In this episode of Literacy in Color, Michelle sits down with THE Orton Gillingham Mama, Pryor Rayburn to take a deep dive into the hot-button world of sight words and high-frequency word instruction. Pryor busts through common myths, clears up confusing terminology, and explores brain-based practices for teaching high frequency words through the lens of…
In this episode, Michelle is joined by instructional coach and literacy specialist Shannon Moore of Moore Literacy Leaps to bust four major myths about progress monitoring in reading instruction. Together, they tackle what progress monitoring really is (and what it’s not), how it fits into the MTSS framework, and why all students, not just those…
What does it really mean to be “set for variability”? In this episode, Michelle is joined by Jen Yagid and Wendy Darasz of Informed Literacy to break down this complex-sounding but classroom-friendly concept. Together, they demystify set for variability, explore its role in decoding, and share practical classroom examples. If you’ve ever wondered how to…
In this heartfelt roundtable episode, Michelle is joined by her Science of Reading sidekicks, Heidi Martin, Jessica Farmer, and Yvette Manns to reflect on the very first Science of Reading Mini-Con! From spark-filled sessions to swag bags and sound baths, this conversation is full of gratitude, laughter, and heartfelt takeaways. They revisit each session, share…
In this powerful episode of Literacy in Color, I’m joined by lawyer-turned-author Tiffany Obeng, founder of Sugar Cookie Books. Together, we unpack the significance of representation in children’s literature, especially for Black boys, and how her “Andrew Learns” series is challenging the traditional narratives and creating space for all kids to feel seen, celebrated, and…
In this powerful episode, we welcome back Dr. Molly Ness, literacy researcher, educator, and co-author of “Making Words Stick”, the latest release from the Scholastic Science of Reading in Practice series. Together with Dr. Katie Pace Miles, Molly has created a teacher-friendly guide to help educators understand orthographic mapping and implement a 4-step routine that…
In this episode of Literacy in Color, we’re heading across the pond to Ireland for a powerful conversation with Dr. Treasa Bowe, an international literacy leader and passionate advocate for morphology, etymology, and meaningful instruction. With over two decades of teaching experience in both Ireland and the U.S., Dr. Bowe brings a truly global lens…
In this episode of Literacy in Color, we’re diving into 4 quick, high-impact phonics drills that spark engagement and build automaticity, without eating up your entire lesson time. These warm-ups aren’t about “drill and kill.” Instead, they’re short, intentional routines that help students review and retrieve previously taught phonics content. Whether you’re a classroom teacher…
In this episode of Literacy in Color, I’m joined by the incredible Lindsay Kemeny, a trusted voice in the Science of Reading community and author of Seven Mighty Moves and Rock Your Literacy Block. Lindsay shares her journey into structured literacy, sparked by her son’s dyslexia diagnosis, and how that led to a complete transformation…
In this episode of Literacy in Color, Michelle sits down with Alejandra Ramirez, a seasoned bilingual educator, reading coordinator, and literacy leader, to explore one of the most important questions in today’s classrooms: Is the Science of Reading for Multilingual Learners? With over a decade of experience in dual language programs and extensive training in…