Shanahan on Literacy
Timothy Shanahan is a renowned expert on the teaching of literacy. This podcast addresses practical issues in teaching students to read and to read better.
Latest Episodes
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Do Decodables Promote Love of Reading? What Books Launch Lifetime Readers?
OCTOBER 31, 2026
Many teachers wonder if decodable texts undermine kids' interests in and love of reading. This podcast explores that idea and explains the sources of kids' interests in reading and how adults may see things differently than children do.
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What Are the “Look Fors” in Secondary Literacy Programs?
OCTOBER 17, 2026
There are scads of evaluative criteria for examining reading and English Language Arts programs aimed at elementary school kids. But what about ELA programs for use in the middle and high school? Wouldn't it be just as good for teachers to teach novels at these grades -- rather than adopting a...
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Reading Achievement and the Long Tail of the Pandemic
OCTOBER 03, 2026
The latest PISA scores reveal that reading achievement is still dropping for many populations of 15 year olds. This podcast explores what -- if anything -- can be done to reverse these ongoing aftereffects of the 2020 pandemic (yep, it is still with us).
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