Teaching Literacy Podcast

By Jake DownsEducation

Teaching Literacy Podcast episodes

December 04, 2025 E71|Evaluating Advanced Phonemic Awareness with Dr. Michael Coyne
In this episode of the Teaching Literacy Podcast, host Jake Downs discusses with Dr. Michael Coyne from the University of Connecticut the concept of advanced phonemic awareness and its implications for early reading proficiency. Dr. Coyne shares findings from his recent study that examines the impact of using oral-only advanced phonemic awareness instruction on first graders. They explore the theoretical underpinnings, practical recommendations for teachers, and the overall relevance of these findings to classroom practice. Tune in to understand the nuanced debate around advanced phonemic awareness and its role in effective literacy instruction.
00:00 Introduction to Advanced Phonemic Awareness
01:33 Guest Introduction: Dr. Michael Coyne
02:25 Defining Phonological and Phonemic Awareness
06:29 Research on Phonemic Awareness
10:04 Advanced Phonemic Awareness: Concepts and Tasks
12:17 Theoretical Underpinnings and Critiques
20:21 Study Overview: Curriculum and Implementation
26:55 Study Design and Measures
29:44 Evaluating Phonemic Awareness Instruction
30:46 Study Results: Phonemic Awareness Outcomes
32:54 Near Transfer Outcomes: Word Reading and Fluency
34:53 Exploring Differential Benefits
37:39 Recommendations for Phonemic Awareness Instruction
42:17 Balancing Oral and Integrated Phonemic Awareness Activities
50:15 Optimism in Literacy Research and Instruction
52:29 Jake’s Take on Teaching Phonemic Awareness

Reference:
Coyne, M. D., McCoach, D. B., Santoro, L. E., Gentile, M., Rodrigues, C., & Kastner, P. (2025). The Effects of Advanced Phonemic Awareness Instruction in First Grade. The Elementary School Journal, 000–000. https://doi.org/10.1086/737952
1 hr
November 11, 2025 E70|Science of Reading for Multilingual Learners with Dr. Steve Amdendum
How can we best apply the Science of Reading to support multilingual learners? This episode tackles that critical question with Dr. Steven Amendum from the University of Delaware. We explore how evidence-based literacy instruction must leverage a student’s first language as a key asset, not a barrier. Dr. Amendum breaks down practical teaching strategies to […]
56 min
October 07, 2025 E69|Transforming Comprehension: Main Ideas, Text Structures, and Teaching Techniques with Dr. Kay Wijekumar
In episode 69 of the Teaching Literacy Podcast, host Jake Downs speaks with Dr. Kay Wijekumar, Houston Endowed Chair in the Department of Teaching and Learning and Culture at Texas A&M University. They discuss the importance of teaching students to generate rather than find the main idea in texts, detailing Dr. Wijekumar’s evidence-based KAT framework […]
1 hr 15 min
September 06, 2025 E68|Strategic Assessment Systems with Dr. Adrea Truckenmiller and Dr. Eunsoo Cho
Dr. Adrea Truckenmiller and Dr. Eunsoo Cho discuss building a strategic assessment system in literacy education. They cover how to use data to inform reading instruction, the difference between screeners, diagnostics, curriculum based measures, and computer adaptive tests, and the importance of reliability in assessments. Common pitfalls like over-testing and teaching to the test are […]
1 hr 19 min
August 05, 2025 Practices of Effective K-2 Teacher Teams with Dr. Jake Downs
Guest host Dr. Kristin Conradi Smith interviews Dr. Jake Downs about the ‘secret soup’ of highly effective K-2 teacher teams. Link to Jake’s Study: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/15/2/259 Downs, J., Martz, K., & Mohr, K. (2025). Exploring the Instructional Effectiveness of High-Growth K-2 Teacher Teams in Foundational Reading. Education Sciences, 15(2), https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci15020259 Link to ULEAD Report: https://schools.utah.gov/ulead/uleadfiles/reports/ipr/Instructional%20Clarity%20Early%20Lit%20IPR.pdf Please […]
1 hr 5 min
July 07, 2025 Jake Talks Paired Oral Reading with Melissa and Lori
Melissa and Lori invited Jake to discuss Synchronous Paired Oral Reading Techniques (SPORT) — Listen to the episode here! Please write a short impact statement for Jake’s USU review packet (and thank you!): https://forms.gle/QcUs8ciMcAy2yG6L6
54 min
June 09, 2025 E66|Linking Automaticity, Vocabulary, and Text With Dr. Freddy Hiebert
Please write a short impact statement for Jake’s USU review packet (and thank you!): https://forms.gle/QcUs8ciMcAy2yG6L6 In this episode, host Jake Downs welcomes guest Dr. Freddy Hebert, a renowned literacy researcher, CEO/Founder of TextProject. The conversation covers topics such as the importance of automaticity, the core vocabulary, reading volume, and shifts in text complexity over the decades. […]
1 hr 2 min
May 05, 2025 E64|AI and the Future of Writing Instruction with Dr. Steve Graham
Jake interviews Dr. Steve Graham of the Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation at Arizona State University Please write a short impact statement for Jake’s USU review packet (and thank you!): https://forms.gle/QcUs8ciMcAy2yG6L6
1 hr 6 min
April 07, 2025 EP63| Is Comprehension Instruction Getting Better? with Dr. Phil Capin
Dr. Phil Capin joins the show to discuss 40 years of reading comprehension instruction. References: Capin, P., Dahl-Leonard, K., Hall, C., Yoon, N. Y., Cho, E., Chatzoglou, E., Reiley, S., Walker, M., Shanahan, E., Andress, T., & Vaughn, S. (2024). Reading Comprehension Instruction: Evaluating Our Progress Since Durkin’s Seminal Study. Scientific Studies of Reading, 1–30. […]
52 min
March 04, 2025 E62|Stopping the Summer Slide with Dr. Blythe Anderson and Dr. John Strong
Jake Downs talks with Dr. Blythe Anderson and Dr. John Strong about effective summer tutoring programs to prevent the summer slide in elementary reading. They discuss strategies such as small-group tutoring, differentiated instruction, and interactive read-alouds, based on multi-year research that shows significant gains in vocabulary, reading fluency, and foundational skills. The episode emphasizes the […]
1 hr 5 min