Episode
S03E11 - Know Thy Purpose: Jocelyn Seamer on Transforming 3–6 Literacy
- Podcast
- Knowledge for Teachers
- Published
- Jun 21, 2025
- Duration seconds
- 4878
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Summary
In this episode, I’m joined by Jocelyn Seamer—educational consultant, author, and leading voice in structured literacy—to unpack what effective literacy instruction really looks like in the upper primary years. We dive into how to move beyond levelled texts and strategy-heavy comprehension lessons, and instead build a literacy block grounded in rich texts, explicit instruction, and purposeful writing. Jocelyn shares practical advice on everything from planning with backward design, to teaching spelling through morphology, to managing cognitive load with the “stretchy band” analogy. Whether you’re trying to make sense of guided reading, support struggling readers, or link reading and writing more effectively, this episode is packed with clarity and actionable ideas. Key topics include: Replacing levelled texts with rich, age-appropriate reading Designing integrated, text-based units that link reading and writing Explicit vocabulary and background knowledge instruction The role of syntax, spelling, and morphology in building strong writers Responsive teaching and avoiding the “dress rehearsal” trap in assessments A must-listen for any Year 3–6 teacher ready to teach literacy with more clarity, purpose, and impact. Resources mentioned: Reading Reconsidered – Doug Lemov Five Plagues of the Developing Reader – from Reading Reconsidered The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – C.S. Lewis Velveteen Rabbit – Margery Williams Rose Meets Mr. Wintergarten – Bob Graham The Lost Thing – Shaun Tan Bringing Words to Life – Beck, McKeown & Kucan Questioning the Author – Beck, McKeown & Sandora DIBELS and Acadience – normed reading screeners Motif – free assessments Kenn Apel’s morphology assessments Jared Cooney Horvath You can connect with Jocelyn: Linkedin Facebook: @JocelynSe…