“There’s more to learning to read than phonics…” This statement is true, but without phonics at the core of foundational literacy, the progression from beginning reading to fluent reading is at risk. In this episode of Literacy Talks, our three hosts look at skilled word reading and how the process develops in children. From decoding to spelling, from spelling to sound, and then from sound to meaning, skilled word reading takes both experience and time with text. The answer? It’s not eit...

Can We End “the Reading Wars?” Part Three—What is Skilled Word Reading?

Welcome to Literacy Talks, a podcast series from Reading Horizons, where reading momentum begins. Each episode features our trio of literacy champions: Stacy Hurst, an assistant professor of reading at Southern Utah University and Chief Academic Advisor at Reading Horizons; Donell Pons, a dyslexia specialist, educator, presenter, and writer, who now works with adults who struggle with reading; Lindsay Kemeny, an innovative, dedicated elementary teacher who is a CERI certified Structured Literacy Classroom Teacher. Each episode mixes just the right blend of humor, hope, and humanity. It’s a conversation among friends, always mixed with practical literacy strategies, powerful tips, and a real passion for teachers and students alike. Listen, laugh, and learn with Literacy Talks, brought to educators everywhere by Reading Horizons.

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Our trio of experts takes a deep dive into statistics, looking at the data and trends in general education and what those numbers might mean for literacy instruction. An example? The average student-to-teacher ratio in elementary grades is 15 students to 1 teacher. What does that point to? As our hosts see it, smaller class sizes can reduce some of the need for small-group instruction because teachers have more time to spend with students individually as needed. That’s just the start of this ...

Big Numbers, Big Impact. Education Statistics and What They Mean for Literacy Instruction

As we work to improve how we teach phonics, phonemic awareness, and word recognition while adding in writing instruction and content knowledge, we’re all working toward a key goal. It’s reading comprehension. In this episode of Literacy Talks, we turn our attention to comprehension and the tapestry of skills that come together for readers and learners of all ages as they read for meaning, knowledge, and the sheer joy of learning and discovery.This episode delivers best practices for building ...

Comprehension: It’s the Heart of the Matter

As momentum continues to build for instructional practices and strategies rooted in the science of reading, sometimes controversies can arise. In this episode of Literacy Talks, Stacy, Donell, and Lindsay tackle some of the little disagreements among well-meaning, well-informed educators, all from the perspective of sharing information, supporting colleagues, and strengthening our literacy community. From best practices in introducing the alphabet’s letters and sounds to the concepts of blend...

Little Literacy Controversies: Big Ideas to Find Common Ground

Dyslexia is often misunderstood, missed altogether, and surrounded by myths. In this episode of Literacy Talks, our literacy experts revisit the state of dyslexia. From gaps in professionals’ knowledge to challenges in early identification and intervention, we need more and better conversations, bolder advocacy, and strong systemic support. In short, there’s work to do, and this episode will enrich and deepen the path forward. Subscribe to our Literacy Talks podcast digest and never miss...

Spotlight on Dyslexia: Education, Advocacy, and Support

As literacy instruction evolves and improves and the science of reading informs classroom practice more and more, we all need to make room for each other’s ideas, perspectives, and expertise. In this episode of Literacy Talks, our hosts ask themselves and teachers everywhere if we’re being too judgmental. How can we approach conversations with colleagues as we strive to improve students’ reading proficiency together? From guidelines for productive conversations to kinder, gentler ways to shar...

Can We End “the Reading Wars?” Part Three—What is Skilled Word Reading?

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