Teachers Ask Jen Serravallo

Welcome to Season 2, Episode 12! In this episode, Jen responds to this question: “I’m curious about what your conferring notes look like. Do you have conventions or abbreviations that you use find work to communicate between co-teachers? What are you writing down specifically? I would find it helpful to see what proficient conferring teachers’ [...]

Welcome to Season 2, Episode 11! In this episode, Jen responds to two question from Mary. First: “What kind of professional development do you recommend for reading specialists working with K-2 students?” And then: “When it comes to struggling readers – what should take priority? Skills or time spent reading?” Thank you, Mary! The answer [...]

Welcome to Season 2, Episode 10! In this episode, Jen responds to a question from Lisa: “In a K/1 classroom, what is your ideal balance for guided reading, strategy groups, and conferring during independent reading? I have trouble fitting it all in! my principal really pushes guided reading, so that’s where my focus has been, [...]

Welcome to Season 2, Episode 9! In this episode, Jen responds to a question from Carol: “What kind of reading responses would you want students in grades 3-5 to write in their reading notebook during the first few weeks of class?” Thank you, Carol! Carol’s question is specific, but Jen broadens her response to address [...]

Welcome to Season 2, Episode 8! In this episode, Jen responds to a question from Glenda: “I work with 2-5 grade LA teachers. One topic that comes up is reserving titles for certain grade levels. I can understand a couple of titles for read alouds, but at some point I feel like it’s unfair to [...]

Welcome to Season 2, Episode 7! In this episode, Jen responds to a question from a teacher who wises to remain anonymous: “Can you share suggestions on how we can include parents in our conversation about how to grow readers and writers? The balanced literacy approach is uncomfortable for many parents. This often leads to [...]

Welcome to Season 2, Episode 6! In this episode, Jen responds to a question from Dani: “I would love if you could share any ideas on how you do encourage home involvement. That’s really what a reading log assesses, I think. I really don’t want to do a reading log, but I think parents may [...]

Welcome to Season 2, Episode 5! In this episode, Jen responds to three questions, all related to reading logs: Lorie asks, “Reading logs: essential tool or love-of-reading killer?” Jessie asks, “Is there a point when keeping reading logs should become the reader’s choice? If so, when is it okay to provide students with that choice?” [...]

Welcome to Season 2, Episode 4! This episode’s question comes from Katie Limbaugh Foristal: “How do you teach Reading Workshop with a basal?” As Jen says, a big question in very few words. Thank you, Katie. Subscribe in iTunes Do you have a question? You can ask it on the Teacher Learning Sessions Facebook page. [...]

Welcome to Season 2, Episode 3! In this episode, Jen answers this question from Tracey: “I want to assess my students (2nd graders) using our F&P assessment kit to find their current reading levels. What tips do you have to assess them (all 32 of them) in a timely manner? It still takes me a [...]

Welcome to Season 2, Episode 2! In this episode, Jen answers this question from Tricia: “My building is being asked by our principal to focus on improving the appropriate use of capitals and punctuation with our students. I would love to offer ideas that are workshop-friendly.” Thank you very much for your question, Tricia. Subscribe [...]

Welcome to Season 2! We are so grateful for the opportunity to bring you more episodes. Thank you for all your support for Season 1. In this episode, Jen answers this question from Angela Perry Fairless: “I am a first grade teacher after 16 years in second. I never used centers in my second grade [...]

This episode marks the end of Season 1 of Teachers Ask Jen Serravallo! Season 2 of Teacher Ask Jen Serravallo will launch in September of 2016. Until then, the episodes from Season 1 will appear weekly in your podcast feed. In a few months we will start offering short-form professional development video from Jen. You’ll be [...]

Welcome to episode #21! In this episode, Jen answers a question focused on non-fiction and one of the most challenging aspects of reading… “What are some strategies for third and fourth grade students still struggling with main idea?” Thank you for the question! Subscribe in iTunes Do you have a question? You can ask it [...]

Welcome to episode #20! In this episode, Jen answers a question from Glenda… “How does a guided reading group look different in the upper grades vs. primary? How do I plan for it?“ Thank you for the question, Glenda! Subscribe in iTunes Do you have a question? You can ask it here, where you can [...]

Welcome to episode #19! In this episode, Jen answers a question from another teacher called Swiger… “Any tips on how to confer with readers when you have not had the chance to read the book?“ Thank you for the question, Swiger! Subscribe in iTunes Do you have a question? You can ask it here, where you [...]

Welcome to episode #18! In this episode, Jen answers a question from another teacher named Jen… “In upper elementary grades (4 and 5), is it important for students to write about a chapter book once they’ve finished it in order to do a final reflection and savor it? Or is this just drudgery? What is [...]

Welcome to episode #17! In this episode, Jen answers a question from Glenda… “Having taught primary, I feel comfortable with guided reading. However in the higher grades I now have students not on reading level that also need to pass the state test as well as have strategy groups. How do I balance when I [...]

Welcome to episode #16! In this episode, Jen answers a question from Allison… “In a recent podcast about ELLs you talked about guided reading lessons versus strategy lessons. Can you please talk more about the difference between the two, and how you define each one?” Thank you for the question, Allison! Subscribe in iTunes The [...]

Welcome to episode #15! In this episode, Jen answers… “My readalouds start off good, but soon the kids are just making crazy guesses about plot only. How do I fix this?” and… “I have some discouraged, struggling readers. How can I get them up to grade level?” Subscribe in iTunes Do you have a question? [...]

Welcome to episode #14! In this episode, Jen answers this teacher question… I’m afraid that our schools are teaching our kids that reading is only about reading short passages and answering multiple choice questions or writing short responses. How can I assess reading that truly drives instruction without turning it mini-standardized testing sessions? Thank you very [...]

Welcome to episode #13! In this episode, Jen answers this listener question… Reading Stamina! How do I get this in my 2nd grade class?!? I saw in your book that you had some students chart this? But what where they charting, the minutes read? I started them of in reading partners, but it is not [...]

Welcome to episode #12! In this episode, Jen answers this listener question… What format, or organizational method, would you recommend for teachers who are newbies to Reading Workshop and are trying to keep conferring notes (anecdotal notes, observations) on each student…Binders? Apps?? Thank you very much for your question. Subscribe in iTunes Do you have [...]

Welcome to episode #11! In this episode, Jen answers this listener question… Readers are not always excited about the opportunity to reread their books. Many don’t see why they have to reread. How can we help readers engage in meaningful rereading of texts? How can we make rereading purposeful? Thank you very much for your [...]

Welcome to episode #10! In this episode, Jen answers a question from Shelley… Does it make sense for kids to be divided by instructional reading level for whole group instruction? Thank you very much for your question, Shelley. Subscribe in iTunes Do you have a question? You can ask it here, where you can also [...]

Welcome to episode #9! In this episode, Jen answers a question from Jessie… “What tips do you have for teachers to engage students in the goal setting process? Does it look different in primary versus intermediate students?” Thank you very much for your question, Jessie. Subscribe in iTunes Do you have a question? You can [...]

Welcome to episode #8! In this episode, Jen answers… Should a child’s ability to respond to comprehension questions in writing determine their independent reading level? Thank you very much for your question, Valerie. Subscribe in iTunes Do you have a question? You can ask it here, where you can also see what others are asking. [...]

Welcome to episode #7! In this episode, Jen answers… “How do you deal with students who present discipline issues and are distracting to other students?” and… “Some of my kids seem so distracted and unable to focus. Many of them are dealing with hard situations at home. How do I make my classroom become a [...]

Welcome to episode #6! In this episode, Jen answers… “What advice can you give about how I can best help my English Language Learners, especially when their decoding and comprehension seem out of balance from each other?” and… “How do I support an English Language Learner who has very limited English?” Subscribe in iTunes Do [...]

Welcome to episode #5! In this episode, Jen answers… “My readalouds start off good, but soon the kids are just making crazy guesses about plot only. How do I fix this?” and… “I have some discouraged, struggling readers. How can I get them up to grade level?” Subscribe in iTunes Do you have a question? [...]

Welcome to episode #4! In this episode, Jen answers… “How much do you try to connect a conference to whole class teaching vs. focusing on that student’s individual needs?” and… “How do you motivate reluctant readers to keep trying to find books to love?” (updated Q!) Subscribe in iTunes Do you have a question? You [...]

Welcome to episode #3! In this episode, Jen answers… “I always struggle with how to help a child who has great fluency but little comprehension. (might be basic for some teachers, but difficult for me)” Thank you, Anne. Subscribe in iTunes Do you have a question? You can ask it here, where you can also [...]

Welcome to episode #2! In this episode, Jen answers… “I’ve always heard the adage, “Teach the reader, not the book.” So, how do you recommend getting started/meeting students where they’re at?” Thank you for asking, Jennifer! and… “I m a young teacher, and I feel like I just don t have that many reading strategies that [...]

Welcome to the very first episode! Jen explains what you can expect from this podcast and answers the very first teacher question, which comes from Paula in Idaho. Subscribe in iTunes Do you have a question? You can ask it here, where you can also see what others are asking. You can also join the [...]