Stellar Teacher Podcast: A Podcast for Upper Elementary Teachers

By Sara Marye, Literacy Teacher, Elementary Teacher

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Subscribers: 7
Reviews: 0
Episodes: 200

Description

Welcome to the Stellar Teacher Podcast! We believe teaching literacy is a skill. It takes a lot of time, practice, and effort to be good at it. This podcast will show you how to level up your literacy instruction and make a massive impact with your students, all while having a little fun! Your host, Sara Marye, is a literacy specialist passionate about helping elementary teachers around the world pass on their love of reading to their students. She has over a decade of experience working as a classroom teacher and school administrator. Sara has made it her mission to create high quality no-fluff resources and lesson ideas that are both meaningful and engaging for young readers. Each week, Sara and her guests will share their knowledge, tips, and tricks so that you can feel confident in your ability to transform your students into life-long readers. For printable and digital resources, head to stellarteacher.com. Connect with Sara on Instagram @thestellarteachercompany

Episode Date
292. Navigating the Challenges of Required Curriculum
Feb 23, 2026
291. When You Can’t Stop Rethinking Everything You Said, Taught, or Did
Feb 16, 2026
290. You Are the Expert: Why Your Professional Judgment Matters
Feb 09, 2026
289. Embracing Imperfection in Teaching
Feb 01, 2026
288. Choosing Intention Over Perfection
Jan 19, 2026
287. 5 Myths About Small Group Instruction (And What to Believe Instead) [Listen Again]
Jan 12, 2026
286. Dear Stellar Teacher: Making Space for More Joy This Year
Jan 06, 2026
285. Implementing Classroom Routines for a Strong Second Semester
Dec 29, 2025
284. 5 Steps to Teaching with Thematic Units [Listen Again]
Dec 22, 2025
283. Your Guide to Teaching Syllabication in Upper Elementary [Listen Again]
Dec 15, 2025
282. 4 Ways to Easily Incorporate Movement into Your Instructional Day [Listen Again]
Dec 08, 2025
281. 5 Reasons Why You Need to Spend More Time on Sentence Writing in Upper Elementary [Listen Again]
Dec 01, 2025
280. Slow Down to Show Up: A Thanksgiving Reminder for Teachers
Nov 24, 2025
279. Plot Twist: Student Engagement Doesn’t Happen by Accident
Nov 17, 2025
278. Scaffolding That Sticks: 4 Steps to Support Student Learning
Nov 10, 2025
277. 3 Simple Summarizing Frames to Boost Comprehension
Nov 03, 2025
276. Intervention That Works: A 5-Day Framework for Busy Teachers
Oct 27, 2025
275. How to Use Agree or Disagree Statements to Activate Background Knowledge
Oct 20, 2025
274. How to Help Students Read Big Words With Confidence
Oct 13, 2025
273. Dear Stellar Teacher: How Do I Effectively Teach A Novel Study?
Oct 06, 2025
272. Multilingual Learner Support: Practical Strategies for Upper Elementary Teachers with Dr. Jana Echevarría and Dr. Jeannette Mancilla-Martinez
Sep 29, 2025
271. [Listen Again] Maximize Your Read Alouds With These 3 Tips
Sep 22, 2025
270. Explicit, Systematic Writing Instruction for Upper Elementary with Dr. Karen Harris and Dr Steven Graham
Sep 15, 2025
269. [Listen Again] Scheduling Tips for Creating an Effective Literacy Block (SOR Summer Series Part 7)
Sep 08, 2025
268. Dear Stellar Teacher: How Can I Use AI in My Classroom to Save Time and Reduce Stress?
Sep 01, 2025
267. [Listen Again] Episode #216 - Back to School: 3 Fun, Engaging, and Important Literacy Lessons to Teach at the Beginning of the Year
Aug 25, 2025
266. How to Support Upper Elementary Students in Reaching Grade-Level Literacy with Dr. Jan Hasbrouck
Aug 18, 2025
265. 3 Simple Steps for Effective Word Study Instruction This School Year
Aug 11, 2025
264. Dear Stellar Teacher: Navigating the Back-to-School Chaos with Confidence
Aug 04, 2025
263. Making Words Stick: Orthographic Mapping and How the Brain Learns to Read with Dr. Molly Ness
Jul 28, 2025
262. Cheers to 10 Years! Sara Marye Shares the Story Behind STC
Jul 21, 2025
261. Reading Intervention Made Easy: 15-Minute Lessons for Struggling Readers in Upper Elementary
Jul 14, 2025
260. Dear Stellar Teacher: Our Phonics and Intervention Confessions (and What We’d Do Differently!)
Jul 07, 2025
259. From Sentences to Essays: The Writing Sequence That Works
Jun 30, 2025
258. From Sentence to Paragraph: A Peek Inside Our Writing Routine
Jun 23, 2025
257. How to Strengthen Student Writing—One Sentence at a Time
Jun 16, 2025
256. 5 Signs You Might Need To Rethink Your Writing Instruction
Jun 09, 2025
255. Dear Stellar Teacher: How to Navigate Changing Grade Levels with Confidence
Jun 02, 2025
254. Supporting Multilingual Learners Through Structured Literacy with Maya Valencia Goodall and Kristie Shelley
May 26, 2025
253. Teaching with Empathy and Boundaries: Why Both Matter with Jenn Borovy
May 19, 2025
252. Finish Strong: 7 Fun & Meaningful Literacy Ideas for the End of the Year
May 12, 2025
251. Dear Stellar Teacher: Our Writing Confessions (and What We’d Do Differently!)
May 05, 2025
250. Let Them Be Bored: Why Boredom Might Be Exactly What Kids Need with Mike Bender and Chuck Dillon
Apr 28, 2025
249. Closing Learning Gaps: Practical Strategies for Supporting Struggling Readers with Dr. Cheryl Lundy Swift
Apr 21, 2025
248. Rethinking Narrative Writing: A Better Way to Teach Students to Write
Apr 14, 2025
247. Dear Stellar Teacher: How Can I Make Test Prep Season More Effective and Less Overwhelming?
Apr 07, 2025
246. Integrating SEL into Literacy to Strengthen Student Behavior with Allie Szczecinski
Mar 31, 2025
245. How To Fix This Common Mistake in Comprehension Instruction (Part 2)
Mar 24, 2025
244. Are You Making This Mistake in Your Comprehension Instruction? (Part 1)
Mar 17, 2025
243. Intervention Strategies for Struggling Readers with Shannon Moore
Mar 10, 2025
242. Dear Stellar Teacher: How can I take personal days without feeling guilty or overwhelmed?
Mar 03, 2025
241. The Secret to Expanding Students’ Vocabulary (Without More Word Lists!)
Feb 24, 2025
240. Are You Ignoring Fluency? How It’s Impacting Your Students’ Reading Success
Feb 17, 2025
239. 7 Research-Backed Strategies for Reading Success with Lindsay Kemeny
Feb 10, 2025
238. Dear Stellar Teacher, How Can I Reach My Goals Without Feeling Overwhelmed?
Feb 03, 2025
237. Reciprocal Teaching: A Research-Backed Approach to Stronger Readers
Jan 27, 2025
236. Why Read-Alouds Still Matter: Research-Backed Benefits for Every Learner with Molly Ness
Jan 20, 2025
235. 3 Powerful Routines to Boost Reading Comprehension in Your Classroom
Jan 13, 2025
234. Dear Stellar Teacher: What’s the best way to teach comprehension strategies and skills?
Jan 06, 2025
233. 5 Misconceptions About Comprehension and the Truths We Should Embrace Instead
Dec 30, 2024
232. [Listen Again] Episode #58 - 5 Creative Ways to Reteach Classroom Routines in January
Dec 23, 2024
231. [Listen Again] Episode #55 - Creative Ways to Assess Student Learning
Dec 16, 2024
230. Supporting Students with Dyslexia: Expert Tips for Teachers and Parents with Heather O'Donnell
Dec 09, 2024
229. Dear Stellar Teacher: How can I make a familiar book or resource feel fresh and engaging for my students?
Dec 02, 2024
228. The Power of Outlining: 3 Strategies to Strengthen Student Writing
Nov 25, 2024
227. Mastering Topic Sentences: 6 Strategies Every Teacher Should Know
Nov 18, 2024
226. The Powerful Impact of Sentence-Level Work
Nov 11, 2024
225. Dear Stellar Teacher: What Should Grading Look Like in My Classroom?
Nov 04, 2024
224. The Reading League Review: Key Takeaways and Insights
Oct 28, 2024
223. Help Your Students Develop A Robust Vocabulary With These 4 Engaging Strategies
Oct 21, 2024
222. The Write Stuff: How Writing Can Enhance Reading Success
Oct 14, 2024
221. Dear Stellar Teacher: How Do I Fit Everything Into My Literacy Block?
Oct 07, 2024
220. How to Help Your Students Become Masters at Decoding Multisyllabic Words With Marnie Ginsberg
Sep 30, 2024
219. 5 Game-Changing Tips for a Rock-Solid Literacy Year
Sep 23, 2024
218. A 5-Step Process to Help Students Read Multisyllabic Words
Sep 16, 2024
217. How to Integrate Writing Instruction Across All Subjects
Sep 09, 2024
216. Back to School: 3 Fun, Engaging, and Important Literacy Lessons to Teach at the Beginning of the Year
Sep 02, 2024
215. Practical And Easy Ways To Incorporate Reading Fluency Activities In Your Classroom With Aylin Claashen
Aug 26, 2024
214. Teaching Genre: Why It's Important and How To Introduce It To Your Students
Aug 19, 2024
213. 3 Easy Strategies to Embed Social Emotional Learning (SEL) into Your Classroom With Abby Moehringer
Aug 12, 2024
212. 5 Things To Do and 5 Things To Avoid When Teaching Word Study
Aug 05, 2024
211. What Is Morphology and How Do I Teach It?
Jul 29, 2024
210. How to Engage the Rest of Your Class So You Can Pull Small Groups
Jul 22, 2024
209. Scheduling Tips for Creating an Effective Literacy Block (SOR Summer Series Part 7)
Jul 18, 2024
208. 5 Steps to Better Paragraph Writing in Upper Elementary
Jul 15, 2024
207. How to Help Students Read Multisyllabic Words (SOR Summer Series Part 6)
Jul 11, 2024
206. 3 Ways to Improve Students’ Sentence Writing
Jul 08, 2024
205. 3 Ways You Can Organize Your Classroom Library (SOR Summer Series Part 5)
Jul 04, 2024
204. 4 Ways to Enhance Your Vocabulary Instruction
Jul 01, 2024
203. 5 Strategies for Improving Reading Fluency in your classroom (SOR Summer Series Part 4)
Jun 27, 2024
202. Classroom Shifts: Small Changes, Big Impacts With Meghan Hein
Jun 24, 2024
201. Using Implicit and Explicit Vocabulary Instruction to Increase Student Reading Comprehension (SOR Summer Series Part 3)
Jun 20, 2024
200. How to Make Teaching Writing Easier
Jun 17, 2024
199. Text Structure: A Roadmap for Reading (SOR Summer Series #2)
Jun 13, 2024
198. Shifting the Balance: A Conversation With Katie Egan Cunningham
Jun 10, 2024
197. 3 Simple Steps to Develop More Mental Velcro (SOR Summer Series #1)
Jun 06, 2024
196. Understanding the Science of Reading in Upper Elementary
Jun 03, 2024
195. How to Effectively Collaborate With SLPs: An Interview With Hallie Sherman
May 27, 2024
194. Must-Teach Writing Skills for the Start of School
May 20, 2024
193. 5 Things Teachers Can (And Should) Do Before Their First Year With Dr. Lori Friesen
May 13, 2024
192. 5 Easy Steps for Effective Vocabulary Instruction
May 06, 2024
191. Empowering Educators: Practical Wisdom From Melissa and Lori
Apr 29, 2024
190. Navigating the Complexities of Sentence Structure
Apr 22, 2024
189. Understanding and Supporting Sticky Student Behaviors With Sara Cottrill-Carlo From The Responsive Counselor
Apr 15, 2024
188. Beyond the Hand Raise: 5 Ways to Enhance Class Discussions
Apr 08, 2024
187. From Balanced Literacy to Structured Literacy With Anna Geiger
Apr 01, 2024
186. Don’t Let Grammar Be the Star of Your Writing Block! Do This Instead
Mar 25, 2024
185. It’s Test Prep Season: Here Are 4 Ways to Make It More FUN!
Mar 18, 2024
184. Plan Authentic and Accessible Writing Experiences for Your Students With Katie Novak
Mar 11, 2024
183. How Do I Keep My Students Independent & Engaged While I Pull Small Groups?
Mar 04, 2024
182. What We Need to Understand About Reading Comprehension (And 8 Instructional Strategies)
Feb 26, 2024
181. Evidence-Based Strategies for Building Student Vocabulary With Michelle Sullivan
Feb 19, 2024
180. Practical Tips for Big Improvements in Student Fluency With Aylin Claahsen
Feb 12, 2024
179. Phonics Instruction That Can Help ALL Students With Savannah Campbell
Feb 05, 2024
178. Debunking Common Myths Around Phonemic Awareness With Christina Winter
Jan 29, 2024
177. A Close Look at the 5 Pillars of Reading Instruction
Jan 22, 2024
176. How Can You Help Your Struggling Readers? 7 Things to Consider
Jan 15, 2024
175. Secrets to Success for New and Veteran Teachers With Ashleigh Smith
Jan 08, 2024
174. Grammar Game-Changers: 3 Simple Swaps for Improving Your Instruction
Jan 01, 2024
173. Classroom Routines Reset: 5 Ways to Ensure a Smooth Transition Back to School After Winter Break
Dec 25, 2023
172. If You Want to Get Your Students Hooked on Reading, Teach This!
Dec 18, 2023
171. Spice Up Student Assessment: Engaging Ways to Check for Understanding
Dec 11, 2023
170. Losing Steam Before Winter Break? Try These Fun Activities to Keep Your Class Excited About Reading
Dec 04, 2023
169. How to Best Support Your Students With Dyslexia With Heather O’Donnell
Nov 27, 2023
168. Are You Building a Culture of Reading in Your Classroom? With Ciera Harris
Nov 20, 2023
167. Elevate Student Writing With These 4 Revision Strategies
Nov 13, 2023
166. How Can I Help My Students Become Stronger Paragraph Writers?
Nov 06, 2023
165. Making Space for Silliness in Our Schools With Mike Bender
Oct 30, 2023
164. 7 Ways to Incorporate More Sentence Level Work in Your Upper Elementary Classroom
Oct 23, 2023
163. Sentence Deconstruction: What It Is, How It Helps, and Steps to Take To Fit It Into Your Day
Oct 16, 2023
162. Simple Strategies to Help Your Students Expand Their Sentences
Oct 09, 2023
161. 5 Reasons Why You Need to Spend More Time on Sentence Writing in Upper Elementary
Oct 02, 2023
160. 4 Movement Routines to Try in Your Upper Elementary Classroom
Sep 25, 2023
159. Avoid These Things During Grammar Instruction & See Students’ Writing Improve!
Sep 18, 2023
158. Syllabication in Elementary Classrooms: What Is It & Why Teach It?
Sep 11, 2023
157. The Secret to a Stellar School Year: Teach These 3 Essential Literacy Lessons
Sep 04, 2023
156. Maximize Your Read Alouds With These 3 Tips
Aug 28, 2023
155. Get INSPIRED To Teach Writing This Year!
Aug 21, 2023
154. My #1 Tip for Creating a Strong Classroom Community and Culture
Aug 14, 2023
153. Simple Strategies to Strengthen the Language Domains for Your ELL Students with Beth Vaucher
Aug 07, 2023
152. The 3 Steps to Take This School Year If You’re Always Saying “I Wish I Had More Time”
Jul 31, 2023
151. 5 Myths About Small Group Instruction (And What to Believe Instead)
Jul 24, 2023
150. 3 Mistakes That Teachers Make When Creating a Literacy Block Schedule
Jul 17, 2023
149. Give Students a Framework for Making Inferences [Small Steps to S.O.R. Part 7]
Jul 13, 2023
148. 4 Things to Do If You Don’t Have a Writing Curriculum (or it Doesn’t Meet the Needs of Your Students!)
Jul 10, 2023
147. Teach Syllabication [Small Steps to S.O.R. Part 6]
Jul 06, 2023
146. Get More Out of Your Literacy Block With a Strong Whole Group Lesson Routine
Jul 03, 2023
145. Incorporate Phonological Awareness Activities [Small Steps to S.O.R. Part 5]
Jun 29, 2023
144. How Book Talks Can Transform Your Classroom Community with 4th Grade Teacher, Kelsey Moody
Jun 26, 2023
143. Use a Semantic Map [Small Steps to S.O.R. Part 4]
Jun 22, 2023
142. How to Get Students to Write a “MEATY” Paragraph
Jun 19, 2023
141. Explicitly Teach the Most Common Prefixes & Suffixes [Small Steps to S.O.R. Part 3]
Jun 15, 2023
140. Top 5 Aspects of Small Group Instruction to Plan for NOW!
Jun 12, 2023
139. Practice Sentence Deconstruction [Small Steps to S.O.R. Part 2]
Jun 08, 2023
138. How to Build Up Your Classroom Library Without Breaking the Bank with Dr. Lori Friesen
Jun 05, 2023
137. Build and Activate Background Knowledge [Small Steps to S.O.R. Part 1]
Jun 01, 2023
136. What Does the Science of Reading Look Like in Upper Elementary?
May 29, 2023
135. Creating Structured Student Partnerships in Your Literacy Block with 3rd Grade Teacher, Dena Dornfield
May 22, 2023
134. 3 Ways Literacy Routines Can Help Calm End-of-Year Chaos
May 15, 2023
133. Keep Your Students Engaged in Reading Until the Very Last Day of School: 7 Tips for You!
May 08, 2023
132. Two Simple Ways to Boost Engagement During Whole Group Lessons
May 01, 2023
131. The #1 Mistake Upper Elementary Writing Teachers Make
Apr 24, 2023
130. Practical Tips for Supporting Special Education Students During Your Literacy Block with Dr. Chris Reeve
Apr 17, 2023
129. How to Love Teaching Again: A Conversation with Jamie Sears
Apr 10, 2023
128. Unleashing the Power of Poetry to Teach the Big 5 Reading Skills
Apr 03, 2023
127. Managing Stress and Teacher Burnout with Brittany Blackwell
Mar 27, 2023
126. From Stress to Success: Strategies for Empowering Students on Testing Day
Mar 20, 2023
125. Providing Students a 5-Step Process for Writing a Constructed Response Paragraph
Mar 12, 2023
124. Mastering the Constructed Response: A Teacher's Guide to Boosting Student Confidence
Mar 06, 2023
123. Troubleshooting Classroom Management with Heidi and Emily of Second Story Window
Feb 27, 2023
122. A 5-Step Process for Decoding Big Words (That You Can Implement TODAY!)
Feb 20, 2023
121. Your Guide to Teaching Syllabication in Upper Elementary
Feb 13, 2023
120. Reading Simplified: Help Struggling Readers Crack the Code with Dr. Marnie Ginsberg
Feb 06, 2023
119. 5 Steps to Teaching with Thematic Units
Jan 30, 2023
118. How to Say 'No' (Without the Guilt!) ft. Rachel Lenhart
Jan 23, 2023
117. 5 Things to Consider When Teaching Nonfiction Text Structure: Part 2
Jan 16, 2023
116. 5 Things to Consider When Teaching Nonfiction Text Structure: Part 1
Jan 09, 2023
115. Kicking Off 2023 with a 'More and Less List’ for Literacy Teachers
Jan 01, 2023
114. Seasonal Spotlight: Five Tips for Returning To Independent Reading After Winter Break
Dec 26, 2022
113. Seasonal Spotlight: Establish Student Independence With Book Clubs
Dec 19, 2022
112. Seasonal Spotlight: Reading Response Ideas to Energize Independent Reading
Dec 12, 2022
111. 4 Ways to Easily Incorporate Movement into Your Instructional Day
Dec 05, 2022
110. Creating a Positive Perspective using "The End Is Just the Beginning" with Mike Bender
Nov 28, 2022
109. Taking Control of Your Professional and Personal Happiness During Stressful Seasons of Life
Nov 21, 2022
108. Powerful and Practical Tips to Boost Your Students’ Reading Fluency with Aylin Claahsen
Nov 14, 2022
107. 5 Ideas for Using High Impact Writing Activities in Any Content Area
Nov 07, 2022
106. Simple Classroom Management Hacks for the Seasonal Changes with Dr. Lori Friesen
Oct 31, 2022
105. How to Incorporate Writing About Reading During Small Groups
Oct 24, 2022
104. 4 Response Frames That You Can Use When Assigning a Written Response
Oct 17, 2022
103. 5 Tips That Help Students Improve in the Area of Writing About Reading
Oct 10, 2022
102. Ways to Reframe a Students’ Thinking of Failure using Failure Friday with Andrea Burns
Oct 03, 2022
101. A Literacy Routine for Building Students’ Sentence Structure Skills
Sep 26, 2022
100. 5 Tips for Creating a Personalized Lesson Planning System
Sep 19, 2022
99. 3 Mindset Shifts Teachers Should Make Regarding Lesson Planning
Sep 12, 2022
98. How to Feel Empowered and Prepared When Taking a Sick Day with Kelsey Sorenson
Sep 05, 2022
97. 3 Ways to Introduce Genre to Your Students at the Beginning of the Year
Aug 29, 2022
96. Providing Your Students with 21st Century Learning Experiences with Rachael Parlett
Aug 22, 2022
95. Do's and Don'ts of Word Study Instruction
Aug 15, 2022
94. 4 Word Study Concepts Every Upper Elementary Teacher Should Teach
Aug 08, 2022
93. 3 Steps to Having Effective Word Study Instruction This School Year
Aug 01, 2022