The Six Shifts

*/ ?>

Latest Episodes:

Reimagining Independent Practice in the Literacy Classroom Oct 24, 2023

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.

Revisiting Fluency Instruction Oct 10, 2023

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.

Reclaiming Word Reading Instruction in Intermediate Grades Sep 26, 2023

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.

Recommitting to Vocabulary Instruction Sep 12, 2023

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.

Rethinking the Role of Strategy Instruction in Learning to Comprehend Aug 29, 2023

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.

Reconsidering How Knowledge Impacts Comprehension, Grades 3-5 Aug 15, 2023

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.

Setting the Stage: Grades 3-5 Aug 01, 2023

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.

Reconsidering Texts for Beginning Readers May 28, 2021

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

Reinventing the Ways We Use MSV May 14, 2021

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

Revising High-Frequency Word Instruction Apr 30, 2021

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

Reimagining the Way We Teach Phonics Apr 16, 2021

In today’s episode Jan and Kari discuss the third shift: Reimagining the Way We Teach Phonics.

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

Recommitting to Phonemic Awareness Instruction Apr 02, 2021

Welcome to episode three! In today’s episode Jan and Kari discuss the second shift: Recommitting to Phonemic Awareness 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

Rethinking How Reading Comprehension Begins Mar 19, 2021

Welcome to episode two! In our previous episode, Jan and Kari shared the story behind Shifting the Balance and their experience rethinking their teaching. In our second episode, Jan, Kari and Dan dig in to the first shift: Rethinking How Reading Comprehension Begins.

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

Introducing The Six Shifts Mar 05, 2021

In this podcast based on their new book, Shifting the Balance: 6 Ways to Bring the Science of Reading into the Balanced Literacy Classroom Jan Burkins and Kari Yates, with Stenhouse’s Dan Tobin address misconceptions and misunderstandings that have discouraged educators from incorporating the science of reading into the balanced literacy classroom.

Jan and Kari are balanced literacy advocates, but by studying the other sides perspective, they learned to incorporate six simple, scientifically sound shifts in their teaching that can help more children learn to read and with less struggle.

In this episode, Jan, Kari, and Dan discuss the background and origin of Shifting the Balance, their hopes for readers, and their experience of rethinking their teaching practice.

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