Route2Reading

Are Reading Levels Holding Students Back? with Tim Shanahan

For years, teachers have been told to meet students where they are—find their instructional reading level, put them in a just-right text, and group them with other studen

The Science We Know, The Change We Still Need: A Conversation with Louisa Moats

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Louisa Moats, one of the leading voices in reading research and literacy education, to talk about her journey from feeling completely

Using Data to Make Better Instructional Decisions with Brennan Chandler

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Brennan Chandler, Assistant Professor of Dyslexia at Georgia State University, to talk about how schools can move beyond simply colle

Stop Planning Activities. Start Building Systems.

Why do so many literacy initiatives start with excitement but struggle to produce lasting results? In this episode, I dive into one of the most common literacy mistakes

Repeatable Instructional Routines that Matter

Before you start buying new resources, rewriting your literacy block, or planning every detail of next year, there is one thing that matters more than all of it: reflecti

Building Stronger Family-School Partnerships in Literacy with Maya Smart

In this episode of the Route2Reading Podcast, I sit down with Maya Smart to explore how we can build stronger, more meaningful partnerships between schools and families t

How Parents Can Support Reading at Home (Without Overwhelm) with Pryor Rayburn

In this episode of the Route2Reading Podcast, I sit down with Pryor (Orton Gillingham Mama) to talk about how parents can support their young readers at home using simple

From Sounds to Words: Fixing the Missing Link in Early Reading Instruction with Katie Pace Miles

In this episode of the Route2Reading Podcast, I sit down with Katie Pace Miles to unpack one of the biggest challenges in early literacy—why phonemic awareness and phonic

Literacy Across the Globe: What We Can Learn From International Classrooms with Treasa Bowe

In this episode, I sit down with Treasa Bowe, an educator from Ireland, to talk about literacy instruction across countries. We unpack the differences between Ireland and

Why Writing Feels So Hard and What Actually Helps with Barbara Friedlander

If you've ever thought, "My students just can't write," this episode is for you. Writing is one of the most misunderstood parts of literacy instruction — and often one

Making the Shift to Structured Literacy with Educators from PS152Q

This week on the podcast, I'm joined by educators from PS152Q in Queens to talk about what it really looks like to shift a school toward structured literacy. We dive into

Moving Beyond Syllable Rules: Helping Students Decode Multisyllabic Words with Flexibility with Devin Kearns

If your students can decode CVC words but completely shut down when they see fantastic or instruction, this episode is for you. In today's conversation, we dig into wha

What Spelling Errors Reveal and Why They Matter with Sydney Bassard

In this episode, I sit down with speech-language pathologist Sydney Bassard to unpack one of the most powerful (and often misunderstood) tools in literacy instruction: sp

Small Groups, Big Results with Julia Lindsay

In this episode, I'm joined by literacy researcher, former classroom teacher, and author Julia Lindsay for a powerful conversation about small group reading instruction—w

Choosing a Reading Curriculum with Dr. Maria Murray, Founder & CEO of The Reading League

In today's episode, I sit down with the incredible Dr. Maria Murray, founder and CEO of The Reading League, to talk about one of the most consequential decisions schools

Resetting your Literacy Block for the New Year with Lindsay Kemeny

In this episode, we talk about what it really takes to turn the Science of Reading into daily classroom practice. From observing other teachers, to tightening routines, t

Supporting Struggling Readers: What Schools, Teachers, and Families Need to Know

In This Episode, We Cover Understanding Dyslexia and Misconceptions What dyslexia actually is Why eligibility labels alone are not enough How co-occurring needs (li

Bringing Everyone to the Table: How The Teachers Table Is Transforming Teacher Support

Today, I am joined by the brilliant and beloved Elise Lovejoy, author of Express Readers, creator of high-quality decodables, longtime classroom teacher, and founder of T

Strengthening Early Writing Through Foundational Skills with Amy Siracusano

In this episode, we sit down with writing expert and longtime educator Amy Siracusano to unpack what early writing instruction should look like—and why so many teachers s

Tips and Tricks for Building Reading Fluency in Grade K- 2 with Jan Hasbrouck

In today's episode, I sit down with literacy legend Dr. Jan Hasbrouck — researcher, author, consultant, and co-creator of the widely used Oral Reading Fluency (ORF) norms