1. EachPod

27. Celebrate National Schwa Day: What's the Schwa Sound & How to Teach It with Yvette Manns, Author of Phonics Read-Alouds

Author
Michelle Sullivan • Literacy Coach & Science of Reading Advocate
Published
Tue 11 Mar 2025
Episode Link
https://www.michelleandthecolorfulclassroom.com/podcast/27

What exactly is the schwa sound, and why is it such an important part of the English language? Yvette Manns, author of the Phonics Read-Alouds series and founder of National Schwa Day, joins me to dive deep into everything schwa—what it is, how it functions in words, and why teaching it explicitly is a game-changer for reading and spelling instruction. We also chat about the official National Schwa Day, how teachers can celebrate, and fun, engaging strategies to help students understand this “not-so-lazy” vowel sound!

Key Takeaways:

  • What is the Schwa Sound?
  • Why Teaching Schwa Matters
  • How to Teach Schwa Effectively
  • Celebrating National Schwa Day!


Resources Mentioned:

  1. FREE National Schwa Day Educator Toolkit (FREE 43-page resource!)  - Download the toolkit and celebrate National Schwa Day on April 7th!
  2. National Schwa Day Website: https://nationalschwaday.org/
  3. The Not-So-Lazy-Schwa Book written by Yvette Manns
  4. Phonics Read-Alouds Series Website – PhonicsReadAlouds.com
  5. Phonics Read-Alouds Series on Amazon
  6. The Viral 44 Phonemes Video featuring Yvette Manns – Watch on YouTube
  7. Slant System Passages
  8. From Speech to Print - Dr. Louisa Moats
  9. See Yvette & I present at the Science of Reading Mini-Con Conference - July 10th, 2025 in Racine, WI!

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