Literacy in Color: A Science of Reading Aligned Podcast for Educators

In this episode of Literacy in Color, Michelle sits down with THE Orton Gillingham Mama, Pryor Rayburn to take a deep dive into the hot-button world of sight words and high-frequency word instruction. Pryor busts through common myths, clears up confusing terminology, and explores brain-based practices for teaching high frequency words through the lens of orthographic mapping. Whether you’ve relied...

In this episode, Michelle is joined by instructional coach and literacy specialist Shannon Moore of Moore Literacy Leaps to bust four major myths about progress monitoring in reading instruction. Together, they tackle what progress monitoring really is (and what it’s not), how it fits into the MTSS framework, and why all students, not just those below grade level, deserve targeted goals and regula...

What does it really mean to be “set for variability”? In this episode, Michelle is joined by Jen Yagid and Wendy Darasz of Informed Literacy to break down this complex-sounding but classroom-friendly concept. Together, they demystify set for variability, explore its role in decoding, and share practical classroom examples. If you’ve ever wondered how to support students in correcting their own mis...

In this heartfelt roundtable episode, Michelle is joined by her Science of Reading sidekicks, Heidi Martin, Jessica Farmer, and Yvette Manns to reflect on the very first Science of Reading Mini-Con ! From spark-filled sessions to swag bags and sound baths, this conversation is full of gratitude, laughter, and heartfelt takeaways. They revisit each session, share their most memorable moments, and g...

In this powerful episode of Literacy in Color, I’m joined by lawyer-turned-author Tiffany Obeng, founder of Sugar Cookie Books. Together, we unpack the significance of representation in children’s literature, especially for Black boys, and how her “Andrew Learns” series is challenging the traditional narratives and creating space for all kids to feel seen, celebrated, and inspired. Tiffany shares...

In this powerful episode, we welcome back Dr. Molly Ness, literacy researcher, educator, and co-author of “Making Words Stick”, the latest release from the Scholastic Science of Reading in Practice series. Together with Dr. Katie Pace Miles, Molly has created a teacher-friendly guide to help educators understand orthographic mapping and implement a 4-step routine that supports the mapping process....

In this episode of Literacy in Color, we’re heading across the pond to Ireland for a powerful conversation with Dr. Treasa Bowe, an international literacy leader and passionate advocate for morphology, etymology, and meaningful instruction. With over two decades of teaching experience in both Ireland and the U.S., Dr. Bowe brings a truly global lens to literacy education. Together, we explore what...

In this episode of Literacy in Color, we’re diving into 4 quick, high-impact phonics drills that spark engagement and build automaticity, without eating up your entire lesson time. These warm-ups aren’t about “drill and kill.” Instead, they’re short, intentional routines that help students review and retrieve previously taught phonics content. Whether you’re a classroom teacher or interventionist,...

In this episode of Literacy in Color, I’m joined by the incredible Lindsay Kemeny, a trusted voice in the Science of Reading community and author of Seven Mighty Moves and Rock Your Literacy Block . Lindsay shares her journey into structured literacy, sparked by her son’s dyslexia diagnosis, and how that led to a complete transformation in her teaching and professional work. We dive into her brand...

In this episode of Literacy in Color, Michelle sits down with Alejandra Ramirez, a seasoned bilingual educator, reading coordinator, and literacy leader, to explore one of the most important questions in today’s classrooms: Is the Science of Reading for Multilingual Learners? With over a decade of experience in dual language programs and extensive training in LETRS and Esperanza, Alejandra brings...

In this episode of Literacy in Color, I’m joined by my dear friend, Christina Winter from Lead in Literacy. Together, we dive into one of the hottest topics in structured literacy: small group instruction. While some Science of Reading conversations debate whether small groups have a place in the literacy block, Christina reminds us that when done correctly—grounded in assessment, efficiency, and...

In this powerful episode of Literacy in Color , we are joined by Dr. Molly Ness to explore the deep impact of read-alouds , particularly think-alouds , as well as book access .. Dr. Ness, educator, author of Read Aloud for All Learners , and host of the End Book Deserts podcast, brings her research, experience, and passion to this conversation about how language comprehension is often overlooked,...

In this special episode of Literacy in Color , Michelle is joined by her brilliant friend, Sarah Paul , to officially unveil their new course: Mastering Morphology: Foundations for Every Educator . Together, Michelle and Sarah share the backstory behind their collaboration ( Logos Literacy Academy ), reflect on their own morphology journeys, and talk candidly about the challenges teachers face whe...

I’m joined by the one and only Jake Daggett—educator, foundational literacy director, and all-around engagement strategist. If you've ever seen his viral phonics videos, you already know the energy and intentionality he brings to instruction. But there’s more to Jake than claps and chants—he’s deeply rooted in brain-based research and committed to helping all learners access joyful, responsive Tie...

In this deeply moving episode, Dr. Danielle “Nell” Thompson shares her powerful journey from a small town in North Dakota to Bush Alaska, all the way to becoming a transformational coach and the founder of the Big Sky Literacy Summit. Together, we explore how language is the foundation of literacy —not just for academic success, but for human connection, dignity, and transformation. We also dig in...

In this episode of Literacy in Color , I’m chatting with Heidi Martin—also known as Droppin’ Knowledge with Heidi —to unpack what research says about effective alphabet instruction. Together, we explore common debates, research-based tips, and engaging strategies to teach the alphabet more effectively. From ditching letter-of-the-week traditions to embracing articulation and embedded mnemonics, th...

In this insightful episode, I sit down with literacy expert, Amy Siracusano, to unpack the critical role that transcription skills play in early writing development. Together, we explore why handwriting, spelling, and fine motor skills aren’t just mechanical tasks—they’re foundational tools that unlock a child’s ability to communicate their thoughts effectively. Amy breaks down the research, share...

In this solo episode of Literacy in Color , we’re cutting through the confusion around sight words, high-frequency words, and orthographic mapping . You’ll get a clear, research-backed understanding of how the brain actually learns words — and why traditional memorization strategies just don’t cut it. Michelle breaks down why every word "wants to grow up and become a sight word" and shares how tea...

What can spelling errors really tell us about a student’s literacy development? In this episode of Literacy in Color , I sit down with Sydney Bassard , speech-language pathologist and founder of The Listening SLP , to dig into the power of spelling error analysis . Sydney breaks down the five types of spelling errors teachers should be aware of, explains what these errors reveal about processing,...

In this episode of Literacy in Color , I'm joined by Brooke Vitale —veteran children’s book editor, author, and founder of Charge Mommy Books —to explore the art and science behind writing truly high-quality decodable books. With over 15+ years in publishing (including experience at Penguin and Disney!), Brooke brings a deep understanding of storytelling and language development to the world of st...

In this powerful conversation, I’m joined by literacy coach and consultant MeQuel Bolden . With over a decade of classroom experience and a deep commitment to structured literacy, MeQuel shares insight into what reading fluency really is—and what it’s not. We unpack common fluency misconceptions , dive into what’s happening in the brain when students become fluent, and share research-aligned strat...

In this solo episode, Michelle Sullivan breaks down one morpheme type: suffixes . You’ll learn the difference between inflectional and derivational suffixes, how they operate in our language system, and why understanding suffixes is critical for building skilled readers, spellers, and thinkers. Michelle takes you on a deep dive into how suffixes shape grammar and meaning. From tweaking verb tense...

In this episode, Kristina Harrill , founder of Sweet for Kindergarten , joins me to share her passion for phonemic awareness and hands-on learning . We discuss the importance of bridging phonemic awareness and phonics instruction, debunk the myth that phonemic awareness has to be done in the dark, and dive into engaging, multisensory activities teachers can implement right away. Whether you’re an...

Dr. Stephanie Stollar, co-author of “MTSS for Reading Improvement” & founder of Reading Science Academy, joins me to break down MTSS ( Multi-Tiered Systems of Support ) and clear up common misconceptions surrounding this framework. Many educators see MTSS as just an intervention model, but it’s so much more—it’s a system-wide approach to improving reading outcomes for all students. We discuss...

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 Sc...