October is Dyslexia Awareness Month, and every Friday Michelle is highlighting voices who are changing the landscape for students with dyslexia and their families.

In this episode, Michelle sits down with Melanie Brethour, a Montreal-based resource teacher, founder of Decoding Dyslexia Quebec, and the voice behind Soar With Dyslexia. Inspired by her son’s journey with dyslexia, Melanie has become a leading advocate for parent empowerment, teacher training, and evidence-based instruction.

Key Takeaways:

• The power of parent advocacy and how to navigate systems that say “wait and see.”
• Why early identification and intervention are acts of equity.
• How parents and teachers can work together to support struggling readers.
• What Melanie has learned about balancing her teacher and parent lenses.
• Why reading is a human right and what needs to shift in schools and teacher prep programs to make that a reality.

Resources Mentioned:

• National Center on Improving Literacy - Resources for Families
• International Dyslexia Association (IDA) – Dyslexia Handbook: What Every Family Should Know
• Decoding Dyslexia – grassroots advocacy network
• Melanie’s Link Tree - with a ton of resources!

Connect with Melanie Brethour:

• Melanie’s Decoding Dyslexia - Quebec Facebook Page
• Instagram: @soarwithdyslexia 
• LinkedIn
• X

🎧 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

Interested in Learning More about Morphology?

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

How does the brain actually learn or remember something new? In this fascinating episode of Literacy in Color, Dr. Shane Saeed joins Michelle to break down the Science of Learning in a way that’s simple, practical, and classroom-ready.

Shane is an Elementary ELA Curriculum Coordinator, national presenter, and author who has spent years helping teachers translate research into action. Together, they explore how memory, retrieval, metacognition, and productive struggle shape student learning, and how teachers can design instruction that sticks.

Key Takeaways:

• The difference between short-term, working, and long-term memory
• The importance of retrieval practice, as well as paced and interleaved practice to deepen understanding
• What metacognition looks like in the classroom (and why it’s critical for student ownership)
• How to design lessons that minimize cognitive overload and maximize retention
• Why “desirable difficulties” are the sweet spot between challenge and frustration

Whether you teach kindergarten phonics or high school history, this episode will leave you with practical takeaways and a renewed appreciation for how the brain learns best.

Resources Mentioned:

• Powerful Teaching by Dr. Pooja Agarwal & Patrice Bain
• Smart Teaching, Stronger Learning by Pooja Agarwal
• Retrieval Practice by Kate Jones
• Outsmart Your Brain by Dan Willingham
• Uncommon Sense Teaching by Barbara Oakley, Beth Rogowsky, & Terrence Sejnowski
• Harnessing the Science of Learning by Nathaniel Swain

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. Shane Saeed:

• Instagram:  @drshanesaeed
• TikTok: @drshanesaeed
• Twitter/X: @drshanesaeed
• Check out her book: Be the Flame

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

Interested in Learning More about Morphology?

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

In this Dyslexia Awareness Month bonus episode of Literacy in Color, I’m joined by Jean Peake, Lower School Literacy Specialist and Orton-Gillingham Practitioner. Jean shares about the importance of early screening, diagnostic assessments, and data-driven interventions – especially for those with dyslexia. Jean’s insights are both practical and heart-centered, reminding us that literacy work is about more than data. It’s about protecting the hearts of the students we serve. 

Key Takeaways:

• Why universal screening for all students is essential
• What to look for when analyzing assessment data beyond “on grade level” labels
• Practical, high-impact classroom strategies that support dyslexic learners — and truly benefit all students
• How to partner with parents in ways that are empathetic, clear, and empowering

Resources Mentioned:

• International Dyslexia Association

Connect with Jean:

• Instagram → @myreadingjeanie
• Website → https://myreadingjeanie.com/

🎧 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

Interested in Learning More about Morphology?

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

Research should guide our teaching, but too often, it feels locked away in academic journals, filled with jargon, or disconnected from classroom realities.

In this episode of Literacy in Color, I talk with Dr. Neena Saha: educator, researcher, EdTech innovator, and creator of the Reading Research Recap. She’s on a mission to make reading research clear, digestible, and actionable for teachers. So, if you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by academic papers, or wondered how to tell whether research is relevant, this episode will help you feel more confident as a critical consumer of evidence.

Key Takeaways:

• Why accessing research is harder than it should be and the barriers teachers face.
• The different types of studies (correlational, experimental, randomized control trials) and how to interpret them.
• What “peer-reviewed” really means and why it’s only the starting line for credible research.
• Red flags to watch for when you hear claims like “everything I do is research-based.”
• Neena’s hopes for dismantling the wall between research and practice, and what needs to shift at the system level.

Resources Mentioned & How to Connect with Dr. Neena Saha:

• Reading Research Recap on YouTube
• Neena’s Top Reading Research Picks for July 2025
• Dr. Neena Saha on LinkedIn

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

Interested in Learning More about Morphology?

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

What does it really mean to teach beyond the diagnosis? In this inspiring Dyslexia Awareness Month conversation, I sit down with Casey Harrison—Licensed Dyslexia Therapist, Certified Academic Language Therapist, and founder of The Dyslexia Classroom®—to unpack how we can meet the academic needs of students with dyslexia and nurture their confidence, self-understanding, and advocacy skills.

Casey has been immersed in structured literacy for nearly three decades and recently published her new book, Teaching Beyond the Diagnosis: Empowering Students with Dyslexia. In this episode, she shares why dyslexia is never the whole story, how to honor the unique learning profile of each student, and why self-esteem and metacognitive awareness are just as essential as phonics instruction.

Key Takeaways:

• Why dyslexia looks different in every child (and why contradictory signs are common).
• The power of the “dyslexia iceberg” and the hidden emotional toll beneath academics.
• How structured literacy can (and must) adapt to the student in front of us.
• Strategies for building student confidence and authentic self-advocacy.
• Why celebrating progress—every baby step—is crucial to student success.

If you’ve ever wondered how to balance evidence-based literacy instruction with the human side of teaching, this episode will leave you inspired and equipped to look at your students holistically.

Resources Mentioned:

• Casey’s Book: Teaching Beyond the Diagnosis (or on Amazon)

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 Casey Harrison:

• Website: www.thedyslexiaclassroom.com
• Instagram: @thedyslexiaclassroom 
• YouTube: The Dyslexia Classroom
• Casey’s Teachers Pay Teachers Store
• Casey’s Membership Site: Empowered Beyond the Program
• Casey’s Course: The Color-Coding Method to Teaching Sight Words
• Together in Literacy Podcast

🎧 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

Interested in Learning More about Morphology?

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

Phonemic awareness (PA) interestingly is one of the most debated areas of literacy instruction. Should it be taught with letters, without letters, or both? Which tasks matter most? And how much is enough?

In this episode of Literacy in Color, Michelle sits down with Dr. Jane Ashby, professor, researcher, and first author of Teaching Phonemic Awareness in 2024: A Guide for Educators. This conversation brings clarity to the ongoing dialogue around PA instruction and the growing body of research that surrounds it.

Key Takeaways:

• What phonemic awareness is (and how it differs from phonics)
• Signs that a student may need explicit PA instruction past first grade
• Why deletion and substitution tasks matter for striving readers
• Teaching PA with letters vs. without letters – and why asking “for whom” matters
• How to interpret recent meta-analyses 
• A clear message (and one non-negotiable) that every teacher can take back to their classroom

Helpful Resources:

• Teaching Phonemic Awareness in 2024: A Guide for Educators
• 10 Maxims: What We've Learned So Far About How Children Learn to Read

Connect with Dr. Jane Ashby:

• Email: [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

Interested in Learning More about Morphology?

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

We’re kicking off Dyslexia Awareness Month with a conversation that every educator and parent needs to hear: what does dyslexia really look like – and what can we do about it? 

In this episode of Literacy in Color, I sit down with Heather O’Donnell, founder of New Paltz Multisensory Tutoring, Wilson Dyslexia Practitioner, and Associate-level Orton-Gillingham Academy member. Heather has built a thriving practice that serves students across 10+ states with structured literacy instruction, while also equipping parents with advocacy tools and teachers with multisensory resources.

Key Takeaways:

• What dyslexia really is (and what it isn’t).
• Clear, parent- and teacher-friendly signs of dyslexia at different ages.
• The toll dyslexia takes on confidence and why early intervention matters.
• Common red flags teachers and parents can spot at home and in school.
• How structured literacy provides the explicit, systematic instruction dyslexic students need.
• Encouragement for parents to trust their instincts and advocate for their child.

Heather also shares practical stories from her tutoring practice that show what’s possible when students finally receive the right kind of support and how quickly lives can change.

Connect with Heather O’Donnell:

• Dyslexia Freebie
• Website: newpaltzmultisensory.com
• Instagram: @NewPaltzMultisensory
• Facebook: @NewPaltzMultisensory
• X:  @New_Paltz
• Pinterest
• TPT Store: New Paltz Multisensory Tutoring
• Email: [email protected]

🎧 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

Interested in Learning More about Morphology?

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

In this Coaching Conversation, I sit down with Christina DeCarbo, a Pre-K–5 literacy coach, teacher, national presenter, and curriculum author from Northeast Ohio. Christina is also known as Miss DeCarbo, and her work is fueled by a passion for making professional learning engaging, joyful, and practical.

Christina shares her journey from first-grade teacher to literacy coach, including her school’s shift from balanced literacy to the Science of Reading. She offers creative and out-of-the-box ways to support teachers: building trust, celebrating growth, and embedding PD into the day in ways that are non-threatening and highly effective.

Key Takeaways:

• How Christina helped lead her district’s transition from balanced literacy to structured literacy.
• Her biggest takeaways from spending a week learning with Dr. Anita Archer.
• Why opportunities to respond and corrective feedback are game-changers.
• Coaching strategies that meet teachers where they are, whether it’s through cycles, small groups, or “grab-and-go PD.”
• Fun ways to celebrate teacher and student growth (spoiler: there’s a disco ball involved!).
• How to balance choice for teachers while keeping coaching connected to schoolwide goals.

Christina’s insights will inspire you to rethink coaching as something that’s not just supportive, but fun, creative, and deeply impactful.

Connect with Christina DeCarbo:

• Instagram:  @missdecarbo
• Website: missdecarbo.com
• Facebook Group: Teaching with Miss DeCarbo
• Grab Christina’s FREE Download on Unique Coaching Opportunities here!

🎧 For more episodes in the Coaching Conversations series, check out the full Literacy Coaching playlist 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

Interested in Learning More about Morphology?

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

We all know the saying “when you know better, you do better.” But what happens when we know better…and still don’t see the needle move in reading outcomes?

In this episode of Literacy in Color, I sit down with Justin Browning, national literacy consultant and founder of SoR for More, to talk about the missing piece: implementation.

Justin draws from years of experience as a teacher, instructional coach, and systems-level consultant to show us how to move from information to transformation.

Key Takeaways:

• Why professional development often feels like “knowledge bombing”
• The dangers of compliance-driven training without follow-through
• How to shift from “know a lot, do a lot” to “learn a little, do a little”
• Why leadership needs vision, voice, and visibility to sustain change
• Practical strategies like micro-PD, flipped lab sites, and implementation teams
• The critical role of de-implementation in creating space for what matters most

If we want real change in reading outcomes, we can’t just play the game, we have to play to win.

Listen in to hear how schools and districts can create systems that move knowledge into action and ensure literacy success for all students.

Connect with Justin Browning:

• Website: http://www.sorformore.com
• Instagram: @sorformore_llc
• X: @sorformore
• LinkedIn
• Email: [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

Interested in Learning More about Morphology?

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

Have you ever had a student rattle off the sounds in a word—/b/… /a/… /t/, only to say “tab,” “balloon,” or even “chicken”? If so, you’re not alone. And here’s the thing: these blending errors aren’t always decoding issues. Often, they’re tied to working memory.

In this solo episode of Literacy in Color, we unpack why blending matters, what research tells us, and most importantly, practical scaffolds you can use tomorrow to support students who struggle.

Key Takeaways:

• The difference between Additive Sound-by-Sound Blending and Whole Word Blending
• Why connected phonation is more effective than traditional sound-by-sound blending (Gonzalez-Frey & Ehri, 2021)
• Several scaffolds to lighten the working memory load: reducing phonemes, continuous blending, backing up to phonemic awareness, and backward decoding, etc.
• How the gradual release of responsibility helps students build independence and automaticity
• The natural transition from oral → whisper → silent blending as students gain fluency

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

Interested in Learning More about Morphology?

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