Teaching Unscripted

Latest Episodes:

AI in the Classroom: Teaching with Intention Oct 06, 2025

Show notes

This is the first in a two-part series featuring a conversation with three secondary educators on how AI is reshaping classroom practice.

Dennis and Kristina, co-authors of AI in the Writing Workshop, join Marilyn, author of several Heinemann titles including her latest, 5 Questions for Any Text. Their collective thinking and writing dovetail beautifully to address this pivotal moment in education, as AI becomes an increasingly prevalent tool in classrooms.

Together, they share how they’re integrating AI with intention and transparency—from delaying its use early in the school year to modeling how to question and push back against AI-generated output.

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Inside The Reading Strategies Book 2.0: Knowing Which Strategy to Teach—and When with Jennifer Serravallo, Episode 3 Sep 29, 2025

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In the third installment of our three-part series, Jen Serravallo shares how her work in The Reading Strategies Book 2.0 empowers educators to deliver differentiated reading instruction. This episode focuses on using student data, lesson objectives, and skill progressions to select targeted reading strategies that support diverse learners.

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Inside the Reading Strategies Book 2.0: Using Reading Strategies with Core Programs with Jennifer Serravallo, Episode 2 Sep 22, 2025

Show notes

Research-Based Reading Strategies for Any Curriculum

Discover how Jennifer Serravallo’s Reading Strategies Book 2.0 empowers educators with flexible, evidence-based strategies that work across curricula like CKLA, Wonders, and Wit & Wisdom. Learn how strategic instruction supports diverse learners, aligns with standards, and makes lesson goals clear—thanks to exclusive skill progressions and standards correlations.

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Introducing Teaching Unscripted! Sep 12, 2025

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The Heinemann blog, podcast, and newsletter is now Teaching Unscripted! We're excited to deliver high-quality professional development content in smaller bite-sized formats to give teachers the resources and tools they need for those unscripted moments in the classroom.

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Inside The Reading Strategies Book 2.0 with Jennifer Serravallo: Episode 1, The Research Sep 08, 2025

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In this first episode of a three-part series, Brett sits down with Jennifer Serravallo to unpack the evolving definition of the Science of Reading (SOR) and to explore the decades of science behind using strategies to help students become proficient readers. Knowing that most teachers don’t have the time to explore the research, Jen steps in to interpret and faithfully translates hundreds of studies into doable classroom practices

Jen explains that strategies are an essential part of explicit teaching, help all students build reading skills and knowledge, and provide students with tools for lifelong learning.

Check out the 700+ research citations behind the book on our blog.

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Critical Reading Book Club Series: Episode 4, Informed Inquiry Sep 02, 2025

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How can we turn student curiosity into meaningful inquiry?

In 5 Questions for Any Text, educator and author Marilyn Pryle shares a practical framework to help students read more critically in today's media-saturated world.

In the final episode of this four-part series, we explore how asking the right questions can lead students to deeper understanding and more thoughtful engagement with texts. You'll hear how students investigate topics like global data privacy and the science behind alchemy using background knowledge, credible sources, and critical thinking to explore these complex ideas.

Marilyn guides these inquiries by encouraging research, inference, and reflection, helping students connect their questions to broader issues in the world and in literature.

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Critical Reading Book Club Series: Episode 3, Suspicious Sources Aug 25, 2025

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Can your students spot misinformation before it spreads?

In 5 Questions for Any Text, educator and author Marilyn Pryle shares a practical framework to help students read more critically in today's media-saturated world.

In episode three of this four-part series, we explore the concept of suspicious sources through real student responses, from a 10th-grader's critique of a news segment to an eighth-grader's analysis of a conspiracy theory video. You'll hear how Marilyn guides students from emotional reactions to thoughtful inquiry. Helping them ask, "What makes a source trustworthy?"

The episode includes an excerpt from the audiobook, followed by a reflection and a few prompting questions from Marilyn.

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Critical Reading Book Club Series: Episode 2, Cite the Claim Aug 18, 2025

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How can we help students move from general understanding to pinpointing an author's exact position?

In 5 Questions for Any Text, educator and author Marilyn Pryle offers a practical framework to help students navigate today's media landscape with sharper, critical thinking and deeper awareness.

In the second episode of this four-part series, we explore how to teach students to identify claims in nonfiction text. Those clear persuasive statements that go beyond just central ideas. This episode offers practical strategies to help your students read more critically and recognize persuasive techniques in everyday media. Listen in to this excerpt from Marilyn's audiobook, followed by a reflection and a few prompting questions from Marilyn.

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Critical Reading Book Club Series: Episode 1, See the Source Aug 11, 2025

Show notes

Every day students scroll past hundreds of headlines, posts, and videos. How do they know what to trust?

In 5 Questions for Any Text, educator and author Marilyn Pryle offers a practical framework to help students navigate today's media landscape with sharper, critical thinking and deeper awareness. Her approach encourages students to look beyond the surface of a text to examine its origins, its influences, its purpose, and the voices behind it.

In this first episode of this four-part series, we dive into the question of source. Who is behind a text and what might their intentions be? Marilyn shares how developing students' critical consciousness can empower them to question even texts that seem helpful or align with their beliefs. Tune in to hear an excerpt from Marilyn's audiobook, followed by her personal reflections and a few thought-provoking questions to discuss with colleagues as you start the new year.

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How Can Phonics Instruction Support All Learners? Aug 04, 2025

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How can we make phonics instruction work for every child regardless of ability or background?

Today's guest, Lorna Simmons, has spent decades pursuing the answer to that question. Her journey, rooted in a deep commitment to literacy for all, has culminated in the release of Saxon Reading Foundations, which launched in June. This new program reflects years of research, classroom experience, and a relentless drive to ensure every student can become a confident reader. Lorna has developed tools and techniques that help educators meet students where they are, whether they need 15 exposures or 1500.

In this episode, she explores how we can bridge the gap between phonics instruction and authentic reading success. Lorna shares practical ways to embed phonics into every subject, use controlled texts effectively, and ensure students get the exposures they need to truly master decoding. Whether you're teaching kindergarten or upper elementary, this conversation will help you unlock the power of phonics across your entire day.

Lorna is in conversation with Amy Mengarelli, one of our partners with the Waymire Group and a former classroom teacher.

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