Podcast: Literacy in Color

75. Bringing Word Inquiry to Life with Picture Books with Fiona Hamilton, Lauren Hateley-Crowe and Angela Brienza of Engage with the Page & Search Engage

Returning guest Fiona Hamilton, an international literacy consultant and founder of Word Torque, unites with her partners Lauren Hateley-Crowe and Angela Brienza – the team behind Engage with the Page and Search Engage. Together, they help teachers bring meaningful, joyful word inquiry into their daily read-alouds. Together, they unpack how their collaboration began, why picture…

74. Inside Project Read AI: What Educators Need to Know About AI and Structured Literacy with Viv Ramakrishnan

Artificial intelligence is everywhere – but what does it actually mean for structured literacy and foundational skills instruction? In this episode, I sit down with Viv Ramakrishnan, co-founder of Project Read AI, to unpack what educators truly need to understand about AI, large language models, and how thoughtfully designed technology can support (not replace) teachers….

73. Why These Holiday Words Are Spelled the Way They Are: Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa

Holiday Word Study: Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa In this cozy, end-of-year episode, we’re slowing things down for a short and joyful holiday word study investigation. Instead of a full instructional deep dive, this episode invites you to get curious about three words we hear everywhere this time of year: Christmas Hanukkah Kwanzaa Together, we explore…

72. Raising Up Readers: Scaffolding Strategies to Help Students Access Challenging Text with Jennifer Throndsen

In this inspiring conversation, Dr. Jennifer Throndsen, author of Raising Up Readers: 25 Scaffolding Strategies to Help Students Access Challenging Texts, breaks down what it really takes to accelerate reading achievement for all learners, including multilingual students and those reading multiple years below grade level. Drawing from decades of experience across classroom, district, and state…

71. Uncomplicate Ed: How the Science of Learning Transforms Classrooms with Ashley Doty

In today’s episode of Literacy in Color, we’re chatting with Ashley Doty, founder of Uncomplicate Ed, an organization dedicated to making teaching and learning clearer, simpler, and more effective. Drawing on two decades of experience across the education landscape (and even a past life as a theater educator!), Ashley brings both heart and science to…

70. How Effective Literacy Instruction Breaks the School-to-Prison Pipeline with Hilderbrand Pelzer III

In this powerful and deeply moving episode, Michelle welcomes Hilderbrand Pelzer III — award-winning principal, author of Unlocking Potential, national speaker, and a transformational leader whose work inside one of the largest jail systems in America has reshaped conversations about literacy, justice, and hope. Michelle heard Hilderbrand as a keynote speaker at The Reading League…

69: What Are Kindergarten Reading Levels? The Hidden Problems Behind Levels A–D

In this solo episode, we take an honest, unflinching look at what are traditionally called Kindergarten Reading Levels: Guided Reading Levels A, B, C, and D — and why these levels do not reflect how children actually learn to read. If you’re a kindergarten teacher, literacy coach, interventionist, or a parent of a beginning reader,…

68. It’s Never Too Late: Helping Older Struggling Readers Succeed with Linda Farrell & Michael Hunter of Readsters

In this powerful episode, Michelle is joined by legendary reading experts Linda Farrell and Michael Hunter, Founding Partners at Readsters. With more than 40 years of experience helping struggling readers — from kindergarten through adulthood — Linda and Michael break down what effective intervention truly looks like, why older learners often continue to slip through…

67. Small Groups, Big Results with Dr. Julia B. Lindsey

In this episode, Michelle talks with Dr. Julia Lindsey about her brand-new book “Small Groups, Big Results: Evidence-Based Routines to Get Every Child Reading ”, a practical guide to designing effective small-group instruction with the Science of Reading in mind. Julia shares her journey to researcher and author, and explains why the “leveled-text ladder” needs…

66. Writing Instruction: When You Have the Strategies but Not the System with LaNesha Tabb

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed teaching writing, you’re not alone. In this episode, Michelle sits down with educator, author, and founder of Reimagine Writing, LaNesha Tabb, to talk about her framework in building confident, independent writers. For years, LaNesha admits she either “barely taught writing” or avoided it altogether — not because she didn’t care,…