In this episode of Literacy in Color, Michelle chats with Montessori educator and literacy advocate Zil Jaeger to explore a powerful instructional tool: storytelling. Zil shares how Montessori storytelling goes far beyond engagement; it’s a structured, intentional approach to building background knowledge, activating imagination, and anchoring learning in meaningful ways. Key Takeaways: Why storytelling is…
Dr. Brennan Chandler, assistant professor at Georgia State University and researcher specializing in spelling, reading intervention, and literacy development — particularly for students with persistent reading difficulties unpacks what the research sayings about spelling instruction. He shares insights from his large-scale meta-analysis examining decades of spelling intervention research and explains why spelling has the capacity…
Spelling longer words can feel overwhelming for students – even for those who can read them with ease. In this episode, I unpack why multisyllabic spelling is such a leap and, more importantly, what we can do to support students through it. Rather than relying on memorization alone, this episode explores how spelling is deeply…
In this episode, Elise Lovejoy tackles one of the most important topics in early literacy instruction: how to use decodable books effectively – and how to thoughtfully bridge students from controlled text into authentic reading. Elise explains why decodable texts are such a critical tool for early reading development. She also, though, emphasizes an important…
Dr. Stephanie Stollar and Kate Winn, co-authors of Reading Assessment Done Right unpack one of the most misunderstood topics in literacy instruction: assessment. Rather than viewing assessment as something teachers must check off their to-do list, they explain how high-quality reading assessments can empower educators and transform instruction. When assessment data is used thoughtfully and…
In this conversation, Michelle is joined by literacy advocate and author Yvette Manns to explore the power of read-alouds: both for instruction and for joy. Key Takeaways: The difference between reading for pleasure and instructional read-alouds How read-alouds build oral language, vocabulary, and connection Practical instructional moves to make read-alouds more impactful The TAPES Method…
Sara Marye, founder of The Stellar Teacher Company, joins Michelle to unpack what effective upper-elementary reading intervention can actually look like in the general classroom setting. Together, they explore why students in grades 3–5 may continue to struggle with decoding, how phonics gaps impact both reading and writing, and what classroom teachers can realistically do…
Deirdre O’Toole’s doctoral research focuses on early literacy acquisition, specifically around articulatory gestures and attention to speech production. In recent years, we hear a lot about Sound Walls being “aligned to the Science of Reading”. In this episode, Dee shares what we know from research, what we don’t yet know, and how small instructional shifts…
MTSS can serve as a true system of support, not just a sorting mechanism, for improving reading outcomes and Dr. Stephanie Stollar and Dr. Sarah Brown share how. Drawing from their book MTSS for Reading Improvement (published under Solution Tree), the conversation bridges the Science of Reading with practical systems-level decision making that supports teachers…
In this special Science of Reading Mini-Con hype episode, Michelle Sullivan is joined by the presenters behind the Science of Reading Mini-Con to give listeners an inside look at what makes this conference unlike any other. From powerful sessions and hands-on learning to beachside sound baths, mocktails, and real talk about implementation, this episode is…