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.<...

[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 absolute...

306. Comprehension: A Simple Research-Backed Framework That Actually Works

Your Literacy Block Series: Part 1
If you’ve ever wondered:
“How do I actually help my students comprehend what they read?” …this episode...

305. [Listen Again] Let Them Be Bored: Why Boredom Might Be Exactly What Kids Need with Mike Bender and Chuck Dillon

304. 7 Things Your Future Teacher Self Will Thank You For

The school year is almost over, but before you fully switch into summer mode, there are a few things your future teacher self will be so thankful you...

303. Want More Engagement in May? Try These 3 Literacy Moves

In this episode, Emily shares 3 simple, low-prep literacy moves that still make a big impact at the end of the year (hello increased engagement!). You...

302. Hey Teachers, Don't Miss the Magic of May

May can feel exhausting, emotional, and chaotic but it can also be one of the most meaningful months of the school year. In this episode, Tami and Sar...

301. 3 Things That Actually Matter Before the School Year Ends

As the school year comes to a close, it’s easy to feel pressure to squeeze in one more lesson, finish one more project, or check off every remaining s...

300. You Can Love Teaching and Still Want It to Be Easier

If teaching feels harder than usual right now, you’re not alone—and you’re not doing it wrong.
In this special 🎉300th episode🎉, Emily and Tami...

299. 1 Thing Your Students Actually Need Right Now

Feeling the pressure to try something new before testing season?
In this episode, Emily and 5th grade teacher Meghan share why that instinct mig...

298. Why It's Not Too Late to Support Struggling Readers

Sign up for our FREE test prep email series: stellarteacher.com/testprep! Get 3 free lessons straight to your inbox.
If you’ve ever reached Apri...

297. The Difference Between Feedback and Noise

In this episode, Sara and Kori discuss the difference between helpful feedback and noise in teaching. With so many opinions and suggestions coming fro...

296. What Calm Classrooms Actually Have in Common (Spoiler: it’s not decor!)

What do calm classrooms actually look like? Contrary to what many people think, calm classrooms aren’t always silent or perfectly still. Instead, they...

295. Teaching Is a Long Game: A Reminder for Teachers Feeling the Pressure

In this episode of the Stellar Teacher Podcast, Kori shares an encouraging reminder that many educators need to hear — teaching is a long game. When t...

294. The Most Expensive Test Prep Mistake Happens Before the Question

As much as we prepare students with practice passages and strategy review, many performance struggles happen before students even answer a question.

293. [Listen Again] Dear Stellar Teacher: How Can I Make Test Prep Season More Effective and Less Overwhelming?

Standardized testing season is coming — and if you’re already feeling the pressure of long testing days, restless students, and review overload, you’r...

Navigating the Challenges of Required Curriculum

Summary
In this episode of the Stellar Teacher Podcast, host Sara Marye discusses the challenges and strategies for teachers dealing with mandat...

291. When You Can’t Stop Rethinking Everything You Said, Taught, or Did

In this episode of the Stellar Teacher Podcast, hosts Sara Marye and Emily discuss the common struggle of second-guessing oneself in teaching. They ex...

290. You Are the Expert: Why Your Professional Judgment Matters

In this episode of the Stellar Teacher Podcast, Sara is joined by a member of the Stellar Teacher Team and they discuss the importance of trusting pro...

Embracing Imperfection in Teaching

In this episode of the Stellar Teacher Podcast, Emily and Tami discuss the pressures teachers face to make every lesson extraordinary.
They expl...

288. Choosing Intention Over Perfection

In this episode, I’m sharing why I’ve moved away from setting traditional New Year’s resolutions and what has actually helped me create meaningful, su...

287. 5 Myths About Small Group Instruction (And What to Believe Instead) [Listen Again]

In this episode, I’m diving into small group instruction and addressing five common myths that I hear all the time in the teacher space. Small groups...

286. Dear Stellar Teacher: Making Space for More Joy This Year

In this first Dear Stellar Teacher episode of 2026, Emily and I are kicking off the new year by talking about something that doesn’t get nearly enough...

285. Implementing Classroom Routines for a Strong Second Semester

In this episode, I’m talking all about implementing classroom routines as we head into the second semester. This time of year can feel exciting and ov...

284. 5 Steps to Teaching with Thematic Units [Listen Again]

In today’s episode, I’m sharing one of my favorite ways to bring more purpose, connection, and deeper learning into your literacy block: thematic plan...

283. Your Guide to Teaching Syllabication in Upper Elementary [Listen Again]

In today’s episode, I’m unpacking a skill that often gets overlooked in upper elementary but has a huge impact on whether students can read big words...

282. 4 Ways to Easily Incorporate Movement into Your Instructional Day [Listen Again]

In this episode, I’m kicking off December with a little real talk about this wild stretch between Thanksgiving and winter break—and how we can make it...

281. 5 Reasons Why You Need to Spend More Time on Sentence Writing in Upper Elementary [Listen Again]

In today’s episode, I’m diving into a small but mighty part of literacy instruction that has a huge impact on your students’ reading and writing succe...

280. Slow Down to Show Up: A Thanksgiving Reminder for Teachers

As we head into Thanksgiving week, I know things can start to feel a little chaotic. Schedules are disjointed, students are distracted, and you’re pro...

279. Plot Twist: Student Engagement Doesn’t Happen by Accident

There are so many times as teachers when we realize we’re the ones doing all the heavy lifting during our lessons—talking, thinking, and writing—while...

278. Scaffolding That Sticks: 4 Steps to Support Student Learning

If you’ve ever wrapped up what felt like a perfectly modeled lesson only to see blank stares when your students try it on their own, you’re not alone....

277. 3 Simple Summarizing Frames to Boost Comprehension

In this episode of The Stellar Teacher Podcast, I’m diving into one of the most important and challenging comprehension skills we can teach our studen...

276. Intervention That Works: A 5-Day Framework for Busy Teachers

In this episode of The Stellar Teacher Podcast, I’m sharing a simple, effective five-day routine to help upper elementary students who are struggling...

275. How to Use Agree or Disagree Statements to Activate Background Knowledge

In this episode of The Stellar Teacher Podcast, I share a simple but powerful strategy to help students activate background knowledge before reading:...

274. How to Help Students Read Big Words With Confidence

In this episode of The Stellar Teacher Podcast, I share a practical, step-by-step strategy to help upper elementary students tackle multi-syllabic wor...

273. Dear Stellar Teacher: How Do I Effectively Teach A Novel Study?

In this episode of Dear Stellar Teacher, Emily and I dive into the world of novel studies for upper elementary classrooms. We share some of our favori...

272. Multilingual Learner Support: Practical Strategies for Upper Elementary Teachers with Dr. Jana Echevarría and Dr. Jeannette Mancilla-Martinez

In this episode of The Stellar Teacher Podcast, I dive into a critical topic for upper elementary classrooms: supporting multilingual learners (MLLs)....

271. [Listen Again] Maximize Your Read Alouds With These 3 Tips

Being an elementary teacher, you know how important read-alouds are in your classroom. They offer many benefits, from fostering a love of literacy to...

270. Explicit, Systematic Writing Instruction for Upper Elementary with Dr. Karen Harris and Dr Steven Graham

Writing is one of the most complex skills our students will ever learn—and one that is often overlooked. In this episode of the Stellar Teacher Podcas...

269. [Listen Again] Scheduling Tips for Creating an Effective Literacy Block (SOR Summer Series Part 7)

As we wrap up our Science of Reading Summer Series, it’s time to start thinking about next year and how to make your literacy block both effective and...