MTSS can serve as a true system of support, not just a sorting mechanism, for improving reading outcomes and Dr. Stephanie Stollar and Dr. Sarah Brown share how. Drawing from their book MTSS for Reading Improvement (published under Solution Tree), the conversation bridges the Science of Reading with practical systems-level decision making that supports teachers and students alike.

Rather than treating MTSS as a checklist of structures, Drs. Stollar & Brown emphasize fidelity to outcomes, prevention-first thinking, and instructional coherence across Tier 1, intervention, and leadership practices.

Key Takeaways:

1. Why MTSS often fails when it becomes a sorting system instead of a support system
2. How schools unintentionally undermine reading improvement by focusing on individual students too early
3. How the Simple View of Reading and the five essential reading skills can guide both prevention and intervention
4. What kinds of data actually support instructional decision-making, and which ones don’t
5. The role of leadership in creating a culture of vulnerability, collaboration, and shared responsibility
6. Why asking better questions leads to better instructional solutions

Resources:

1. Book: MTSS for Reading Improvement by Stephanie Stollar & Sarah Brown from Solution Tree (or on Amazon)
2. FREE Resource: The Reading MTSS Reflection Guide
3. Book: Reading Assessment Done Right by Stephanie Stollar & Kate Winn

This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting the podcast!

Connect with Dr. Stephanie Stollar:

1. Website: www.readingscienceacademy.com/
2. Instagram: @ReadingScienceAcademy
3. Facebook: Stephanie Stollar Consulting
4. LinkedIn: Stephanie Stollar
5. Join Dr. Stollar’s Reading Science Academy Membership
6. The MTSS Collective

Connect with Dr. Sarah Brown:

1. Website: https://systemimpactconsulting.com/
2. Contact Dr. Sarah Brown on her Website
3. LinkedIn: Sarah Brown Ph.D.
4. Join Dr. Brown’s MTSS Data Academy
5. Dr. Brown also offers Virtual Coaching Sessions!

Thank you to Express Readers for supporting the production of this episode.

Express Readers creates thoughtfully designed decodable texts that align with the Science of Reading and support developing readers at every stage. You can visit their website to learn more and grab a free sample to try with your students!

1. https://expressreaders.org/
2. Instagram: @expressreaders
3. LinkedIn: Express Readers
4. Facebook: Express Readers Inc.

Connect with Michelle:

1. Follow me on Instagram: @michelle_thecolorfulclassroom & @logosliteracyacademy
2. Join our Facebook Community
3. Sign up for my Newsletter
4. Shop on TPT: The Colorful Classroom
5. Visit: www.michelleandthecolorfulclassroom.com
6. Join The COLORFUL Literacy Toolkit Membership

Want to Support the Podcast?

1. Make a Donation to Support Production

Interested in Learning More about Morphology?

1. Logos Literacy Academy
2. Course 1: Mastering Morphology: Foundations for Every Educator
3. Course 2 & Curriculum: K-2 Morphology
4. Monthly Coaching Calls: Logos Live

Mentioned in this episode:

Express Readers

Get your Free Decodable Book Sample today!

In this special Science of Reading Mini-Con hype episode, Michelle Sullivan is joined by the presenters behind the Science of Reading Mini-Con to give listeners an inside look at what makes this conference unlike any other.

From powerful sessions and hands-on learning to beachside sound baths, mocktails, and real talk about implementation, this episode is your invitation into a literacy experience that blends research, practice, joy, and community.

Meet the Voices Behind Mini-Con:

1. Heidi Martin – Founder of the Science of Reading Mini-Con @droppinknowledgewithheidi & @scienceofreadingminicon
2. Jessica Farmer: @farmerlovesphonics
3. Yvette Manns: @phonicsreadalouds & @the_lit_teacher
4. Jake Daggett: @jake_daggett
5. Lindsay Kemeny: @lindsaykemeny
6. Michelle Sullivan: @michelle_thecolorfulclassroom
7. MeQuel Bolden (she was there in spirit!): @mequelboldenconsulting

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

1. What each presenter is most fired up about solving in literacy right now
2. Sneak peeks into Mini-Con sessions
3. Introducing Mychal Threets as the Keynote Speaker!!!
4. What makes the experience special

The Big Takeaway: Science of Reading Mini-Con is about bridging research to practice, that’s engaging and effective!

Learn More & Register:

Visit www.scienceofreadingminicon.com for tickets & all the details!

A BIG thank you to Reading.com for being the Premier Sponsor of the Science of Reading Mini-Con 2026!

Connect with Michelle:

1. Follow me on Instagram: @michelle_thecolorfulclassroom & @logosliteracyacademy
2. Join our Facebook Community
3. Sign up for my Newsletter
4. Shop on TPT: The Colorful Classroom
5. Visit: www.michelleandthecolorfulclassroom.com
6. Join The COLORFUL Literacy Toolkit Membership

Want to Support the Podcast?

1. Make a Donation to Support Production

Interested in Learning More about Morphology?

1. Logos Literacy Academy
2. Course 1: Mastering Morphology: Foundations for Every Educator
3. Course 2 & Curriculum: K-2 Morphology
4. Monthly Coaching Calls: Logos Live

Mentioned in this episode:

Express Readers

Get your Free Decodable Book Sample today!

Jennifer A. Constantine and Kara B. Lee are two educators with deep experience in assessment, Orton-Gillingham-based instruction, and dyslexia intervention — yet it wasn’t until they encountered SWI that many long-standing questions about English spelling, meaning, and structure finally clicked into place.

In this episode, we unpack what Structured Word Inquiry actually is, how it differs from other approaches, and why it offers a powerful lens for teaching all learners – especially those with dyslexia.

Key Takeaways:

1. A clear, accessible definition of Structured Word Inquiry
2. How SWI differs from other instructional approaches
3. Common misconceptions about SWI
4. A walkthrough of Pete Bowers’ 4 Guiding Questions of SWI in the context of the base
5. What to expect inside their practical book, “Structured Word Inquiry: An Implementation Guide for Teachers”

Helpful Resources:

1. Book: Structured Word Inquiry: An Implementation Guide for Teachers
2. Bulk Pricing Available: Email [email protected] for more information
3. Jennifer & Kara’s Workshops

This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting the podcast!

Connect with Jennifer & Kara:

1. Email: [email protected]
2. Website: www.swiliteracy.org

Connect with Michelle:

1. Follow me on Instagram: @michelle_thecolorfulclassroom & @logosliteracyacademy
2. Join our Facebook Community
3. Sign up for my Newsletter
4. Shop on TPT: The Colorful Classroom
5. Visit: www.michelleandthecolorfulclassroom.com
6. Join The COLORFUL Literacy Toolkit Membership

Want to Support the Podcast?

1. Make a Donation to Support Production

Interested in Learning More about Morphology?

1. Logos Literacy Academy
2. Course 1: Mastering Morphology: Foundations for Every Educator
3. Course 2 & Curriculum: K-2 Morphology
4. Monthly Coaching Calls: Logos Live

Mentioned in this episode:

Express Readers

Get your Free Decodable Book Sample today!

If you’ve ever said that “English is crazy,” this episode is for you. I’m joined by Dr. Peter Bowers, researcher, educator, and founder of Structured Word Inquiry (SWI). His work has shaped how educators understand the English writing system: not as chaotic or exception-ridden, but as a coherent, meaning-driven system.

Dr. Bowers shares the personal moment when English spelling first made sense to him and explains why misconceptions about spelling persist in classrooms today. This episode unpacks what Structured Word Inquiry truly is (and what it is not), why morphology is considered a binding agent, and how spelling, phonology, and meaning are fundamentally interconnected.

Key Takeaways:

1. Why morphology acts as a binding agent in the English writing system
2. What the research actually shows about morphology instruction
3. How the matrix and word sums help reveal spelling logic
4. Why inquiry and explicit instruction are not opposites
5. How recent conversations, including the importance of spelling-meaning correspondences and shifts in how orthographic mapping is understood, are making an impact in the field

If you’ve ever felt like English spelling “just doesn’t make sense,” this episode will change the way you see the written word – and the way you teach them.

Helpful Resources:

1. Book: Teaching How the Written Word Works by Dr. Peter Bowers
2. Real Spelling Toolbox
3. Document on “Guiding Principles, Concepts and Practices of SWI” (Feb 2025)
4. Video on Combinatorial structure of English orthography & link to matrix and word sum
5. TEDx Talk introducing a big picture of English orthography and how SWI explains many spellings currently treated as irregular
6. Spelling-Out-Orthography page with many videos and resources. This includes videos describing the process of spelling-out-orthography and videos of kids engaging in this key practice to support orthographic mapping.
7. About WordWorks page with many links to free resources, including videos and links to most of his published research.
8. For the Love of Literacy Podcast Episode with Dr. Linnea Ehri, Peter Bowers, and Kenn Apel
9. For the Love of Literacy Podcast Episode with Marie Foley
10. Book: Beneath the Surface of Words by Sue Hegland
11. Book: Backpocket Words by Gail Venable
12. Book: The High Frequency Word Project by Fiona Hamilton & Rebecca Loveless

This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting the podcast!

Connect with Dr. Pete Bowers:

1. Join Dr. Bowers for his FREE Monday Drop-Ins
2. Website: www.wordworkskingston.com
3. YouTube: @WordWorksKingston
4. WordWorks Kingston Facebook Page

Connect with Michelle:

1. Follow me on Instagram: @michelle_thecolorfulclassroom & @logosliteracyacademy
2. Join our Facebook Community
3. Sign up for my Newsletter
4. Shop on TPT: The Colorful Classroom
5. Visit: www.michelleandthecolorfulclassroom.com
6. Join The COLORFUL Literacy Toolkit Membership

Want to Support the Podcast?

1. Make a Donation to Support Production

Interested in Learning More about Morphology?

1. Logos Literacy Academy
2. Course 1: Mastering Morphology: Foundations for Every Educator
3. Course 2 & Curriculum: K-2 Morphology
4. Monthly Coaching Calls: Logos Live

Mentioned in this episode:

Express Readers

Get your Free Decodable Book Sample today!

Michelle Sullivan is joined by her co-founder of Logos Literacy Academy, Sarah Paul, for a deep dive into K–2 morphology through a base-centered lens.

Together, they unpack a question teachers hear all the time:

“Morphology is important… but isn’t that for later?”

Michelle and Sarah explain why morphology does not start with Greek and Latin – and why young learners are more than ready to explore word structure when instruction begins with oral language, meaning, and the base.

You’ll hear why they intentionally designed a K–2 morphology curriculum that:

1. includes instruction around bases in addition to more traditional affix instruction
2. aligns directly with a phonics scope and sequence
3. builds generative vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension over time
4. helps students see words as organized systems, not random strings of letters

They also introduce their signature BASE Lesson Framework:

1. Build Awareness (oral language first)
2. Analyze the Base (connecting sound, spelling, and meaning)
3. See Word Relatives (exploring families of related words)
4. Express Understanding (using the right word in context)

Throughout the conversation, they share concrete classroom examples—from simple CVC bases to bound bases like —and explain how studying one base deeply prepares students to approach unfamiliar words with confidence later on.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. Why morphology in K–2 is about language development
2. How base instruction can strengthen phonics rather than compete with it
3. What it really means for words to be “related” (shared spelling and meaning)
4. How morphology supports orthographic mapping, vocabulary growth, and grammar
5. Where base lessons fit naturally into a K–2 literacy block

Free Resource:

Download a FREE base lesson to see the BASE framework in action. This bonus lesson is not part of the curriculum; it’s an additional bonus lesson to give you a true feel for the approach.

Resources Mentioned:

1. K-2 Course & Curriculum from Logos Literacy Academy
2. Save with a Bundle: Get Mastering Morphology AND our K-2 Course & Curriculum bundled together!
3. Logos Literacy Academy

Mentioned in this episode:

Express Readers

Get your Free Decodable Book Sample today!

Returning guest Fiona Hamilton, an international literacy consultant and founder of Word Torque, unites with her partners Lauren Hateley-Crowe and Angela Brienza – the team behind Engage with the Page and Search Engage. Together, they help teachers bring meaningful, joyful word inquiry into their daily read-alouds.

Together, they unpack how their collaboration began, why picture books are such powerful anchors for word study, and how educators can move beyond isolated, word study routines toward integrated literacy instruction that builds spelling, vocabulary, decoding, and deep curiosity.

Key Takeaways:

1. What “word inquiry” really means
2. How picture books are rich spaces to teach orthography and cultivate vocabulary growth
3. The story behind Engage with the Page & Search Engage
4. What’s inside Engage with the Page & Search Engage

Resources Mentioned:

1. Engage with the Page
2. Search Engage

Connect with the Engage with the Page Team:

1. Website: https://wordtorque.com
2. Engage with the Page on Facebook
3. Instagram: @engagewthepage
4. Fiona Hamilton on LinkedIn & Instagram
5. Lauren Hateley-Crowe on LinkedIn
6. Email: [email protected]

Connect with Michelle:

1. Follow me on Instagram: @michelle_thecolorfulclassroom & @logosliteracyacademy
2. Join our Facebook Community
3. Sign up for my Newsletter
4. Shop on TPT: The Colorful Classroom
5. Visit: www.michelleandthecolorfulclassroom.com
6. Join The COLORFUL Literacy Toolkit Membership

Want to Support the Podcast?

1. Make a Donation to Support Production

Interested in Learning More about Morphology?

1. Logos Literacy Academy
2. Course 1: Mastering Morphology: Foundations for Every Educator
3. Course 2 & Curriculum: K-2 Morphology
4. Monthly Coaching Calls: Logos Live

Mentioned in this episode:

Express Readers

Get your Free Decodable Book Sample today!

Artificial intelligence is everywhere – but what does it actually mean for structured literacy and foundational skills instruction?

In this episode, I sit down with Viv Ramakrishnan, co-founder of Project Read AI, to unpack what educators truly need to understand about AI, large language models, and how thoughtfully designed technology can support (not replace) teachers.

We explore why tools like ChatGPT struggle with phonics and decoding, how Project Read AI was built differently, and what it looks like when AI is used as a co-teacher grounded in the Science of Reading.

Key Takeaways:

1. What AI, generative AI, and large language models (LLMs) actually are – and why these distinctions matter for literacy instruction
2. Why ChatGPT is fundamentally limited when it comes to grapheme-phoneme correspondences and decodable text
3. All about Project Read AI’s features: Decodable Text Generator, UFLI Portal, and AI Tutor
4. Why screen time fears deserve nuance and how to think about “empty calories” vs. “nutrient-dense” instructional technology
5. Whether AI could ever replace teachers
6. What early research is showing about student growth when AI is used intentionally and responsibly

Resources:

1. Project Read AI
2. Documentary: Can AI Help Our Kids Read? The Project Read Story
3. Project Read AI - Helpful Links
4. YouTube: ProjectReadAIYT

Connect with Viv Ramakrishnan:

1. LinkedIn
2. Twitter/X: @vivramak
3. Instagram: @projectreadai

Connect with Michelle:

1. Follow me on Instagram: @michelle_thecolorfulclassroom & @logosliteracyacademy
2. Join our Facebook Community
3. Sign up for my Newsletter
4. Shop on TPT: The Colorful Classroom
5. Visit: www.michelleandthecolorfulclassroom.com
6. Join The COLORFUL Literacy Toolkit Membership

Want to Support the Podcast?

1. Make a Donation to Support Production

Interested in Learning More about Morphology?

1. Logos Literacy Academy
2. Course 1: Mastering Morphology: Foundations for Every Educator
3. Course 2 & Curriculum: K-2 Morphology
4. Monthly Coaching Calls: Logos Live

Mentioned in this episode:

Express Readers

Get your Free Decodable Book Sample today!

Holiday Word Study: Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa

In this cozy, end-of-year episode, we’re slowing things down for a short and joyful holiday word study investigation. Instead of a full instructional deep dive, this episode invites you to get curious about three words we hear everywhere this time of year:

1. Christmas
2. Hanukkah
3. Kwanzaa

Together, we explore where these words come from, what their spellings reveal, and how English carries the fingerprints of other languages inside it.

Along the way, you’ll hear about:

1. Why says /k/ in Christmas (and why that’s not an exception)
2. Why Hanukkah has multiple accepted spellings
3. How Kwanzaa was intentionally named and spelled with meaning in mind
4. What holiday words teach us about word origin, orthography, and meaning

This episode is a reminder that English spelling isn’t random and that it always makes more sense when we look beyond the surface.

For more word study nuggets, check out Logos Live: mine & Sarah Paul's monthly coaching calls through Logos Literacy Academy where we go on even more deep dives! (If you enroll in any one of our courses, you get 2 years of free access to Logos Live as a bonus!)

Connect with Michelle:

1. Follow me on Instagram: @michelle_thecolorfulclassroom & @logosliteracyacademy
2. Join our Facebook Community
3. Sign up for my Newsletter
4. Shop on TPT: The Colorful Classroom
5. Visit: www.michelleandthecolorfulclassroom.com
6. Join The COLORFUL Literacy Toolkit Membership

Want to Support the Podcast?

1. Make a Donation to Support Production

Interested in Learning More about Morphology?

1. Logos Literacy Academy
2. Course 1: Mastering Morphology: Foundations for Every Educator
3. Course 2 & Curriculum: K-2 Morphology
4. Monthly Coaching Calls: Logos Live

Mentioned in this episode:

Express Readers

Get your Free Decodable Book Sample today!

In this inspiring conversation, Dr. Jennifer Throndsen, author of Raising Up Readers: 25 Scaffolding Strategies to Help Students Access Challenging Texts, breaks down what it really takes to accelerate reading achievement for all learners, including multilingual students and those reading multiple years below grade level. Drawing from decades of experience across classroom, district, and state systems, Jennifer explains why grade-level access is an equity issue and how scaffolding, not leveling, is the key to closing gaps.

Jennifer dives into the research supporting “stretch texts,” the misconception that struggling readers must stay in easier books, and why teachers (not text levels) must mediate difficulty. Jennifer offers practical scaffolding strategies, real classroom examples, and insights from studies showing that challenging texts paired with the right supports can yield two to three years of reading growth in a single year.

Whether you're a classroom teacher, interventionist, literacy coach, or administrator, this episode will shift your thinking about text access and equip you with actionable tools you can use tomorrow.

Resources Mentioned:

• Raising Up Readers: 25 Scaffolding Strategies to Help Students Access Challenging Texts by Dr. Jennifer Throndsen from Solution Tree (also on Amazon)
• Raising Up Readers Free Book Study Guide

This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting the podcast!

Connect with Dr. Jennifer Throndsen

• Website: https://www.impactfullearningdesigns.com/
• LinkedIn: Jennifer Throndsen
• Instagram: @JT_travel32

Connect with Michelle:

1. Follow me on Instagram: @michelle_thecolorfulclassroom & @logosliteracyacademy
2. Join our Facebook Community
3. Sign up for my Newsletter
4. Shop on TPT: The Colorful Classroom
5. Visit: www.michelleandthecolorfulclassroom.com
6. Join The COLORFUL Literacy Toolkit Membership

Want to Support the Podcast?

1. Make a Donation to Support Production

Interested in Learning More about Morphology?

1. Logos Literacy Academy
2. Course 1: Mastering Morphology: Foundations for Every Educator
3. Course 2 & Curriculum: K-2 Morphology
4. Monthly Coaching Calls: Logos Live

Mentioned in this episode:

Express Readers

Get your Free Decodable Book Sample today!

In today’s episode of Literacy in Color, we’re chatting with Ashley Doty, founder of Uncomplicate Ed, an organization dedicated to making teaching and learning clearer, simpler, and more effective. Drawing on two decades of experience across the education landscape (and even a past life as a theater educator!), Ashley brings both heart and science to this conversation.

They dig into what the science of learning actually looks like inside real classrooms, how small shifts can spark huge gains, and why teachers don’t need more complexity; they need clarity, purpose, and research-based practices that truly work for students.

You'll hear Ashley break down concepts like retrieval practice, interleaving, chunking, background knowledge, student engagement, motivation, and how to support learners in a way that honors both the art and the science of teaching. She shares incredible real-world results from classrooms and schools who leveraged these principles — including 15+ point mid-year gains and 22-point year-over-year proficiency jumps.

If you're an educator who wants practical ways to strengthen learning without adding more to your plate, this is a must-listen.

Key Takeaways:

• Why simplifying instruction (without oversimplifying learning) is essential.
• How retrieval practice and spaced practice transform long-term memory.
• Interleaving — what it is, what teachers get wrong, and how to implement it realistically.
• How poetry, speeches, and small “tweaks” can dramatically improve engagement and retention.
• The relationship between learning science and motivation, student agency, and teacher-student relationships.

Resources Mentioned:

• Book: Powerful Teaching by Dr. Pooja Agarwal & Patrice Bain
• Retrievalpractice.org – free resources (Pooja Agarwal)
• Book: 10 to 25: The Science of Motivating Young People by David Yeager

This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting the podcast!

Connect with Ashley Doty:

• Website: https://uncomplicateed.com
• Facebook Group: Uncomplicate Ed & Uncomplicating Education Across the Nation
• YouTube: @UncomplicateEd
• Instagram: @UncomplicateEd

Connect with Michelle:

1. Follow me on Instagram: @michelle_thecolorfulclassroom & @logosliteracyacademy
2. Join our Facebook Community
3. Sign up for my Newsletter
4. Shop on TPT: The Colorful Classroom
5. Visit: www.michelleandthecolorfulclassroom.com
6. Join The COLORFUL Literacy Toolkit Membership

Want to Support the Podcast?

1. Make a Donation to Support Production

Interested in Learning More about Morphology?

1. Logos Literacy Academy
2. Course 1: Mastering Morphology: Foundations for Every Educator
3. Course 2 & Curriculum: K-2 Morphology
4. Monthly Coaching Calls: Logos Live

Mentioned in this episode:

Express Readers

Get your Free Decodable Book Sample today!