RAR Podcast #253: How to help students with dysgraphia - with Michelle Morgan What does dysgraphia look like, and how can teachers help students who struggle with it? Michelle Morgan explains why dysgraphia can make handwriting slow and effortful, the different skills involved in handwriting, and practical ways teachers can help students develop more efficient, automatic writing. Listen to the episode ... Read More

Welcome to the Podcast!
Ready to help every student become a proficient reader? Join me for practical conversations about teaching reading well.
I'll bring you real talk about implementing the science of reading in your classroom, breaking down the research into steps you can take right away, and helping you build the confidence to reach all your readers. Whether you're navigating your own shift from balanced literacy or looking for strategies that work for diverse learners, you'll find support here.
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Building Lexical Quality: The Secret to Stronger Word Reading
RAR Podcast #252: Building Lexical Quality: The Secret to Stronger Word Reading - with Dr. Carolyn Strom There’s more to learning a word than simply decoding it correctly. Dr. Carolyn Strom explains how rich connections between a word’s sounds, spelling, meaning, and structure help students remember words and become stronger, more automatic readers. Listen to the episode here Full episode ... Read More
What do we REALLY know about phonemic awareness?
RAR Podcast #251: What do we REALLY know about phonemic awareness - with Dr. Shayne Piasta and Dr. Beth Phillips Phonemic awareness is essential for learning to read—but what does the research actually tell us about how to teach it? Dr. Beth Phillips and Dr. Shayne Piasta unpack what we know (and what we still don’t know) about rhyming, phonological sensitivity, phonemic awareness, and the role of ... Read More
How to improve literacy outcomes for secondary students – with Jeanne Schopf
RAR Podcast #250: How to improve literacy outcomes for secondary students - with Jeanne Schopf What happens when students reach middle or high school without strong reading skills? In this episode, Jeanne Schopf shares why it’s never too late to help struggling readers—and what schools can do to improve literacy outcomes for secondary students. Listen to the episode here Full episode ... Read More
What to do when students can’t write complete sentences – with Dr. Shawn Datchuk
RAR Podcast #249: What to do when students can't write complete sentences - with Dr. Shawn Datchuk If your students struggle to write complete sentences, this episode is for you. Dr. Shawn Datchuk breaks down why sentence writing is so challenging—and shares practical, research-based strategies you can use right away to help students write strong, clear sentences. Listen to the episode here Full ... Read More
The problem with the “just right text level” theory – and what to do instead – with Dr. Tim Shanahan
RAR Podcast #248: The problem with the "just right text level" theory - and what to do instead Is leveled reading helping, or is it holding students back? In this episode, Tim Shanahan joins us to unpack the history and research around grade-level text. You’ll gain a fresh perspective on how to better support all readers. Listen to the episode here Full episode transcript Learn more from ... Read More





