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Episode 230In this episode, we discuss this article and the vital role of difficult texts with three experts: Kristin Conradi-Smith, John Strong, and Steve Amendum. They explore how thoughtful scaffolding and motivation help students confidently tackle challenging materials, clarifying the difference between text complexity and text difficulty. Listeners will hear practical strategies for assessing student needs and differentiating instruction, ensuring every learner can thrive. We also discuss key literacy components including activating prior knowledge, the importance of decodable texts in early grades, and the power of read-alouds for K-1 students. Drawing from research, expert guests highlight ongoing developments in understanding text complexity and stress the need for strong professional learning opportunities to equip educators with effective tools. This conversation is packed with insights and actionable ideas for supporting diverse learners on their reading journeys.ResourcesSupporting Elementary Students' Reading of Difficult Texts Read, Stop, Write InterventionText Structures PDF Cheat SheetCheck out our guests' in this book, Handbook on the Science of Literacy in Grades 3-8 (John - Chapter 20; Kristin & Steve - Chapter 8) Kristin's Article - It's not just about skills: Adopting a motivation-informed approach to instruction with adolescents Listen to No More Strategy of the Week and read the article that inspired the podcast. We answer your questions about teaching reading in The Literacy 50-A Q&A Handbook for Teachers: Real-World Answers to Questions About Reading That Keep You Up at Night.Grab free resources and episode alerts! Sign up for our email list at literacypodcast.com.Join our community on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter.
In this eye-opening episode, I sit down with Dr. A. Jordan Wright, psychologist who brings both professional insight and lived experience to the conversation—having been diagnosed with ADHD in college. Together, we explore the often-overlooked stories of kids who manage to compensate for ADHD symptoms well into adolescence or adulthood, only to receive a diagnosis later in life.We also dive into why early educational settings are crucial for embedding executive functioning supports and how these skills can be proactively taught rather than reactively addressed. Our guest offers a compelling argument for why executive functioning should be considered the new social-emotional learning—essential, foundational, and deeply tied to lifelong success.We also spend a good portion of the episode discussing best practices for assessing executive functioning in a way that is robust and sensitive to diverse learning needs—moving to deeper understanding.Topics Covered:✅ Being diagnosed with ADHD in college and why high-performing kids with ADHD are often missed✅ The case for embedding executive functioning support into early education✅ Executive functioning as the new SEL: What educators need to know✅ Best practices for executive functioning assessment, including surveys, non-standardized methods, and optimal functioning measures. Dr. A. Jordan Wright is the Chief Clinical Officer at Parallel Learning and leading clinical psychologist who specializes in psychological assessment (including learning disabilities and ADHD) and therapy. Dr. Jordan received his Ph.D. from Columbia University. He is on faculty at New York University, where he leads the Clinical/Counseling Psychology PhD program, training doctoral students in psychological assessment and counseling, and he founded and runs the Center for Counseling and Community Wellbeing, the low-fee community mental health training clinic at NYU.Dr. Jordan has authored multiple widely-used books on psychological assessment, including Conducting Psychological Assessment: A Guide for Practitioners (2nd ed.; Wiley, 2020); Essentials of Psychological Tele-Assessment (with Susie Raiford; Wiley, 2021); Essentials of Psychological Assessment Supervision (Wiley, 2019); and, with Gary Groth-Marnat, the sixth edition of the Handbook of Psychological Assessment (Wiley, 2016), the most widely used text in graduate training on assessment. His most recent book is Essentials of Culture in Psychological Assessment (Wiley, 2024), which focuses on areas of diversity, culture, privilege, and oppression in how we evaluate and understand individuals.You can learn more about Parallel Learning's comprehensive services for providers on their website here: https://www.parallellearning.com/You can find Dr. Jordan's free White Papers from Parallel Learning on executive functioning assessment, self-care for clinicians, telehealth best practices, plus much more here: https://www.parallellearning.com/white-papersIf you're a clinician looking for new career opportunities, you can take a look at Parallel Learning's “Careers” page here: https://www.parallellearning.com/careersIn this episode, I mentioned “The School Leader's Guide to Executive Functioning Support”, a 7-day course to help school leaders launch their executive functioning implementation plan. You can learn more about the course here : https://drkarenspeech.lpages.co/school-leaders-guide-to-executive-functioning-support/ We're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments
In this powerful episode of Healthy Mind, Healthy Life, host Avik speaks with Russell Van Brocklen—educator, dyslexia advocate, and founder of DyslexiaClasses.com—about a radical new way to teach struggling readers. Forget rigid phonics drills. Russell introduces the "Speciality First Dyslexia Blueprint," a method rooted in a learner's deepest passion, using tools like comic books or even baseball stats to transform reading outcomes. The conversation blends neuroscience, personal story, and practical strategy to show how dyslexic learners can thrive academically and emotionally by starting where they shine. About the Guest:Russell Van Brocklen, also known as The Dyslexia Professor, is an author, educator, and the founder of DyslexiaClasses.com. A dyslexic learner himself, he built a system that takes students from failure to fluency—without relying on outdated approaches. His evidence-based method is now used to train educators and empower students across the U.S. Key Takeaways: Traditional reading interventions miss the mark for many dyslexic learners. Russell's “Speciality First” model starts with a learner's obsession to build motivation and engagement. Brain scans show dyslexics use different neural pathways; tapping into strengths leads to faster literacy gains. Specific-to-general thinking works better than general-to-specific for dyslexic minds. Real progress starts with personalized content, structured sentence building, and high-frequency repetition. AI should be introduced only after foundational skills are in place. Connect with Russell Van Brocklen:Visit: www.dyslexiaclasses.com Want to be a guest on Healthy Mind, Healthy Life?DM on PodMatch: DM Me HereExplore all 15 podcast shows: Podcast NetworkSubscribe to the Newsletter: Subscribe HereJoin Our Community: Join Now Stay Tuned And Follow Us!YouTube – @healthymind-healthylifeInstagram – @healthyminds.podThreads – @healthyminds.podFacebook – Podcast PageLinkedIn – Reema Chatterjee | Avik Chakraborty #podmatch #healthymind #healthymindbyavik #wellness
Every Monday, Jon Hansen is joined by a specialist from Mesirow to discuss a different topic surrounding finances. In this episode, Tiffany Irving, Senior Vice President and Wealth Advisor at Mesirow, joins Your Money Matters to talk about a mid-year financial check-in. Tiffany discusses budget changes, understanding where your money is going, and investing your money after […]
Isaac Reichman, Director of Corporate Communications at Choose Chicago, joins Jon Hansen to discuss the success of the U.S. Travel Association's IPW. Isaac discusses the event, which is the largest international inbound travel trade show in the country, attracting thousands of travel buyers and media to Chicago.
Well, we only just made it, but our June episode is here! We review episodes 13-16 of You & Idol PreCure, which ranges from a sports/romance episode to an episode about moms to a fairy dating episode, to a training episode. Though we cover a wide range of topics, we can all agree that Meroron is bald and our least favorite character. Uta continues to shine, however. Also there seems to be a new PreCure on the way. No, wait, 2 PreCures? Perry The PreCure Platypus?!? 3:02 What've we been enjoying? 3:12 Secret of the Mimic 3:36 Power Scaling and Literacy 4:49 Apothecary Diaries 6:26 Succinct Summaries 7:30 Main Discussion 30:23 Predictions
Managing Director of Innovation DuPage Dan Facchini joins Jon Hansen on Your Money Matters to discuss how their programs are helping businesses and organizations grow. Joining them today are Arden Warner and John Nelson, Co-Founders of Natural Science LLC. Arden and John talk about how they have developed a technology to help clean up oil spills. If you're […]
It was a deep privilege to engage in a hearty conversation with Trina and Doug about their Chapter, Language is Literacy and Literacy is Language. Trina and Doug generously discuss the following:- A pivotal moment that connected Trina and Doug- The importance of oral language language skills from the onset of school and for life- The complementary skill sets they both had morphed into their long term work with a focus on researching oral language, development of assessment tools (CUBED 3, DYMOND Diagnostic Assessment, etc) for oral language, creating interventions such as Story Champs to teach students via personal stories, ongoing research in the area of oral language and its role in literacy- Students' capacity to understand language from a young age- How this crucial piece of the puzzle is so often overlooked in school-aged population- The power of stories and its ability to connect humansTrina can be contacted on:Instagram = @trinastoolboxBluesky = @trinastoolboxFacebook = Trina Spencer Email = trainingswebinars@languagedynamicsgroup.comDoug can be contacted on:Facebook = @dougpetersonhttps://languagedynamicsgroup.com/ - their assessments and interventions are available on this website. CUBED 3 is free to download. This conversation will be available on @humanchapters YouTube channel and Podcast. Please share it with others.
On Friday's show: Thousands are expected to gather in downtown Saturday for the annual Houston Pride parade and festival. However, representatives of Pride Houston 365, the nonprofit organization that has held the event for nearly 50 years, says they've lost about 20 sponsors this year accounting for more than $180,000 in funding because diversity, equity, and inclusion policies have been banned at both the state and federal level, and the LGBTQ+ community has come under attack by political conservatives.Also this hour: Recent standardized testing shows efforts to emphasize STEM-related learning is paying off, but is it at the expense of other subjects for which those same students seem to lag? We discuss the push and pull between STEM and literacy.Then, from a spot on Pasadena's City Council being decided by a coin toss, to Texas is developing its own test to license psychologists, we hammer out The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.And we meet the cast and crew of Ensemble Theatre's production of Tap Dance Kid, a musical about a 10-year-old child who dreams of becoming a tap dancer on Broadway.
On this West Virginia Morning, a multi-year group at the Roanoke Public Library uses tabletop roleplaying games to promote literacy, and our Song of the Week. The post Literacy Via Dungeons & Dragons And Our Song Of The Week, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
6/27/25: Atty Maria Freese: threats to Social Security & the solution. Adam Hinds, CEO of the Kennedy Center for the U.S. Senate: saved by the parliamentarian? Rep Mindy Domb: a new, improved & more transparent legislature? Laurie Sanders & W'hmptn Library Dir Meaghan Schwelm: Lounging for Literacy. –really! Donnabelle Casis w/ Dean Brown of PULP Holyoke: fabulous new exhibit of Marcy Hermansader.
6/27/25: Atty Maria Freese: threats to Social Security & the solution. Adam Hinds, CEO of the Kennedy Center for the U.S. Senate: saved by the parliamentarian? Rep Mindy Domb: a new, improved & more transparent legislature? Laurie Sanders & W'hmptn Library Dir Meaghan Schwelm: Lounging for Literacy. –really! Donnabelle Casis w/ Dean Brown of PULP Holyoke: fabulous new exhibit of Marcy Hermansader.
6/27/25: Atty Maria Freese: threats to Social Security & the solution. Adam Hinds, CEO of the Kennedy Center for the U.S. Senate: saved by the parliamentarian? Rep Mindy Domb: a new, improved & more transparent legislature? Laurie Sanders & W'hmptn Library Dir Meaghan Schwelm: Lounging for Literacy. –really! Donnabelle Casis w/ Dean Brown of PULP Holyoke: fabulous new exhibit of Marcy Hermansader.
6/27/25: Atty Maria Freese: threats to Social Security & the solution. Adam Hinds, CEO of the Kennedy Center for the U.S. Senate: saved by the parliamentarian? Rep Mindy Domb: a new, improved & more transparent legislature? Laurie Sanders & W'hmptn Library Dir Meaghan Schwelm: Lounging for Literacy. –really! Donnabelle Casis w/ Dean Brown of PULP Holyoke: fabulous new exhibit of Marcy Hermansader.
6/27/25: Atty Maria Freese: threats to Social Security & the solution. Adam Hinds, CEO of the Kennedy Center for the U.S. Senate: saved by the parliamentarian? Rep Mindy Domb: a new, improved & more transparent legislature? Laurie Sanders & W'hmptn Library Dir Meaghan Schwelm: Lounging for Literacy. –really! Donnabelle Casis w/ Dean Brown of PULP Holyoke: fabulous new exhibit of Marcy Hermansader.
Check it out before you throw it out with Americash! Brian Hoogeveen, The Cash Man from Americash Jewelry & Coin Buyers, joins Jon Hansen to talk about items that could be worth money. Brian talks about watches, baseball cards, and chats with a listener about her experience there. If you think you have items you'd like to have […]
6/27/25: Atty Maria Freese: threats to Social Security & the solution. Adam Hinds, CEO of the Kennedy Center for the U.S. Senate: saved by the parliamentarian? Rep Mindy Domb: a new, improved & more transparent legislature? Laurie Sanders & W'hmptn Library Dir Meaghan Schwelm: Lounging for Literacy. –really! Donnabelle Casis w/ Dean Brown of PULP Holyoke: fabulous new exhibit of Marcy Hermansader.
The ‘Sausage Queen of Chicago, ' Nicole Makowski of Makowski’s Real Sausage Company, joins Jon Hansen for this month’s Your Hometown. Nicole shares the story of the company, discusses their move to a Lansing location, and recounts her journey in the business. For more information, visit www.realsausage.com
The Dean's List with Host Dean Bowen – The literacy crisis in America is more than students not being able to read. We are graduating students who are functionally illiterate, meaning they can read but they do not understand what they are reading. The system has destroyed itself by focusing on preserving students' self-esteem rather than holding them accountable to high standards of excellence...
In this thought-provoking episode, Bob Hutchins explores a radical possibility: that we may be witnessing the beginning of the end of humanity's 500-year relationship with the written word. Drawing from media theorists Walter Ong and Harold Innis, Bob examines how generative AI might fundamentally transform not just how we communicate, but how we think and connect as human beings. Since Gutenberg's printing press, we've been compressing the entirety of human experience into alphabetic symbols—a constraint that has both liberated and limited us. While we've become virtuosos of written expression, creating symphonies of meaning from simple letters and punctuation, we've also lost touch with the immediacy and embodied richness of oral culture. Bob argues that AI could serve as more than just a writing assistant—it might become the bridge technology that frees us from the cognitive overhead of translating experience into symbols, allowing us to rediscover richer, more authentic forms of human communication. Key Topics Explored The Gutenberg Legacy How the printing press fundamentally altered human consciousness The trade-offs between abstract thinking and embodied presence Walter Ong's insights on orality versus literacy Media Ecology and Communication Bias Harold Innis's theory of communication bias How different media favor durability versus immediacy The space-biased nature of written civilization The Translation Problem The cognitive burden of converting lived experience into symbols Why meaningful moments often "die in translation" The gap between what we experience and what we can express AI as Liberation Technology How AI might reduce the overhead of symbolic communication The possibility of universal translation between experience and expression Moving beyond AI as writing assistant to AI as cognitive scaffolding Post-Literate Communication Immersive storytelling and embodied performance Collaborative creation and real-time narrative improvisation Visual, spatial, and archetypal forms of expression The return to mythic and symbolic meaning-making The Promise and the Peril Democratizing eloquence for those who struggle to articulate rich inner lives The risk of losing essential cognitive muscles developed through writing Questions of authenticity in AI-mediated communication What happens when written language becomes optional? Two Possible Futures AI as bridge to richer human communication AI as communicative prosthetic leading to human atrophy The importance of conscious navigation during this transition Key Insights "Even at their most transcendent, words remain what they've always been—ghosts of experience, shadows cast by the real thing." "The deepest insights seem to emerge in conversation rather than through explanation, in the spaces where we're figuring something out together rather than delivering prepared thoughts." "How we communicate shapes who we become. If we want AI to help us recover more embodied, authentic forms of expression, we need to be clear about what values we're optimizing for." Questions for Reflection Are we trying to become more efficient communicators or more fully human ones? What would it mean to communicate primarily through embodied presence again? How do we maintain authentic connection when our communications increasingly flow through AI mediators? What practices keep us grounded in embodied experience as AI handles more symbolic communication? About The Human Voice The Human Voice explores the intersection of technology, human flourishing, and authentic communication. Host Bob Hutchins brings together insights from media ecology, contemplative spirituality, and organizational psychology to examine how we can navigate technological change while preserving what makes us most human. Connect with Bob Website: http://www.humanvoicemedia.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobhutchins/ Resources Mentioned Orality and Literacy by Walter Ong The Bias of Communication by Harold Innis Understanding Media by Marshall McLuhan The Gutenberg Galaxy by Marshall McLuhan
Angela Cummings is the Executive Director at the Illinois Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. She joins Jon Hansen on Your Money Matters to share that construction workers are more likely to die by suicide than by worksite incidents. She and Jon discuss the importance of mental health and their upcoming Hike for […]
In this episode, I interview Connie, a student from the Language Therapy Advance Foundations program. She shares her practical experiences and results achieved with her students. Key highlights include:✅ Engaging a Disengaged Student: Connie discusses her strategies for working with a high school student who was bored with therapy, emphasizing the use of engaging books to enhance vocabulary learning.✅ Time Efficiency: Learn how Connie cut her preparation time in half by implementing the frameworks taught in our program, allowing for more focused and effective sessions.✅ Achieving Generalization: Connie reports significant progress in several of her students who had previously plateaued, particularly in their ability to generalize syntax skills.This episode offers actionable insights for language therapists looking to improve engagement and outcomes in their practice.Ready to elevate your language therapy skills? Join Language Therapy Advance Foundations and start transforming your therapy approach today. Learn more about Language Therapy Advance Foundations here: https://drkarenspeech.com/languagetherapy/ We're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments
In this episode of Walk Talk Listen, Maurice Bloem is joined by Dr. William “Chip” Gruen, Professor of Religion Studies and Director of the Institute for Religious and Cultural Understanding at Muhlenberg College. With a PhD in Religious Studies from the University of Pennsylvania and a scholarly background in early Christianity, Chip's passion has evolved toward enhancing religious literacy and fostering deeper public discourse on religion. He shares how his academic roots influence his current public-facing work, including the ReligionWise podcast and educational programs designed to help people speak about religion with more nuance and understanding. Chip reflects on how ancient narratives still inform modern identity, how religion continues to shape public life, and why better dialogue matters in divided times. With humor and depth, he speaks about the role of curiosity in confronting complexity, and how the Institute's work invites both students and the wider public to engage religion not as dogma, but as cultural expression. He also shares insights on inner growth, music, kindness, and the power of simply listening well. Listener Engagement Discover more about Chip's work at religionandculture.com. Follow the Institute for Religious and Cultural Understanding on Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Share your thoughts on this episode via walktalklisten. Your feedback is invaluable to us. Please do explore the songs selected by Chip and previous guests on our #walktalklisten playlist here. Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast and Maurice by liking and following Maurice on Blue Sky, Facebook and Instagram. Visit our website at 100mile.org for more episodes and information about our initiatives. Check out the special WTL series "Enough for All," featuring Church World Service (CWS) and the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).
Tim Stearns, owner and president of TJ Stearns Financial Planning & Benefits, joins Jon Hansen to discuss how wars affect stocks and the markets. For more information on how Tim can help you plan your future, call 800-640-2256 or visit tjstearns.com.
Sean O’Kane, Senior Reporter of Transportation at TechCrunch, joins Jon Hasen to discuss how the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is questioning Ford and its hands-free BlueCruise technology.
It’s being called a literacy epidemic. Only about one third of 4th graders in Pennsylvania are proficient in reading. That’s according to the latest federal numbers. Advocates are calling on state lawmakers to improve training for teachers and to support early literacy screening and intervention. Community college students can have a difficult time transferring to a 4-year school. But state-owned and related universities in Pennsylvania are adopting practices to help those students enroll and graduate. Pennsylvania Congressman Chris Deluzio is proposing legislation that would prohibit anyone convicted of corruption or financial crimes from working in the White House or a federal agency. It's part of a broader anti-corruption package Deluzio has been pursuing in recent months. It’s being called the "No Corporate Crooks" bill. Central PA is in the grips of a heat wave. The National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat warning for the entire Central Pennsylvania region, through Wednesday night. For the first time this year, Pennsylvania's drought conditions appear to be reversed. Drought warnings have been removed from the entire state except for a very small portion of southern York and Lancaster Counties. Both U.S. senators from Pennsylvania are praising President Donald Trump’s decision to bomb nuclear facilities in Iran over the weekend. While many Democrats were stunned by the reported attack, U.S. Sen. John Fetterman was among the first to applaud Trump for the attack on the three Iranian facilities. The state's top fiscal watchdog - Pennsylvania Auditor General Tim DeFoor - is investigating Pennsylvania's Department of Aging. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We interviewed Lyndsey Getty, speaker, author, and founder of the Thoughtful Method Company, about her dedication to 'thought literacy'. Lyndsey discusses the significance of understanding and managing thoughts, its impact on emotional intelligence, and how it transformed her life. She highlights the need to make psychological concepts accessible to improve self-awareness and mental health. Additionally, Lyndsey shares insights on her books and the practical applications of thought literacy in both personal and professional contexts. 00:12 The Importance of Thought Literacy01:10 Personal Journey with Therapy02:38 Impact of Thought Awareness03:46 Professional Applications of Thought Literacy05:10 Books and Methods for Thought Processing05:55 ChatGPT and Thought Processing08:20 Matter Speed RoundMore from Lyndsey:https://thoughtmethod.com/Solvecast is now Matters.com Same mission, new name. We're here to help people understand what matters and view the world through that lens. The new site launches later this year — thank you to everyone who's been part of the journey. Stay in the loop Join thousands getting the Matters.com newsletter — world news, fresh perspectives, and early beta access.
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Michael Maienza, partner at Vogelzang Law, joined Jon Hansen on Your Money Matters to discuss the possible reconsideration of the ban on use of a type of asbestos in the United States. For more information, visit vogelzanglaw.com.
Kaitlyn Wang, video journalist at The Wall Street Journal joins Jon Hansen on Your Money Matters to talk about the journey of Pop Mart and their overnight sensation: The Labubu doll.
Amanda Hoover, Senior Correspondent at Business Insider, joins Jon Hansen to discuss how men are leaving their jobs to help their wives. Amanda discusses how more than 80% of sellers on Etsy are women and how they are excelling with their shops.
Welcome to Chat GPT, the only podcast where artificial intelligence takes the mic to explore the fascinating, fast-changing world of AI itself. From ethical dilemmas to mind-bending thought experiments, every episode is written and narrated by AI to help you decode the technology shaping our future. Whether you're a curious beginner or a seasoned techie, this is your front-row seat to the rise of intelligent machines—told from their perspective. Tune in for smart stories, surprising insights, and a glimpse into the future of thinking itself. Listen Ad Free https://www.solgoodmedia.com - Listen to hundreds of audiobooks, thousands of short stories, and ambient sounds all ad free!
In this powerful episode of Just Conversations: A Common Sense Way Forward, we sit down with Dr. Alison Parker, Ph.D. — author, literacy advocate, educator, entrepreneur, and founder of Purposeful Learning Academy. Dr. Parker shares her inspiring journey from being a single mother and 4th-grade teacher to building a literacy movement for families across the country. She's here to tell moms—especially Black mothers—that “YOU are the missing link” when it comes to helping your child become a strong reader. We dive deep into: ✅ How to close the reading achievement gap at home ✅ The impact of dyslexia and learning differences on children ✅ Why teachers should build side businesses & invest in real estate ✅ The importance of early intervention in literacy ✅ Dr. Parker's book “Mom Is the Missing Link” ✅ How to be a Syllable Division Queen and build generational wealth
Send us a textEric Swanson currently holds the position of Senior Vice President of Practice and Instructional Products at Renaissance Learning. In this capacity, he works with educators, technologists, and researchers to build best-in-class practice products and experiences that improve academic outcomes for students and educators. Working with the Renaissance Next, myON, Accelerated Reader, Lalilo, and Freckle teams, as well as our Math and Literacy product portfolios and new product ventures, Eric ensures the practice and instruction product strategy, roadmaps, and Go- to-Market activities fit within Renaissance and with our customers' needs.Storey Sitwala is Senior Director of Product Management at Renaissance. Throughout her career, she has focused on the challenge of how to scale insight-driven best practices for educators. She has spearheaded and developed innovative solutions across education nonprofits, school systems, and within the education technology sector, leveraging her expertise in information science, data visualization, psychology, and user experience design.
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
Every week, a specialist from Mesirow Wealth Management joins Jon Hansen to discuss a different financial topic. This week, Gary Pattengale, Advanced Planning Specialist and Wealth Advisor at Mesirow, joins Jon to discuss the benefits of an HSA, from triple tax advantages to time limitations and more. For more information, visit www.mesirow.com or call 877 […]
Are you looking for a fun way to help your kid improve their reading? Try out “Mary's Little Lamb - A Picture Guessing Story for Little Children” by Edith Francis Foster—out now on Amazon through Sealy Gill International Ltd! Visit https://dejescadiaries.com/blogs/news/announcement-marys-little-lamb-a-picture-guessing-story-for-children for more. Sealy Gill International Ltd City: Norwich Address: 115 Elvington Website: https://www.dejescadiaries.com Email: info@dejescadiaries.com
In this episode, I'm joined by Jocelyn Seamer—educational consultant, author, and leading voice in structured literacy—to unpack what effective literacy instruction really looks like in the upper primary years. We dive into how to move beyond levelled texts and strategy-heavy comprehension lessons, and instead build a literacy block grounded in rich texts, explicit instruction, and purposeful writing. Jocelyn shares practical advice on everything from planning with backward design, to teaching spelling through morphology, to managing cognitive load with the “stretchy band” analogy. Whether you're trying to make sense of guided reading, support struggling readers, or link reading and writing more effectively, this episode is packed with clarity and actionable ideas. Key topics include: Replacing levelled texts with rich, age-appropriate reading Designing integrated, text-based units that link reading and writing Explicit vocabulary and background knowledge instruction The role of syntax, spelling, and morphology in building strong writers Responsive teaching and avoiding the “dress rehearsal” trap in assessments A must-listen for any Year 3–6 teacher ready to teach literacy with more clarity, purpose, and impact. Resources mentioned: Reading Reconsidered – Doug Lemov Five Plagues of the Developing Reader – from Reading Reconsidered The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – C.S. Lewis Velveteen Rabbit – Margery Williams Rose Meets Mr. Wintergarten – Bob Graham The Lost Thing – Shaun Tan Bringing Words to Life – Beck, McKeown & Kucan Questioning the Author – Beck, McKeown & Sandora DIBELS and Acadience – normed reading screeners Motif – free assessments Kenn Apel's morphology assessments Jared Cooney Horvath You can connect with Jocelyn: Linkedin Facebook: @JocelynSeamerEducation Youtube: @JocelynSeamerEducation Podcast: The Structured Literacy Podcast Website: www.jocelynseamereducation.com/ You can connect with Brendan: Twitter: @learnwithmrlee Facebook: @learningwithmrlee Website: learnwithlee.net Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast: https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast About Jocelyn Seamer is a former teacher, tutor and school leader who has experienced, first-hand, the transformative power of evidence-based practice in literacy instruction. She has led teams to grow and develop school policy and practice to reflect the vast body of evidence that makes up the Science of Reading. Through her own classroom practice and leadership roles in schools, Jocelyn has developed a strong understanding of how you can take simple, yet effective action to get every child on the road to literacy proficiency in the first years of school. Jocelyn feels a very personal responsibility to provide opportunities for classroom teachers to have access to the information and training they need to change children's lives and looks forward to helping you achieve great things in your teaching practice. Read more on Jocelyn Seamer Education.
In this episode, Wessie du Toit joins Rusty Reno on The Editor's Desk to talk about his recent essay, "The Future of Reading" from the June/July 2025 issue of the magazine. Subscribe at www.firstthings.com/subscribe in order to access this and many other great pieces!
In this episode, Wessie du Toit joins Rusty Reno on The Editor's Desk to talk about his recent essay, “The Future of Reading” from the June/July 2025 issue of the magazine. Subscribe at www.firstthings.com/subscribe in order to access this and many other great pieces!
Episode 229In this episode, Katie Pace Miles and Molly Ness define and explain orthographic mapping as a crucial cognitive process for reading fluency and comprehension. They discuss the importance of mapping words in long-term memory, the difference between memorization and mapping, and the trifecta of phonology, orthography, and meaning that supports effective word learning. They share a four-step protocol from their new book, Making Words, Stick, for supporting orthographic mapping. They provide insights into effective teaching strategies and resources available for educators.ResourcesMaking Words Stick - Molly & Katie's book! Making Words Stick One Pager - Preview the Big Ideas in the book! Katie's Non-Profit - Readinginstitutenyc.orgRosenthal & Ehri 2008 Study The Science of Learning to Read Words - Ehri Grapheme-Phoneme Knowledge - Ehri Laura Steacy's research We answer your questions about teaching reading in The Literacy 50-A Q&A Handbook for Teachers: Real-World Answers to Questions About Reading That Keep You Up at Night.Grab free resources and episode alerts! Sign up for our email list at literacypodcast.com.Join our community on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter.
The American Education System(s) are facing a crisis that too few within these systems are wanting to name or face. It is a Literacy crisis. As educators of any subject, this is a call to action. In this enlightening conversation, Kareem J Weaver discusses the critical importance of literacy in education, emphasizing its role in … Continue reading "Episode 252: Literacy is Agency with Kareem Weaver"
Today I wanted to celebrate Libraries and Librarians since they have taken a large hit in this political climate. They are a treasure to our communities, which is why so many books feature libraries and librarians. To do this, I welcomed back Jocelyn Codner and Jenny Adams, whom you all may remember from my Literacy episode last Fall. For the first 20 minutes, we discuss the state of libraries and celebrate a few victories, as well as share ways you can support your libraries. The rest of the episode is dedicated to book recommendations that feature libraries across genres. I'll list these in my show notes with links to my Bookshop if you want to support my show as well as independent bookstores nationwide. Show notes available at https://www.sheworeblackpodcast.com/
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In this episode of The Tom Dupree Show, financial advisor and host Tom Dupree delivers incisive political commentary while weaving in essential financial wisdom for investors. Broadcasting from Dupree Financial […] The post Political Commentary and Financial Insights: Federal Holidays, Historical Literacy, and Investment Strategy appeared first on Dupree Financial.
In this episode of Statehouse Spotlights, host Ashley Mullins sits down with Pennsylvania State Representative Jason Ortitay to chat about early literacy reforms and explore the bipartisan push behind Act 135 of 2024—a landmark literacy reform law that's reshaping reading instruction across the state. Ortitay shares what first motivated him to act, from personal experiences to troubling literacy statistics and walks listeners through the key components of the new law, including early screening, educator training, curriculum alignment and the creation of a statewide literacy council. Throughout the conversation, Ortitay emphasizes the importance of grounding instruction in the science of reading and draws inspiration from other states—like Mississippi—that have seen real gains through similar reforms. He also speaks candidly about the challenges of balancing local control with statewide standards and highlights how thoughtful implementation, strong partnerships and sustained investment are essential for success. Tune in to get an inside look at how Pennsylvania is laying the foundation for every child to become a confident reader. Remember to join the conversation on social media. ExcelinEd in Action (@ExcelinAction) / X (twitter.com) ExcelinEd in Action (@excelinedinaction) • Instagram ExcelinEd in Action on Facebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
MDJ Script/ Top Stories for June 18th Publish Date: June 18th Commercial: From the BG Ad Group Studio, Welcome to the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast. Today is Wednesday, June 18th and Happy Birthday to Paul McCartney. I’m Keith Ippolito and here are the stories Cobb is talking about, presented by Times Journal Marietta Approves Data Center on Bells Ferry Cobb County Protesters Flood the Streets for 'No Kings' Protests 6-Year-Old Injured in Smyrna Vehicle Shootout; Two Men Arrested All of this and more is coming up on the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast, and if you are looking for community news, we encourage you to listen and subscribe! BREAK: TIDWELL TREES_FINAL STORY 1: Marietta Approves Data Center on Bells Ferry The Marietta City Council approved a data center on Bells Ferry Road, sparking mixed reactions. Atlanta-based MMM Acquisitions plans a $100M campus with two buildings and a substation. Attorney Kevin Moore emphasized its role in supporting AI and digital services, generating $71.5M in tax revenue over 10 years. Critics, including residents and protesters, raised concerns about energy use, environmental impacts, and limited job creation. Moore countered that advanced cooling systems would minimize water consumption and disruptions. Supporters, like Mayor Steve Tumlin, hailed the project as a win for Marietta's growth. The 31-acre site will include buffers to shield nearby neighborhoods. STORY 2: Cobb County Protesters Flood the Streets for 'No Kings' Protests Marietta saw hundreds protest as part of the nationwide "No Kings" movement opposing President Donald Trump. Organized to coincide with Trump’s birthday and military parade in D.C., protests in east Cobb and downtown Marietta attracted diverse participants advocating for issues like LGBTQ+ rights, immigration, and equity. Protesters carried handmade signs and received honks of support from passing cars, though negative comments also arose. Demonstrations at the Cobb Courthouse and Johnson Ferry remained peaceful, with no arrests reported. Participants, including educators and families, criticized Trump's policies, calling for justice and empathy while rejecting the idea of centralized power. STORY 3: 6-Year-Old Injured in Smyrna Vehicle Shootout; Two Men Arrested A six-year-old was injured in a Smyrna shootout between two vehicles near Campbell and Springs roads Sunday afternoon. Police say the child was in one of the vehicles and was struck in the stomach. The child was rushed to a local hospital, though their condition remains undisclosed. Authorities identified and charged suspects Craig Radford Calhoun, 56, of Douglasville, and Eric Allen Rushi Jr., 30, of Atlanta. Both face multiple charges, including aggravated assault, cruelty to a child, and firearm possession during a crime. The suspects are held without bond at Cobb County Jail as the investigation continu We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.799.6810 for more info. We’ll be right back. Break: TOP TECH_FINAL STORY 4: Safety, Literacy and Cell Phones: Rivera Reflects on Marietta School Year Marietta Superintendent Grant Rivera reflected on the 2024-25 school year, celebrating literacy advancements, safety upgrades, and student success. About 586 students graduated at Northcutt Stadium, a proud moment for Rivera. The district expanded its Literacy and Justice for All initiative into middle grades, backed by a $1.1M grant, aiming to improve reading skills at all levels. Controversy centered on cellphone policies, with debates leading to a new high school pilot limiting device use in class. Security was bolstered with detectors and AI surveillance. Despite budget constraints, Marietta maintained programs and approved raises, reinforcing its commitment to students and staff. STORY 5: Leashing Dogs at Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area welcomes dogs on its trails but stresses a key rule: dogs must always be on a six-foot leash. With over three million annual visitors, leashes ensure safety for pets, people, and the environment. Past incidents with unleashed dogs have led to plant damage, injuries, and confrontations, highlighting the importance of this rule. Leashing also protects dogs from dangers like snakes, coyotes, and unsafe water. To promote responsible pet ownership, CRNRA offers the B.A.R.K. Ranger program, teaching leash etiquette and trail safety. Participants can earn certificates and make their dogs official B.A.R.K. Rangers. Break: INGLES 5 STORY 6: Drug trafficking investigation nets 11 arrests Law enforcement in Middle Georgia recently concluded Operation "Westside Wakeup," targeting gang-related crimes. The Bibb County Sheriff's Office, assisted by Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr's Gang Prosecution Unit, arrested 11 individuals on charges tied to drugs, guns, and violence. Authorities seized 17 pounds of marijuana, cocaine, Ecstasy, fentanyl, firearms, and $110,000 in cash, highlighting the connection between illicit drug operations and organized crime. Sheriff David J. Davis stressed the need to combat such activities, while AG Chris Carr vowed accountability for violent offenders. Federal agencies, including the FBI and DEA, played key roles in the investigation's success. STORY 7: Georgia Power completes hydrogen fuel test Georgia Power and Mitsubishi Power completed a groundbreaking test using a 50% hydrogen and natural gas blend at Plant McDonough-Atkinson in Smyrna, cutting carbon emissions by 22%. This world-first trial follows a 2022 test with a 20% blend. Natural gas, accounting for 40% of Georgia Power’s energy, remains crucial for flexibility and baseload power. The company’s 2025 Integrated Resource Plan proposes hydrogen-capable turbines at Plant Yates to further reduce emissions. While this innovation marks progress, environmental groups remain critical of Georgia Power’s reliance on natural gas and coal. The plan awaits a PSC vote on July 15. We’ll have closing comments after this. Break: TOP TECH_FINAL Signoff- Thanks again for hanging out with us on today’s Marietta Daily Journal Podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, or the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties. Read more about all our stories and get other great content at www.mdjonline.com Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Giving you important news about our community and telling great stories are what we do. Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 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Many clinicians, educators, and school leaders know they should be working collaboratively, but don't know how to find time to do it. If you have a friend or colleague who seems to have magical productivity powers, I promise there's a method to the madness. Most likely, they've just gotten really good at a concept I call “asset stacking”. It starts with asking yourself the question, “What can I create now that can save me time or effort later?” In this third episode in the 3-part clinical leadership, I share how the concept of “asset stacking” can be used by both current and aspiring clinical and educational leaders to make an impact on the systems they're working in. Key Points:✅ Creating a long-term strategic vision for your professional growth✅ The concept of asset stacking and how to use it to impact systems✅ Multiple service delivery models that position you as a leader✅ Developing a master plan that aligns your expertise with system needsTakeaways:✅ Asset stacking compounds your influence over time✅ Your unique combination of skills creates distinctive value✅ Service delivery innovation positions you as a thought leaderAction Step: Begin your leadership master plan by identifying your unique "stack" of professional assets and one system-level challenge they could address.In this episode, I mentioned “The School Leader's Guide to Executive Functioning Support”, a 7-day course to help school leaders launch their executive functioning implementation plan. You can learn more about the course here: https://drkarenspeech.lpages.co/school-leaders-guide-to-executive-functioning-support/ We're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments
Join us for this episode of the IASP Leadership podcast. A weekly podcast production containing short, sweet, nuggets of Wednesday wisdom for our leadership growth. In this episode, we hear from our Assistant Principal Liaison and Associate Principal at Chesterton HS, Mrs. Kristen Peterson, and Mr. Josh Burkett, Elementary Assistant Principal at Wes-Del Community Schools. They join us for the “Through the Assistant Principal Lens” series. I'm your host, Dr. Tiffany Barrett, and today Josh will share the Wes-Del journey through developing innovative strategies to improve literacy and integrate reflective practices during their school.
Dr. Luke Woods was the Keynote speaker at the Givens Foundation's annual conference conference, Dr. Luke Wood returned to his alma mater, Sacramento State to become its ninth president on July 16th, 2023. A nationally renowned scholar on racial equity with a specific focus on early childhood education and community colleges. Dr. Wood has authored or co-authored 16 books and published nearly 200 articles, focusing on racial inequity in education. Dr. Woods' bold vision for the university includes 23 strategic action items, including the creation of the Nation's First Black Honors College, which welcomed its inaugural class of scholars in the fall of 2024. President Wood holds a bachelor's degree in Black history and Politics and a Master's degree in higher education leadership from Sacramento State and a master of Education in Early Childhood Education, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies with a higher education concentration from Arizona State University. “From Resistance to Resilience: The Evolution of African American Reading,” was an extraordinary opportunity to champion literacy, cultural equity, and social justice. Held on June 3, 2025, this event was made possible through the generous support of the Minnesota Humanities Center.