If we try to make schools in the US more like schools in other countries, will that result in more effective practices? Why do policies work in some districts, but not others? Many ideas sound good on paper; but the people working with students or leading schools are telling a different story. That’s why I…
Tag: science of reading
EP 113: Making literacy accessible and equitable (with Cassandra Williams)
Supporting language and decoding are important pieces of helping kids grow up to be successful readers. But making it happen is way more complex than that. What happens when a child in 5th grade is reading at a first grade reading level? What if there are other barriers BESIDES just reading getting in the way;…
EP 102: The science of reading: A team approach (with Brett Stevens)
There are a lot of approaches to teaching kids to read; but not all of them are effective. This is especially important for kids with disabilities who need explicit instruction. That’s why in episode 102, I had special education consultant and host of the Science of Special Education podcast, Brett Stevens, on the show to…
EP 98: How to become a children’s book author (with Valerie Doherty)
On episode 98 of the “De Facto Leaders” podcast, I had the opportunity to interview children’s book author and veteran SLP, Valerie Doherty. Valerie has over 30 years of experience as an SLP, and in 2011 her passion for language and literacy inspired her to start writing children’s books. Readers need physical books they can…
EP 71: DLD, CAPD, dyslexia, and hyperlexia and supporting literacy
Therapists and educators supporting K-12 literacy have a lot of diagnoses and labels to navigate, and some of them are controversial. In some debates, the diagnosis itself is in question; Central Auditory Processing Disorder being one example. With hyperlexia, some people suggest that there is a certain way hyperlexic people need to learn to read;…
EP 043: Supporting reading comprehension: What parents and professionals need to know
Reading comprehension is one of the most important skills for academic success. It’s a skill that can help us to continue to learn new information throughout our lives. On the other hand, kids who struggle to understand what they read are at a disadvantage when it comes to getting in school and beyond. When I…
EP 029: Literacy skills and technology: The pros and cons
In episode 29 of the Are they 18 yet?™ podcast, I did part 3 of a 3-part series on literacy (you can find parts 1 and 2 in episode 27 and episode 28.) Since the influx of technology, a lot of us are left wondering how this will impact our children’s learning; especially their reading and writing…
EP 028: How to help kids become fluent readers and spellers
Figuring out how to help kids learn to spell can be confusing. If you’ve ever helped one of your kids or students spell a word, only to have them forget what you taught them the next day, you know what I mean. The challenge is that if kids don’t automatically catch on to reading skills,…
EP 027: Is texting affecting spelling and reading skills?
With all the technology and texting kids are doing these days, I often find myself wondering if kids are getting enough “good” practice with spelling and reading skills. Based on social rules, texts often don’t have to be written with “correct” grammar and spelling. Since a lot of the kids I’ve worked (who have diagnoses…