Teaching, Reading, and Learning: The Reading League Podcast

Rupen Fofaria is a storyteller at EDNC.org, where he examines how education policy shows up in classrooms and impacts teachers, students, and families. Rupen has invested much of his time since 2019 reporting stories about literacy instruction in North Carolina.  His stories about the body of research on how kids learn to read take readers inside classrooms, advance student and family narratives, explore challenges for early reading teachers, and study best practices in colleges of education. Prior to joining EdNC, Rupen was an attorney in Raleigh and Chicago, practicing start-up and intellectual property law.  In his (much) younger days, he was a sports writer for ESPN.com, the Raleigh News and Observer, and the Orlando Sentinel. Rupen’s passion is shining light on untold and underreported issues.Further Resources and Rupen’s Picks:Rupen Fofaria and his reportingEnding the Reading Wars: Reading Acquisition From Novice to Expert by Anne Castles, Kathleen Rastle, and Kate NationLanguage at the Speed of Sight: How We Read, Why So Many Can’t, and What Can Be Done About It by Mark SeidenbergThe Grapes of Wrath by John SteinbeckThe Tristan Strong Series by Kwame MbaliaTheories of Adolescent Development by Barbara M. Newman and Philip R. NewmanY Guides“Out of anger comes controversy, out of controversy comes conversation, out of conversation, comes action.“  Tupac Shakur

Deborah is an education attorney in the San Francisco Bay Area currently representing families and students against school districts throughout Northern California. She is extremely passionate about her work and the rights of children with disabilities and children who are disproportionally affected by the failures of public schools. Deborah is an active member of the educational community and works with parents, teachers, administrators, service providers and local organizations to support the needs of vulnerable youth.Deborah has spent her entire legal career working on behalf of children. As a law student she worked as a legal intern and special education advocate for Disability Rights California and Bay Area Legal Aide, then quickly became the managing associate at a special education law firm in the District of Columbia where she represented low-income families in court appointed special education cases. Prior to relocating back to the Bay Area, Deborah co-founded The School Justice Project (“SJP”), a legal services and advocacy organization serving older students with special education needs who are involved in Washington DC’s justice system. In 2013 Deborah started her own practice in Berkeley, California, Jacobson Education Law (“JEL”). In addition to her private practice, Deborah has worked as both co-counsel and of counsel for Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (“DREDF”), and she currently serves as Of Counsel for The East Bay Community Law Center in their Education Justice Clinic. Deborah has effectively and compassionately represented hundreds of clients in special education matters. She is a frequent presenter at state and national conferences and provides trainings to local advocacy and parent groups.Further Resources and Deborah’s Picks:More on the class action lawsuit against Berkeley Unified School DistrictDisability Rights Education and Defense FundThe School Justice ProjectEast Bay Community Law CenterThe Alchemist by Paulo CoelhoRising Strong by Brene Brown

Audie Alumbaugh received her master’s degree in special education but has been an unpaid advocate for Arkansas children for over 10 years. Her passion began when teaching mathematics and recognizing that middle school and high school students were unable to perform at the potential when “word problems” were presented to them. it did not take long after that for her to realize the reading crisis in Arkansas. When her faculty position at the University of Central Arkansas and her advocacy for children resulted in what public school superintendents referred to as a “conflict of interest,” Audie left her faculty position knowing children’s education is more important and much more urgently needed. Audie has advocated for thousands of children and attended thousands of 504 and IEP meetings around the state as well as several outside of her home state. In 2015 Audie founded the Arkansas Dyslexia Support Group and funded its activities herself. Audie works tirelessly with the Arkansas legislature. Through her work several laws have been enacted strengthening public schools’ responsibility in identifying children with dyslexia and providing proper science-based intervention. Audie has assisted advocates in other states and worked to strengthen their laws as well. This is a labor of love for Audie. Further Resources and Audie’s Picks:More on Audie’s Work Arkansas Dyslexia Support Group (75 Taylor Circle, Conway, AR 72032)Arkansas Reading Initiative for Student Excellence (R.I.S.E.) resourcesPBS NewsHour segment highlighting Arkansas and Audie’s workBlueprint for a Literate Nation; How You Can Help by Cinthia Coletti An Uphill Climb by Dave Sargent"To whom much is given, much will be required" (Luke 12:48)

Kelly Butler is the Chief Executive Officer of The Barksdale Reading Institute (BRI). The Institute’s literacy work encompasses early childhood, parenting, professional development for teachers, teacher preparation, and developing literacy leaders.Ms. Butler is the author of two statewide studies and developed a subsequent statewide initiative to improve teacher preparation programs focused on early literacy instruction in Mississippi’s 15 public and private universities. A former high school teacher in the Greenwich, Connecticut Public Schools, Ms. Butler holds a bachelor’s degree in Special Education and a master’s degree in Administration, Planning and Social Policy from Harvard University. She served by appointment to the Governor’s Task Force on Teacher Preparation for Early Literacy Instruction and the State Reading Panel and, most recently, the Governor’s Task Force on Educator Workforce Development. Kelly has leveraged the Institute’s successful track record to initiate several multi-organization and multi-state initiatives, including The Big Dippers Short Course in the Science of Reading for Teach For America’s National Summer Institute, The Path Forward: Bringing the Science of Reading to Teacher Preparation Programs and Licensure, and a twenty-member national team of reading experts to review the teacher preparation programs in a neighboring state. Kelly is frequently called upon to tell the story of Mississippi’s literacy challenges and successes, and as more states are responding to the literacy instruction crisis, BRI has provided consultation to a number of legislative and philanthropic groups from various states.Kelly is the recipient of The Reading League’s 2021 Benita Blachman award, for advancing evidence to practice.Ms. Butler lives in Jackson, Mississippi with her husband, Thorne. They have five daughters.Further Resources and Kelly’s Picks:Barksdale Reading InstituteReading UniverseParents for Public SchoolsEmily Hanford’s APM ReportsThe Hunt InstituteReach Out and ReadThe Velveteen Rabbit by Margery WilliamsTravels with Charley; In Search of America by John SteinbeckBooks by Wallace Stegner</li

Shawn Anthony Robinson Ph.D.is co-founder of Doctor Dyslexia Dude and serves on the inaugural advisory council of Benetech. Robinson has over 40 peer-reviewed publications and received several distinguished honors throughout his career, including the 2017 Alumni Achievement Award/New Trier High School Alumni Hall of Honor; the 2016 Outstanding Young Alumni Award from University of Wisconsin; and “Educator of the Year” from All-State Insurance (Chicago) 2005. Robinson is a Life Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.Further Resources:Dr. Robinson’s websiteWord Analysis Course developed by Shawn Robinson for the Learning Differences Innovation Center @ Madison CollegeBlog about the pilot course at Madison CollegeDr. Dyslexia Dude websiteDr. Robinson’s Scholarly Work:Robinson, S. A. (2018). A study designed to increase the literacy skills of incarcerated adults. The Journal of Correctional Education, 69(1), 60–72.Robinson, S. A. (Ed.) (2018). Untold narratives: African Americans who received special education services and succeeded beyond expectations. Information Age Publishing.Robinson, S. A. (2020). Culturally responsive representation in graphic novels matter for African American boys with reading disability. Journal of African American Males in Education, 11(1), 23–36.Robinson, S. A., & Thompson, C. L. (2019). Promoting academic readiness for African American males with dyslexia: Implications for preschool to elementary school teaching. Reading and Writing Quarterly, 35(1),1–64. [Invited to reprint in an edited book with Routledge].Robinson, S. A. (2019). Critical literacy impacts African American boys’ reading identity. Gifted Child Today, 42(3), 150–156.

Jeannine Herron, Ph.D. is a research neuropsychologist. After ten years of dyslexia research at University of California at San Francisco, she became founder/CEO of Talking Fingers. She was the Principal Investigator on five Small Business Innovation Research grants from the National Institute of Child Health (NICHD) to develop and do research with early literacy software, in collaboration with Joe Torgesen, Carol Connor, Linnea Ehri, Patricia Mathes, Margie Gillis, and others whose mentorship enriched her research and her life. She is the author of several books, including  Making Speech Visible: How Constructing Words Can Help Children Organize their Brains for Skillful Reading.Additional Resources:Talking Fingers (Includes more about Jeannine Herron as well as information about Talking Shapes;  Read, Write and Type;  and Wordy Qwerty).Books by Jeannine Herron:Neuropsychology of Left-Handedness Voyage of the AquariusOur Big Blue SchoolhouseMaking Speech Visible: How Constructing Words Can Help Children Organize Their Brains for Skillful ReadingJeannine’s Picks:The Swerve: How the World Became Modern by Steven Greenblatt  The Written World: The Power of Stories to Shape People, History, and Civilization by Martin Puchner  Norman GeschwindMarianne Diamond<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Writing-Road-Reading-6th-Rev/dp/0062083937/ref=asc_df_0062083937/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312167502430&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9524710150839585929&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9005163&hvtargid=pla-491335639347&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=60258872137&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=

Angie Hanlin is a dedicated and passionate leader for change in schools and classrooms.  She currently serves as the superintendent at the School District of Thorp in Thorp, Wisconsin where she works tirelessly to positively transform teacher practice and student achievement. She bases her career on the belief that ALL students can learn and perform at high levels of achievement when they are given highly engaging, research-based instructional practices and targeted specific interventions.  She creates a growth mindset among her students, staff, and community and uses character education to shape and sustain a positive culture of collaboration and growth that is focused on learning.Angie has over 20 years of experience in education where she has served in the roles of classroom teacher, curriculum coordinator, instructional coach, professional development coordinator where she worked to train and coach teachers on effective instructional practices and strategies, and as a building principal at Matthews Elementary in the New Madrid County R-1 School District. She has received numerous awards for her performance in the classroom and has found a new passion for working with building leaders to promote systems to improve literacy for all students.Angie received the 2019-2020 Outstanding Rural Administrator Award from MARE (Missouri Association of Rural Educators).  She is now on a journey of literacy improvement, systems & structure work, and school district transformation with the amazing staff, students, and community members at the School District of Thorp.Dr. Sam Duncan is the Superintendent of Schools for the New Madrid County R-1 School District (NMCR-1) where he began his career as a high school English/foreign language teacher in 1988. After serving as a junior high principal at NMCR-1, he moved to another district as a middle school principal, and then to central office administrator. He returned to NMCR-1 in 2016 to take his current position.Dr. Duncan has led NMCR-1 through a season of heralded improvements. This upper-Mississippi-Delta school system covers 470 square miles with 7 city councils. Since 2016, the district has experienced significant improvements in literacy, school security, financial stability, co-curricular offerings, and technical skills expansion, while also cutting the percent of students with IEPs in half.Duncan is most proud of the continued support of the R-1 Board of Education in the promotion of student literacy. He touts the ever-pressing commitment of his leadership team, as well as the tenacious efforts of faculty and staff to grow assessment-capable learners and students who “don’t just read, but read well!” NMCR-1 continues to drive toward being a well-ordered, highly collaborative, data-driven, impressively impactful, and “globally consistent yet individually responsive” Pk-12 educational community.Additional Resources:<a href="https://visible-learn

Dr. Tracy Weeden is a seasoned and passionate leader dedicated to advancing literacy and academic excellence for children and adults. With an Ed.D in Educational Leadership, Tracy has spent her career creating and building innovative programs, systems, and teams focused on providing enhanced learning opportunities and exceptional outcomes for students.Tracy is a true visionary when it comes to improving the world through education. Her innovative style of leadership, combined with her compassionate and engaging nature, enables her to successfully manage change and growth across a diverse constituent base including Boards of Trustees, donors, staff, parents, teachers, educational partners, and students.In her current role as President and CEO of Neuhaus, she provides leadership and support in the areas of financial management, recruitment and development of staff, fundraising initiatives, initiating and furthering relationships with NEC partners, and guidance of professional and public relations.Prior to joining Neuhaus, Tracy was the Executive Director of Academic Planning with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Intervention Services Group (a division recently acquired from Scholastic Achievement Partners). In this capacity, Dr. Weeden provided executive consulting nationally on the development of systems that helped school districts improve student achievement and address barriers to rigorous, relevant learning. Prior to Scholastic Achievement Partners, she spent more than five years as the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment for the Houston Independent School District.Additional Resources:Neuhaus Education Center The Science of Reading: A Defining Movement Tracy’s Picks:Dare to Lead by Brene BrownWhen to Walk Away: Finding Freedom from Toxic People by Gary ThomasTransforming School Culture: How to Overcome Staff Division by Anthony MuhammadLittle Women by Louisa May AlcottThe Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis<a href="https://www.amazon.com/I-Know-Why-Caged-Bird-Sings-audiobook/dp/B004HYHTN6/ref=sr_1_1?crid=P6E6R4WF6CK0&dchild=1&keywords=i+know+why+the+caged+bird+sings&qid=16

Dr. Jan Hasbrouck is a researcher, educational consultant, and author. She served as Executive Consultant to the Washington State Reading Initiative and as an advisor to the Texas Reading Initiative. Dr. Hasbrouck was a reading specialist and literacy coach for 15 years before teaching at the University of Oregon and later becoming a professor at Texas A The Instructional Coach's Guide to Supporting Student Success through Teacher CollaborationHasbrouck-Tindal 2017 ORF Norms Other Resources Mentioned:Explicit Instruction by Anita Archer“Ladder of Reading” by Nancy Young Siegfried “Zig” Engleman   <a href="https://www.guilford.com/books/The

In this episode, we’ll talk with Dusty, Dott, and Alphabott, learn how they became friends and discover how they are sharing Dusty’s journey in learning to read. You’ll find out all about their television show and how Dusty and Dott have worked with The Reading League to ensure that the science of reading is the foundation for the show.  After hearing from our friends, we hope you'll become a Reading Buddy, too!The Reading League’s Reading Buddies launches in September 2021 and can be viewed on YouTube and WCNY-PBS. Like the show on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter to stay informed and subscribe to the show’s YouTube channel to be notified of new episodes and videos when they are released.  Learn more about The Reading League’s Reading Buddies at www.thereadingleague.org/Reading-Buddies.Join The Reading League’s Reading Buddies on Social Media:https://www.facebook.com/ReadingBuddiesTRL/https://twitter.com/ReadingBuddies_https://www.instagram.com/readingbuddiestrl/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS7JPyTm7Af_1Y-wl9YT9HQhttps://www.thereadingleague.org/reading-buddies/

Pam Kastner, Ed.D., is an educational consultant at the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) in Harrisburg, where she serves as the State Lead Consultant for Literacy. Pam currently co-leads Pennsylvania’s Dyslexia Screening and Early Literacy Intervention Pilot Program extension and expansion for PaTTAN. In addition, she is part of a research team investigating the impact of explicit instruction in advanced phonemic awareness on student literacy outcomes. She serves on the statewide Multi-tiered System of Supports (MTSS) team working extensively in the area of literacy, effective instruction, formative assessment, and professional learning communities. She has served in a number of leadership capacities at the district level and served as a Pennsylvania Distinguished Educator for the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Pam is a certified Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) trainer and a certified reading specialist. Pam also has the honor of serving as the President of The Reading League Pennsylvania.Today’s sponsor is Reading Horizons. Reading Horizons programs deliver proven supplemental core literacy instruction, based on the science of reading. The Reading Horizons podcast, named Podclassed, takes a deep dive into learning-focused topics such as structured literacy, social-emotional learning, dyslexia, and ed-tech with host, Laura Axtell—an educator and trainer with over 26 years of experience in instructional and administrative settings.  Visit readinghorizons.com/podcast to learn more.Further Learning/Resources from Dr. KastnerPam Kastner’s Comprehensive Literacy Collection Emily Hanford’s APM ReportsThe Reading League Pennsylvania Pam’s PicksTo Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee The Gruffalo by Julia DonaldsonBeing Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist by Judith Heumann

Linnea C. Ehri  Ph.D. is an American psychologist, currently Distinguished Professor Emerita of Educational Psychology at The Graduate Center of the City University of New York. Dr. Ehri received her B.S. in Psychology at the University of Washington in Seattle and her M.A. in Psychology at San Francisco University. She received her Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley.  Prior to joining the faculty of The Graduate Center CUNY as a Distinguished Professor in 1991, Linnea was a professor at the University of California, Davis.    Linnea has served on editorial boards of nine scientific journals. She has published over 100 research papers and edited two books. Her studies have contributed to our understanding of psychological processes and sources of difficulty in learning to read and spell.She has received awards for distinguished research from the Society for the Scientific Study of Reading (SSSR), American Educational Research Association, International Reading Association, and National Reading Conference. She is a member of the Reading Hall of Fame, and past president of SSSR. She was a member of the National Reading Panel that was established by the U.S. Congress to evaluate evidence indicating effective methods of teaching reading. On this panel she chaired the committee that reviewed research on phonemic awareness instruction and systematic phonics instruction. Although Dr. Ehri has recently received Faculty Emeritus status, she continues to advise students and offer her expertise on literacy development and reading instruction.   Recent publications have examined the ways in which children and young adults learning orthographic mapping and spelling.This podcast is sponsored by Heggerty. The Heggerty curricula has 35 weeks of phonological and phonemic awareness lesson plans aligned to the science of reading. Systematic daily lessons require minimal teacher prep time and take just 10-12 minutes to complete. The Heggerty curricula is available in both English and Spanish, and it's being used by thousands of school districts across the US, Canada, and Australia. Learn more about the curricula, our intervention book, and decodable readers at heggerty.orgFurther Learning and Resources from Dr. EhriEhri, L.C. (2020). The science of learning to read words: A case for systematic phonics instruction. Reading Research Quarterly, 55(1), S45-S60. Special Issue: The Science of Reading: Supports, Critiques, and Questions. Ehri, L. (1998). Research on learning to read and spell:  A personal-historical perspective.  Scientific Studies of Reading, 2, 97-114.Ehri, L. (2005). Development of sight word rea

Dr. Maryanne Wolf is a scholar, a teacher, and an advocate for children and literacy around the world. She is the Director of the newly created Center for Dyslexia, Diverse Learners, and Social Justice at the UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies. Previously she was the John DiBiaggio Professor of Citizenship and Public Service and Director of the Center for Reading and Language Research in the Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Study and Human Development at Tufts University. She is the author of Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain (2007), Dyslexia, Fluency, and the Brain (2001), Tales of Literacy for the 21st Century (2016), and Reader Come Home: The Reading Brain in a Digital World (2018). Dr. Wolf’s many awards include the highest honors from International Dyslexia Association and The Dyslexia Foundation; Distinguished Researcher of the Year for Learning Disabilities in Australia;   Distinguished Teacher of the Year from the American Psychological Association; and the Christopher Columbus Award for Intellectual Innovation for co-founding  Curious Learning: A Global Literacy Initiative, with deployments in Africa, India, Australia, and rural United States.  She is also the recipient of The Reading League’s Benita Blachman award in honor of her extraordinary contributions to literacy. Finally, Maryanne has been elected to the Vatican Academy of Science. Today’s sponsor is Reading Horizons. Reading Horizons programs deliver proven supplemental core literacy instruction, based on the science of reading. The Reading Horizons podcast, named Podclassed, takes a deep dive into learning-focused topics such as structured literacy, social-emotional learning, dyslexia, and ed-tech with host, Laura Axtell—an educator and trainer with over 26 years of experience in instructional and administrative settings.  Visit readinghorizons.com/podcast to learn more.Further Reading and ExplorationProust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain by Maryanne Wolf Dyslexia, Fluency, and the Brain by Maryanne Wolf Tales of Literacy for the 21st Century by Maryanne Wolf Reader, Come Home: The Reading Brain in the Digital World by Maryanne Wolf<a href="https://www.ed

Parker J. Palmer is a writer, speaker, activist, and founder and Senior Partner Emeritus of the Center for Courage & Renewal. His wisdom has reached millions worldwide through his ten books, including the best-selling Healing the Heart of Democracy, Let Your Life Speak, The Courage to Teach, and A Hidden Wholeness. His latest bestseller is On the Brink of Everything: Grace, Gravity and Getting Old (2018). Parker holds a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of California at Berkeley, and 13 honorary doctorates. The Leadership Project, a national survey of 10,000 educators, named him one of the 30 “most influential senior leaders” in higher education and one of the 10 key “agenda-setters” of the past decade. In 2010, Palmer was given the William Rainey Harper Award whose previous recipients include Margaret Mead, Elie Wiesel, and Paolo Freire.  For twenty years, the Accrediting Commission for Graduate Medical Education has given annual Parker J. Palmer “Courage to Teach” and “Courage to Lead” Awards to directors of exemplary medical residency programs. Living the Questions: Essays Inspired by the Work and Life of Parker J. Palmer, was published in 2005. A member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quaker), Dr. Palmer and his wife, Sharon L. Palmer, live in Madison, Wisconsin.This episode is brought to you by The Institute for Multi-Sensory Education (IMSE). The Institute for Multi-Sensory Education has been helping teachers make that happen for 25 years by offering extensive training and virtual teaching resources. Learn how to apply IMSE’s IDA-Accredited Orton-Gillingham approach based on the science of reading by signing up for their virtual trainings this spring and summer.  Visit IMSE.com to learn more and register for their courses.Further Reading and ExplorationBooks by Parker J. Palmer To Know as We Are Known: Education as a Spiritual Journey by Parker PalmerLet Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation by Parker PalmerThe Active Life: A Spirituality of Work, Creativity, and Caring by Parker PalmerA Hidden Who

Parker J. Palmer is a writer, speaker, activist, and founder and Senior Partner Emeritus of the Center for Courage & Renewal. His wisdom has reached millions worldwide through his ten books, including the best-selling Healing the Heart of Democracy, Let Your Life Speak, The Courage to Teach, and A Hidden Wholeness. His latest bestseller is On the Brink of Everything: Grace, Gravity and Getting Old (2018). Parker holds a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of California at Berkeley, and 13 honorary doctorates. The Leadership Project, a national survey of 10,000 educators, named him one of the 30 “most influential senior leaders” in higher education and one of the 10 key “agenda-setters” of the past decade. In 2010, Palmer was given the William Rainey Harper Award whose previous recipients include Margaret Mead, Elie Wiesel, and Paolo Freire.  For twenty years, the Accrediting Commission for Graduate Medical Education has given annual Parker J. Palmer “Courage to Teach” and “Courage to Lead” Awards to directors of exemplary medical residency programs. Living the Questions: Essays Inspired by the Work and Life of Parker J. Palmer, was published in 2005. A member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quaker), Dr. Palmer and his wife, Sharon L. Palmer, live in Madison, Wisconsin.This episode is brought to you by The Institute for Multi-Sensory Education (IMSE). The Institute for Multi-Sensory Education has been helping teachers make that happen for 25 years by offering extensive training and virtual teaching resources. Learn how to apply IMSE’s IDA-Accredited Orton-Gillingham approach based on the science of reading by signing up for their virtual trainings this spring and summer.  Visit IMSE.com to learn more and register for their courses.Further Reading and ExplorationBooks by Parker J. Palmer To Know as We Are Known: Education as a Spiritual Journey by Parker PalmerLet Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation by Parker PalmerThe Active Life: A Spirituality of Work, Creativity, and Caring by Parker PalmerA Hidden Who

Anita L. Archer, PhD, is an educational consultant to school districts on explicit instruction, the design and delivery of instruction, behavior management, and literacy instruction. She has taught elementary and middle school students and is the recipient of 10 awards honoring her excellence in teaching and contributions to the field of education. Dr. Archer has served on the faculties of San Diego State University, the University of Washington in Seattle, and the University of Oregon in Eugene. She is nationally known for her professional development activities, having presented in every state over the course of her 50-year career. Dr. Archer is coauthor, with Dr. Mary Gleason, of numerous curriculum materials addressing reading, writing, and study skills.  Raised in the Pacific Northwest, Anita’s primary home is in Portland, Oregon where she enjoys entertaining friends, attending symphony and opera performances, and practicing her cello. Today’s podcast is brought to you by Mount St. Joseph University. Mount St. Joseph University offers a number of programs for educators interested in graduate or doctoral work focused on the Science of Reading. To learn more visit msj.edu/reading-science.Further Reading and ExplorationAnita Archer’s Website (including amazing videos)Utilizing Explicit Instruction (video)Explicit Instruction; Effective and Efficient Teaching by Anita L. Archer and Charles A. HughesJohn HattieSiegfried “Zig” EngelmanThe Writing Revolution by Natalie Wexler and Judith Hochman  Powerful Teaching; Unleash the Science of Learning by Pooja K. Agarwal and Patrice M. BainThe Reading Comprehension Blueprint; Helping Students Make Meaning from Text by Nancy Hennessy  Reading Development and Difficulties by David A. Kilpatrick (Ed.), R. Malatesha Joshi (Ed.), and Richard K. Wagner (Ed.)  Anita’s PicksThe Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett <a href="https:/

Jessica Pasik is a licensed New York state reading specialist in the Fulton City School District. She received her Masters of Science in Literacy Education from SUNY Oswego and is currently an Adjunct Professor of Literacy there. She previously received her Bachelor of Science degree in Childhood Education from the SUNY Geneseo and is certified in elementary and special education grades K-6. She formerly taught special education at Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES and the Fulton City School District. She is also a private tutor and is a passionate advocate for evidence-based practices in reading instruction. Jessica is currently a TRL Board Member at Large. This podcast is brought to you by Mount St. Joseph University. Mount St. Joseph University offers a number of programs for educators interested in graduate or doctoral work focused on the Science of Reading. To learn more visit msj.edu/reading-scienceFurther Reading and ExplorationThe Reading LeagueThe Reading League YouTube ChannelJessica’s PicksHarry Potter seriesLove, Teach by Kelly TreleavenReader, Come Home by Maryanne Wolf

Prior to founding The Reading League, Dr. Maria Murray was an associate professor at the State University of New York at Oswego, where she taught courses related to literacy assessment and intervention.  She received her Ph.D. in Reading Education from Syracuse University, where she served as project coordinator for Dr. Benita Blachman’s numerous federally-funded early reading intervention grants. Maria is passionate regarding the prevention and remediation of reading difficulty, and consistently strives to increase educator knowledge and the connections between research and practice. On a personal note, Maria is happily married to Danny and has  two children, Katie and Mark, and is also mom to her dogs Lady and Tikani. Dr. Jorene Cook is an Early Literacy Coach in the Syracuse City School District and part-time Instructor at Utica College. She has worked in the public school system for 23 years, her earlier years working as an elementary school teacher.  She is also a national LETRS trainer. Her doctoral research investigated how schools and school systems in Central New York support students with dyslexia and their families. Her interest in advocacy, systems thinking, and policy work led her to become a Partner in Policymaking in 2015. Jorene is the president of the Board of The Reading League. On a personal note, Dr. Cook is happily married to her best friend. They have two teens-Evan (16) and Brody (14). This podcast is brought to you by Great Minds. We encourage you to take a moment and view their website at https://gm.greatminds.org/trl2021podcast  Further Reading and ExplorationThe Reading LeagueThe Reading League YouTube ChannelJorene Cook’s YouTube Channel, “In the Loop”Maria’s and Jorene’s PicksTo Kill a Mockingbird by Harper LeeLittle Women by Louisa May AlcottSylvester and the Magic Pebble by William SteigLetter to My Son by Ta-Nehisi CoatesMake it Stick; The Science of Successful Learning by Henry Roediger III, Mark A. McDaniel, and Peter C. BrownThe Plant Paradox by Steven R. GundryCulturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain by Zaretta L. Hammond

Timothy Shanahan is Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois at Chicago where he was Founding Director of the UIC Center for Literacy. Previously, he was director of reading for the Chicago Public Schools. He is author/editor of more than 200 publications on literacy education. His research emphasizes the connections between reading and writing, literacy in the disciplines, and improvement of reading achievement.Tim is past president of the International Literacy Association. He served as a member of the Advisory Board of the National Institute for Literacy under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, and he helped lead the National Reading Panel, convened at the request of Congress to evaluate research on the teaching reading, a major influence on reading education. He chaired two other federal research review panels: The National Literacy Panel for Language Minority Children and Youth, and the National Early Literacy Panel, and helped write the Common Core State Standards. He was inducted to the Reading Hall of Fame in 2007, and is a former first-grade teacher.In this conversation, Tim talks about his early influences as a teacher, his work in Chicago Public Schools and in the development of the University of Illinois at Chicago Center for Literacy, the groundbreaking impact of the National Reading Panel, and what he sees as work left to do in our profession. This podcast is brought to you by Great Minds. We encourage you to take a moment and view their website at https://gm.greatminds.org/trl2021podcast  Further Reading and ExplorationShanahan on Literacy (includes a full listing of relevant resources and publications, Tim’s blog, and presentations)National Reading Panel Report (full text)National Reading Panel Report: Practical Advice for Teachers National Early Literacy Panel ReportNational Literacy Panel on Language-Minority Children and Youth (executive summary)What Constitutes a Science of Reading Instruction? (Reading Research Quarterly; September, 2020)The Science of Reading: Making Sense of Research  (Reading Teacher; September/October, 2020)Tim’s PicksBiographies of Abraham Lincoln<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Man-Who-Solved-Market-Revolution/dp/073521

Emily Hanford is a senior education correspondent at APM Reports, part of American Public Media. She has been working in public media for more than two decades as a reporter, producer, editor, news director, and program host. She has written and produced content for many news outlets, including NPR, The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, Washington Monthly, and PBS NewsHour. Her work has won numerous honors, including a DuPont-Columbia Award, a Casey Medal, and awards from Education Writer’s Association and The Associated Press. In 2017, Emily won the Excellence in Media Reporting on Education Research Award from the American Educational Research Association. She is a frequent speaker and moderator and is the host of the Ways from there, her research led her to the problems of unaddressed dyslexia. That, she says, was the catalyst for digging deep on how reading is being taught in schools, and why that system is failing so many children. Her series of audio documentaries on this topic has had a profound impact nationally, elevating the conversation around reading instruction and how this is such an important issue of equity. In this conversation, Emily talks about her roots as a reporter, how she ended up focusing on reading, and what she sees as the main barriers to getting reading right for all children.   Links to APM ReportsHard WordsAt a Loss for WordsWhat the Words SayEmily's PicksFever by Mary Beth Keane Working by Robert A. Caro All Students Can Succeed by Jean Stockard, Timothy W. Wood, Cristy Coughlin, and Caitlin Rasplica KhouryEnding the Reading Wars: Reading Acquisition From Novice to ExpertWhat Research Tells Us About Reading Instruction

David A. Kilpatrick, Ph.D. is a professor of psychology for the State University of New York College at Cortland. He is a New York State certified school psychologist with 28 years of experience in schools. He has been teaching courses in learning disabilities and educational psychology since 1994. David is a reading researcher and the author of two books on reading, Essentials of Assessing, Preventing, and Overcoming Reading Difficulties, and Equipped for Reading Success, and is a co-editor of a third, Reading Development and Difficulties: Bridging the Gap Between Research and Practice.Dr. David Kilpatrick is one of the most recognizable experts in the area of reading development and reading difficulties today. His books Essentials of Assessing, Preventing, and Overcoming Reading Difficulties and Equipped for Reading Success are considered “must-reads” for teachers everywhere. David has expanded our collective understanding of the nature of word-level reading, specifically in the areas of phonemic proficiency and orthographic mapping, which has guided new directions in assessment and intervention.  In this episode, David will discuss what and who have influenced his work, what people tend to get wrong about the science of reading, and how a healthy dose of humility is critical to moving the work forward. Hold on to your hats! David has great stories and lots to share.Further Reading and ExplorationEssentials of Assessing, Preventing, and Overcoming Reading Difficulties Equipped for Reading SuccessReading Development and Difficulties: Bridging the Gap Between Research and PracticeVideosEffective and Ineffective Interventions for Word ReadingUnderstanding the Role of Phonemic Proficiency in Boosting Reading Skills in Struggling Readers Reading in the Rockies Conference Presentation95% Group Webinar Series OtherThe PAST Test </e

Dr. Moats has been a teacher, psychologist, researcher, graduate school faculty member, and author of many influential scientific journal articles, books, and policy papers on the topics of reading, spelling, language, and teacher preparation. After her first job as a neuropsychology technician, she became a teacher of students with learning and reading difficulties, earning her Master's degree at Peabody College of Vanderbilt. Later, after realizing how little she understood about teaching, she earned a doctorate in Reading and Human Development from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Dr. Moats spent the next fifteen years in private practice as a licensed psychologist in Vermont, specializing in evaluation and consultation with individuals of all ages and walks of life who experienced reading, writing, and language difficulties. At that time, she trained psychology interns in the Dartmouth Medical School Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Moats spent one year as the resident expert for the California Reading Initiative; four years as site director of the NICHD Early Interventions Project in Washington, DC; and ten years as research advisor and consultant with Sopris Learning. Dr. Moats was a contributing writer to the Common Core State Standards. In addition to the LETRS professional development series, Dr. Moats’ books include Speech to Print: Language Essentials for Teachers; Spelling: Development, Disability, and Instruction; Straight Talk About Reading (with Susan Hall), and Basic Facts about Dyslexia. Dr. Louisa Moats is truly one of the trailblazers in the field of education science, but did you know her humble beginnings included a degree in music?  Louisa came into the profession in a fascinating way, at a time when the term “dyslexia” was considered quackery. Although she earned a graduate degree as one of the first “learning disabilities” teachers in the United States, she states that she really didn’t know how to teach. This early realization has led her to focus her work on better preparing teachers to meet the demands of the classroom and to advocate for research-based instruction for all children.In this frank and honest discussion, you’ll hear Dr. Moats’s reflections on her background and those people who most influenced her work. You’ll hear her thoughts about the state of where we are in literacy achievement in this country, the barriers to advancing the evidence base into practice, and directions we can take to get it right.Further Reading and ExplorationSpeech to Print: Language Essentials for Teachers, Third EditionSpelling: Development, Disabilities, and Instruction<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Straight-Talk-About-R