In this episode of Literacy Unlocked, I’m joined by Susan Lambert, host of the Science of Reading: The Podcast by Amplify, to dig into one of the most essential—and often overlooked—components of reading success: language. Susan shares personal stories and professional insights that make a powerful case for elevating language development right alongside decoding.

We explore:

• Why word recognition is necessary but not sufficient
• The importance of oral language in early grades
• How syntax, vocabulary, and background knowledge support writing and comprehension
• What teachers can do tomorrow to build stronger language routines
• How oral discussion and sentence-level writing set the stage for later literacy success

FULL SHOW NOTE HERE

In today’s episode, Amie breaks down eight essential, research-backed strategies for teaching letter sounds in ways that are practical, effective, and rooted in the science of reading. These aren’t trendy tricks or rigid programs—they’re flexible, powerful routines that actually work in real classrooms with real kids.

From why we should teach letter names and sounds together, to what letters to teach first, and how to move beyond the outdated “letter of the week” model, this episode will walk you through the what, why, and how of early alphabet instruction. You’ll also learn simple ways to embed multisensory routines, keep the pace moving, and build automaticitythrough daily review—without burning out or overcomplicating your day.

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In this episode, I’m joined by the brilliant Dr. Shayne Piasta — a developmental psychologist, early literacy researcher, and professor at The Ohio State University. Her work has deeply influenced how I think about alphabet instruction, and I couldn’t wait to sit down with her to talk about what the research actually says about teaching letter names, sounds, and formation — and how to make it practical for real classrooms.

So many teachers are told conflicting things: Should I teach letter names or sounds first? Uppercase or lowercase? Do I teach handwriting at the same time? Is “letter of the week” okay?

Dr. Piasta brings clarity to all of those questions and more. She breaks down the current research and provides thoughtful insights that help us move beyond one-size-fits-all approaches. Whether you're using a boxed curriculum, piecing together resources, or trying to adjust instruction for student needs, this episode will help you feel more confident and informed.

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In this heartfelt episode, Amie Burkholder takes you behind the scenes of her new book, Literacy Unlocked. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the nonstop buzz around the Science of Reading or unsure how to turn research into real-life instruction, this episode is for you.

Amie walks through each chapter of the book, sharing how Literacy Unlocked bridges the gap between research and classroom practice — one step, one strategy, and one student at a time. You’ll hear stories, classroom examples, and why this book is packed with not just knowledge, but tools you can use tomorrow.

Whether you’re a K–2 teacher, a literacy coach, an interventionist, or a parent looking for clarity, Literacy Unlocked was written with you in mind.

FULL SHOW NOTES HERE

Whether you’re supporting readers in your classroom, after school, or during summer tutoring, intervention doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. In this episode, I sit down with literacy coach and intervention specialist Shannon Moore, Ed.S., to talk about what actually makes intervention effective—both in school and out.

We break down the core components of strong intervention systems, what to focus on when analyzing data, how to progress monitor in a meaningful way, and how to communicate all of this clearly with parents. Shannon also shares her journey from classroom teacher to private tutor to literacy coach—and offers encouragement (and practical advice!) for educators thinking about tutoring this summer.

FULL SHOW NOTES HERE

Small group time is where the most powerful reading growth can happen — but if you’re feeling overwhelmed by what to use, how to organize it, or whether you have the “right stuff,” this episode will give you clarity (and a deep breath).

I’ve spent years trying all the things — leveled tubs, centers, flashcards, flip charts… you name it. But over time, I realized the most effective small group reading block didn’t require more. It just needed the right few tools and the routines to go with them.

Full Show Notes Here

Episode Summary: In this episode, I’m joined by the incredible Yvette Manns — educator, certified dyslexia practitioner, and the creative mind behind the Phonics Readalouds series. If you’ve ever wished your phonics lessons could be more engaging and aligned with the science of reading, you’re in for a treat.

Yvette shares how her teaching experiences and structured literacy background led her to write decodable-aligned readalouds that bring tricky phonics concepts to life — from Bossy R pirates to silent letter ghosts. We talk about the power of story to make phonics memorable, how to keep instruction joyful and research-aligned, and why engagement is never fluff.

You’ll also hear about what’s next for her growing literacy universe, including upcoming books, hardcover releases, digital resources, and exciting national (and international!) teacher events.

• Why Yvette started writing phonics readalouds — and how they support decoding and language comprehension

• The inspiration behind student favorites like The Not-So-Lazy Schwa and The Very Talented Silent E

• How to use phonics readalouds meaningfully in your instruction

• Advice for making phonics fun without sacrificing instructional integrity

• How multimodal routines and strong classroom systems create space for joyful learning

• What’s coming next: new books, teacher trainings, and her vision for growing the Phonics Readaloud universe

🌐 Phonics Readalouds Website — Get Yvette’s free ebooks when new books launch (available for 48 hours only!) 📚 Yvette’s Author Website — Explore all of her titles, including non-phonics books 📧 Contact: [email protected] 📸 Instagram: @phonicsreadalouds | @thelitteacher 🛍️ Books available on Amazon (hardcover editions coming soon!)

• Presenting at The Reading League in Chicago this fall

• International speaking engagements this summer

• The Elevate Your Classroom Conference – happening in Nashville, St. Paul, and Austin

• Partnering with early learning centers in Georgia for community-based literacy support

Want More Like This? Subscribe to the Literacy Unlocked podcast and leave a review to help other educators find us. And don’t forget to grab your freebie and join our newsletter for practical tips, resources, and conversations that connect research to real classrooms.

If you’ve ever had a student who reads “c...a...t...” and by the time they finish the sentence, they can’t remember what it was about, this episode is for you! Today, we're diving into a super common (and totally normal!) stage of early reading: sound-by-sound decoding — why students get stuck there, and how to help them move into smoother, more confident word reading. You’ll walk away with simple, practical steps you can start using tomorrow to bridge the gap from choppy decoding to fluent reading.

• Why students get stuck in sound-by-sound reading

• How to check and strengthen decoding foundations

• Blending strategies that actually make reading easier

• How to use blending lines for daily fluency practice

• What comes next after students move past sound-by-sound reading

✅ Accuracy always comes before speed — strengthen the foundation first ✅ Teach and model blending explicitly (traditional, successive, and continuous) ✅ Use blending lines daily for structured, targeted practice ✅ Celebrate small wins — fluency is built word by word!

• Printable version of this episode (Message me @literacyedventures on Instagram to grab it!)

• Stay tuned for Episode 2, where we’ll cover sentence- and passage-level fluency strategies like echo reading, fluency pyramids, phrase-cued reading, and more!

• Instagram: @literacyedventures

• Website: Literacy Edventures

Would you leave a quick review or share this episode with a teacher friend? Your support helps me reach more educators and keep these episodes coming!

🎙 Episode Title: Bridging MTSS and the Science of Reading with Stephanie Stollar & Sarah Brown

📚 Episode Summary:

In this episode, I’m joined by the brilliant minds behind the upcoming book MTSS for Reading Improvement — Stephanie Stollar and Sarah Brown. These two powerhouses bring decades of experience supporting schools in implementing the Science of Reading within an MTSS framework, and I could not be more excited for the practical, systems-level support their new book provides. We dive into what MTSS really looks like when done well, common roadblocks schools face, and how to build sustainable systems that actually move the needle for student achievement.

Whether you're a literacy coach, classroom teacher, or school leader, this episode is packed with real talk, actionable insights, and encouragement.

✨ In this episode, we cover:

• Why the Science of Reading alone isn’t enough — and how MTSS brings it to life at the system level

• Common misconceptions about MTSS (Spoiler: it’s not just about interventions)

• How to strengthen Tier 1 instruction and use data to make the right decisions

• Practical strategies school leaders can implement right now

• Tips for fostering collaboration and building trust within school teams

• How to bridge the gap between research and daily instruction

📘 About the Book: MTSS for Reading Improvement by Sarah Brown and Stephanie Stollar is available for pre-order now and officially releases on May 5, 2025. This book is designed for school leaders, coaches, and educators who want to create meaningful, lasting change in literacy outcomes by building a solid MTSS framework that aligns with the Science of Reading.

💡 Bonus Insight: Sarah shares a powerful end-of-year strategy involving extra practice folders that helped close gaps just in time. Stephanie offers a must-do action step: schedule your cross-grade data meetings now!

👥 About Today’s Guests:

• Stephanie Stollar Founder of the Reading Science Academy and a consultant helping schools align instruction with the Science of Reading. 🔗 Website: Reading Science Academy 📘 Courses & Membership: Reading Science Academy Programs

• Sarah Brown MTSS consultant, founder of System Impact Consulting, and co-author of Effective Universal Instruction. She supports schools in making data-driven decisions to improve instruction. 🔗 Website: System Impact Consulting 📥 Free Resource: MTSS Data Academy Tools 📧 Contact: [email protected]

🎉 Big News: The Reading League will be using MTSS for Reading Improvement for its national Summer Book Study — keep an eye out for resources and discussion opportunities hosted through local chapters!

🔗 Pre-Order the Book:

• Pre-order on Amazon (link will update when live)

• Pre-order on Solution Tree

💬 Let’s Connect: If you loved this episode, take a screenshot, share it on Instagram, and tag me @literacyedventures. I’d love to hear your biggest takeaway!

In today’s episode, we’re tackling one of the biggest transitions in early literacy—helping students move from writing individual letters to constructing full sentences. If you’ve ever wondered how to bridge the gap between handwriting and confident writing, this episode is for you!

We’ll walk through: ✅ How to transition from letter formation to writing words ✅ The role of phonemic awareness and sound-to-letter mapping in writing ✅ Scaffolded word-building to strengthen encoding skills ✅ Sentence structure—teaching kids what makes a complete thought ✅ Engaging strategies like “Who/Do” sentences and The Missing Piece Game ✅ Why dictation and shared writing are essential for early writers ✅ How to make writing meaningful and connected to real-life experiences

By the end of this episode, you’ll have a clear, step-by-step approach to support your students as they grow into confident writers!

FULL SHOW NOTES HERE