Stellar Teacher Podcast: A Podcast for Upper Elementary Teachers
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Stellar Teacher Podcast: A Podcast for Upper Elementary Teachers
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...
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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...
268. Dear Stellar Teacher: How Can I Use AI in My Classroom to Save Time and Reduce Stress?
In this episode of Dear Stellar Teacher, Emily and I talk about how using AI can actually make teaching easier and why it doesn’t have to feel overwhe...
267. [Listen Again] Episode #216 - Back to School: 3 Fun, Engaging, and Important Literacy Lessons to Teach at the Beginning of the Year
I remember back-to-school time being both exciting and exhausting. It's a new school year filled with fresh possibilities. It's also extremely busy wi...
266. How to Support Upper Elementary Students in Reaching Grade-Level Literacy with Dr. Jan Hasbrouck
What if I told you that 90% of students can be on grade level with the right instruction? In today’s episode, we’re joined by Dr. Jan Hasbrouck, a lea...
265. 3 Simple Steps for Effective Word Study Instruction This School Year
Welcome back to The Stellar Teacher Podcast! In today’s episode, we're diving into the importance of word study in upper elementary classrooms. If you...
264. Dear Stellar Teacher: Navigating the Back-to-School Chaos with Confidence
Welcome back to The Stellar Teacher Podcast! In today’s episode, we’re kicking off the back-to-school season with a Dear Stellar Teacher conversation...
263. Making Words Stick: Orthographic Mapping and How the Brain Learns to Read with Dr. Molly Ness
What is orthographic mapping—and why does it matter so much for your upper elementary readers? In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Molly Ness, educator...
262. Cheers to 10 Years! Sara Marye Shares the Story Behind STC
This week’s episode is extra special—we’re celebrating a decade of Stellar Teacher magic! In honor of The Stellar Teacher Company’s 10th birthday, the...
261. Reading Intervention Made Easy: 15-Minute Lessons for Struggling Readers in Upper Elementary
In this special episode of The Stellar Teacher Podcast, we're giving you a behind-the-scenes look at one of our most exciting new resources—the Stella...
260. Dear Stellar Teacher: Our Phonics and Intervention Confessions (and What We’d Do Differently!)
Are you feeling a little lost when it comes to teaching phonics and supporting struggling readers in upper elementary? You’re in good company! In this...
259. From Sentences to Essays: The Writing Sequence That Works
In this final episode of our summer writing series, I’m unpacking one of the biggest challenges upper elementary teachers face: helping students write...
258. From Sentence to Paragraph: A Peek Inside Our Writing Routine
In this episode of The Stellar Teacher Podcast, we’re diving into all things writing—with a special guest! Sara is joined by Kori, the head curriculum...
257. How to Strengthen Student Writing—One Sentence at a Time
If your students struggle to write solid paragraphs or essays, the solution might be simpler than you think. In this episode, we’re zeroing in on the...