Literacy in Color: A Science of Reading Aligned Podcast for Educators

Spelling longer words can feel overwhelming for students - even for those who can read them with ease. In this episode, I unpack why multisyllabic spelling is such a leap and, more importantly, what we can do to support students through it.

Rather than relying on memorization alone, this episode explores how spelling is deeply connected to the structure of our language. You’ll walk away with three practical strategies that help students approach longer words with confidence.

From breaking words into syllables, to leveraging morphology and word relatives, to using a “spelling voice,” this episode offers a toolkit teachers can immediately bring into their instruction.

Key Takeaways:

1. Spelling multisyllabic words requires more than phonology; students need access to structure and meaning as well.
2. Syllabication helps reduce cognitive load by chunking words into manageable parts.
3. Every syllable has at least one vowel (ESHALOV): a helpful anchor for spelling longer words.
4. Morphology provides stability; morphemes maintain consistent spellings even when pronunciation shifts.
5. Word relatives can unlock tricky spellings (i.e. preside → president).
6. A spelling voice can support memory by making less obvious spellings more transparent.
7. Strong spellers use metacognition; they choose strategies flexibly depending on the word.
8. English spelling is not random: it reflects the interaction of phonology, morphology, and etymology.

Resources Mentioned:

1. Building BRIDGES: A Design Experiment to Improve Reading and United States History Knowledge of Poor Readers in Eighth Grade - O’Connor, Beach, Sanchez, Bocian, & Flynn - ESHALOV principle (Every Syllable Has At Least One Vowel)
2. Helping Students With Dyslexia Read Long Words by Devin Kearns & Victoria Whaley
3. Logos Literacy Academy
4. Course: Mastering Morphology
5. Course & Curriculum: K-2 Morphology
6. Morphology Membership (Coaching Calls & Resources)
7. Book: Seven Mighty Moves by Lindsay Kemeny (Spelling Voice Strategy mentioned)
8. Multisyllabic Words Skill Explainer from Reading Universe

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!

Thank you to Reading.com for supporting the production of this episode.

Visit reading.com/color for 60% off the annual plan today.

1. Instagram: @_readingcom
2. YouTube: ReadingCom
3. Facebook: Reading.com
4. Pinterest: Reading_com

Connect with Michelle:

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

Want to Support the Podcast?

• Make a Donation to Support Production

Interested in Learning More about Morphology?

• Logos Literacy Academy with Michelle Sullivan & Sarah Paul
• Join: Beyond Phonics Club - our Membership Community

Mentioned in this episode:

Reading.com

Visit reading.com/color for 60% off the annual plan today!

SOR Fall Book Study

Join us: https://colorful-classroom.mykajabi.com/sor-fall-book-study-2026

Reading Science Academy

Get your FREE grouping resource bundle here: https://www.stephaniestollarconsulting.com/groupingsheets?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=podcast

In this episode, Elise Lovejoy tackles one of the most important topics in early literacy instruction: how to use decodable books effectively – and how to thoughtfully bridge students from controlled text into authentic reading.

Elise explains why decodable texts are such a critical tool for early reading development. She also, though, emphasizes an important truth: decodables are not the entire literacy experience; they are one piece of a larger instructional puzzle.

In this episode, you’ll hear Elise discuss practical ways teachers can maximize decodable books for phonics practice, build comprehension within decodable texts, and scaffold students toward more complex and authentic reading experiences.

You’ll also gather actionable routines teachers can use during small-group instruction, how to help students develop flexibility when encountering unfamiliar spellings, and the signals that students may be ready to move beyond tightly controlled text.

Key Takeaways:

1. Why decodable texts are essential for practicing newly taught phonics skills
2. The difference between using decodables intentionally vs. using them like leveled readers
3. Why comprehension should still be addressed within decodable texts
4. Practical small-group routines for using decodable books effectively
5. How to help students develop flexibility with spelling and pronunciation
6. Signs that students are ready to move beyond tightly controlled text
7. Why teachers should use decodable texts and authentic texts side-by-side

Resources Mentioned:

1. The Teachers Table
2. Lyn Stone’s Book: Foundations for Life

Connect with Elise Lovejoy of Express Readers:

1. Website: Express Readers
2. Instagram: @expressreaders
3. LinkedIn: Express Readers
4. Facebook: Express Readers Inc.

Thank you to Reading.com for supporting the production of this episode.

Visit reading.com/color for 60% off the annual plan today.

1. Instagram: @_readingcom
2. YouTube: ReadingCom
3. Facebook: Reading.com
4. Pinterest: Reading_com

Connect with Michelle:

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

Want to Support the Podcast?

• Make a Donation to Support Production

Interested in Learning More about Morphology?

• Logos Literacy Academy with Michelle Sullivan & Sarah Paul
• Join: Beyond Phonics Club - our Membership Community

Mentioned in this episode:

Reading.com

Visit reading.com/color for 60% off the annual plan today!

SOR Fall Book Study

Join us: https://colorful-classroom.mykajabi.com/sor-fall-book-study-2026

Reading Science Academy

Get your FREE grouping resource bundle here: https://www.stephaniestollarconsulting.com/groupingsheets?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=podcast

Dr. Stephanie Stollar and Kate Winn, co-authors of Reading Assessment Done Right unpack one of the most misunderstood topics in literacy instruction: assessment. Rather than viewing assessment as something teachers must check off their to-do list, they explain how high-quality reading assessments can empower educators and transform instruction. When assessment data is used thoughtfully and linked directly to instruction, it becomes a powerful tool for identifying student needs, targeting support, and ultimately changing reading outcomes.

This episode is a must-listen for teachers, literacy coaches, interventionists, and school leaders who want to better understand how to use assessment data to drive meaningful instructional change.

Key Takeaways:

1. How assessment data can transform classroom decision-making
2. Common mistakes schools make when using assessment data
3. Why schools must sometimes de-implement ineffective assessments
4. The four key types of reading assessment and how they work together: Universal Screening, Diagnostic Assessments, Progress Monitoring, Outcome Assessments
5. How teachers can interpret assessment data and trends over time

Resources:

1. Book: Reading Assessment Done Right by Stephanie Stollar & Kate Winn
2. Book: MTSS for Reading Improvement by Stephanie Stollar & Sarah Brown from Solution Tree (or on Amazon)
3. FREE Resource: The Reading MTSS Reflection Guide
4. Previous Podcast Episode with Dr. Stollar: Episode 28. Clearing up Misconceptions around MTSS
5. Previous Podcast Episode with Dr. Stollar: Episode 80. MTSS for Reading Improvement

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 Kate Winn:

1. Podcast: Reading Road Trip from IDA Ontario
2. Website: http://thismomloves.ca/
3. Instagram: @katethismomloves

Thank you to Reading.com for supporting the production of this episode.

Visit reading.com/color for 60% off the annual plan today.

1. Instagram: @_readingcom
2. YouTube: ReadingCom
3. Facebook: Reading.com
4. Pinterest: Reading_com

Connect with Michelle:

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

Want to Support the Podcast?

• Make a Donation to Support Production

Interested in Learning More about Morphology?

• Logos Literacy Academy with Michelle Sullivan & Sarah Paul
• Join: Beyond Phonics Club - our Membership Community

Mentioned in this episode:

SOR Fall Book Study

Join us: https://colorful-classroom.mykajabi.com/sor-fall-book-study-2026

Reading Science Academy

Get your FREE grouping resource bundle here: https://www.stephaniestollarconsulting.com/groupingsheets?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=podcast

Reading.com

Visit reading.com/color for 60% off the annual plan today!

In this conversation, Michelle is joined by literacy advocate and author Yvette Manns to explore the power of read-alouds: both for instruction and for joy.

Key Takeaways:

1. The difference between reading for pleasure and instructional read-alouds
2. How read-alouds build oral language, vocabulary, and connection
3. Practical instructional moves to make read-alouds more impactful
4. The TAPES Method (Tell, Act, Point, Explain, Show) for vocabulary instruction
5. The origin story of the Phonics Read Alouds series
6. Information on how to celebrate National Schwa Day on April 7th!
7. The launch of a brand-new Morphology Read-Aloud series

This episode is both inspiring and deeply practical, full of classroom-ready ideas.

Phonics Read-Alouds

Created by Yvette Manns, the Phonics Read Alouds series blends explicit phonics instruction with rich storytelling. Characters like Bossy R, Magic E, and the Schwa bring abstract phonics concepts to life.

1. Website: www.phonicsreadalouds.com
2. Instagram: @phonicsreadalouds

National Schwa Day

Founded by Yvette Manns, National Schwa Day is celebrated annually on April 7th.

Why April 7th? Listen to the episode to hear the reasoning behind it!

What you’ll find in the free Educator Guide:

1. Classroom activities
2. Schwa parade word cards
3. Digital blending board activities (sponsored by Blend)
4. Celebration ideas

Download the FREE Educator guide: www.nationalschwaday.org

Exciting News: Morphology Read-Aloud Series

Michelle and Yvette announce the launch of a brand-new Morphology Read Aloud collection — beginning with:

The Always-Finished Suffix -ED

This story brings the three sounds of -ed to life through time travel, character development, and embedded word study.

🎉 Use code COLORFUL1 for 15% off (valid through 4/26/26)!

Additional Books Mentioned:

1. Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters by John Steptoe
2. I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes
3. Cityrella by Yvette Manns

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 Yvette Manns:

1. Website: https://www.yvettemanns.com/
2. Instagram: @phonicsreadalouds & @the_lit_teacher
3. Facebook: Phonics Read-Aloud
4. TikTok :@PhonicsReadAlouds
5. Email: [email protected]

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:

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

Want to Support the Podcast?

• Make a Donation to Support Production

Interested in Learning More about Morphology?

• Logos Literacy Academy with Michelle Sullivan & Sarah Paul
• Join: Beyond Phonics Club - our Membership Community

Mentioned in this episode:

SOR Fall Book Study

Join us: https://colorful-classroom.mykajabi.com/sor-fall-book-study-2026

Reading Science Academy

Get your FREE grouping resource bundle here: https://www.stephaniestollarconsulting.com/groupingsheets?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=podcast

Express Readers

Get your Free Decodable Book Sample today!

Sara Marye, founder of The Stellar Teacher Company, joins Michelle to unpack what effective upper-elementary reading intervention can actually look like in the general classroom setting. Together, they explore why students in grades 3–5 may continue to struggle with decoding, how phonics gaps impact both reading and writing, and what classroom teachers can realistically do to support older students who still need foundational skill support.

Sara shares the thinking behind the Stellar Reading Intervention Toolkit, including its intentional structure, focus on multisyllabic words, and commitment to dignity-preserving, age-appropriate materials for older students.

Key Takeaways

1. Reading challenges do not end in second grade and they don’t resolve themselves without explicit instruction
2. Upper-elementary students often struggle not because they can’t learn phonics, but because they were never explicitly taught
3. Short, systematic, and well-structured lessons are more likely to be used consistently by classroom teachers
4. Intervention should feel connected to Tier 1 instruction, not isolated or “in a box”
5. It is never too late to address reading gaps, but supports become harder to access as students get older

Resources

1. Stellar Reading Intervention Toolkit
2. The Stellar Literacy Collective Membership

Connect with Sara Marye

1. Email: [email protected]
2. Podcast: The Stellar Teacher Podcast
3. Instagram: @thestellarteachercompany
4. YouTube: @thestellarteachercompany
5. Website: stellarteacher.com
6. LinkedIn: The Stellar Teacher Company

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:

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

Want to Support the Podcast?

• Make a Donation to Support Production

Interested in Learning More about Morphology?

• Logos Literacy Academy with Michelle Sullivan & Sarah Paul
• Join: Beyond Phonics Club - our Membership Community

Mentioned in this episode:

Express Readers

Get your Free Decodable Book Sample today!

Reading Science Academy

Get your FREE grouping resource bundle here: https://www.stephaniestollarconsulting.com/groupingsheets?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=podcast

SOR Fall Book Study

Join us: https://colorful-classroom.mykajabi.com/sor-fall-book-study-2026

Deirdre O’Toole’s doctoral research focuses on early literacy acquisition, specifically around articulatory gestures and attention to speech production. In recent years, we hear a lot about Sound Walls being “aligned to the Science of Reading”. In this episode, Dee shares what we know from research, what we don’t yet know, and how small instructional shifts (like simply saying “Look at my mouth”) can make a meaningful difference in early reading instruction.

Key Takeaways:

1. What phonemic awareness really means (and why “conscious awareness” is key)
2. Articulatory gestures refer to how speech sounds are physically produced (lips, tongue, jaw, airflow, voicing)
3. Research supports articulatory-based interventions (like Lindamood-Bell LIPS), but evidence does not show they are superior to other high-quality interventions
4. What the research says (and does not say) about sound walls
5. The impact of visual speech cues (including research during COVID on masked instruction)
6. Practical teacher language for supporting spelling and phoneme-grapheme connections

Dee also shares insights from her work organizing the Right to Read Ireland conference and advocating for evidence-informed literacy instruction across Ireland.

Resources Mentioned:

1. Right to Read Ireland Conference / IG: @righttoreadirl
2. The Teacher’s Table / IG: @attheteacherstable
3. Facebook: Science of Reading Discussion for Irish Teachers
4. Lindamood Bell
5. Open Access: Seeing the Mouth: The Importance of Articulatory Gestures During Phonics Training - Novelli et. al., 2023
6. A Meta-Analysis on the Optimal Cumulative Dosage of Early Phonemic Awareness Instruction - Erbeli et. al., 2024

Connect with Deirdre O’Toole:

1. https://playfulclassroom.ie/
2. Instagram: @playful_classroom
3. Facebook: Playful Classroom
4. TPT: Playful Classroom

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:

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

Want to Support the Podcast?

• Make a Donation to Support Production

Interested in Learning More about Morphology?

• Logos Literacy Academy with Michelle Sullivan & Sarah Paul
• Join: Beyond Phonics Club - our Membership Community

Mentioned in this episode:

Express Readers

Get your Free Decodable Book Sample today!

Reading Science Academy

Get your FREE grouping resource bundle here: https://www.stephaniestollarconsulting.com/groupingsheets?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=podcast

SOR Fall Book Study

Join us: https://colorful-classroom.mykajabi.com/sor-fall-book-study-2026

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:

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

Want to Support the Podcast?

• Make a Donation to Support Production

Interested in Learning More about Morphology?

• Logos Literacy Academy with Michelle Sullivan & Sarah Paul
• Join: Beyond Phonics Club - our Membership Community

Mentioned in this episode:

Reading Science Academy

Get your FREE grouping resource bundle here: https://www.stephaniestollarconsulting.com/groupingsheets?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=podcast

SOR Fall Book Study

Join us: https://colorful-classroom.mykajabi.com/sor-fall-book-study-2026

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:

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

Want to Support the Podcast?

• Make a Donation to Support Production

Interested in Learning More about Morphology?

• Logos Literacy Academy with Michelle Sullivan & Sarah Paul
• Join: Beyond Phonics Club - our Membership Community

Mentioned in this episode:

Reading Science Academy

Get your FREE grouping resource bundle here: https://www.stephaniestollarconsulting.com/groupingsheets?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=podcast

SOR Fall Book Study

Join us: https://colorful-classroom.mykajabi.com/sor-fall-book-study-2026

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:

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

Want to Support the Podcast?

• Make a Donation to Support Production

Interested in Learning More about Morphology?

• Logos Literacy Academy with Michelle Sullivan & Sarah Paul
• Join: Beyond Phonics Club - our Membership Community

Mentioned in this episode:

Reading Science Academy

Get your FREE grouping resource bundle here: https://www.stephaniestollarconsulting.com/groupingsheets?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=podcast

SOR Fall Book Study

Join us: https://colorful-classroom.mykajabi.com/sor-fall-book-study-2026

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:

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

Want to Support the Podcast?

• Make a Donation to Support Production

Interested in Learning More about Morphology?

• Logos Literacy Academy with Michelle Sullivan & Sarah Paul
• Join: Beyond Phonics Club - our Membership Community

Mentioned in this episode:

Reading Science Academy

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SOR Fall Book Study

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