​​Hello Leading Literacy friends!  As you know, Institutes of High Ed. play an important role in making the instructional shift from balanced to structured literacy with educators.  On today’s episode, we talk with Nancy Walker and Shana Matamala from LaFetra College of Education at the University of La Verne, the only A-rated teacher education program for literacy in the state.  This conversation is so important, and we know you’ll find it interesting to see how ULV made the switch from balanced to structured literacy within their own ranks to help teachers be better prepared in the field.  Enjoy this golden episode!

On this episode Leading Literacy, we welcome Tami Wilson, Director of Development and Training at the Sacramento County Office of Education and lead of the California Dyslexia Initiative. Tami has been a driving force in California’s shift from balanced to structured literacy instruction and a long-time literacy advocate and warrior. Tami is an incredible friend, colleague, and leader and we’re so excited for this conversation around her dyslexia work and California’s new Risk of Reading Difficulties Screener. So, sit back and enjoy.

Below are the websites mentioned in this episode with Tami:

CA Dyslexia Initiative Professional Learning

UC|CSU Collaborative for Neurodiversity and Learning – in the future, these resources will also be housed on Arraya Learning.

Welcome to Leading Literacy!  In this episode, we are thrilled to have a conversation with three incredible leaders from the Lancaster School District in Lancaster, California.  We partnered with Lancaster for three years on the $5 million dollar California State Literacy Development (CLSD) Grant.  We worked with four school sites who made the switch from balanced to structured literacy.  This district had every reason to give up and they did not!  If you’re looking for change and inspiration to bring structured literacy to your district, this episode is a must-listen.  Learn the ins and outs of this work and be inspired by their story of triumph over adversity in reading instruction!  

Click HERE to watch a highlight reel about the impact of the CLSD Grant with Lancaster’s grant schools.

Hey there, educator friends!  On this episode of Leading Literacy, we can’t wait for you to get to know Dr. Jasmine Rogers.  Dr. Rogers is from the Washington D.C. area where she is professor at American University and supports teachers at the  D.C. Reading Clinic.  If that’s not enough, she also co-authored the NAACP Discussion Guide for “The Right to Read” documentary.  Learn how Dr. Rogers is committed to sharing her knowledge about Black language and how she “can’t stop, won’t stop.”  Enjoy!

Click HERE to access the resources Dr. Rogers references in this episode.

Hello educator friends!  On this episode of Leading Literacy we’re diving back into the secondary world to talk with teacher, Hannah Shickle and school administrator, Tana Piersall from Scott Valley Unified School District in Northern California. They’re doing amazing work in structured literacy which helped move the needle for their middle school students.  Subsequently, their whole district is learning from them and how to begin this work at the district level.  These two ladies are incredible!  Please enjoy this fun episode with Hannah and Tana.   

If Hannah and Tana’s story sounds familiar, it’s because they were also featured guests on one of our Lessons from the Field webinars.  Want to revisit their webinar?  Check it out here.   And if you’re interested in Chartwell Schools, head over to their website for more information.

Welcome back, educator friends.  We’re super excited about this episode with Denise Eide, author of the book, Uncovering the Logic of English: A Common Sense Approach to Reading, Spelling, and Literacy. We love this conversation because it centers on this notion of curiosity and how if we ignite curiosity in both teachers and students about how English works, we can really love both the teaching and learning of how to read.  Buckle up, y’all!  This is a great episode!

Be sure to check out the Logic of English website that has some amazing FREE resources!  (We all know how us teacher-types love anything that’s F-R-E-E!)

Have you ever witnessed an amazing idea come to life and wonder, “Why didn’t I think of that?”  Well, this is exactly what we thought when we heard about the Laundromat Library League.  On a recent episode of Leading Literacy, Dr. Molly Ness mentioned Laundromat Library League and we knew immediately that we had to learn as much as we could about this group!  So, this all-volunteer organization provides children’s books in local laundromats for children to read while their families do their laundry.  I mean, come on.  How brilliant is that?!  Well, we reached out to the Laundromat Library League and had a chat with board member Phil Tripp who shared how this unique work began, how it’s grown, and most importantly, how we can get involved.  So fellow educators and literacy lovers this episode is a special treat just for you.  Enjoy!

On this episode of Leading Literacy, we are thrilled to have our first parent advocate, Denise Morgan. Denise is no ordinary parent – she’s determined and dedicated to helping all students and families get the literacy support they need. Denise began working at the California Charter Schools Association in 2017 and currently holds the role of Paralegal Director on the Legal Advocacy Team which supports and engages in successful advocacy work on behalf of California’s public schools’ students and families. Denise also volunteers a significant amount of time supporting the California State PTA at the state, district, and local levels. She proudly co-authored the Equitable Literacy for All Students Resolution that successfully passed in 2023.  So, sit back and enjoy this conversation with the amazing, Denise Morgan.

Hey there, educator friends!  I have a question for you.  How many of you love doing read alouds with your students?  I’m going to guess and say almost all of you.  And how about your students – do they love it as much as you do?  If your answers are an astounding YES and YES, then you’re going to love Dr. Molly Ness, our guest on this episode of Leading Literacy.  Molly is a former teacher, college educator, reading clinician, and researcher and describes herself as “a fierce advocate for literacy equity, access, and research-based instruction.” 

You’ll hear how her experiences helped shape her belief in the transformative power of literacy.  We talk about Molly’s newest book out titled, “Read Alouds for All Learners: A Comprehensive Plan for Every Subject, Every Day” and SO. MUCH. MORE. 

Check out the following links mentioned in this episode: We Need Diverse Books, Laundromat Library League, Barbershop Books, and End Book Deserts Podcast.

On this episode of Leading Literacy, we have an inspiring conversation with Maya Goodall.  Maya is an educator, entrepreneur, and curriculum developer dedicated to helping people become bilingual.  She’s the founder of Lingual Learning, a language learning company which she ultimately sold to Rosetta Stone where she developed Rosetta English, which has recently been renamed as Lexia English.  We spent time talking with Maya about oral language development and the role it plays in structured literacy.  You guys, this is one of those conversations where an amazing, little gold nugget of wisdom appears and we’re so excited to share with you.  Maya is such a gentle soul and so dedicated to supporting the literacy needs of all learners.  Enjoy this episode!

Be sure to check out these resources Maya mentioned in this episode.  She has partnered with Collaborative Classroom to create OL&LA: Online Language & Literacy Academy and CORE Learning.  Both are phenomenal sources to support our multilingual learners.