Show Me Literacies

In our virtual community of practice, we share research-informed strategies for teaching literacy in K-12 classroom settings. We talk about challenges, opportunities, and promising ideas with experts from the state of Missouri.

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Episodes

Matching Readers and Texts

In this episode, Dr. Cassandra Suggs talks with Jennifer Weirthwein about how she helps learners find books, media, and texts that interest them and develop a love of reading.

Apr 21, 2023•19 min•Season 1Ep. 12

Systems Thinking and Literacy

Dr. Cassandra Walker Suggs talks with guest Dr. Peter Stiepleman about literacy lessons learned throughout his career as a teacher and superintendent. Topics include the value of shared scope and sequence, the differing needs of teachers with varying levels of experience, family engagement, and systems thinking.

Feb 23, 2023•20 min•Season 1Ep. 11

Supporting Emerging Bilingual Students

We talk to Gelene Strecker Sayer about her experience teaching English as a second or other language to emerging bilingual and multilingual students in Missouri.

Sep 05, 2022•18 min•Season 1Ep. 10

Disciplinary Literacies

In this episode, hosts Dr. Cassandra Suggs and Dr. Shea Kerkhoff discuss what disciplinary literacies are and why it is important to teach literacy in each content area. We explain the difference between content area literacy and disciplinary literacies and give examples from science, social studies, and ELA>

Aug 29, 2022•13 min•Season 1Ep. 9

Rural Literacies

Dr. Robert Petrone talks with us about what rural literacies are and why rural literacies are important.

Aug 09, 2022•21 min•Season 1Ep. 8

Middle Grade Books and Young Adult Literature

Melanie Barrett, an elementary and middle grades teacher and librarian, talks with us about how she makes literature exciting for children and young adults. She talks about the popularity and the literary value of graphic novels and novels in verse.

Aug 05, 2022•20 min•Season 1Ep. 7

The Importance of Reading

Tess Larson provides a compelling argument for why reading at home, in family life, and in community life is an important part of childhood.

Aug 04, 2022•16 min•Season 1Ep. 6

Literacy in the Middle Grades

In this episode, we hear from veteran English language arts teacher Amy Krueger about what works with her 7th and 8th graders. Amy shares her experiences teaching critical literacies through multicultural literature. She gives us examples of how she supported middle school students in considering multiple perspectives and lived experiences and in deepening their understanding of complex social issues.

Jun 28, 2022•20 min•Season 1Ep. 5

Digital Literacy

In this episode, we speak with Bill Bass, innovation coordinator at Parkway School District and former president of ISTE. Bill was one of the co-authors on the NCTE Definition of Literacy in a Digital Age. We talk about what literacy means in a digital, global world and when we should introduce digital literacy in the curriculum.

Jun 24, 2022•26 min•Season 1Ep. 4

Emergent Literacy

Our guest today is Dr. Joy Nicole Brown. She tells us about her experience in the classroom teaching literacy from emergent to intermediate levels with practical advice for teachers and parents to support children's literacy.

Jun 08, 2022•16 min•Season 1Ep. 3

Adolescent Literacy

In our second episode, Dr. Robert Petrone of the University of Missouri - Columbia discusses the concept of adolescence and what that means for adolescent literacy instruction in secondary school.

May 28, 2022•14 min•Season 1Ep. 2

Culturally Responsive Literacy

In our first episode, Dr. Shea Kerkhoff, a literacy professor at the University of Missouri - St. Louis, talks with Julius B. Anthony, President of the St. Louis Regional Literacy Association and St. Louis Black Authors of Children's Literature about literacy in early childhood, fostering joy in reading, and the importance of culturally responsive books.

May 26, 2022•24 min•Season 1Ep. 1

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