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 Me:

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

Want to Support the Podcast?

• Make a Donation to Support Production

Interested in Learning More about Morphology?

• Take our Course: Mastering Morphology: Foundations for Every Educator

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 Me:

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

Want to Support the Podcast?

• Make a Donation to Support Production

Interested in Learning More about Morphology?

• Take our Course: Mastering Morphology: Foundations for Every Educator

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 Me:

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

Want to Support the Podcast?

• Make a Donation to Support Production

Interested in Learning More about Morphology?

• Take our Course: Mastering Morphology: Foundations for Every Educator

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 Me:

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

Want to Support the Podcast?

• Make a Donation to Support Production

Interested in Learning More about Morphology?

• Take our Course: Mastering Morphology: Foundations for Every Educator

In this powerful and deeply moving episode, Michelle welcomes Hilderbrand Pelzer III — award-winning principal, author of Unlocking Potential, national speaker, and a transformational leader whose work inside one of the largest jail systems in America has reshaped conversations about literacy, justice, and hope.

Michelle heard Hilderbrand as a keynote speaker at The Reading League Conference and was profoundly inspired by his message — especially his reminder that the school-to-prison pipeline runs right through reading classrooms. Today, he shares stories from decades of work in juvenile corrections, traditional public schools, and the Philadelphia prison system. They explore why literacy is unequivocally a social justice issue, how the school-to-prison pipeline unfolds long before high school, and what educators and leaders can do to interrupt it — starting in the earliest grades.

Through personal narratives, hard truths, and a hopeful vision for the future, Hilderbrand offers a call to action: Don’t give up and never underestimate the impact of teaching a child to read.

Key Takeaways:

• Literacy is a Social Justice Issue
• The School-to-Prison Pipeline Runs Through Reading Classrooms
• Many “behavior issues” are actually literacy issues in disguise, leading to frustration, disengagement, and eventually dropping out.
• Leadership Requires Vulnerability
• Teachers need the right tools and training – not blame

Resources Mentioned:

• Book: Unlocking Potential: Organizing a School Inside a Prison by Hilderbrand Pelzer III
• Talk: Hilderbrand’s TED Talk (referenced in conversation)

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 Hildebrand Pelzer III:

• Website: www.hilderbrandpelzer3.com
• Bluesky: @HildebrandPelzer3
• X (Twitter): @HP3Potential
• Instagram: @hilderbrandpelzer3
• Facebook: HilderbrandPelzer3
• LinkedIn: Hildebrand Pelzer III
• YouTube

Connect with Me:

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

Want to Support the Podcast?

• Make a Donation to Support Production

Interested in Learning More about Morphology?

• Take our Course: Mastering Morphology: Foundations for Every Educator

In this solo episode, we take an honest, unflinching look at what are traditionally called Kindergarten Reading Levels: Guided Reading Levels A, B, C, and D — and why these levels do not reflect how children actually learn to read.

If you’re a kindergarten teacher, literacy coach, interventionist, or a parent of a beginning reader, this episode will give you the clarity you’ve been craving.

Key Takeaways: 

• Where these levels came from and what they were actually designed to measure
• Why predictable texts are more about the “illusion of reading” than actual reading
• Why picture-cueing, pattern memorization, and MSV underlie these early levels
• Why a student can “read” a Level D text but not decode a CVC word
• What proponents of Guided Reading say about finger-pointing
• Why these texts are fundamentally misaligned with the reading brain
• What to do instead to support true early reading development

And yes — we can absolutely preserve the joy of reading without predictable pattern books.

If your school or district is beginning to shift away from Balanced Literacy, Kindergarten is a wonderful place to start. When we remove the pressure of arbitrary, misaligned “levels” and instead equip kids with the code of our language, we give them true access to reading — not the performance of it.

Connect with Me:

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

Want to Support the Podcast?

• Make a Donation to Support Production

Interested in Learning More about Morphology?

• Take our Course: Mastering Morphology: Foundations for Every Educator

In this powerful episode, Michelle is joined by legendary reading experts Linda Farrell and Michael Hunter, Founding Partners at Readsters. With more than 40 years of experience helping struggling readers — from kindergarten through adulthood — Linda and Michael break down what effective intervention truly looks like, why older learners often continue to slip through the cracks, and how to use assessment, precision, and patience to help every student become a reader. This episode is filled with practical wisdom, honest insights, and encouragement for every educator working with older students who need foundational reading support.

Key Takeaways:

• Why older readers still struggle despite “years of instruction”
• The purpose & power of diagnostic assessment
• What effective intervention really looks like
• Why motivation & respect matter deeply
• Reassurance that “It Is Never Too Late”

Resources Mentioned:

• Readsters Website: www.readsters.com
• Free Resources on their Website
• Book: Working Memory and Learning by Susan Gathercole & Tracy Packiam Alloway

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 Linda & Michael of Readsters:

• Website: www.readsters.com
• Email Michael Hunter: [email protected]
• Email Linda Farrell: [email protected]

Connect with Me:

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

Want to Support the Podcast?

• Make a Donation to Support Production

Interested in Learning More about Morphology?

• Take our Course: Mastering Morphology: Foundations for Every Educator

In this episode, Michelle talks with Dr. Julia Lindsey about her brand-new book “Small Groups, Big Results: Evidence-Based Routines to Get Every Child Reading ”, a practical guide to designing effective small-group instruction with the Science of Reading in mind. Julia shares her journey to researcher and author, and explains why the “leveled-text ladder” needs to be left behind. Together they explore how to use small groups with purpose, the data that should drive them, and the mindset shifts teachers need to make every minute of instruction count.

Key Takeaways:

• Small groups are most powerful when they’re targeted, built around clear goals, practice, and feedback.
• “Guided reading” levels don’t predict growth; what matters is matching instruction to the next skill students need.
• Data should reveal what to teach, not just who is behind. Group by need, not by label.
• Flexible groupings, short bursts of focused practice, and clear feedback create more learning in less time.
• The purpose of small-group instruction is not to fill a time block; it’s to accelerate access to grade-level learning.

Resources Mentioned:

• Reading Above the Fray by Dr. Julia B. Lindsey (Scholastic’s Science of Reading in Practice Series)
• Small Groups, Big Results by Dr. Julia B. Lindsey (Scholastic’s Science of Reading in Practice Series)
• Beyond Decodables: free content-rich decodable texts
• Rock Your Literacy Block by Lindsay Kemeny (Scholastic’s Science of Reading in Practice Series)

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. Julia B. Lindsey:

• Website: juliablindsey.com
• Instagram: @juliablindsey
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• X

Connect with Me:

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

Want to Support the Podcast?

• Make a Donation to Support Production

Interested in Learning More about Morphology?

• Take our Course: Mastering Morphology: Foundations for Every Educator

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed teaching writing, you’re not alone. In this episode, Michelle sits down with educator, author, and founder of Reimagine Writing, LaNesha Tabb, to talk about her framework in building confident, independent writers.

For years, LaNesha admits she either “barely taught writing” or avoided it altogether — not because she didn’t care, but because it felt impossible to manage. That all changed when she created a simple yet powerful framework that turned chaos into clarity and helped her students finally thrive as writers.

Key Takeaways:

• Why so many teachers feel underprepared to teach writing
• How the science of writing and the science of learning informs her work
• What it means to have a framework — not just a bunch of strategies
• How checklists, chants, and routines can build independence in your writing block
• Why focusing on the process first helps students internalize everything else

Connect with LaNesha Tabb:

• Website: laneshatabb.com
• Free writing guide: https://laneshatabb.com/rock-the-writing-block/
• Reimagine Writing: www.reimaginewritingprogram.com
• Instagram: @lanesha_tabb

Connect with Me:

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

Want to Support the Podcast?

• Make a Donation to Support Production

Interested in Learning More about Morphology?

• Take our Course: Mastering Morphology: Foundations for Every Educator

October is Dyslexia Awareness Month, and today’s conversation shines a light on the power of online instruction to reach and teach our one in five students with dyslexia.

In this episode, I’m chatting with Michelle Breitenbach, founder of Read to Rewire, certified dyslexia practitioner, and creator of the Online with Ease Academy, where she trains teachers to bring multisensory, structured literacy instruction to life virtually. After leaving the classroom due to health challenges, Michelle discovered her purpose helping children and educators worldwide through high-quality, human-centered online tutoring.

We discuss how to make virtual lessons feel just as personal and powerful as in-person ones — emphasizing connection, simplicity, and structure. Michelle shares heartwarming stories of students who have thrived online, and offers practical advice for teachers and parents alike.

Key Takeaways:

• The prevalence of dyslexia and the urgent need for early identification
• Why online instruction can expand access and reduce barriers for families
• How to create engaging, multisensory virtual lessons that feel human
• Common pitfalls of “the virtual highway” (and how to avoid them)
• Practical advice for teachers seeking flexibility and freedom through online work

Connect with Michelle Breitenbach:

• Website: Read to Rewire
• Instagram: @readtorewire
• Free Guide: From Teacher to Online with Ease
• Free Masterclass
• 7-Day Access to her Training

Waitlist to Join: Online with Ease

🎧 For more episodes in the Dyslexia Awareness Month bonus series, check out the playlist here.

Check out our Dyslexia Awareness Reel here!

Connect with Me:

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

Want to Support the Podcast?

• Make a Donation to Support Production

Interested in Learning More about Morphology?

• Take our Course: Mastering Morphology: Foundations for Every Educator