Literacy Talks

In November 2022, our Literacy Talks hosts attended the International Dyslexia Association’s 73rd annual conference. In this episode, you’ll have the opportunity to travel with them virtually as they share their key takeaways from the conference and their impressions of the many memorable presentations they attended. From new findings in brain research to effective intervention and prevention mode...

The reading pendulum is swinging, and in this episode of Literacy Talks , our reading experts talk candidly about how to frame and navigate the changing priorities and emphases. This conversation will give teachers and leaders valuable perspectives on the importance of focusing on foundational skills while still addressing all strands of literacy in instruction. The sciences of reading and learnin...

Our Literacy Talks trio of hosts took time to reflect on the things they’re grateful for and what they’re looking forward to in the months ahead. From the strides their own children are making in their academic careers after struggling with dyslexia, to the work and progress they see in their own students, this episode will uplift and inspire literacy champions everywhere. A bonus? Our hosts celeb...

In the world of education and instructional approaches, the pendulum is always swinging. In early literacy, there’s a new and welcome emphasis on applying the science of reading to teaching practices and curriculum content. In this episode of Literacy Talks , our trio of literacy experts explores the bigger picture, helping educators and administrators alike think about their literacy programs as...

If you were among the fortunate educators who attended The Reading League 2022 Conference in Syracuse, NY, you’ll enjoy this conversation between our Literacy Talks hosts and the speakers who dropped by to chat. If you didn’t attend, you’ll have a chance to participate in some of the conference’s remarkable energy, insights, and inspiration. From university faculty members to the founders of the p...

The early literacy landscape is filled with phonics, decoding skills, and all the components of Structured Literacy instruction. Is there room for writing? Our three Literacy Talks hosts say, “Yes!” In this episode, educators will learn more about teaching fundamental writing skills all along the literacy pathway. From the five critical writing skills early learners need to develop to the eventual...

There are so many valuable reading and literacy conferences it can be challenging to attend them all, but our Literacy Talks audience is in luck. Donell Pons, one of our podcast hosts, traveled to the SSSR Conference, and in this episode, she shares many of the insights and new data points she learned at this event. From the importance of teaching letter/sound combinations to the role of oral lang...

Too often, parents, classroom teachers, administrators, and even pediatricians have difficulty identifying the signs of dyslexia. Students are sometimes adept at hiding their reading struggles…and not every student who has difficulty learning to read has dyslexia. In this episode, our Literacy Talks trio will share their experiences identifying students who may need evaluation and support services...

This is an episode to listen to many times over and share with your literacy colleagues. With featured guest Dr. Anita Archer, this Literacy Talks episode covers the literacy landscape and explores the power and practicality of explicit literacy instruction. From instructional content to instructional design, effective delivery to feedback and practice, listeners will have the opportunity to under...

For many of us, one book can make a profound difference in how we teach, our understanding of reading science, and our insights into how students learn to read. In this episode of Literacy Talks , our experts share the impacts that the book Speech to Print: Language Essentials for Teachers by Louisa Cook Moats, Ed. D, continues to have on their work in classrooms with young readers, pre-service te...

Ask most reading teachers if they learned everything they needed while in college, and chances are, they’ll say no. Hands-on classroom experience and in-the-classroom coaching and mentoring have been instrumental in helping them build confidence and capacity. But beyond in-class experiences, what kinds of professional learning will help reading teachers adapt and transform their practice? In this...

This episode can be a classroom game-changer. For many of us, spelling means a weekly word list handed out on Monday and assessed on Friday. In this episode of Literacy Talks , our experts share new perspectives on actually teaching spelling. It’s more than testing or memorizing words. Good spelling instruction can be a diagnostic window into students’ proficiency as readers and writers. Tune in a...

Teaching is an art, and yes, it’s a science as well. In this episode of Literacy Talks , our three literacy experts talk about both the art and science of teaching. They unpack the need for educators to apply strategic learning science to instructional methods to ensure all students have optimum opportunities to learn. Our hosts talk movingly about the art of teaching, and the deep-rooted sense te...

Educators’ knowledge about reading science, its’ practical applications in the classroom, and its impacts on students’ experience is core to literacy learning and success. In this episode of Literacy Talks , you’ll hear an open and solutions-focused conversation about teacher and administrator knowledge and steps every educator can take to understand the how’s and why’s of teaching reading to all...

Welcome to Season 2! Teaching Pre-K-3 learners to make sound/symbol connections can be challenging. In this episode of Literacy Talks , our trio of literacy experts tackles this challenge with wit, insight, and a practical approach to explicit, systematic, and sequential phonics instruction. Make the leap from “drill and kill” practice to “skill and thrill” with hosts Stacy Hurst, professor at Sou...

Children hear and speak before they learn to read. Sound walls can accelerate student's articulatory learning and their production of speech, on the road to becoming proficient readers and spellers. In this episode of Literacy Talks , our trio of literacy experts share their experiences and recommendations for integrating sound walls into regular literacy instruction. 💬 Want more insights li...

Research in the science of reading is expanding in breadth and depth, and the data points to important changes in classroom instructional practice and materials. The challenge for frontline classroom teachers is translating that research data into sequential, explicit literacy instruction to ensure all students build the foundational skills they need to read proficiently at grade level. In this ep...

MTSS is more than a hot topic or a trend in literacy teaching and learning. In this Literacy Talks podcast episode, our three experts share their insights into making a Multi-Tiered System of Supports work to help students achieve reading proficiency. They talk emphatically about the need to strengthen Tier 1 response to intervention and the larger view of MTSS that encompasses a spectrum of suppo...

If you love teaching reading, and you love reading, this episode of Literacy Talks is for you! Our trio talks in-depth about the professional books that have inspired them, informed their practice, and reaffirmed their commitment to helping every student read proficiently. From David Kilpatrick’s seminal work, Essentials for Assessing, Preventing, and Overcoming Reading Difficulties to Reading for...

In this episode of Literacy Talks , our three literacy experts share their experiences at the recent 2022 Plain Talk conference in New Orleans. Listeners will get a “you are there” recap of the most memorable sessions they attended, tips for making the most of conference learning opportunities, and updates from the research sessions. It’s like a conference tour in just 30 minutes. Don’t miss it!...

This episode of Literacy Talks explores how reading leaders and practitioners can collaborate. Our shared goal? To help teachers learn and apply the methods of reading science to help all students achieve reading proficiency and confidence. Our Literacy Talks trio offers practical, actionable steps to translate research into practice and build stakeholder support and enthusiasm along the way.  💬...

Legislation that supports and funds the science of reading initiatives can make a difference for students, educators, families, and communities. In this episode of Literacy Talks , our experts focus on the need to include teachers and administrators in crafting legislation that clearly defines the work ahead. They emphasize that these legislations must contain provisions for additional professiona...

In this episode of Literacy Talks , our three literacy experts share some of their reading instruction pet peeves. From humorous to heartwarming, you’ll hear why English is not a complicated language (it's complex), why reading instruction can’t and shouldn’t end at third grade, the problem with limiting students to books only at their Lexile level…and more. It’s a fast-paced, fascinating loo...

Decodable text can be a critical component of what you do as a reading teacher. In this episode of Literacy Talks , hear three experts explore the learning connection between phonics instruction and decodable text and how this can work to motivate striving readers of all ages. Our hosts discuss the topic of decodable text from three different perspectives: K–3 classroom teacher, middle/high/adult...

In this inaugural episode , our terrific trio of reading experts tackles the need to rethink and redesign how we approach sight words and high frequency words in literacy instruction. Their advice centers around using phonics-based strategies to help learners connect the sounds and meanings of high frequency words, so they become part of students’ working memory. Hear all about it in this fascinat...