How Experiences Impact Our Stories: Learning about Crouton the Cat with Author and Illustrator Kristine A. Lombardi
If you love cats, then this episode is for you! Elizabeth is joined by the author and illustrator, Kristine A. Lombardi. She recently wrote and published the book, Crouton, which is about a shelter cat looking for her perfect person to take her home.
Crouton is a very sweet story, and Kristine talks all about where the idea came from, her illustration style in the book, and she even shares ideas about how this book can be used with kids--at home and as school.
Check out Kristine’s work here. And, follow her on Instagram! Pick up a copy of Crouton here!
Mini Episode: Reading for Recall
Elizabeth was recently asked about what reading for skills looks like. In today's mini episode she shares how you can help your child with the skill of recalling what they read after reading.
Bringing Authors to Life: Dr. Karen Huff and the Shenandoah University Children’s Literature Conference
Are you looking for an event that brings together children's authors, teachers, parents, and children? Well, look no further than the Shenandoah University Children’s Literature Conference!
Today, Elizabeth is joined by Dr. Karen Huff who directs the Shenandoah University Children’s Literature Conference. This year marks the 40 Anniversary of this conference and so many wonderful authors are attending.
In this episode, you will learn all about the conference - how it began, the virtual option to attend, and the in-person option to attend, the authors who will be there, and a bit about what is planned for those who attend.
Please, check out this conference here. If you are in/near Virginia, consider checking it out!
Mini Episode: Keep A Journal
Today's tip comes from the author N. West Moss. In her book, Birdy, the main character keeps a journal. N. West Moss has been asked about the benefits of keeping a journal. Today's mini episode shares some benefits to journaling and gives steps to get your kids started!
The Write Stuff For Early Readers with Dr. Cheryl Lundy Swift
Dr. Cheryl Lundy Swift is back on the podcast! Today she is joining Elizabeth to talk about writing -- and how writing can help boost reading skills.
In this episode, Dr. Swift discusses:
Why writing is actually a very natural activity for kids
The connection between reading and writing and why it's so important to make sure kids have the time to write during the school day (and at home!)
The importance of handwriting instruction
And, how parents can include writing into the daily routine at home
Mini Episode: The 'What Just Happened' Strategy
This week's mini episode tip is designed to support your child with reading comprehension. Recalling and remembering what happened in a story is an important skill that we want kids to be able to apply when they read.
If your child reads a book or a passage and can't remember what happened - then this tip is for you!
The strategy is broken down into three steps:
1) Pick up a book or passage and tell your child that they are going to be paying attention to what happened in the paragraph you read.
2) You read the first paragraph to your child.
3) Stop and ask your child the question - What just happened?
Keep listening to find out what you do when your child is able to tell you what happened as well as what you can do if your child did not understand what you just read.
Spring into Planning with Sarah Hart-Unger
It's a new season! And, to kick off this new season, Elizabeth is joined by planning expert, Sarah Hart-Unger. Sarah is the host of the Best Laid Plans podcast and the author of the book Best Laid Plans: : A Simple Planning System for Living a Life That You Love.
Sarah joins Elizabeth to share her planning system and talk about how teachers and parents can plan for daily tasks and also longer-term goals. Sarah makes a case for adding more fun into your schedule and how you can do a fun-audit of your time. We also discuss planning with kids and teaching them to plan.
Check out Sarah's book Best Laid Plans!
Mini Episode: Be Positive About the Books Your Kids Read
Today's tip is to be positive about the books that your kids and students read. Our words have an impact on our kids. When adults make negative comments about the books that kids read, it impacts how they view themselves as readers. If your child is reading a book that you are not crazy about, rather than telling them to read something better, compliment them for reading.
Give it a try! Happy Reading!
Collaboration and Creativity with Laurel Snyder and LeUyen Pham - The Author and Illustrator of Shrinking Violet
Have you ever wondered how writers and illustrators work together? Well, today's episode answers that question! Joining Elizabeth on the podcast are Laurel Snyder and LeUyen Pham - the author and illustrator of the book Shrinking Violet that is coming out at the end of March.
Laurel shares how she came up with the idea for Shrinking Violet, and LeUyen talkes about how she interpreted the words in the illustrations.
At the end of the episode, Laurel and LeUyen share an idea about how you can use Shrinking Violet with children!
Mini Episode: Go On A Book Search Adventure
Welcome to the Mini Episodes! This is where Elizabeth shares a tip, a trick, or a strategy to take your kids from just reading to actually wanting to read.
Today's tip is to make searching for or finding books for your kids to read an adventure. Rather than buy a book for your child, take your child with you to the library or a bookstore to search for books -- and, you can make it extra special by adding in an extra stop!
Episode 79: The Language of Self-Affirmations with Caitlin Santomauro
How we speak to ourselves is so important. Today's guest, Caitlin Santomauro is the author of the amazing book, The Language of Self-Affirmations: A Magical Practice of Manifesting Personal Power.
Caitlin begins by explaining what a self-affirmation is and why they are so important to include in our daily lives. She explains how self-affirmations can support kids - she talks about how she has used self-affirmations with her own students.
She gives listeners a taste of the content of her book by sharing a passage.
Check out Caitlin's book on Amazon!
Episode 78: Tips for the New Year that Support Readers: Conversations Build Confident Readers
Today's reading tip is to talk to your parents about the books that they are reading.
Elizabeth explains why talking to kids about the books that they are reading is so supportive. These conversations can be short and informal, but they are effective because they help increase reading confidence and they help support comprehension.
Check out today's episode for the final tip of the month to support kids with reading at home - in small, but impactful ways!
Episode 77: Tips for the New Year that Support Readers: Don't Make Reading a Fight
This month is focused on tips for helping kids read in 2026. And, today's episode is about not making reading a fight. What do you do when you do not like the books that your kids are reading?
Elizabeth explains what you can do if you are not loving the books your child is reading. She ends with a story from a recent article about why it's so important for your kids to be reading.
Episode 76: Tips for the New Year that Support Readers: Include OR Statements When Reading With Children
Happy 2026!
To get the New Year started, Elizabeth is sharing tips and strategies that can be easily included when reading with kids - both in the classroom and at home.
In today's episode, Elizabeth shares the first tip which is to use OR Statements when reading with kids to support their knowledge of new words and keep the story moving along.
Check out today's episode to learn more about the different types of vocabulary words and to hear an example of an OR Statement in action!
Episode 75: Time for a Mini-Reflection & Making Reading Happening Over the Winter Break
This episode is wrapping up 2025! It's the time to stop and take a few minutes to think about your teaching so that you have an idea of what is going well and what changes you might want to make after the winter break.
In this episode, Elizabeth gives three areas to think about with guided questions. She also talks about what worked well with her teaching this fall and what changes she wants to make in the spring semester.
There is a spotlight on an author and his books and a few fun and low-pressure ideas to keep kids reading over the winter break.
Episode 74: Making Fluency Fun with Reader’s Theater
This week's episode is about using reader's theater to address fluency with kids. Elizabeth just used reader's theater in her classes to show current and future teachers how scripts can support fluent reading -- and comprehension. Her students had a lot of fun and saw the benefits of using this teaching practice with kids - at all grade levels (not just elementary school).
The episode begins with information about fluency and then Elizabeth talks about how you can use scripts with kids.
Before ending, Elizabeth shares a parenting tip to help your reader with books that they are reading in school.
Episode 73: Poetry is Fun! A Conversation with Poet, Darren Sardelli
Today's episode is such a treat! Elizabeth is joined by poet Darren Sardelli. He writes poetry and shows kids how much fun words and language can be - and how poetry is fun! His goal is to make his ideas fun and relatable for kids. And, his work is a lot of fun! Darren shares some poetry with us - and you will be very entertained! He gives great ideas in this episode - such as start an Idea Notebook and encourages kids to check-out one poetry book when they are at the library.
Episode 72: Beliefs About Books and Reading
In this episode, Elizabeth shares eight common beliefs about reading and how they can discourage kids from reading. There have been many alarming articles about kids not reading much - so it's important to try and support our young readers as best we can.
The 8 beliefs are:
Phonics Instructions Ends After Second Grade
Picture Books are Easy Books
Reading With Kids Ends Once They Learn to Read
If Kids Want to Hear a Story Rather Than Read It, They Are Being Lazy
Kids Need to Read Books at Their Reading Level
Kids Should Not Be Re-Reading Books
If Comprehension Support is Needed, Find Passages & Questions
Graphic Novels are Not as Rigorous as Novels
Episode 71: Connecting Teaching to Writing A Conversation with Former Teacher and Author, Terri Lilga
This episode is such a treat!
Today, I am joined by my former colleague, Terri Lilga. Terri is a retired teacher, who is now writing books for children. We worked together in Buffalo, NY for a few years. I am thrilled to have her on the podcast to talk about her writing.
In this episode, Terri shares her books with us. She has written the books There’s a Hubbard in My Cupboard and Santa’s Simon. Terri explains how she came up with the ideas for her books - and how she gets ideas in general. She has excellent advice for classroom teachers on how to support children as they are coming up with ideas for their writing pieces because Terri’s stories about how she thinks up ideas are really creative and applicable to children.
Enjoy this episode and check out Terri’s work here.
Episode 70: Relevance is Essential: How Teachers Can Make Literacy Learning Relevant to Our Students’ And Their Futures With Lorraine Radice
Lorraine Radice is back on the podcast! Lorraine has a new book that recently came out, Revolving Literacy: How to Connect Relevance and Future-Ready Skills to Secondary English Instruction.
In our conversation, Lorraine talks about:
what the term literacy includes
her revolving literacy framework and how it benefits teachers and supports students
books for kids in middle and high school
ideas for teaching reading in the secondary classroom (these can be applied in upper elementary grades as well).
Check out Lorraine’s new book here. You can also take a look at Lorraine’s work on her website.