Stellar Teacher Podcast with Sara Marye

Phonics in upper elementary wasn't something we always knew how to approach when we were classroom teachers. We knew we had struggling readers. We knew some of our students had significant gaps in their foundational reading skills. But knowing exactly what to teach—and how to fit that instruction into an already packed literacy block—was another story. That's why we're bringing back this Dear Stellar Teacher episode. As we continue talking about supporting struggling readers, this conversation feels just as important today.

Differentiation vs intervention —what's the difference, and how do you know which one your struggling readers actually need? These two terms are used all the time in education, and sometimes they're even used interchangeably. But differentiation and intervention serve two very different purposes. Understanding the difference can help you move beyond simply giving a struggling reader more support and start giving them the right type of support.

When students struggle with reading, it's easy to immediately start thinking about intervention. Who needs a small group? Who needs Tier 2 support? What additional practice can we squeeze into an already packed school day? But before adding more intervention, it's important to look at the instruction every student receives every day: Tier 1 literacy instruction. Strong Tier 1 instruction is the foundation of an effective literacy block. And strengthening it doesn't mean adding another program, routine, or activity to your schedule. In this episode of The Stellar Teacher Podcast, Tami is sharing a simple way to make the literacy instruction you're already providing more connected, intentional, and effective.

The MTSS framework is one of those things teachers hear about all the time—but understanding exactly what MTSS looks like in your classroom can feel a little less clear. What is the difference between Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3? Who receives intervention? How do you know when a student needs additional support? And where does your everyday classroom instruction fit into all of this? In this episode of The Stellar Teacher Podcast, Emily is breaking down the basics of the MTSS framework to help you understand what it is, why it matters, and what it means for you as a classroom teacher. And if MTSS has ever felt complicated or overwhelming, our goal is to make it feel much simpler.