John Walker and Jan Wasowicz

Today’s episode is a double – I have two guests to teach us about a speech to print approach to spelling and phonics instruction. John Walker is the UK-based creator of Sounds-Write. Jan Wasowicz is the US-based creator of Spell Links. We’ll talk about the differences–and benefits–of using a speech to print approach. Later, I’m joined by colleagues Macie Kerbs and Rosie Maurantonio, as well as the author of We Do Writing, Leah Mermelstein, for a conversation about practical takeaways for the classroom. 

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Read a full transcript of this episode and learn more about the show at: https://www.jenniferserravallo.com/podcast 

Cognitive Load Theory

Miller’s Studies on Memory 

Speech to Print Approach

Sounds Write UK

SPELL-Links

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More about Dr. John Walker:
John is the founder and CEO of Sounds-Write and one of the co-authors of the programme.

John has been a qualified teacher, university lecturer and teacher trainer for over thirty years, teaching English language and literature in many different countries and settings.

He trains practitioners in Sounds-Write and promotes the Sounds-Write programme in schools and other educational institutions across the world.

John is an enthusiastic edu-blogger, who posts regularly on all aspects of literacy teaching at his site theliteracyblog.com.

More about Dr. Jan Wasowicz:
Dr. Jan Wasowicz has over 40 years of experience working with academically struggling students, and she specializes in assessment and intervention for K-12 students with language-based reading, writing, and spelling problems including dyslexia, dysgraphia, and other language-based learning disabilities. In addition to providing direct assessment and remediation services, she participates in school meetings to counsel parents and to advocate for the student to receive appropriate public-school services, including modification of the classroom language arts curriculum to meet the learning needs of the student. Dr. Wasowicz is frequently invited to speak on best practices for literacy assessment and instruction and has conducted countless professional development workshops for schools. She has held faculty positions at leading universities and clinical training programs including Northwestern University and Elmhurst College. Dr. Wasowicz is a certified speech-language pathologist and a Board Certified Specialist in Child Language licensed to practice in the states of Illinois and Florida and is a licensed professional educator with elementary and secondary endorsements from the IL State Teacher Certification. She is a SPELL-Links Certified Provider.

Special thanks to Alex Van Rose for audio editing this episode. 

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