I’m joined by the one and only Jake Daggett—educator, foundational literacy director, and all-around engagement strategist. If you’ve ever seen his viral phonics videos, you already know the energy and intentionality he brings to instruction. But there’s more to Jake than claps and chants—he’s deeply rooted in brain-based research and committed to helping all learners…
In this deeply moving episode, Dr. Danielle “Nell” Thompson shares her powerful journey from a small town in North Dakota to Bush Alaska, all the way to becoming a transformational coach and the founder of the Big Sky Literacy Summit. Together, we explore how language is the foundation of literacy—not just for academic success, but…
In this episode of Literacy in Color, I’m chatting with Heidi Martin—also known as Droppin’ Knowledge with Heidi—to unpack what research says about effective alphabet instruction. Together, we explore common debates, research-based tips, and engaging strategies to teach the alphabet more effectively. From ditching letter-of-the-week traditions to embracing articulation and embedded mnemonics, this episode is…
In this insightful episode, I sit down with literacy expert, Amy Siracusano, to unpack the critical role that transcription skills play in early writing development. Together, we explore why handwriting, spelling, and fine motor skills aren’t just mechanical tasks—they’re foundational tools that unlock a child’s ability to communicate their thoughts effectively. Amy breaks down the…
In this solo episode of Literacy in Color, we’re cutting through the confusion around sight words, high-frequency words, and orthographic mapping. You’ll get a clear, research-backed understanding of how the brain actually learns words — and why traditional memorization strategies just don’t cut it. Michelle breaks down why every word “wants to grow up and…
What can spelling errors really tell us about a student’s literacy development? In this episode of Literacy in Color, I sit down with Sydney Bassard, speech-language pathologist and founder of The Listening SLP, to dig into the power of spelling error analysis. Sydney breaks down the five types of spelling errors teachers should be aware…
In this episode of Literacy in Color, I’m joined by Brooke Vitale—veteran children’s book editor, author, and founder of Charge Mommy Books—to explore the art and science behind writing truly high-quality decodable books. With over 15+ years in publishing (including experience at Penguin and Disney!), Brooke brings a deep understanding of storytelling and language development…
In this powerful conversation, I’m joined by literacy coach and consultant MeQuel Bolden. With over a decade of classroom experience and a deep commitment to structured literacy, MeQuel shares insight into what reading fluency really is—and what it’s not. We unpack common fluency misconceptions, dive into what’s happening in the brain when students become fluent,…
In this solo episode, Michelle Sullivan breaks down one morpheme type: suffixes. You’ll learn the difference between inflectional and derivational suffixes, how they operate in our language system, and why understanding suffixes is critical for building skilled readers, spellers, and thinkers. Michelle takes you on a deep dive into how suffixes shape grammar and meaning….
In this episode, Kristina Harrill, founder of Sweet for Kindergarten, joins me to share her passion for phonemic awareness and hands-on learning. We discuss the importance of bridging phonemic awareness and phonics instruction, debunk the myth that phonemic awareness has to be done in the dark, and dive into engaging, multisensory activities teachers can implement…