The Reading Symphony

The Reading Symphony

by Katie Megrian
Parenting

Why Literacy Instruction Must Be Explicit and Coherent | Dr. Jen O’Sullivan

In this episode of The Reading Symphony Podcast... Katie talks with Dr. Jen O’Sullivan, education researcher and lecturer, about what effective reading instruction looks like beyond phonics - and why strong literacy teaching needs to connect the different skills involved in learning to read. About Dr. Jen O’Sullivan Dr. Jen O’Sullivan is an education researcher and lecturer specializing in literacy education. A former primary school teacher, her work focuses on early reading development, early intervention for reading difficulties, teacher professional learning, and the role of children’s literature in literacy instruction. Dr. O’Sullivan’s Links Read Write Jen: readwritejen.com Read Aloud with Intent by Dr. Jen O’Sullivan and Dr. Clara Fiorentini: Read Aloud with Intent The Power of Playful Language: Read Dr. O’Sullivan’s article Picture Book Vocabulary Finder: Vocabulary Finder International Reading Achievement Results (PISA): PISA 2025 Results Chapters 00:00 – The Science of Reading vs. the Science of Teaching Reading 00:55 – Meet Dr. Jen O’Sullivan 02:16 – From Classroom Teacher to Literacy Researcher 04:18 – Bridging the Gap Between Reading Research and Practice 05:26 – What Effective Teacher Training Looks Like 07:05 – Why Teachers Need Ongoing Professional Development 09:43 – Connecting the Pieces of Literacy Instruction 11:03 – Why Reading Skills Shouldn’t Be Taught in Isolation 12:22 – Reading Is Like an Orchestra 14:43 – Why Phonics Is Fundamental — But Not Enough 16:27 – Vocabulary and Background Knowledge Matter Too 18:21 – How Background Knowledge Supports Reading 20:03 – Why Reading Multiple Books on One Topic Helps 20:34 – Why Vocabulary Is So Important for Comprehension 22:30 – Why Dictionary Definitions Aren’t Enough 25:04 – Playful Ways to Build Vocabulary at Home 28:11 – What Jokes Teach Children About Language 29:43 – The Picture Book Vocabulary Finder 33:03 – How Picture Books Build Sophisticated Language 35:27 – Using Books to Develop Vocabulary 39:32 – How Parents Can Evaluate Reading Instruction 42:04 – What to Do If Your Child Is Struggling 42:38 – Nursery Rhymes and Building Early Literacy 43:20 – Let Your Children See You Read and Write 44:05 – Why Reading Aloud Is So Powerful 44:37 – Read Aloud with Intent 45:21 – Making Read-Alouds More Engaging 48:19 – The INTENT Framework 50:28 – Should Parents Worry About Graphic Novels? 51:10 – Reading Achievement and Reading for Pleasure 55:13 – Where to Find Dr. Jen O’Sullivan #ScienceOfReading #ReadingInstruction #Phonics #ReadingComprehension #Vocabulary #Literacy #ReadingAloud
E28
Sep 30, 2026
57:00

Crafting Reading Minds | Dr. Melissa Orkin

Katie talks with Dr. Melissa Orkin, educator and developmental psychologist, about dyslexia, structured literacy, reading fluency, and why the emotional side of learning matters. Melissa explains how motivation, confidence, and a child’s willingness to make mistakes can affect reading development. They discuss intrinsic motivation, the RAVE-O approach, the Science of Reading, and practical ways parents and teachers can support struggling readers. They also explore dyslexia screening, effective reading intervention, and how progress monitoring can help families understand whether instruction is actually working. About Dr. Melissa Orkin Dr. Melissa Orkin is an educator and developmental psychologist specializing in literacy achievement. She is Director of Crafting Minds Group, has taught at Tufts University and Harvard University, and is co-author of The Structured Literacy Playbook. Dr. Orkin's Links RAVE-O Curriculum: https://www.craftingmindsgroup.com/site/rave-o Crafting Minds Group: https://www.craftingmindsgroup.com/ Beyond Gold Stars: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nke-VZYlAssz1mVUyoDC77_hdEySfkeo/view?usp=sharing LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-orkin-ph-d-1876311/ The Structured Literacy Playbook: https://www.amazon.com/Structured-Literacy-Playbook-Preplanned-Playbooks/dp/0593970942 Chapters 00:00 – Dyslexia, Motivation and the Emotional Side of Reading 00:52 – Meet Dr. Melissa Orkin 01:41 – From Structured Literacy to Dyslexia Research 03:50 – Why Schools Were Afraid to Say Dyslexia 05:27 – Reading Fluency, Motivation and Student Confidence 11:12 – Rewards vs. Intrinsic Motivation 14:40 – Teaching Children That Mistakes Are Part of Learning 18:16 – Why Learning Is Emotional and Social 18:44 – Why Are Schools Afraid to Say Dyslexia? 21:11 – How the Reading Brain Learns to Read 22:39 – Phonology, Orthography and Structured Literacy 23:44 – Building Vocabulary and Word Knowledge 25:57 – Syntax and Reading Comprehension 29:44 – How RAVE-O Reading Intervention Works 35:34 – RAVE-O for Struggling Readers 39:08 – Gaps in the Science of Reading 39:52 – Why Progress Monitoring Matters 46:10 – Hope for the Future of Reading Instruction 48:41 – Advice for Parents of Struggling Readers #Dyslexia #StructuredLiteracy #ScienceOfReading #ReadingInstruction #ReadingFluency
E27
Sep 23, 2026
50:03

Why Writing Instruction Is Essential | Dr. Stephen Ciullo

In this episode of The Reading Symphony Podcast, Katie talks with Dr. Stephen Ciullo, Professor of Education, about why writing instruction can get left behind and what effective writing instruction actually looks like. They discuss why more writing practice isn't always enough, the importance of explicit instruction and modeling, and why teachers need more support in teaching writing. Dr. Ciullo also shares practical advice for parents of struggling writers, including questions to ask at school, how reading comprehension can affect writing, and how to develop more useful IEP writing goals. About Dr. Stephen Ciullo Dr. Stephen Ciullo is a Professor of Education whose research focuses on writing instruction, students with learning disabilities, and helping teachers use evidence-based writing practices in the classroom. Dr. Ciullo's Links Email: ciullo@txstate.edu Bio: https://faculty.txst.edu/profile/1921294 Chapters 00:00 - Why Teachers Aren't Taught How to Teach Writing 01:00 - Meet Dr. Stephen Ciullo 03:21 - Why Writing Instruction Needs More Attention 05:57 - How Students Become Skilled Writers 07:24 - Skills Students Need to Become Better Writers 08:19 - Cognitive Load and Writing Strategy Overload 11:57 - What Research Says About Teaching Writing 12:18 - Why Writing Skills Don't Transfer Across Genres 14:13 - Teaching Text Structure and Purpose 15:10 - How Parents Can Support Writing Through Reading 17:11 - The Connection Between Reading and Writing 17:51 - Writing Problem or Comprehension Problem? 21:02 - Why Teachers Need More Writing Training 25:42 - What Effective Writing Instruction Looks Like 30:41 - Explicit vs. Incidental Writing Instruction 33:56 - Writing Support for Students With IEPs 34:36 - How to Write Better IEP Goals for Writing 37:37 - What Parents Should Ask About Writing Instruction 41:41 - When Your Child Struggles With Writing
E26
Sep 14, 2026
45:45

Why Background Knowledge Is Essential for Reading Comprehension | Lauren Brown

📩 Join My Email List Get practical literacy tips, evidence-based reading resources, podcast updates, and exclusive insights delivered straight to your inbox. Join here: Join Katie's Email List Why do some students understand what they read more easily than others? Background knowledge may be a much bigger part of reading comprehension than we realize. Katie talks with longtime history educator and education consultant Lauren Brown about why building knowledge through science, history, and social studies can help children become stronger readers. They explore how background knowledge supports reading comprehension, why struggling readers benefit from knowledge-rich instruction, when memorization can be useful, and simple ways parents can build their child's knowledge at home. About Lauren Brown Lauren taught U.S. history for more than 20 years and spent another eight years working with future social studies teachers. Today, she works as an education consultant and writes about teaching, learning, and social studies. Lauren's Links LinkedIn Teach Stuff That Matters MiddleWeb Writing & Consulting Services Chapters 00:00 Why Background Knowledge Matters 00:45 Meet Lauren Brown 04:19 Why Science and Social Studies Matter 08:12 What Parents Should Ask Schools 10:02 Helping Struggling Readers 13:02 Should Kids Memorize Facts? 20:17 How Knowledge Makes Learning Easier 28:16 Building Knowledge at Home 35:22 Connecting School and the Real World 37:32 Where to Find Lauren
E25
Sep 3, 2026
39:05

What Do I Do When My Child Isn't Responding To Traditional Reading Interventions? | Dawn Jagannath

📩 JOIN MY EMAIL LIST Get practical literacy tips, resources, and podcast updates delivered straight to your inbox. Join here: https://link.fgfunnels.com/widget/form/M03vMOX9hAn6YOt6J7HN IN THIS EPISODE Katie talks with reading specialist Dawn Jagannath about what happens when struggling readers aren't responding to traditional reading interventions. They explore structured linguistic phonics, speech-to-print instruction, why older striving readers need meaningful "catch-up growth," and how parents can tell whether an intervention is actually working. Dawn also shares practical ways families can support struggling readers at home without turning home into another intervention session. ABOUT DAWN Dawn Jagannath is a reading specialist with more than 20 years of experience as a special educator, classroom teacher, and literacy specialist. She is an EBLI Certified Educator and is currently pursuing her Ed.D. in the Science of Learning at Gordon College. DAWN'S LINKS Website: https://www.jagannathliteracy.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawn-jagannath-88a225426/ Evidence-Based Literacy Instruction (EBLI): https://eblireads.com/ Reading Simplified: https://readingsimplified.com/ CHAPTERS 00:00 Why Some Struggling Readers Need a Different Approach 00:40 Meet Dawn Jagannath 02:33 From Special Education to Reading Specialist 04:45 Learning the Science of Reading After Graduate School 06:12 What Struggling Looks Like for Older Readers 07:45 Why "Catch-Up Growth" Matters 10:47 What Is Structured Linguistic Phonics? 13:04 How Dawn Discovered Speech-to-Print Instruction 14:34 When More Intervention Isn't the Answer 16:04 Changing How Students See Themselves as Readers 18:24 Why Speech-to-Print Can Be More Efficient 19:18 How the Brain Finds Patterns in Words 24:15 Helping Students Reach "Escape Velocity" 25:11 Moving From Decodable to Authentic Text 28:16 Questions Parents Should Ask Schools 31:10 Helping Older Striving Readers Catch Up 33:21 What Parents Can Do at Home 35:04 Protecting a Child's Identity as a Learner 36:20 Another Tool for Educators and Parents 38:12 Dawn's Future Research Into Linguistic Phonics 40:09 Where to Find Dawn
E24
Aug 24, 2026
42:45

Don't Accept "They're doing fine" | Reading Assessments Every Parent Should Understand

📩 Join My Email List Get practical literacy tips, evidence-based reading resources, podcast updates, and exclusive insights delivered straight to your inbox. Join here: https://link.fgfunnels.com/widget/form/M03vMOX9hAn6YOt6J7HN Have you ever been told, "They're doing fine," even though you know your child is struggling to read? In this solo episode of The Reading Symphony Podcast, Katie Megrian explains how to understand your child's reading assessments, why vague reassurance isn't enough, and the questions every parent should ask before accepting that answer. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience as a teacher, principal, district literacy leader, and parent advocate, Katie shares four real stories from families whose instincts were right - and explains how understanding assessment data can completely change conversations with your child's school. You'll learn: • The difference between Screeners, Diagnostic Assessments, and Progress Monitoring Assessments • When it may be appropriate to request a formal evaluation • Which reading assessments are backed by research • What parents can do before the school year begins • The three questions every parent should ask when discussing their child's reading progress Whether you're concerned about dyslexia, reading intervention, or simply want to better understand your child's progress, this episode will help you become a more informed and confident advocate. Resources Mentioned: 📖 How to Decode Your Child's Reading Assessments 📄 Quick Phonics Screener 📄 CORE Phonics Survey 📚 Reading Assessment Done Right By Dr. Stephanie Stollar & Kate Winn Chapters: 00:00 Welcome & Why Reading Assessments Matter 01:02 Four Stories That Changed Everything 05:16 The Four Types of Reading Assessments 05:51 1. Screeners 07:01 2. Diagnostic Assessments 08:28 3. Progress Monitoring Assessments 10:30 When Should You Request an Evaluation? 12:22 Which Reading Assessments Can You Trust? 13:08 What Parents Should Do Before School Starts 15:05 The Three Questions Every Parent Should Ask
E23
Aug 3, 2026
16:14

How to Build "Word Wealth" | Sean Morrisey

📩 Join My Email List Katie welcomes Sean Morrisey, creator of the Word Mapping Project, for an engaging conversation about vocabulary instruction, morphology, the Science of Reading, and why building "word wealth" is essential for every child's literacy development. Drawing on his experience as both a former school psychologist and a fifth-grade teacher, Sean explains why vocabulary should be taught explicitly, how spelling strengthens long-term word learning, and why students can learn far more sophisticated language than we often expect. Together, Katie and Sean explore orthographic mapping, morphology, structured literacy, dyslexia, developmental language disorder, reading fluency, and practical strategies that parents and teachers can use immediately to help children become confident readers and writers. They also discuss why vocabulary instruction shouldn't stop after the primary grades, how to create meaningful conversations around words, and why connecting sound, spelling, and meaning helps words become permanently stored in memory. This episode is for parents, educators, literacy specialists, reading interventionists, school leaders, homeschool families, and anyone interested in the Science of Reading, the Science of Learning, vocabulary development, and evidence-based literacy instruction. About Sean Morrisey Sean Morrisey is a fifth-grade teacher at Pinehurst Elementary School in the Frontier Central School District near Buffalo, New York. A former school psychologist, Sean is the creator of the Word Mapping Project, a morphology-rich curriculum grounded in the Science of Reading and the Science of Learning. His work helps educators teach vocabulary, spelling, morphology, and word study through practical, evidence-based instructional strategies that improve long-term literacy outcomes. Sean's Links Website Sean's Substack Word Mapping Project Webinar X (Twitter) Chapters 00:00 – Kids Can Learn Bigger Words Than We Think 00:49 – Meet Sean Morrisey 02:00 – From School Psychologist to Classroom Teacher 05:00 – Why Spelling Still Matters 06:10 – The Birth of the Word Mapping Project 09:00 – Teaching Big Words to Little Kids 13:00 – Bringing Vocabulary to Life 16:00 – Dyslexia, DLD, and Reading Difficulties 20:00 – What Is the Word Mapping Project? 21:00 – Sound, Spelling, Meaning & Morphology 24:00 – Supporting Struggling Readers 27:00 – Building Your Own Word Knowledge 28:00 – Teaching with Synonyms and Antonyms 29:30 – Practical Advice for Parents
E22
Jul 4, 2026
34:23

"Do No Harm" | Phyllis Hakeem

📩 Join My Email List Katie hosts Phyllis Hakeem, Professor of Education at Bay Path University, for a thought-provoking conversation about the science of reading, neuroscience, structured literacy, and why educators must embrace the principle of "do no harm" when teaching children to read. PHYLISS'S LINKS LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phyllis-hakeem-a92b4838 Email:phakeem@baypath.edu Bay Path University: https://www.baypath.edu/ Faculty Profile: https://www.baypath.edu/academics/faculty-directory/biography/phyllis-hakeem/ Reading & Literacy Programs: https://www.baypath.edu/academics/graduate-programs/reading-literacy-instruction-msed-eds/ CHAPTERS 00:00 – Do No Harm: Why Reading Instruction Matters 01:43 – Meet Phyllis Hakeem 05:18 – From Neuroscience to Literacy Education 08:38 – Finding Joy in Literacy Work 11:03 – Why Phyllis Says "Do No Harm" 12:54 – Practice Makes Permanent in the Brain 15:13 – Understanding Reading Assessment and DIBELS Data 17:24 – Fluency Is More Than Reading Speed 19:18 – Marketed Misconceptions in Education 19:37 – Science of Reading and Marketing Claims 20:09 – Research-Based vs Evidence-Based 21:40 – How to Evaluate Literacy Research 24:18 – When Curriculum Isn't Enough 25:00 – Intellectual Humility and Lifelong Learning 25:25 – You'll Never Know It All 26:03 – Prior Knowledge vs Background Knowledge 27:33 – Building Better Literacy Systems 28:18 – Bay Path University's Literacy Program 31:00 – Preparing the Next Generation of Reading Teachers
E21
Jun 5, 2026
39:28

Rethinking Adolescent Literacy | Kate Crist

📩 Join My Email List Katie hosts Kate Crist, founder of Education 4500 and literacy consultant, to discuss one of the biggest challenges facing schools today: why so many students reach middle school and high school without being able to read grade-level texts fluently. Kate's Links: Website: https://www.education4500.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katecrist/ CHAPTERS 00:00 – Why So Many Students Still Can't Read 00:46 – Meet Kate Crist & Education 4500 03:25 – The Goal: Every Student Graduates Literate 05:00 – Literacy Outcomes Are Designed, Not Accidental 07:40 – Why High School Literacy Needs a Different Approach 09:00 – It's Not the Child's Fault 11:00 – The Role of Teachers vs. The Role of Systems 13:20 – Why Leadership Matters for Literacy Success 14:20 – The Type 10 Fluency Protocol Explained 16:00 – Why Students Need More Eyes on Text 18:00 – Fluency and Reading Comprehension: The Missing Link 19:00 – Why Grade-Level Fluency Matters 21:00 – What Happens When Students Struggle to Read 22:00 – Practical Fluency Routines for Older Readers 25:30 – How Schools Can Build Literacy at Scale 28:00 – What Gives Kate Hope About the Future of Literacy #scienceofreading #adolescentliteracy #readingcomprehension #structuredliteracy #strugglingreaders #literacyinstruction #education #middleschool #highschoolliteracy #readingintervention
E20
May 30, 2026
47:28

The Importance of Teachers Supporting Teachers | Jaenine Cortazar Rodriguez

📩 Join My Email List Katie welcomes Jaenine Cortazar Rodriguez, literacy consultant, educator, and co-founder of Boston Literacy Ladies, for a conversation about teacher coaching, literacy instruction, educator burnout, and the support teachers need to help students thrive. Jaenine shares how she and her business partner built Boston Literacy Ladies to provide personalized coaching and practical support for educators navigating curriculum changes, literacy instruction, classroom management, scheduling, intervention planning, and professional growth. Together, Katie and Jaenine discuss the science of reading, teacher efficacy, family-school partnerships, professional development, dyslexia screening, instructional coaching, and why supporting teachers is one of the most effective ways to improve outcomes for students. This episode is for educators, school leaders, literacy coaches, parents, and anyone interested in strengthening literacy instruction and supporting teachers. Jaenine's Links: Website: https://www.bostonliteracyladies.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bostonliteracyladies/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bostonliteracyladies TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@boston.literacy.ladies Chapters 00:00 – Introduction to Jaenine Cortazar Rodriguez 00:45 – Stop the Summer Slide Workshop Announcement 02:00 – Why Boston Literacy Ladies Was Created 04:20 – The Isolation Many Teachers Experience 05:15 – The Biggest Challenges Teachers Face Today 06:50 – Coaching Teachers Across Grade Levels 08:10 – Family Partnerships & Building Trust 10:00 – Why Parent Workshops Often Struggle 11:45 – Reaching Families Who Need Support Most 13:00 – Helping Families Understand Reading Data 15:40 – Dyslexia Screening & Early Intervention 19:00 – What Effective Teacher Support Looks Like 20:15 – Teacher Burnout & Low Teacher Efficacy 21:45 – Curriculum Overload & Initiative Fatigue 23:30 – Why Teachers Shouldn't Have to Write Curriculum 24:45 – Supporting Teachers Through Change 27:00 – Improving Family Communication 28:00 – What Gives Jaenine Hope About Literacy Education
E19
May 24, 2026
31:10
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