The Six Shifts
The Six Shifts
Stenhouse Publishers
A Shifting the Balance podcast, featuring authors Katie Egan Cunningham, Dr. Jan Burkins and Kari Yates.
Reimagining Independent Practice in the Literacy Classroom
In this podcast episode, Katie Egan Cunningham, Jan Burkins, and Kari Yates, the authors of Shifting the Balance: 6 Ways to Bring the Science of Reading into the Upper Elementary Classroom. This much-awaited sequel to the first Shifting the Balance book introduces six more shifts for elementary teachers. In this episode, the authors discuss the sixth new shift, which is about reimagining independent practice in the literacy classroom. They talk about how children become active readers and the role of self-selected independent reading in that process. They suggest that teachers find a starting point in adopting these shifts because momentum has to start somewhere. Learn more about all twelve shifts at TheSixShifts.com.
Oct 24, 2023
8 min
Revisiting Fluency Instruction
In this podcast episode, Katie Egan Cunningham, Jan Burkins, and Kari Yates, the authors of Shifting the Balance: 6 Ways to Bring the Science of Reading into the Upper Elementary Classroom. This much-awaited sequel to the first Shifting the Balance book introduces six more shifts for elementary teachers. In this episode, the authors discuss the fifth new shift, which invites teachers to revisit their fluency instruction. They talk about decoding skills, the relationship between silent reading and oral reading, and the important role of fluency in reading comprehension. They suggest that teaching fluency should involve carefully selected text and powerful instructional practice. Learn more about all twelve shifts at TheSixShifts.com.
Oct 10, 2023
9 min
Reclaiming Word Reading Instruction in Intermediate Grades
In this podcast episode, Katie Egan Cunningham, Jan Burkins, and Kari Yates, the authors of Shifting the Balance: 6 Ways to Bring the Science of Reading into the Upper Elementary Classroom. This much-awaited sequel to the first Shifting the Balance book introduces six more shifts for elementary teachers. In this episode, the authors discuss the fourth new shift, which addresses reclaiming the role of word recognition instruction in the upper elementary grades. They talk about the false assumption that students will know everything they need to about how words work by the time they reach third grade. The authors also introduce the "Filling-the-Gaps" challenge and the "Moving Forward" challenge and suggest that carefully selected high-utility routines can help with both of these. Learn more about all twelve shifts at TheSixShifts.com.
Sep 26, 2023
10 min
Recommitting to Vocabulary Instruction
In this podcast episode, Katie Egan Cunningham, Jan Burkins, and Kari Yates, the authors of Shifting the Balance: 6 Ways to Bring the Science of Reading into the Upper Elementary Classroom. This much-awaited sequel to the first Shifting the Balance book introduces six more shifts for elementary teachers. In this episode, the authors discuss the third new shift, which involves recommitting to vocabulary instruction. They talk about the roles of implicit and explicit vocabulary instruction and address concerns that formal vocabulary instruction will look like the lamented practices of yesteryear with looking up definitions, writing sentences, and taking tests. They address the connections between vocabulary, language comprehension, and reading comprehension and suggest that teachers adopt some high-leverage routines to make learning vocabulary easier for children. Learn more about all twelve shifts at TheSixShifts.com.
Sep 12, 2023
9 min
Rethinking the Role of Strategy Instruction in Learning to Comprehend
In this podcast episode, Katie Egan Cunningham, Jan Burkins, and Kari Yates, the authors of Shifting the Balance: 6 Ways to Bring the Science of Reading into the Upper Elementary Classroom discuss the second new shift, which involves rethinking the way we teach comprehension strategies. They unpack two important misunderstandings about strategy instruction in light of reading research. They suggest that a few strategic moves are sufficient for readers, and they encourage teachers to make brain-friendly adjustments to their instructional practices. Learn more about all twelve shifts at TheSixShifts.com.
Aug 29, 2023
10 min
Reconsidering How Knowledge Impacts Comprehension, Grades 3-5
In this podcast, Katie Egan Cunningham, Jan Burkins, and Kari Yates, the authors of Shifting the Balance: 6 Ways to Bring the Science of Reading into the Upper Elementary Classroom. This much-awaited sequel to the first Shifting the Balance book introduces six more shifts for elementary teachers. In this episode, the authors discuss the first new shift: building knowledge. They explore the role that knowledge plays in reading comprehension and why content area instruction is so important. They challenge educators to give knowledge building the instructional time it deserves as an essential component of reading comprehension. Learn more about all twelve shifts at TheSixShifts.com.
Aug 15, 2023
9 min
Setting the Stage: Grades 3-5
In this podcast, Katie Egan Cunningham, Jan Burkins, and Kari Yates discuss the background and origin of their new book, Shifting the Balance 3-5: 6 Ways to Bring the Science of Reading into the Upper Elementary Classroom. This much-awaited sequel to the K-2 book introduces six more shifts for elementary teachers. In this conversation, Katie, Jan, and Kari talk about the vulnerability and riskiness involved with writing the book and the six commitments they made to the work and to each other. They also explore how the K-2 and the 3-5 books connect and how the shifts can help educators navigate the competing tensions of literacy instruction. Learn more about all twelve shifts at TheSixShifts.com.
Aug 1, 2023
15 min
Reconsidering Texts for Beginning Readers
In today's episode, Jan and Kari with Stenhouse's Dan Tobin, discuss the final shift:  Reconsidering Texts for Beginning Readers. LINKS Shifting the Balance: 6 Ways to Bring the Science of Reading into the Balance Literacy Classroom Follow Jan @drjanburkins and www.drjanburkins.com . Follow Kari @Kari_Yates www.thesixshifts.com
May 28, 2021
13 min
Reinventing the Ways We Use MSV
In today's episode Jan, Kari, and Dan discuss the fifth shift: Reinventing the Ways We Use MSV.   LINKS Shifting the Balance: 6 Ways to Bring the Science of Reading into the Balance Literacy Classroom Follow Jan @drjanburkins and www.drjanburkins.com . Follow Kari @Kari_Yates www.thesixshifts.com
May 14, 2021
10 min
Revising High-Frequency Word Instruction
In today's episode Jan, Kari, and Dan discuss the fourth shift: Revising High-Frequency Word Instruction.   LINKS Shifting the Balance: 6 Ways to Bring the Science of Reading into the Balance Literacy Classroom Follow Jan @drjanburkins and www.drjanburkins.com . Follow Kari @Kari_Yates www.thesixshifts.com
Apr 30, 2021
7 min
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