320: A Simple Framework for Your Tier 1 Literacy Instruction — Stellar Teacher Podcast: A Podcast for Upper Elementary Teachers

Episode 320: A Simple Framework for Your Tier 1 Literacy Instruction

When students are struggling with reading, it's easy to immediately start thinking about intervention and small groups. But before we add more intervention, it's important to take a closer look at the instruction every student receives every day: Tier 1.

How can you strengthen your Tier 1 literacy instruction without adding more to your already-full literacy block?

In this episode, Tami is kicking off our Supporting Every Reader series by sharing a simple framework that can help you make your whole group literacy instruction more connected, intentional, and effective. She introduces the 3-2-1 Framework for Deeper Comprehension—a practical approach that helps students build the knowledge and skills they need before, during, and after reading.

You'll learn why strong Tier 1 instruction is the foundation of literacy learning and how the 3-2-1 Framework can help you maximize the time you already have. Tammy walks you through three things to do before reading, two areas to focus on during reading, and one simple practice to use after reading—all centered around the same text.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why strengthening Tier 1 instruction should come before adding more intervention
Why small groups can't carry the full weight of your literacy instruction
How to use the 3-2-1 Framework for Deeper Comprehension to strengthen whole group instruction
Three things to focus on before reading: background knowledge, vocabulary, and text structure
Two areas to prioritize during reading: applying the reading standard and supporting students with syntax
Why syntax instruction can help students make sense of complex sentences
How writing about reading makes student thinking visible and deepens comprehension
Why stronger Tier 1 instruction isn't about doing more—it's about making the instruction you're already providing more powerful and connected

If you're looking for a practical way to strengthen your Tier 1 literacy instruction, this episode will give you a simple framework you can start using right away. The goal isn't to squeeze more into your literacy block, but to make the time you already have work harder for every student.

Resources Mentioned:

⭐ The Stellar Literacy Collective: stellarteacher.com/join