Decodables, Advocacy, and Supporting Teachers with Elise Lovejoy

Episode Summary

In this episode, Katie sits down with literacy advocate and author Elise Lovejoy, creator of Express Readers and founder of The Teacher’s Table. Elise shares her journey into the science of reading, explains the critical difference between leveled readers and decodable books, and offers practical guidance for parents supporting early readers at home. She also discusses the importance of research-aligned instruction in schools and how The Teacher’s Table is helping teachers access credible, evidence-based resources.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• How Elise began writing decodable books to make early reading both effective and joyful
• The difference between leveled readers and decodable texts — and why it matters
• Why guessing words from pictures can undermine long-term reading development
• What makes a strong decodable book
• A simple, low-stress routine parents can use when decodables come home
• The importance of repeated practice and building automaticity
• How parents can advocate for science-aligned reading instruction
• Signs that a school is moving toward (or away from) evidence-based literacy practices
• Why ongoing teacher professional learning is essential
• The mission behind The Teacher’s Table and how it supports teachers with research-backed resources

Key Takeaways for Parents

• Decodable books align directly with the phonics skills children have been taught.
• It’s okay to help with tricky words — reading practice should feel supportive, not stressful.
• Re-reading builds fluency and confidence.
• Asking thoughtful questions is one of the most powerful advocacy tools parents have.
• Supporting teachers ultimately supports all children.

Resources Mentioned

• Express Readers – Decodable book series👉 expressreaders.org
• The Teacher’s Table – Research-aligned literacy membership for educators👉 theteacherstable.org
• To set up a gift subscription to The Teacher’s Table, email contact@theteacherstable.org!