Yesterday

Episode 114: Investing in People, Not Programs: A District’s Literacy Transformation

What does it take to transform literacy outcomes across an entire school district? In this episode of Literacy Talks, we explore how leadership, alignment, and a commitment to the science of reading can create lasting change for students and educators alike.In this episode, we di ... Show More

55m 51s

Feb 26

Episode 113: Literacy Improvement Moves at the Speed of Leadership

Why do some schools see rapid literacy gains while others struggle to move the needle? The difference often isn’t the program—it’s the leadership behind the implementation.In this episode, we discuss:How courageous, humble leadership accelerates literacy improvementMoving from kn ... Show More

52m 46s

Feb 19

Episode 112: Comprehension Starts at the Sentence Level

We’ve spent years strengthening decoding instruction—but what if the next literacy shift begins at the sentence level? If we want true comprehension, we have to look beyond words and into syntax.In this episode, we discuss:Why syntax is the missing link in reading comprehensionHo ... Show More

56m 58s

Sep 2025

272. Multilingual Learner Support: Practical Strategies for Upper Elementary Teachers with Dr. Jana Echevarría and Dr. Jeannette Mancilla-Martinez

In this episode of The Stellar Teacher Podcast, I dive into a critical topic for upper elementary classrooms: supporting multilingual learners (MLLs). With the help of experts Dr. Jana Echevarría and Dr. Jeannette Mancilla-Martinez, we explore why the term “multilingual learner” ... Show More

27m 16s

May 2025

First Steps to Fluency: How Young Learners Become Independent Readers with Virginia Quinn Mooney

Episode 226In this episode, Virginia discusses the importance of fluency in K-2 grades, emphasizing its role in reading comprehension. She shares strategies for teaching fluency, including within partner reading, read-alouds, and shared reading. Virginia highligh ... Show More

39m 5s

Aug 2024

[Episode 99] From Phonics to Fluency: Inside the RedThread Literacy Program (w/Robin Rubenstein)

In this episode of Teaching Channel Talks, our host Dr. Wendy Amato discusses the importance of literacy and reading with Robin Rubenstein, Director of Curriculum and Implementation at K12 Coalition. This conversation centers around K12 Coalition's Red Thread literacy curriculum, ... Show More

22m 34s

May 2024

[Listen Again] Ep. 119: How Reading Science Works for English Learners with Elsa Cardenas-Hagan

From August 5, 2022 Dr. Elsa Cardenas-Hagan joins the podcast to share that reading science works for English Learners. What does it mean to use evidence-based instruction to teach English Learners? Dr. Cardenas-Hagan asserts that every language has its own his ... Show More

1h 4m

Feb 2023

2.11 How to Keep Your Eye on the Goal in Intervention

Learning to read proficiently is not an easy task for most students without explicit, systematic instruction. Current US reading scores indicate that 67% of all 4th graders are reading at basic or below basic levels. This fact is leading to many ... Show More

45m 30s

Feb 2024

3.10 Effective Vocabulary Strategies in Literacy Intervention

Imagine being a learner who is new to English. Someone says to you, "Can you lend me a hand?” Imagine what that learner is processing. First, it’s a question. Second, think about the word lend. Do I know what that means? Third, lend a hand. Does ... Show More

1h 2m

Apr 2024

Ep. 191: Teaching Spelling is Teaching Reading with Pam Kastner

Pam Kastner discusses the connection between spelling and reading. She emphasizes that teaching spelling is teaching reading, as spelling is a higher linguistic skill that requires complete and accurate recall and memory for words. Spelling helps students understand the inter ... Show More

40m 7s

May 2022

120: We Are Not A Reading Teacher

How are SLPs different than reading teachers? This is a question I see a lot in my SLP Elevate membership. People want to know how we can differentiate ourselves from a standard reading t ... Show More

11m 58s

Apr 2019

Encoding First, Decoding Second

Shannon and Mary discuss a professional article, "Why Phonics Teaching Must Change" published in Educational Leadership, September, 2008 by Jeannine Herron. They talk about a different approach to teaching students to read. What if we focus more on encoding rather t ... Show More

38m 32s

Sep 2021

Ep. 70: Science of Reading Part 1: Decodable Texts, Sound Walls, & the Aim of Early Literacy

What are we aiming to accomplish in early reading instruction? <a href='https://www.beyonddecodables.com/'>Dr. Julia Lindsey asks this as she tackles topics such as decoding, decodable texts</a>, sound walls, and more. We discuss the role of instruction and how that ... Show More

47m 30s

Can We End “the Reading Wars?” Part Two—...