On this episode of the Innovative Schools Podcast, Jordan and Liz sit down with Korey Collins, literacy teacher at the Ron Clark Academy, to dive deep into literacy, vocabulary, and the science of reading. Korey shares his personal journey into reading, explains why literacy rates are tied so closely to student success, and unpacks research-based practices that educators can apply in every classroom. From gestures that make words stick to the importance of reading aloud at home to breaking down words morphologically, Korey provides both urgency and practical strategies for boosting literacy across subjects.

🔑Key Takeaways

✔️ Literacy is foundational: It cuts across every subject and impacts life outcomes far beyond school.
✔️ Early experiences matter: Positive associations with books (being read to, seeing family members read) shape children’s attitudes toward literacy.
✔️ Screen culture is a barrier: Overexposure to tech conditions kids for stimulation, making sustained reading more difficult.
✔️ Science of Reading is research, not a curriculum: Educators must align practices with proven cognitive and linguistic research.
✔️ Vocabulary drives comprehension: Explicit word instruction, visuals, and kinesthetic gestures help words stick.
✔️ Morphology unlocks meaning: Teaching roots, prefixes, and suffixes makes English more predictable and empowers students as readers, writers, and spellers.
✔️ Literacy is a collective responsibility: Reading instruction doesn’t live only in ELA—science, history, art, and even gym can reinforce word learning.

💬Memorable Quotes

🗣️ “Literacy transcends every piece of life—doctor, mechanic, even fixing the ice cream machine at McDonald’s, you’ll need to read something.”

🗣️ “We can’t just put books in front of kids and expect them to magically learn to read.”

🗣️ “Spelling’s job is to convey meaning, not just sound.”
🗣️ “Every single word has an explanation—English is more predictable than we think.”

🗣️ “If kids aren’t reading every single day, we’re not going to move the needle like we should.”

🧠 Strategies You’ll Learn

• Vocabulary Routines
  • Students repeat words aloud for pronunciation.
  • Use student-friendly definitions (not dictionary jargon).
  • Pair with visuals that connect to current culture or student interests.
  • Attach a gesture/kinesthetic movement to every word.
  • Reinforce with connected texts containing target words.
• Morphological Instruction
  • Teach prefixes, suffixes, and roots (e.g., cred = believe, phon = sound).
  • Show how spelling conveys meaning across word families (e.g., sign, signal, signature).
  • Replace rote memorization lists with morphology-based word study.
• Cross-Curricular Vocabulary Ownership
  • Collaborate with science, art, and history teachers to use consistent strategies (gestures, explicit teaching) for content-specific words.
  • Ensure students encounter the same word in multiple contexts.
• Reading Aloud & Modeling
  • Teachers and family members (including fathers and grandparents) should read aloud often to normalize and celebrate reading.
  • Use read-alouds not only in early grades but also with older students.

👁️‍🗨️ Additional Practices

• Daily Independent Reading: Treat reading like a muscle—students need daily practice with authentic texts.
• Fact-Checking & Bias Lessons: Use articles with opposing viewpoints to help students evaluate sources.
• Kinesthetic Recall in Testing: Encourage students to use gestures quietly when recalling vocabulary during assessments.
• Literacy Beyond ELA: Remind staff that science and social studies texts contribute heavily to standardized test comprehension.
• Family Engagement: Share simple at-home routines (bedtime stories, library visits, reading aloud during meals).
• Early Intervention Idea: Hospitals and pediatricians could provide book packs and coaching for new parents to instill reading habits from birth.

📚 Resources and Links

🔗 Korey Collins Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heykoreycollins/?hl=en

🔗 Korey Collins X: https://x.com/heykoreycollins?lang=en

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