How can school leaders make informed decisions about reading curriculum when they know the home environments among their student body vary widely? I don’t envy people tasked with these kinds of decisions. My opinion is that schools should ensure students get their instructional needs met during the school day, because it’s difficult to control what…
Category: Building literacy skills
EP 178: Are we allowed to say “dyslexia” in the schools? (with Tom Parton)
In 2015, the Office of Special Education Programs published a letter stating that school teams were “not prohibited” from using the term “dyslexia”. Unfortunately, this letter left many questions unanswered and is often misinterpreted. Parents seeking out services for their children are still unsure how to advocate for appropriate services in their schools and communities….
EP 177: Debunking reading myths and defining literacy buzzwords (with Anna Geiger)
There are many “science of reading” terms being used right now (including the “science of reading” itself). Yet debates about how to help kids become literate continues; and part of that is because of common logical fallacies applied to education. That’s why I invited Anna Geiger to episode 177 of De Facto Leaders to define…
EP 176: Building the language skills for reading, writing, and spelling (with Dr. Jan Wasowicz)
The “science of reading” is trending; but in order for professionals to engage in effective instruction, they need to understand that literacy also includes spelling and writing. Writing, spelling, and reading are interconnected, and the growing body of research continues to show us that these skills need to be taught explicitly. That’s why I invited…
EP 175: Re-release: The impact of texting on literacy and the skills needed for effective word-reading
In this episode, I’m revisiting an older episode in honor of a special event that I’m doing in the month of September, 2024. I am so excited to announce the partnership that’s happening between the BEpodcast network and Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) that’s starting in September for National Literacy Month. De Facto Leaders is part…
EP 165: Turning litigious situations into reading reform initiatives (with Mary Saghafi and Shannon Betts)
Teacher preparation programs should equip reading teachers with the knowledge they need to provide explicit intervention for students who have dyslexia or other disabilities. But what if they don’t? Unfortunately, this situation is quite common. That’s why I invited Mary Saghafi and Shannon Betts from the Reading Teachers’ Lounge Podcast to episode 165 of the…
EP 164: The content + strategy + retrieval trifecta for language and executive functioning (with Katy Wyatt)
Is it functional to work on parts of speech? Is sentence diagramming useful? How do we improve word-retrieval in kids with developmental disabilities, and is it similar to what we’d do for an adult with a brain injury? How can we make therapy academically relevant and functional beyond just getting a good score on a…
EP 162: The summer slide: Real phenomenon or invented by tutoring companies? (with David Schipper)
My heart sinks when I see how polarizing topics in education have become, as well as the tendency for people to have “all or nothing” thinking. I’ve seen an increasing amount of activities pitted against each other as if doing one means we can’t ALSO do the other: 👉Standardized testing vs. real-world observations/stakeholder interviews. 👉Year-round…
EP 159: Comorbidities and Differential Diagnosis (ADHD, DLD, Dyslexia)
When kids need support with language, reading/writing, and executive functioning, they often have multiple diagnoses. This makes both treatment planning, diagnosis, and determining eligibility for educational programming complicated; especially when it comes to legal guidelines as well as state and local policies. That’s why in episode 159 of De Facto Leaders, I’m sharing a Q…
EP 158: Literacy and background knowledge: Essential skills for life (with Dr. Pamela Snow)
The most effective reading instructional practices aren’t always the ones that gain traction. It’s the ones with the most successful marketing campaigns. The best marketer wins; but this certainly isn’t a win for the students who go without effective instruction or the school staff struggling to support them. That’s why I was so excited to…