Shayne Piasta, PhD, joins the READ Podcast to share her expertise on the evidence in early literacy education including alphabet instruction and oral language. She cites integrated approaches to the Science of Reading and supporting evidence-based practices that inform both educators and families. Dr. Piasta then discusses the knowledge educators need to effectively deliver reading instruction, with a focus on oral language. Educators will learn more about the research process and how researcher...
May 03, 2023•53 min•Ep. 44
Lakeisha Johnson, PhD, returns to the READ Podcast for the second episode of LEAD on READ. Dr. Johnson, Director at The Village at FCRR, associate professor at Florida State University (FSU), and creator of Maya’s Book Nook, shares her leadership story from her childhood through her professional career. Dr. Johnson tells more about her partnership with Dr. Nicole Patton Terry in creating The Village to support and empower communities and schools. She cites stories and examples of how she has cul...
Apr 05, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 43
The READ Podcast invites Margaret McKeown, PhD, for a deep dive on vocabulary development and instruction. Dr. McKeown is a celebrated researcher, professor, teacher educator, and co-author of numerous books on vocabulary such as Bringing Words to Life. In this episode, Dr. McKeown discusses robust, integrated, and comprehensive approaches to engaging children with vocabulary. She explains the role of vocabulary in reading comprehension, dispels myths about vocabulary instruction, and discusses ...
Mar 01, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 42
What does it truly mean to invest in the livelihood of all children? Lakeisha Johnson, PhD, joins the READ Podcast for a timely and important discussion on an integrated, systems approach to supporting all students in school communities, with a focus on vulnerable and marginalized populations. Applying an ecological systems framework to reading, Dr. Johnson explains the “both, and” of applying the Science of Reading in classrooms while ensuring that educators understand and invest in community-w...
Feb 01, 2023•51 min•Ep. 41
Kristen Wynn joins LEAD on READ, a special, four-part series on the Research Education Advocacy Podcast with co-hosts, Danielle Scorrano, host of the READ Podcast, and Jamie Williamson, Head of School at The Windward School and Executive Director of The Windward Institute. LEAD on READ explores the central question: What does it mean to be a leader in education right now? Kristen Wynn, the State Literacy Director for the Mississippi Department of Education, explains what it means to be an effect...
Jan 04, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 40
The READ Podcast introduces listeners to a special, four-part series, LEAD on READ, co-hosted by READ host Danielle Scorrano and The Windward School’s Head of School and Executive Director of The Windward Institute, Jamie Williamson. LEAD on READ explores the central question: What does it mean to be a leader in education right now? In this introduction episode, Jamie and Danielle outline the “why” behind this series and discuss key questions on every leader’s mind. A new episode will be release...
Dec 07, 2022•39 min•Ep. 39
Tiffany Hogan, PhD, CCC-SLP returns to the READ Podcast for a timely and important discussion on addressing reading and language development for all children. She explains how school disruptions during the pandemic impacted literacy and language development – highlighting the disparate consequences on children in vulnerable populations. Dr. Hogan, a researcher and advocate for people with developmental language disorder (DLD), explains how we all can support children with DLD through a systems l...
Nov 02, 2022•51 min•Ep. 38
Katie Pace Miles, PhD, joins the READ Podcast to discuss the foundations of word level reading instruction. Dr. Miles explains orthographic mapping, a fundamental strategy for literacy development, in which readers map out letter patterns, sounds, spelling, and meaning to learn words. She discusses the essential building blocks for orthographic mapping, demonstrating to READers that children do not learn to read by memorizing whole words. Dr. Miles discusses her current work of training pre-serv...
Oct 05, 2022•44 min•Ep. 37
Dr. Dave Anderson, leading expert in child and adolescent mental health and Vice President of School and Community Programs at Child Mind Institute, joins the READ Podcast for a timely and vital conversation about wellness and mental health in the wake of the pandemic. Dr. Anderson addresses the current mental health crisis and discusses its disparate impacts that could last for decades. He provides both solace and actionable strategies for children and adults to build habits of wellness and off...
Sep 07, 2022•48 min•Ep. 36
Rebecca Rolland, EdD, speech pathologist and author of The Art of Talking with Children , joins the READ Podcast to share her expertise in cultivating high quality conversations with children. Dr. Rolland explains the science and art to high quality conversations, which can be used to build better relationships with our kids. She identifies skills adults can use to bring mindfulness, curiosity, and playfulness into daily conversation and offers tools and strategies for both the summer and school...
Aug 03, 2022•46 min•Ep. 35
In this enlightening summer READ episode, Dr. Carolyn Strom explores the fundamental question: How do we share the science of the reading brain more effectively? Dr. Strom, a teacher educator and researcher at NYU, connects the science and story of the reading brain and offers applicable strategies for educators and families, from the “classroom to the kitchen table,” to support reading development in children. This episode disseminates clear and applicable knowledge for a broad audience and emp...
Jul 06, 2022•37 min•Ep. 34
Tim Odegard, PhD, joins the READ Podcast to discuss his research and perspectives on the state of reading policy and education in the United States. Dr. Odegard, a professor of psychology and the Katherine Davis Murfee Chair of Excellence in Dyslexic Studies of Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), shares his story in school as he struggled to read as a child, which fueled his career and research in dyslexia and reading. Citing a variety of studies across reading, Dr. Odegard comments about ...
Jun 01, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 33
Reading comprehension, by nature, is multifaceted and complex, and for Mindy Bridges, PhD, understanding its development and factors in children is a key passion in her professional work and research. This episode dives deep into the role of language in reading comprehension. Dr. Bridges explains how various factors contribute to comprehension, reflects on her research on comprehension across developmental stages, and offers insights on supporting children who struggle. Dr. Bridges discusses the...
May 04, 2022•53 min•Ep. 32
What does it take to invest in improving the educational outcomes and livelihood of all children? In this episode, Nicole Patton Terry, PhD, director of the Florida Center for Reading Research (FCRR) shares her expertise and experience in collaborating between researchers, schools and community partners, and families to support literacy and academic goals of their students. Dr. Terry’s research focuses primarily on young learners who are vulnerable to experiencing poor language and literacy achi...
Apr 06, 2022•54 min•Ep. 31
How can an interdisciplinary research approach inform our understanding of the systems of education? This month’s guest, Matthew Kraft, PhD, associate professor of education and economics at Brown University, offers a research-based commentary of the macro-level trends in education that particularly impact large urban settings, including teacher growth and well-being, the role of school climate and context, and instructional coaching. Applying his expertise in various interdisciplinary research ...
Mar 02, 2022•53 min•Ep. 30
What is the role of language in our schools and curriculum? Simply put, language is everything. In the words of this episode’s guest, Lydia Soifer, PhD, “Language is the vehicle that drives the curriculum.” Dr. Soifer is a renowned language pathologist and literacy specialist with over forty-five years of experience in clinical settings as well as in professional and parent education. She explains a multidisciplinary approach to child development, offering immediate, actionable strategies for te...
Feb 02, 2022•50 min•Ep. 29
In the first episode of 2022, Dr. Louise Spear-Swerling, a leader and trailblazer in reading education, joins the READ Podcast. Speaking from her background and expertise as a professor, teacher educator, author, and researcher, Dr. Spear-Swerling identifies evidence-based practices that support structured literacy and clarifies common pitfalls of implementation. Listeners will understand how curriculum, consistency, and coherence are fundamental to supporting schools and teachers deliver high q...
Jan 05, 2022•56 min•Ep. 28
READ in Review is the “epilogue” that highlights this year’s episodes with leading experts in research, education, and advocacy. Host Danielle Scorrano reflects upon her conversations from throughout 2021, centered around the theme of integration. The top bookmarks captured by our guests include current research in the Science of Reading (SoR) and dyslexia, advocacy for increased access and equity to high quality education, and an examination of the system to deliver the promise of education for...
Dec 08, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 27
All READers are invited to take a journey in mathematics with Penn State professor and The WI faculty member, Paul Riccomini, PhD. Dr. Riccomini and Danielle discuss the language of math with the underlying principle – if kids don’t understand the language of instruction, they’re not going to be able to learn to their potential. Dr. Riccomini explains certain markers of why children may experience challenges in math, when difficulties persist, and scaffolds and instructional practices to support...
Nov 03, 2021•58 min•Ep. 26
During Dyslexia Awareness Month, Resha Conroy, the founder of Dyslexia Alliance for Black Children (DABC), joins the READ Podcast for a conversation about education reform and equity. Using a historical and social lens, Ms. Conroy discusses how Black children with dyslexia are often left behind in the system of education, and the consequences are dire and dangerous. She cites research and draws on stories from communities where Black children with dyslexia face barriers to diagnosis and interven...
Oct 06, 2021•49 min•Ep. 25
Join Kristen Wynn, Mississippi’s State Literacy Director and The Windward Institute’s 2021 Fall Community Lecturer, as she details the story of how the state transformed literacy outcomes for its students. Reflecting upon her story with her son who was diagnosed with dyslexia and her early career as a teacher and interventionist, Ms. Wynn discusses her personal journey to learn about the Science of Reading. She outlines the literacy policy reform that began at the state level and explains how it...
Sep 01, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 24
Fumiko Hoeft, MD, PhD, leading cognitive neuroscientist, joins the READ Podcast to explore pressing questions about the brain, resilience, and learning disabilities. Dr. Hoeft examines the definitions of resilience and outlines its promotive factors related to the reading brain and children with learning disabilities. She cites the latest brain research on the role of stigma and stereotype threat in children with LD, drawing implications on how to combat stigma and cultivate a more inclusive env...
Aug 04, 2021•58 min•Ep. 23
Join the READ Podcast for an exclusive follow up episode with Maryanne Wolf, PhD. The conversation builds off last month’s episode on the science and story of the reading brain, Danielle and Dr. Wolf dive into literacy at the intersection of social justice and digital reading on a global scale. Highlighting her work as an innovator and social entrepreneur, Dr. Wolf shares the impact of Curious Learning on global literacy as well as her thoughts on the digital reading revolution, collaborative ef...
Jul 07, 2021•36 min•Ep. 22
This month, we invite listeners to learn from Maryanne Wolf, PhD, internationally renowned scientist, and author of several books on reading and the brain. Dr. Wolf shares the journey of her life’s work, illustrating her existential journey at the intersection of literacy and social justice and her life goal to ensure that reading is a fundamental access point to ensure the livelihood of people around the world. She discusses the science and poetic story of the reading brain and explains its con...
Jun 02, 2021•37 min•Ep. 21
The guest for this episode, Emily Solari, PhD, is a leader in academia and reading research as well as a true disruptor. We tackle the big question that is saturating current public and education discourse: How do we change reading achievement in this country? Dr. Solari offers her expertise on applying evidence-based instruction across school settings and addresses why our education system needs to enact simultaneous change in all policy areas to advance literacy outcomes for all students. She ...
May 05, 2021•51 min•Season 1Ep. 20
Language development is a cognitively and socially demanding process. In this episode, Indigo Young, MS CCC-SLP, explains how educators and practitioners can cultivate equitable and inclusive environments that promote language development with a focus on children from marginalized backgrounds. Ms. Young discusses the importance of anti-oppressive practices in educational contexts, emphasizing the continuous, discerning process that bridges our understanding of identity and power, cultural humili...
Apr 07, 2021•41 min•Season 1Ep. 19
Literacy, a fundamental human right, is foundational for a child’s potential toward academic and lifelong success. For children with language-based learning disabilities such as dyslexia, mastering skilled reading can feel like an impossible endeavor without necessary support and teaching using proven instructional methods. Fortunately, there are powerful research-based antidotes toward potentially preventing a destiny of reading failure. In this episode, Hugh Catts, PhD explains why early scree...
Mar 03, 2021•47 min•Season 1Ep. 18
While the implementation of high quality, research-based literacy instruction benefits all students, schools must consider scalability and sustainability. In this episode, Magdalena Zavalia, co-founder of Intelexia, discusses the successful, scalable implementation of Aprendo Leyendo, a research-based literacy program and professional development methodology based on the PAF Reading Program. Using what she learned about the science of reading as well as her skills and experience in social entrep...
Feb 03, 2021•54 min•Season 1Ep. 17
Molly Ness, PhD, shares her passion and work toward increasing access to literacy opportunities for all children. Dr. Ness shares data and insights about "book deserts," a term describing areas and circumstances in which children lack adequate access to books. She highlights organizations that are tackling social justice and equity issues related to literacy through innovative and grassroots methods. Dr. Ness calls for increased investments and policies toward ending book deserts and supporting ...
Jan 06, 2021•37 min•Season 1Ep. 16
In this bonus episode on special education, we are joined again by Peter Beardsley and Lara Damashek, the Committee on Special Education liaisons at The Windward School. We tackle questions like, how do families start and navigate the IEP process? Who makes the referral for services? How should families and educators be prepared for meetings with the multi-disciplinary team? We also discuss the rights of families and students like due process. This episode contains the golden nugget of informati...
Dec 02, 2020•28 min•Season 1Ep. 15
