The Phenomenal Student Podcast

In this episode of Phenomenal Conversations W/Mr. Short, I sit down with renowned literacy researcher Dr. Kay Wijekumar to explore the Knowledge Acquisition and Transformation (KAT) Framework and what it means for today's classrooms. We discuss how students develop deep reading comprehension, the importance of building knowledge, explicit instruction, text structures, and vocabulary. Dr. Wijek...

It was a pleasure to welcome Amy Siracusano to Phenomenal Conversations W/Mr. Short! In this episode, we discuss her journey in education, the important role handwriting plays in literacy development, what she believes is still missing from the Science of Literacy conversation, and her upcoming book. Amy also shares practical insights that educators can immediately apply in their classrooms while...

🎙️ Phenomenal Spotlight W/Mr. Short: TX Writing L.L.C. A huge thank you to Candice and Audrey for joining the podcast and sharing the story behind TX Writing L.L.C. We discussed how their approach differs from The Writing Revolution, the needs they’re seeing in classrooms, and what they hope to accomplish moving forward. Great conversation, practical insights, and a shared commitment to improving...

🎙️ Phenomenal Conversations W/ Mr. Short: Lyn Stone 🎙️ I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with international literacy expert Lyn Stone! 🌏 We took a deep dive into her incredible career and her unwavering focus on what literacy truly means for life outcomes. 📚✨ In this full interview, we explore a variety of critical topics in the literacy world and get an exclusive look at her upcoming...

Another Phenomenal Conversation W/Mr. Short 🎙️ I had the opportunity to sit down with Jan Hasbrouck to discuss her incredible journey in education—from her early career beginnings to her work in higher education and her impact on the Science of Reading movement. We also discussed the importance of mentorship, including a special moment where she shared about mentoring Angie Hanlin early in her car...

Part 2 of my conversation with Angie Hanlin , co-author of It’s Possible , is now live. In this segment, we dive into Angie’s journey beyond the classroom—from teacher to instructional coach, administrator, and consultant—and how those experiences shaped her perspective on leadership, literacy, and what it truly takes to move systems forward. We also discuss key ideas from her new book and what it...

Phenomenal Conversations w/ Mr. Short: Angie Hanlin 🎙️ Back in December, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Angie Hanlin , co-author of It’s Possible , for a great conversation that lasted nearly two hours. Because of the length, I decided to split the interview into two parts. There were a few lag issues in the recording, but I was able to clean it up using the app Descript , which helped re...

In this conversation, I sit down with Dr. Stephanie Stollar to discuss her journey into education and leadership, her early career experiences, and the work that led her to become a national voice in Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) . We dive deeply into: The 3 tiers of instruction and what each tier is truly designed to do Why Tier 1 instruction is the foundation of the entire system Common...

I had the privilege of sitting down with Shannon Anderson —award-winning children’s author, nationally recognized educator, and creative force behind some of today’s most uplifting classroom reads. We explored her newest works, including: 📘 I Love Blueberries! 🧡 B Is for Belonging 🏡 Do-It-Yourself Dollhouse 🕊️ The expanding Scooter the Word Bird series Our conversation dug into the heart of wha...

🎙️ Phenomenal Conversations w/ Mr. Short: Sean Morrisey In this episode, I sit down with literacy expert Sean Morrisey to talk about his journey into teaching, the current landscape of education, and—of course—his deep passion for vocabulary instruction . Insightful, practical, and energizing. You don’t want to miss this one. Be Phenomenal, Mr. Short 🌟

🌟 Phenomenal Spotlight: Sage Online Academy 🌟 Last week, I had the chance to catch up with Nate Joseph of Pedagogy Non Grata to talk about his exciting new platform: Sage Online Academy . 🎓💻 We discussed what he’s been up to since our last conversation, his approach to teaching, and of course, all about his new online academy. 👉 Tune in and learn more about Nate’s platform here: 🔗 Sage Onlin...

🎙️ Phenomenal Conversations W/Mr. Short: Dr. Jim Ewing 🎓 For the Season 5 premiere of The Phenomenal Student Podcast , I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Jim Ewing! We discussed his start in education, his journey to becoming a college professor, and his dynamic presentation style. 💡✨ 🎧 Tune in tomorrow at 5 AM (CST) for this powerful conversation! Be Phenomenal, Mr. Short 🌟 #FYP #Podcast...

Phenomenal Collab: Melissa & Lori Love Literacy! We talked podcast origins, The Literacy 50, and vocabulary instruction (Lori even modeled it—Anita Archer would approve!)Full convo drops tomorrow! Be Phenomenal,—Mr. Short #Literacy #ExplicitInstruction #ELA

🎙️ Phenomenal Conversation w/ Mr. Short: Kim Lockhart I spoke with Kim Lockhart—FSL & Special Ed teacher—about: ✅ Her career journey 🎯 Differentiated instruction 📊 Evidence-based practices 🧠 Improving teacher training Whether you're a new teacher or seasoned vet, there's something here for you! Be Phenomenal, Mr. Short 📲 Connect with me: Twitter: @Mr100Teacher Instagram: @thepheno...

🎙️ New Episode Drop! On this week’s Phenomenal Student Podcast , I’m joined by the incredible Patty McGee to unpack her latest work: 📘 Not Your Granny’s Grammar: An Innovative Approach to Meaningful and Engaging Grammar Instruction (co-authored with Tim Donohue) If you teach Grades 2–8 and want grammar to stick without boring your students to sleep, this episode is for you. 👇 🧩 Rethinking the “...

Last week, I had the incredible opportunity to speak with Dr. Nathaniel Swain about his inspiring and unconventional journey in education. In this episode, we dive into: ✅ His unexpected start in the classroom ✅ The winding road to becoming a researcher ✅ The powerful insights behind his new book: Harnessing the Science of Learning Dr. Swain brings a wealth of knowledge and clarity to the conve...

🎙️ Phenomenal Conversations w/ Mr. Short: Featuring Zach Groshell A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Zach Groshell—educator, author of Just Tell Them , and co-host of the Progressively Incorrect podcast. We discussed his dynamic career in education, from teaching a wide range of subjects—including Design —to his current roles as an advocate for explicit instruction and though...

Phenomenal Spotlight W/Mr. Short: #LiteracyMatters25 🌟 Exciting news! Yesterday, I had an inspiring chat with Dr. Cierra Nickerson, the Director of Professional Learning at Aldine I.S.D. about #LiteracyMatter25! 📚✨ Join us for their FREE Virtual Conference on March 22nd! We covered some amazing topics, including: 🔹 What is Literacy Matters? 🔹 The origin of Chapter 1 🔹 Keynote Speaker highlig...

#StorytimeSaturday : A Shoutout to Coach Barnes & Mr. Suggs Let’s take a trip down memory lane to middle school! I was a gifted kid trying to prove I wasn’t just a nerd. Thankfully, I had two amazing mentors in my corner: Coach Barnes, our P.E. coach, and Mr. Suggs, one of our elective teachers. They always had my back, stepping in during tough moments and ensuring I wasn’t unfairly labeled—es...

🌟 Phenomenal Spotlight with Mr. Short: Meet Ms. Laura Stam! 🌟 A few weeks ago, I had an amazing conversation with Ms. Stam, a powerhouse in evidence-based instruction! 🎓✨ We dove into her journey, innovative teaching practices, the Goyen Fellowship, and her exciting vision for the future. Check out our chat and get inspired! 💡 Be Phenomenal! #Education #Teaching #Inspiration #GoyenFellowship...

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#TalkingThursday : "Are Black Students ESL, Too?" A thought-provoking question has been on my mind: Why aren’t our Black students considered ESL? It’s time to rethink how we approach their education! While we emphasize Equity, Culturally Responsive Teaching, and Positive Framing, let’s also focus on effective Strategies, Techniques, and Routines that empower Black students to excel. Join...

🌟 Phenomenal Spotlight with Mr. Short! 🌟 Hey, amazing educators! 🎉 Last week, I had the incredible opportunity to chat with Kim Lybarger, the President of TexTesol IV, about the exciting event happening this Saturday! 🎤✨ We covered some fantastic topics, including: 🔍 What TexTesol is all about 🎤 The inspiring Keynote Speakers 📚 The engaging Sessions (including my own! 🙌) 🔮 Their vision f...

🌟 Phenomenal Spotlight: Meet Valentina Gonzales! 🌟 Over the Winter Break, I had an inspiring chat with Valentina Gonzales, the visionary behind "Rooted Linguistics" and former Seidlitz Education star! 🎉✨ We dove into her journey of launching her own company, her pursuit of a doctorate, and her exciting new book, *Welcome To Teaching Multilingual Learners*. 📚🌍Curious about her visio...

🌟 #MotivationalMonday: Own Your Story! 🌟  Last week at ConverStations, we dove deep into the differences between Politic, Politics, and Politician. One key takeaway? Your narrative matters! How you treat others shapes your story and follows you everywhere.  🤔 Question for you: Should we all be more mindful of our actions?  Let’s inspire each other to be phenomenal! 💪✨ - Mr. Short