101. Science of Reading Hot Topics: Navigating the Nuance with Anna Geiger, Reach All Readers

The Science of Reading has transformed literacy instruction, but with that shift has come a new challenge: navigating the growing number of debates, disagreements, and hot topics within the field itself.

Author, podcaster, and doctoral student Anna Geiger of Reach All Readers joins the show to explore the nuance behind some of the most talked-about conversations in literacy today. We discuss what research can (and cannot) tell us, why instructional decisions are not always black and white, and how educators can thoughtfully evaluate practices while keeping student outcomes at the center.

From heart words and phonemic awareness to decodable texts, sound walls, and structured literacy approaches, this conversation offers a perspective that encourages teachers to think critically and embrace the complexity of literacy instruction. Whether you’re new to the Science of Reading or deep into your own learning journey, this episode will leave you reflecting on what it means to be both evidence-informed and responsive to students.

We Discuss:

  • How teachers can navigate conflicting opinions in literacy education
  • Heart words
  • Whether any English word is truly irregular (with the role of etymology and morphology)
  • The debate surrounding oral-only phonemic awareness
  • Structured Linguistic Literacy vs. traditional phonics approaches
  • Are we overdoing phonics?
  • Syllable division
  • Decodable texts versus authentic reading experiences
  • Sound walls
  • Why teaching remains both a science and an art
  • How educators can become wise consumers of literacy research

Resources Mentioned:

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Connect with Anna Geiger:

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