The Summer Reading Toolkit Every Family Needs
Schoolutions: Curious Educators. Evidence-Based Strategies. Classrooms Where Every Child Thrives.
06/05/26
•21m
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In Part 2 of my S5E40 @schoolutionspodcast conversation with Dr. Kay Stahl, we explore practical tips for families to keep reading alive over the summer. This episode provides valuable educational strategies to enhance reading comprehension and foster essential reading skills, especially for children who say they are not readers. Dr. Stahl shares the latest research on comprehension (from the National Academy of Education's free report, Reaping the Rewards of the Reading Initiative), which shows that active learning matters more than passive reading: children need to MAKE something (a map, a book, a podcast) to demonstrate true understanding.
We also cover:
→ Why everything counts as reading (menus, stats, movie discussions) and how low-engagement readers can find their entry point
→ The social side of reading: how family partnerships and shared books drive student participation and inspire students to read more
→ Why there's no age limit for read-alouds and the connection to parent involvement, home-school connection, and inclusive teaching
→ What reading struggle looks like at home and education strategies caregivers can use to support striving readers
→ How to use "pulse points" to identify roadblocks to comprehension and apply instructional strategies that work
💫Make sure to watch Part 1 & the linked resources mentioned:
- Assessment for Reading Instruction (5th edition)
- Reaping the Rewards of the Reading Initiative — a free report from the National Academy of Education, summarizing 250 studies across five research groups on comprehension
- National Academy of Education website
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction & episode overview
1:45 What "I'm not a reader" really signals
3:30 The four traits of reading motivation
4:45 What counts as summer reading (everything!)
6:15 Should you ever stop reading aloud?
7:30 Books being banned — and why families should read them at home
9:00 Family book clubs & social reading experiences
10:30 Building vocabulary and knowledge over summer
11:15 The comprehension research that changes everything: make a product
12:30 Maps, books, recordings — authentic learning in action
13:00 What reading struggle looks like at home
15:00 How context, support, and interest affect comprehension
16:30 Modeling reading as a caregiver
17:00 Reaping the Rewards of the Reading Initiative (free report)
18:00 Key takeaways & wrap-up
🎧 New episodes every Monday & Friday with bite-sized Wednesday reel bonus content.
📧 Book a coaching session with me here, if you’d like a thought partner to help you cultivate curious learners who advocate for what they believe in.
🎵 Music: Benjamin Wahl
Don't forget to 🔔SUBSCRIBE for more teaching tips, and 💬SHARE!
Next week's episode: @CoachGelardi , New York State Teacher of the Year and the force behind 15 million YouTube views, pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to keep kids moving, focused, and thriving. From keeping 64 kids in one gym safely engaged to building a viral at-home fitness empire during COVID, this conversation will completely change how you think about physical education.
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When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student...
Previous Episode
Are all reading skills taught the same way? Not according to researcher Scott Paris and understanding the difference could transform how you teach literacy.
In this short from my S5E40 @schoolutionspodcast conversation, I sit down with Dr. Kay Stahl as she explains how Scott Paris introduced a powerful framework that every educator needs to know: the Constrained vs. Unconstrained Skills Continuum. On one end, you have constrained skills like phonics and letter names: sequential, isolated, and learned over a short period of time. On the other end are unconstrained skills like comprehension and vocabulary: lifelong learning journeys that grow incrementally and can never truly be "finished."
This distinction is a game-changer for instructional strategies and lesson planning, because it means we can't use a one-size-fits-all approach to effective teaching. When we understand that phonics has a finish line but comprehension does not, we become better equipped to support the whole child and build a path toward true student success.
Watch, reflect, and share Part 1 & Part 2 of our @schoolutionspodcast S5E40 interview.
📧 Book a coaching session with me here, if you’d like a thought partner to help you cultivate curious learners who advocate for what they believe in.
📚 CHAPTERS
0:00 – Introduction: Not All Skills Are Equal
0:08 – What Are Constrained Skills? (Phonics & Letter Names)
0:20 – The Skill Continuum Explained
0:32 – What Are Unconstrained Skills? (Comprehension & Vocabulary)
0:45 – Why This Framework Changes How We Teach
#Schoolutions #SchoolutionsPodcast #ForeverGettingBetter #CuriosityDriven #EvidenceBased #ClassroomReadyStrategies #effectiveteaching #instructionalstrategies #teachingtips #studentengagement #activeLearning #inclusiveclassrooms #culturallyresponsiveteaching #professionaldevelopment #instructionalcoaching #teachercoaching #schoolleadership #schoolimprovement #educationleadership #newteachers #mentorteachers #lessonplanning #wholesomechild #studentsuccess #empowerededucators #educationtransformation #literacydevelopment #readinginstruction #phonics #comprehension #constrainedskills #unconstrainedskills #scottparis #teacherimpact #schoolculture #equityineducation
When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
Next Episode
The Hidden Power of P.E. Class
June 8
•32m
What does it really take to teach 28 kindergartners (alone) in a gym every single day?
In Part 1 of my S5E41 @schoolutionspodcast conversation with @CoachGelardi, the 2025 SHAPE America National Elementary P.E. Teacher of the Year and New York State Teacher of the Year, we talk about what world-class physical education and fitness actually look like and why every educator, parent, and school leader needs to pay attention. Tom is the creator of the PhysEdZone YouTube channel, which is closing in on 15 million views, and he's built one of the most powerful P.E. programs in New York City.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- Why student engagement and active learning start with emotional safety, not rules
- How Tom uses co-created classroom expectations to build genuine classroom belonging and reduce classroom behavior issues
- The science behind movement and student success, and why movement breaks are non-negotiable for attention in class
- How specific feedback (not praise) drives real student motivation and student participation
- Why inclusive teaching means beginning with every kid where they are: athletically, emotionally, and socially
- Tom's approach to inspiring students who struggle and those who excel
- What parents and caregivers can do at home to keep kids moving and support a home-school connection
- The biggest mistake adults make that kills kids' love of movement (hint: it's the iPad)
- What pro-kid mindset, whole child development, and equity in education actually look like inside a gym
Coach Tom Gelardi in the News:
Chapters:
0:00 – Introduction: 28 Kids, One Gym, Zero Assistants
1:45 – Meet Tom Gelardi: Awards, YouTube & Origin Story
3:00 – Tom's Education Background & Early Mentors
4:30 – What It Means to Be a "Pied Piper" for Kids
5:45 – A Day in the Life: Elementary P.E. Across 20 Years
7:00 – From Good to Great: Using Talent to Lift Others
8:00 – Why P.E. Teachers Are Masterful Responsive Educators
8:45 – Managing Safety with 60+ Kids in One Space
10:00 – Co-Creating Classroom Expectations (Not Just Rules)
12:00 – Large Class Sizes: What City Schools Look Like
13:00 – Wild Midday Story: Fifth Graders + First Graders, No Equipment
14:30 – Turning Chaos Into Opportunity: Teacher Growth
15:15 – How Movement Impacts the Brain & Focus
17:30 – Brain Breaks: The Research Behind Movement & Learning
19:00 – The Long-Term Relationship Between P.E. Teachers & Kids
20:30 – Making Impact Beyond the 45-Minute Class
21:30 – Lightning Round: Rainy Day Movement Ideas
22:30 – What Adults Do That Kills Kids' Love of Movement
23:30 – Put the Phone Down: Being Fully Present
24:30 – Worst Equipment Story (The Flat Basketball)
25:30 – Biggest Misconception About P.E. Teachers
26:30 – The Power of One-on-One Feedback in P.E.
28:00 – Specific Feedback in Action: The Beanbag Example
30:00 – Learning From Your Students as a Teacher
31:00 – Wrap-Up & Key Takeaways
🎧 Part 2 drops Friday, where @CoachGelardi shares his best summer movement tips for families, broken down by age group, plus his favorite PhysEdZone videos to use right now.
Join our community of educators committed to cultivating student success, inspired teaching, and creating inclusive classrooms with a pro-kid mindset focused on the whole child.
🎧 New episodes every Monday & Friday with bite-sized Wednesday reel bonus content.
📧 Book a coaching session with me here if you’d like a thought partner to help you cultivate curious learners who advocate for what they believe in.
🎵 Music: Benjamin Wahl
Don't forget to 🔔SUBSCRIBE for more teaching tips, and 💬SHARE!
#schoolutions #schoolutionspodcast #forevergettingbetter #curiositydriven #evidencebasedstrategies #classroomreadystrategies #PhysicalEducation #PETeacher #StudentEngagement #ActiveLearning #ClassroomBelonging #TeacherTips #InspiringStudents #WholeChild #InclusiveTeaching #StudentSuccess #MovementBreaks #BrainBreaks #EffectiveTeaching #InstructionalStrategies #SchoolCulture #TeacherCoa...
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