Struggling to help your students blend letter sounds into words? You’re not alone! Many early readers know their letter sounds but face challenges when it comes to smoothly blending them into recognizable words. The good news? Blending is a skill that can be developed with the right strategies and activities.

In this episode, we break down simple, research-backed phonemic awareness techniques that will help your students become more confident and fluent readers.

In this episode, we’ll talk about:

• Why blending is one of the most essential phonemic awareness skills for early readers.
• The biggest mistake teachers make when teaching blending (and what to do instead!)
• Fun, engaging activities that make blending practice more effective.
• A simple tweak that makes blending easier for struggling students.

Show Links

Phonological Awareness Warm Ups
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Is AI really safe—or even useful—for our youngest learners? In this episode, veteran educator Vicki Davis unpacks what developmentally appropriate AI use looks like in PreK–2 classrooms. You’ll hear practical ways to integrate technology without sacrificing connection, creativity, or literacy.

In this episode, we'll talk about:

• Whether AI supports or harms early childhood development.
• Creative ways to use AI that don’t rely on screens.
• How to use AI to differentiate reading instruction.
• A powerful mindset shift called “turtling” that makes tech feel less overwhelming.
• Simple ways to teach AI concepts like input, output, and prompts—even in kindergarten.

Show Links

Vicki's Website / LinkedIn / Podcast
Snorkl
Book Creator
Claude
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Not all literacy programs are created equal—and some of the most popular ones may actually be holding your students back.

In this episode, we’re uncovering the truth about the top 5 literacy curriculums used in schools today. You’ll learn which ones align with the science of reading, which ones don’t, and what to do if your school’s core program is missing critical pieces.

This isn’t about shaming teachers or schools—it’s about giving you clarity, confidence, and practical next steps to make sure your instruction works for kids.

In this episode, we’ll talk about:

• The truth behind the 5 most widely used literacy curriculums.
• Which programs align with the science of reading (and which miss the mark).
• Why strategies like three-cueing and picture clues don’t build real readers.
• How to use a 27-point checklist to evaluate your own curriculum.
• Practical supplements you can add right now to fill the gaps.

Show Links

Curriculum Evaluation Checklist
The Reading League Curriculum Evaluation Reports
NAEP Report Card
Phonics Lessons
Phonological Awareness Warm Ups
Read Aloud Book List
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So many of us grew up believing myths about dyslexia—like thinking it meant kids saw letters backwards, or that they would eventually “catch up” if we just gave them time. But those myths don’t just confuse teachers… they keep students from getting the support they desperately need.

In this episode, I sit down with resource teacher and dyslexia advocate Melanie Brethour to unpack the most common dyslexia myths—debunked with research and real classroom experience. Melanie shares her journey as both a teacher and a mom, the guilt she felt realizing she had unknowingly reinforced ineffective practices, and the small shifts that changed everything for her students.

Whether you’ve been teaching for 5 years or 25, this conversation will help you separate fact from fiction so you can support struggling readers with confidence.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why “backwards letters” are not the hallmark of dyslexia.
• The biggest misconceptions still circulating in schools.
• Practical ways to spot early signs of dyslexia in your classroom.
• Simple shifts to move beyond myths and into effective support.

Show Links

Melanie's Instagram / LinkedIn / Facebook
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What do you say when a parent questions your reading instruction with, “This isn’t how I learned to read”? In this episode, we’re giving you clear, confident responses that help build trust and explain the science of reading—without getting lost in the research.

In this episode, we'll talk about:

• What parents really mean when they say, “I didn’t learn to read like this”.
• How to use a math analogy that makes phonics click for families.
• Why we’ve moved away from leveled books and sight word memorization.
• A simple way to talk about decodable texts (that parents actually understand).
• How to keep the conversation going all year without overwhelm.

Show Links

Science of Reading Parent Handouts
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Teaching handwriting in early grades can feel frustrating—especially when kids struggle to form letters, and the pressure to move fast is real. In this episode, Malia chats with pediatric occupational therapist Kelli Fetter to uncover what actually works. From Play-Doh to pencil grips, you’ll walk away with brain-based strategies that make handwriting instruction developmentally appropriate and fun.

In this episode, we'll talk about:

• Why handwriting still matters—even in a digital age.
• The best age to introduce cursive (and why it’s making a comeback).
• Easy play-based activities to build fine motor skills.
• What dysgraphia really looks like—and how to support students with it.
• Tools and tips to make handwriting instruction effective and inclusive.

Show Links

Kelli's Website / Instagram / Email
Multisensory Activities
Developmental Teaching Order
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Struggling to figure out what phonics skill to teach next? What if there was a simple, visual roadmap that showed you exactly where your students are—and where they need to go? In this episode, we're breaking down The Phonics Staircase, a powerful, step-by-step framework that will change how you think about phonics instruction forever.

In this episode, we'll talk about:

• The exact order to teach phonics skills—without skipping critical steps.
• Why starting with just 8 letters can unlock hundreds of decodable words.
• What the “phonics staircase” is and how it helps struggling readers make progress fast.
• The truth about that “When two vowels go walking…” poem (and what to do instead).
• How to avoid common teaching missteps that hold your students back.

Show Links

FREE Phonics Scope & Sequence
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What if the key to student success isn’t just in your curriculum—but in how you see your students? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Rebecca Knighton, author of Flip the Script: Breaking Down Barriers, Building Relationships, and Engaging Secondary Students to explore how the most impactful teachers build deep connections with students who are often the hardest to reach. If you’ve ever felt stuck or discouraged by student behavior, this conversation will leave you inspired, reflective, and recharged.

In this episode, we'll talk about:

• What “positive deviant” teachers do differently—and why it works.
• How to build trust with students who’ve learned not to trust adults.
• The role of self-reflection in teacher growth and student connection.
• Why seeing students as humans (not problems) transforms everything.
• A simple shift to help you reconnect with your teaching purpose—starting tomorrow.

Show Links

Rebecca's LinkedIn / Website
Flip the Script: Breaking Down Barriers, Building Relationships, and Engaging Secondary Students
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Feeling overwhelmed by all the science of reading lingo? You’re not alone. In this episode, we’re breaking it down in a way that feels clear, relatable, and reassuring—especially if you're just getting started.

In this episode, we'll talk about:

• Why it’s totally normal to feel nervous about shifting to science-based reading instruction.
• The biggest myth that holds teachers back from making the switch.
• How the science of reading differs from how we were taught.
• What you actually need to focus on first (hint: it’s not mastering all the jargon).
• Why small shifts—not perfection—can have a big impact in your classroom.

Show Links

Dive into the science of reading with The Reading Roadmap!
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What if the behavior issues in your classroom weren’t about defiance—but about reading? In this powerful episode, we talk with Hildebrand Pelzer III, a former prison principal turned education advocate, about how early literacy is the key to preventing the school to prison pipeline. This is a conversation every teacher and school leader needs to hear.

In this episode, we'll talk about:

• Why reading failure—not behavior—is at the root of the school to prison pipeline.
• How to reframe classroom misbehavior as a cry for academic help.
• The role school leaders play in supporting science-backed instruction.
• Practical ways to use reading data to intervene early and effectively.
• Why investing in early reading instruction is a moral and professional imperative.

Show Links

Hilderbrand Pelzer III Website / LinkedIn / Instagram
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