About this episode

The episode revisits key lessons on phonics and intervention for supporting struggling readers in upper elementary education.

[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…

People in this episode

Host: Sara Marye

Topics covered

• phonics
• intervention
• reading skills
• struggling readers
• upper elementary education

Keywords

• phonics
• intervention
• reading skills
• struggling readers
• phonemic awareness
• systematic instruction
• upper elementary

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Stellar Teacher Podcast

More episodes of Stellar Teacher Podcast: A Podcast for Upper Elementary Teachers

• Episode 323: Putting MTSS into Practice in Your Literacy Classroom · September 7, 2026 · 13 min
• [Listen Again]: The 3 Steps to Take This School Year If You’re Always Saying “I Wish I Had More Time” · August 31, 2026 · 29 min
• Episode 322: How to Support Struggling Readers Without Neglecting the Rest of Your Class · August 27, 2026 · 24 min
• Episode 321: Differentiation vs. Intervention: What's the Difference? · August 20, 2026 · 13 min
• Episode 320: A Simple Framework for Your Tier 1 Literacy Instruction · August 17, 2026 · 11 min
• Episode 319: MTSS Explained: What Every Upper Elementary Teacher Needs to Know · August 13, 2026 · 14 min

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