every Reader series by sharing a simple framework that can help you make your whole group literacy instruction more connected, intentional, and effective. She introduces the 3-2-1 Framework for Deeper Comprehension—a practical approach that helps students build the knowledge and skills they need before, during, and after reading.You'll learn why strong Tier 1 instruction is the foundation of literacy learning and how the 3-2-1 Framework can help you maximize the time you already have. Tammy walks you through three things to do before reading, two areas to focus on during reading, and one simple practice to use after reading—all centered around the same text.In this episode, you'll learn:Why strengthening Tier 1 instruction should come before adding more interventionWhy small groups can't carry the full weight of your literacy instructionHow to use the 3-2-1 Framework for Deeper Comprehension to strengthen whole group instructionThree things to focus on before reading: background knowledge, vocabulary, and text structureTwo areas to prioritize during reading: applying the reading standard and supporting students with syntaxWhy syntax instruction can help students make sense of complex sentencesHow writing about reading makes student thinking visible and deepens comprehensionWhy stronger Tier 1 instruction isn't about doing more—it's about making the instruction you're already providing more powerful and connectedIf you're looking for a practical way to strengthen your Tier 1 literacy instruction, this episode will give you a simple framework you can start using right away. The goal isn't to squeeze more into your literacy block, but to make the time you already have work harder for every student.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 goalsHow to choose one meaningful area of growth instead of trying to improve everything at oncePractical ways to turn your goals into daily and weekly habitsSimple ideas for building stronger relationships with students and families from the very beginning of the yearWhy giving yourself grace is an essential part of personal and professional growthHow an accountability partner can help you stay committed to your goals all year longIf 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

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 classroomsIf 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. 🎧📚🍎

Your Literacy Block: Part 3If you've ever wondered whether phonemic awareness and phonics still matter in upper elementary, this episode is for you!While these foundational skills are often associated with primary grades, many students in third, fourth, and fifth grade continue to struggle because of gaps in their word recognition skills. In this episode, we're unpacking the difference between phonemic awareness and phonics, why both are essential for reading success, and how teachers can provide targeted support without overhauling their entire literacy block.In this episode, we'll discuss:The difference between phonemic awareness and phonicsWhy foundational reading skills still matter in grades 3–5How gaps in word recognition impact fluency and comprehensionScarborough’s Reading Rope and the role of word recognitionPractical phonemic awareness activities for upper elementary studentsEffective phonics routines and instructional strategiesWays to provide targeted support without adding more to your plateResources Mentioned:⭐The Stellar Literacy Collective: stellarteacher.com/slc