Podcast · Learning

Stellar Teacher Podcast: A Podcast for Upper Elementary Teachers

by Sara Marye, Literacy Teacher, Elementary Teacher · English · Learning

Welcome to The Stellar Teacher Podcast! We believe teaching literacy is a skill. It takes time, practice, and support to become the literacy teacher you want to be. This podcast will help you level up your literacy instruction, build your confidence, and make a meaningful impact with your students—a

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 19 min
Latest: 12 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

12 Oct 2026 · 22 minNew

328: Small Group Behavior Management: What to Do With the Rest of Your Class

Have you ever sat down to teach a small group only to realize you’re spending half your attention wondering what the rest of your class is doing? Maybe students are interrupting you with questions. Someone is suddenly wandering around the room. Another student has been “working” on the same question for 20 minutes. And you’re starting to wonder: How am I supposed to actually teach my small group AND manage everyone else? If small groups feel harder than you expected, it doesn’t mean you’re doing them wrong. In this episode, Sara and Emily are wrapping up our Small Group Success series by…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

5 Oct 2026 · 19 min
327: What Should the Rest of Your Class Do During Small Groups?
Episode 327: What Should the Rest of Your Class Do During Small Groups? You’ve planned an intentional lesson for the students at your small group table—but then comes the other question: What should the rest of your class be doing while you teach? For years, Emily assumed small group instruction automatically meant centers and rotations. One group was doing word work, another was reading, another was on the computer—and every 15 minutes, everyone rotated. But small groups don’t have to be that complicated. Your students can all work on the same meaningful literacy activity, or you can rely…
28 Sep 2026 · 52 min
326: Making Small Group Instruction More Effective with Dr. Julia Lindsey
Small group instruction is a regular part of many literacy blocks—but what actually makes a small group effective? And do you really need to meet with every student every day? In this episode, Emily is joined by Dr. Julia Lindsey to rethink some of the traditional ways teachers approach small group reading instruction. Instead of starting with rotations, reading levels, or the pressure to get every student to the teacher table, Julia encourages teachers to start with something much more important: the specific needs of their students. Julia shares why small group instruction is most powerful…
21 Sep 2026 · 13 min
325: The Real Purpose of Small Group Instruction
Small group instruction is probably built into your literacy block—but have you ever stopped to ask: What is the actual purpose of small groups? For years, Emily knew she was supposed to teach small groups, but she wasn't always sure what students should actually be doing once they got to the teacher table. Like many teachers, she focused on creating groups, planning rotations, finding leveled texts, and managing the rest of the class. But the most important question often got overlooked: What do these students need to practice with my support? In this episode, Emily breaks down the real…
14 Sep 2026 · 21 min
324: 6 Small Group Mistakes We Made as Classroom Teachers
Small group instruction can be one of the most powerful parts of your literacy block—but it can also be one of the hardest to figure out. In this episode, Sara and Emily are bringing back our Dear Stellar Teacher style episodes and sharing six small group mistakes they made in their own classrooms (and what they would do differently now!). In this episode, we talk about: Why too much teacher talk can take away from the practice and feedback students really need. Why you don’t need to meet with every student in a small group every day (or even every week). How relying on one data point or…
7 Sep 2026 · 13 min
323: Putting MTSS into Practice in Your Literacy Classroom
What does MTSS actually look like in your upper elementary literacy classroom? Understanding the tiers is one thing, but knowing what instruction should look like at Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 can feel much more complicated. In this episode, Emily breaks down how to put MTSS into practice with practical examples you can use in your literacy block. You’ll learn what strong Tier 1 literacy instruction should include, how to identify the specific skills students need during Tier 2, and how Tier 3 increases the intensity of support without necessarily requiring an entirely different program.…
31 Aug 2026 · 29 min
[Listen Again]: The 3 Steps to Take This School Year If You’re Always Saying “I Wish I Had More Time”
[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…
27 Aug 2026 · 24 min
322: How to Support Struggling Readers Without Neglecting the Rest of Your Class
If you have a handful of students who need intensive phonics intervention, a few who are reading well above grade level, and everyone else somewhere in the middle, you might be wondering: How am I supposed to meet all of these needs without burning myself out? The good news is that meeting every student's needs doesn't mean giving every student the exact same support. In this episode, Sara is breaking down how to support your struggling readers while still making sure the rest of your class is getting meaningful, appropriately challenging literacy instruction. She shares a helpful doctor…
24 Aug 2026 · 21 min
[Listen Again] Dear Stellar Teacher: Our Phonics and Intervention Confessions (and What We Would Do Differently!)
[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…
20 Aug 2026 · 13 min
321: Differentiation vs. Intervention: What's the Difference?
Episode 321: Differentiation vs. Intervention: What’s the Difference? Raise your hand if you have a struggling reader in your classroom. Now, keep your hand raised if you've ever wondered: Am I actually giving this student the support they need? Differentiation and intervention are two terms that get thrown around all the time, and they're often used interchangeably. But they serve two very different purposes. Understanding the difference can help you identify what your struggling readers actually need and make more intentional instructional decisions. In this episode, we're talking all…
17 Aug 2026 · 11 min
320: A Simple Framework for Your Tier 1 Literacy Instruction
Episode 320: A Simple Framework for Your Tier 1 Literacy Instruction When 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…
13 Aug 2026 · 14 min
319: MTSS Explained: What Every Upper Elementary Teacher Needs to Know
Episode 319: MTSS 101: What Every Teacher Needs to Know MTSS is one of those education acronyms that can quickly start to feel overwhelming. What does it all actually mean, and how does it fit together? What exactly is MTSS—and what does it mean for you as a classroom teacher? In this episode, Emily is breaking down the basics of MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) to help you understand what it is, why it matters, and how your everyday instruction fits into the framework. She also clears up one of the biggest misconceptions about MTSS: it's not a separate program just for struggling…
10 Aug 2026 · 12 min
318: What Kind of Teacher Do You Want to Be this Year?
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…
6 Aug 2026 · 25 min
[Listen Again] Reading Intervention Made Easy: 15-Minute Lessons for Struggling Readers in Upper Elementary
In this replay episode of The Stellar Teacher Podcast, we're giving you a behind-the-scenes look at one of our most exciting new resources—the Stellar Teacher Reading Intervention Kit ! I’m joined by my teammate Emily, one of our amazing curriculum writers and the mastermind behind this new intervention resource designed specifically for upper elementary students who struggle with decoding. If you’ve ever felt unsure about how to approach reading intervention or wondered how to fit it into your already packed schedule, this episode is for you. Emily and I talk candidly about the biggest…
3 Aug 2026 · 13 min
317: Back-to-School Anxiety? Here's What Every Teacher Needs to Remember
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…
27 Jul 2026 · 20 min
315. The First Day of School Doesn't Need to Be Perfect (And That's Actually the Goal)
Part 4: New Teacher Blueprint Series The first day of school comes with a lot of pressure. Teachers often feel like they need the perfect lesson plans, the perfect activities, and a perfectly organized schedule to make the day successful. But what if the goal isn't perfection? In this episode, Meghan, Stellar Team member AND 5th Grade teacher, is sharing a different approach to planning your first day of school... one that focuses on what matters most! You'll learn how to prioritize relationships and routines, build meaningful connections throughout the day, teach procedures in a way that…
20 Jul 2026 · 14 min
314. The Simple Framework for Teaching Procedures That Actually Stick
Part 3: New Teacher Blueprint Series The first few weeks of school can make or break the rest of your year—and one of the biggest factors in creating a smooth, productive classroom is teaching procedures effectively. In this episode of The Stellar Teacher Podcast, we're continuing our New Teacher Blueprint series by walking through a simple framework for teaching classroom procedures that actually stick. If you've ever explained a routine, watched your students nod along, and then completely forget what to do moments later, you're not alone. The reality is that procedures need to be taught…
16 Jul 2026 · 27 min
[Listen Again] Multilingual Learner Support with Dr. Jana Echevarría and Dr. Jeannette Mancilla
In this replay episode, literacy experts Dr. Jana Echevarría and Dr. Jeannette Mancilla-Martinez share research-backed insights and practical strategies for supporting multilingual learners in upper elementary classrooms. You'll learn why the term multilingual learner matters, the difference between conversational and academic language, and how teachers can provide grade-level instruction while supporting language development. Our guests also share actionable ways to integrate listening, speaking, reading, and writing into everyday lessons so multilingual learners can thrive. If you're…
13 Jul 2026 · 11 min
313. You Don't Need to Teach 100 Procedures. Start with These
Part 2: New Teacher Blueprint Series The beginning of the school year comes with a long list of classroom procedures to teach... but here's the good news: you don't have to teach all of them at once. In this episode of The New Teacher Blueprint series, Tami is breaking down the classroom procedures that matter most during the first days of school. Instead of trying to tackle an overwhelming checklist, you'll learn how to prioritize the routines students need right away so you can create a calm, organized, and successful classroom environment. We'll discuss: ✔ Why you don't need to teach…
9 Jul 2026 · 29 min
[Listen Again] 7 Research-Backed Strategies for Reading Success with Lindsay Kemeny
If you're working to align your literacy instruction with the science of reading, this listener favorite interview is for you! In this conversation, literacy expert and author Lindsay Kemeny shares the 7 research-backed strategies from her book Seven Mighty Moves that help teachers strengthen reading instruction and support all learners. Lindsay discusses how her experience supporting her son with dyslexia transformed her teaching and led her to embrace structured literacy practices. In this episode, you'll learn: ✔️ The 7 "mighty moves" that improve reading outcomes ✔️ How to bridge the gap…
6 Jul 2026 · 19 min
312. How to Set Up Your Classroom (Without Overthinking It)
Part 1: New Teacher Blueprint Getting your classroom ready for a new school year can feel overwhelming. Between Pinterest-perfect classrooms, endless classroom décor ideas, and a growing back-to-school to-do list, it's easy to spend time focusing on things that won't actually make your year easier. In this first episode of our New Teacher Blueprint series, Tami and Meghan are sharing practical classroom setup tips that will help you create a space that works for both you and your students. You'll hear why function should come before decoration, how to think through your classroom layout, and…
2 Jul 2026 · 13 min
311. Small Group Instruction Made Simple: How to Use Data to Support Every Reader
Part 6: Your Literacy Block Series Learn how to make small group instruction purposeful and effective. Tami breaks down the five key questions about small groups: what they are, what they look like, how they differ from whole group, how much time to spend, and real examples using Stellar Literacy Collective resources. Perfect for upper elementary teachers looking to differentiate literacy instruction and meet student needs. Topics Covered: Defining small group instruction vs. whole group Forming fluid groups based on student data Time management for small groups Word study & morphology…
29 Jun 2026 · 11 min
310. Writing Belongs in Your Literacy Block (Here's How)
Part 5: Your Literacy Block Series In this episode of our Your Literacy Block series, Emily is talking all about writing— and why it deserves a place in every upper elementary literacy block. Many teachers think of writing as essays, state testing, and lengthy writing projects.... but writing can be so much more than that. When students write about what they read, they deepen comprehension, organize their thinking, and make their learning visible. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why writing and reading are so closely connected • The importance of sentence-level writing instruction • How…
25 Jun 2026 · 18 min
[Listen Again] Why Reading Fluency Matters More Than You Think
Think fluency instruction is only for primary grades? Think again. In this episode, we're unpacking why reading fluency remains one of the most important—and often overlooked—components of literacy instruction in upper elementary. You'll learn how fluency impacts comprehension, the common signs students are struggling, and simple ways to build meaningful fluency practice into your literacy block. Plus, we’ll share an easy-to-implement 5 day fluency routine that can help students become more confident, expressive, and successful readers. Fluency isn't just about reading faster, it’s the…
21 Jun 2026 · 12 min
309. Fluency - The Bridge Between Decoding & Comprehension
Your Literacy Block: Part 4 Fluency is more than reading fast — it's the bridge between word recognition and comprehension. In this episode of the Your Literacy Block series, Emily breaks down what reading fluency really means, why upper elementary students still need explicit fluency instruction, and three simple, research-backed activities you can start using this week. You'll learn: the 3 components of fluency: accuracy, automaticity, and prosody How fluency connects to Scarborough's Reading Rope Why upper elementary teachers often overlook fluency instruction 3 quick fluency activities:…
18 Jun 2026 · 32 min
[Listen Again] Intervention Strategies for Struggling Readers with Shannon Moore
Supporting struggling readers is one of the most important—and often most challenging—parts of literacy instruction. When intervention time is limited and student needs vary widely, it can be difficult to know where to focus your efforts. In this episode, literacy specialist Shannon Moore joins us to discuss the key components of effective reading intervention and how teachers can create systems that lead to meaningful student growth. Whether you're responsible for intervention groups, supporting students during your literacy block, or looking for ways to strengthen your school's…
15 Jun 2026 · 11 min
308. Phonics & Phonemic Awareness: Closing Gaps in Upper Elementary
Your Literacy Block: Part 3 If 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…
11 Jun 2026 · 25 min
[Listen Again] How the Brain Learns Words (and Why It Matters for Reading Success) with Dr. Molly Ness
We replayed an interview with Dr. Molly Ness last week... and we just could not help airing this one too! We love our interview episodes. What helps a word move from something students have to sound out to something they instantly recognize? In this episode, literacy researcher and educator Dr. Molly Ness joins us to explore orthographic mapping—the process that allows readers to permanently store words in memory for quick and effortless retrieval. If you've ever worked with students who can decode a word one day but seem to forget it the next, this conversation will help explain why. Dr.…
8 Jun 2026 · 10 min
307. The 5-Minute Word Study Routine That Builds Reading Confidence
Your Literacy Block Series: Part 2 If your students freeze when they come across long, unfamiliar words while reading, this episode is for you. In today’s episode of The Stellar Teacher Podcast, we’re talking about how morphology instruction can completely change reading confidence for upper elementary students. You’ll learn how teaching prefixes, suffixes, roots, and base words helps students decode unfamiliar vocabulary, improve spelling, and strengthen comprehension. We also break down what explicit morphology instruction actually looks like during whole group, small group, and…
4 Jun 2026 · 32 min
[Listen Again] Why Every Literacy Block Needs Read-Alouds with Molly Ness
Are read-alouds still worth making time for in an upper elementary classroom? According to literacy researcher and author Dr. Molly Ness—they absolutely are. In this episode, we dive into the research-backed benefits of read-alouds and why they still play an essential role in a Science of Reading-aligned literacy block. From building vocabulary and background knowledge to increasing engagement and comprehension, Dr. Ness shares practical insights teachers can immediately apply in their classrooms. If you’ve ever questioned whether read-alouds are “enough” academically, this conversation will…

About Stellar Teacher Podcast: A Podcast for Upper Elementary Teachers

Stellar Teacher Podcast: A Podcast for Upper Elementary Teachers is a English learning podcast from Sara Marye, Literacy Teacher, Elementary Teacher. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Sara Marye, Literacy Teacher, Elementary Teacher
Language: English
Category: Learning
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 19 min
Latest episode: 12 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1545647129

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