Together in Literacy

If your child seems “fine” at school but falls apart the moment they get home, you are so not alone. In this episode of Together In Literacy, we unpack the concept of restraint collapse—what happens when kids use up all their emotional and cognitive energy during the school day and then finally let it all out in their safest place: home. We talk specifically about why this is especially common for children with dyslexia and other learning differences, what this can look like after school, and how families can respond in ways that are supportive, realistic, and manageable (even on the busiest days). You’ll walk away with language to better understand what’s happening, practical ideas for creating a softer after-school landing, and simple strategies that support both kids and the adults who love them. Resources mentioned in this episode: Audible app Libby app Decoding Dyslexia SuperDville 3.12 Harnessing the Power of Assistive Technology with Katie Larew 4.3 Strengthening the Understanding of Dyslexia Through Media with Peggy Stern We officially have merch! Show your love for the Together in Literacy podcast! If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated! Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at support@togetherinliteracy.com! If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram. For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest. For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom.  Let us know what you want to hear this season! Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!

In this episode we sit down with Deon Butler, former NFL wide receiver, author of The Gift & Curse, and a powerful advocate for people with dyslexia. Deon shares his remarkable journey from growing up with undiagnosed dyslexia to navigating the high-pressure, text-heavy world of the NFL, and finally receiving answers as an adult through a formal diagnosis and Orton-Gillingham tutoring. He reflects on the school experiences that didn’t make sense at the time, the emotional mix of relief and grief that came with his diagnosis, and the unwavering belief of his grandmother that helped shape his resilience. Deon also unpacks the “gift” and the “curse” of dyslexia, offering insight into what students truly need and the importance of systematic change. Deon's Bio: Deon Butler is a national speaker, author, and advocate for students who learn differently. A former NFL wide receiver, Deon’s journey defies expectation. He reached the NFL while carrying a hidden struggle: undiagnosed dyslexia. At 27, he sat down with a tutor and began learning what the system never taught him. That turning point became the foundation for his life’s work. In his book The Gift & Curse: One Man’s Journey with Dyslexia, Deon shares how poverty, trauma, and learning challenges shaped his early life and ultimately cost him a contract with the Detroit Lions. Today, he is a national voice for literacy, resilience, and educational equity. He has helped advance dyslexia legislation, speaks in schools and universities across the country, and inspires audiences to redefine success, build hope, and believe in greatness despite the odds. Deon is the CEO of Stand Strong Services LLC and continues to mentor, advocate, and speak across the nation. His story resonates deeply with students, educators, and families, leaving a lasting impact long after the event ends. Resources mentioned in this episode: The Gift & Curse: One Man’s Journey With Dyslexia by Deon Butler Deon Butler’s website Deon Butler’s Instagram Deon Butler’s Facebook page We officially have merch! Show your love for the Together in Literacy podcast! If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated! Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at support@togetherinliteracy.com! If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram. For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest. For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom.  Let us know what you want to hear this season! Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!  

In this episode, we’re speaking to Dr. Jacob Santhouse, a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, dyslexic learner, and passionate advocate who you may recognize from TikTok and Instagram. We talk about the importance of addressing both the academic and emotional aspects of dyslexia, including the need for self-acceptance and resilience, the necessity of understanding the whole learner, creating safe spaces, and providing emotional support alongside academic interventions. Dr. Santhouse also shares his journey from struggling with dyslexia to becoming a counselor and coach. Resources mentioned in this episode: Dr. Santhouse on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok Olive Counseling Blue J Coaching Good Inside: A Practical Guide to Resilient Parenting Prioritizing Connection Over Correction by Dr. Becky Kennedy SuperDville Eye to Eye Mentoring  We officially have merch! Show your love for the Together in Literacy podcast! If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated! Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at support@togetherinliteracy.com! If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram. For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest. For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom.  Let us know what you want to hear this season! Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!

In this episode, we’re continuing our wonderful conversation with Dr. Melissa Orkin and Sarah Gannon, authors of The Structured Literacy Playbook: Preplanned Lessons for Building Phonics and Fluency Skills. We discuss strategies for empowering teachers to support all learners, particularly older students and those with double deficit dyslexia. We touch on topics including backward design, using sophisticated texts, the POSSuM framework, corrective feedback, and adapting lessons for multilingual learners. Resources mentioned in this episode: Crafting Minds website The Structured Literacy Playbook: Preplanned Lessons for Building Phonics and Fluency Skills Rave-O curriculum  Orkin, Melissa, Martha Pott, Maryanne Wolf, Sidney May, and Elyssa Brand. “Beyond Gold Stars: Improving the Skills and Engagement of Struggling Readers through Intrinsic Motivation.” Journal of Education (2017) POSSuM in Orkin, M., Vanacore, K., Rhinehart, L., Gotlieb, R., & Wolf, M. “The more you know: How teaching multiple aspects of word knowledge builds fluency skills.” The Reading League Journal (2022) 5.2 Honoring the Emotional Landscape of Older Students with Dyslexia 5.3 From Struggle to Strategy   We officially have merch! Show your love for the Together in Literacy podcast! If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated! Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at support@togetherinliteracy.com! If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram. For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest. For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom.  Let us know what you want to hear this season! Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!

We had such a great conversation with our guests Dr. Melissa Orkin, an expert in literacy development and dyslexia research, and Sarah Gannon, a seasoned educator and curriculum designer, that we’re breaking up our conversation into two episodes! For this episode, 5.6, we discuss their new book, The Structured Literacy Playbook: Preplanned Lessons for Building Phonics and Fluency Skills. The book features case studies and lesson scripts that help teachers effectively implement strategies such as decodable texts, backward design, and multi-component approaches to strengthen students’ reading fluency. Please enjoy our discussion, and join us for the second half in episode 5.7! Resources mentioned in this episode: Crafting Minds website Rave-O program  High Noon Sound Out Chapter Books Equipped for Reading Success by David Kilpatrick We officially have merch! Show your love for the Together in Literacy podcast! If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated! Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at support@togetherinliteracy.com! If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram. For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest. For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom.  Let us know what you want to hear this season! Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!

For this episode we welcome an inspiring guest: Aliah Banchik, a marine naturalist, shark advocate, underwater photographer, Netflix breakout star of All the Sharks, and a powerful voice for neurodiversity. In our community she may be best known for her TEDx talk on reframing dyslexia as a “different ability.” Aliah shares her journey from struggling elementary student to becoming one of the world’s leading young women in conservation. She opens up about growing up with dyslexia and ADHD, how shame and self-doubt shaped her early school years, and the pivotal moment she learned to harness her strengths instead of fighting against them. We talk about how Aliah uses her neurodivergent thinking to excel in research, field work, and global conservation projects.  You’ll enjoy her practical insights and take away a powerful reminder that reading and spelling ability are not measures of intelligence.   Resources mentioned in this episode: Aliah’s website aliahbanchik.com TEDxTulane video - Dyslexia: Disability or Different Ability? with Aliah Banchik  My Best Friend Lexi by Aliah Banchik “All the Sharks” on Netflix thefinstitute.org Aliah’s Instagram  Aliah’s YouTube channel We officially have merch! Show your love for the Together in Literacy podcast! If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated! Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at support@togetherinliteracy.com! If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram. For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest. For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom.  Let us know what you want to hear this season! Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!

In this episode of Together In Literacy, we dig into spelling to get at the deeper concepts that interventionists need to know. Spelling is often where our students’ struggles show up the most. It’s where gaps in phonology, orthography, and morphology all converge. Today we’re sharing five deeper truths about spelling instruction that will strengthen your teaching and, more importantly, your students’ progress. Join us as we go beyond the basics. Resources mentioned in this episode: Dr. Louisa Moats quote on spelling 4.7 The Power of Observation: What, When, and How Pollo, T. C., Kessler, B., & Treiman, R. (2009). Statistical patterns in children's early writing. Journal of experimental child psychology Ehri, L.C. (2014). Orthographic mapping in the acquisition of word reading, spelling memory, and vocabulary learning. Scientific Studies of Reading Kilpatrick, D.A. (2015). Assessing, preventing, and overcoming reading difficulties. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. Gallistel-Ellis Test of Coding Skills (GE Test) Words Their Way spelling assessment  Barnell Loft spelling assessment  Neuhaus assessment  We officially have merch! Show your love for the Together in Literacy podcast! If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated! Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at support@togetherinliteracy.com! If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram. For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest. For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom.  Let us know what you want to hear this season! Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!

This week in Together in Literacy we continue our discussion on supporting older students with dyslexia. Last episode we talked about the why, and now we want to talk about the how. We explore practical, research-based strategies that help middle and high school students move from struggle to success, including explicit decoding routines, morphology instruction, and scaffolded writing supports. We talk about the importance of assessing students closely, breaking learning into manageable steps, and building conceptual understanding to foster confidence and independence. Resources mentioned in this episode: readworks.org (for finding short non-fiction articles) keystoliteracy.com (for two-column note-taking method) Season 5 Episode 2: Honoring the Emotional Landscape of Older Students with Dyslexia (part 1 of this discussion) Season 3 Episode 7: The Importance of Scaffolding in Decoding If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated! We officially have merch! Show your love for the Together in Literacy podcast! Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at support@togetherinliteracy.com! If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram. For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest. For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom.  Let us know what you want to hear this season! Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!

This week on Together in Literacy we’re starting off Dyslexia Awareness Month by discussing the needs of a demographic that can get left behind – older students with dyslexia in middle school, high school, and beyond. We talk about the social emotional side of working with older students who can struggle with internalized shame, frustration with services, or lack of trust in educators and the tools they use. Resources mentioned in this episode: Season 2 Episode 4: How to Effectively Work with Older Students with Dyslexia Season 2 Episode 5: Word Attack Strategies for Older Students with Dyslexia Season 2 Episode 9: The Power in Saying Dyslexia Season 4 Episode 9: What Matters When Working with Older Dyslexic Students Kyle Redford opinion article in Education Week: “Unidentified Dyslexia Takes Heavy Toll”   We officially have merch! Show your love for the Together in Literacy podcast! If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated! Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at support@togetherinliteracy.com! If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram. For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest. For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom.  Let us know what you want to hear this season! Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!

Welcome to Season 5 of Together in Literacy! We’re thrilled to be back and thank you for joining us.  In this episode we’re kicking off our new season by setting the scene for the overarching topic that will inform our conversations: What do students with dyslexia really need? The answer may sound familiar: more than just phonics! Our students need a comprehensive approach that sees the whole learner. We’ll talk about this in-depth this season, with topics like going beyond explicit phonics, decoding, executive function, layered and responsive instruction, metacognition, and self-advocacy strategies. Resources mentioned in this episode: "Teaching Beyond the Diagnosis, Empowering Students with Dyslexia" by Casey Harrison Essentials of Dyslexia Assessment and Intervention (Essentials of Psychological Assessment) by Nancy Mather and Barbara J. Wendling Oldes:r podcast episode 1.15 All About Accommodations for Dyslexia 2.14 Using Evaluations to Better Understand Our Learners with Katy Vassar 3.12 Harnessing the Power of Assistive Technology with Katie Larew 3.14 Understanding and Embracing The Ladder of Reading & Writing (Part 1) with Dr. Nancy Young 3.15 Understanding and Embracing The Ladder of Reading & Writing (Part 2) with Dr. Nancy Young 4.2 Are students with dyslexia getting lost in the SOR movement? 4.4 The Foundational Principles of Orton-Gillingham (part 1) 4.5 The Foundational Principles of Orton-Gillingham (part 2)   We officially have merch! Show your love for the Together in Literacy podcast! If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated! Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at support@togetherinliteracy.com! If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram. For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest. For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom.  We're looking for topic and guest suggestions for season 5 of the Together in Literacy Podcast! Let us know what you want to hear this season! Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!

Please enjoy our last re-release of favorite episodes before we launch season five! This one looks at the Science of Reading: The recent movement to look deeply into the Science of Reading (SOR) has shifted the training we seek for teachers, the training and programs endorsed at the state level, and the curriculum school districts purchase. So, why are our students still not reading and writing proficiently? Is it the instruction, curriculum, or teacher training and knowledge that is seriously impacting learning outcomes? Or, is it a combination of all three factors? In this episode, we discuss the SOR movement and why some students, particularly those with dyslexia, seem to be getting lost in the debate. Resources mentioned in this episode: The new “science of reading” movement, explained 1.12: The Importance of Building Teacher Knowledge and The Peter Effect 2.14 Using Evaluations to Better Understand Our Learners with Katy Vassar What Is Specific Learning Disorder? Department of Education letter on dyslexia  2.9 The Power in Saying Dyslexia Essentials of Dyslexia Assessment and Intervention (Essentials of Psychological Assessment) 2nd Edition  New and Not-Well-Known Research about Reading Disabilities: Teachers Want to Know We officially have merch! Show your love for the Together in Literacy podcast! If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated! Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at support@togetherinliteracy.com! If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram. For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest. For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom.  We're looking for topic and guest suggestions for season 4 of the Together in Literacy Podcast! Let us know what you want to hear this season! Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!  

This is the last episode of season FOUR! Whenever we wrap up a season, we like to look back and chat about each episode, provide some important takeaways, and share information about actionable steps you can take this summer to keep growing your knowledge base.  Resources mentioned in this episode: All episodes of the Together in Literacy podcast Towards a dynamic, comprehensive conceptualization of dyslexia. Annals of dyslexia Super Dville 2.14 Using Evaluations to Better Understand Our Learners with Katy Vassar 2.4 How to Effectively Work with Older Students with Dyslexia 2.5 Word Attack Strategies for Older Students with Dyslexia Building Readers for Life Summer Conference Empowered Beyond the Program Membership Teaching Beyond the Diagnosis: Empowering Students with Dyslexia by Casey Harrison We officially have merch! Show your love for the Together in Literacy podcast! If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated! Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at support@togetherinliteracy.com! If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram. For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest. For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom.  We're looking for topic and guest suggestions for season 4 of the Together in Literacy Podcast! Let us know what you want to hear this season! Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!

In this episode, we’re joined by Nicky Humphreys and Ally Lewis, the founding members of Dyslexia Awareness Northern Ireland, for a transatlantic talk on dyslexia. Nicky Humphreys did her PGCE Primary in 2004/05; in 2016, she commenced a postgraduate diploma in teaching literacy to learners with dyslexia/SpLD through the Northern Ireland Dyslexia Centre. She worked as a tutor for the Centre in Belfast for a few years before setting up her own small business teaching children in her local area and working with her local schools. Her professional body is PATOSS. She is married to Marshall and they have three children. She loves spring/summer and holidays.  Ally Lewis is a former pediatric and neonatal nurse who transitioned into education after having children. Her personal journey into literacy advocacy began when her son struggled with reading and spelling in early primary school. Frustrated by the lack of support and resources in Northern Ireland, Ally pursued structured literacy training in Belfast. Since then, she has become a passionate advocate for children with dyslexia, offering support to families and working one-on-one with students in schools. Together, along with Jodi Snowdon (who now works for NESSY), Nicky and Ally founded the Facebook page and advocacy group in Northern Ireland, DANI (Dyslexia Awareness Northern Ireland). Resources mentioned in this episode: Nessy The Dyslexia SpLD Trust Dyslexia Awareness NI Dyslexia Crisis in Northern Ireland Overcoming Dyslexia by Sally Shaywitz M.D. Science of Reading (SOR) Discussion and Support Group NI Teachers Science of Reading Discussion for Irish Teachers Teaching Beyond the Diagnosis: Empowering Students with Dyslexia by Casey Harrison We officially have merch! Show your love for the Together in Literacy podcast! If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated! Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at support@togetherinliteracy.com! If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram. For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest. For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom.  We're looking for topic and guest suggestions for season 4 of the Together in Literacy Podcast! Let us know what you want to hear this season! Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!

In this episode, Casey Welsh, of Savannah Dyslexia, joins us to answer the most important questions about morphology. Casey Welsh is an Accredited Training Fellow with OGA and has her M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction, focusing on Dyslexia Studies & Language-Based Learning Disabilities. She is the CEO of Savannah Dyslexia, a private practice in Savannah, GA, focused on providing OG intervention, professional development courses for classroom teachers, and mentoring trainees through training and practicum for OGA Associate, Certified, and Fellow level credentials. As a mom of two dyslexic sons, Casey has a deep belief in the impact of the Orton-Gillingham approach on students’ lives and a drive to ensure more teachers and interventionists are empowered with the knowledge and tools to reach more students.  We are so grateful to have Casey join us to share her advice and practical tips for infusing morphology thoughtfully and effectively into our O-G lessons. Resources mentioned in this episode: Orton-Gillingham Academy Unlocking Literacy: Effective Decoding and Spelling Instruction by Marcia K. Henry Ph.D. Specific Language Training  Once Upon a Morpheme Savannah Dyslexia Teacher Training Course Latin Morphology Freebie and other morphology resources 4.8 The Art and Science of Prescriptive and Diagnostic Teaching Teaching Beyond the Diagnosis: Empowering Students with Dyslexia by Casey Harrison We officially have merch! Show your love for the Together in Literacy podcast! If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated! Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at support@togetherinliteracy.com! If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram. For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest. For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom.  We're looking for topic and guest suggestions for season 4 of the Together in Literacy Podcast! Let us know what you want to hear this season! Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!

Have you ever had a student who knows a concept in the first moments of the lesson, but the next time it pops up, it’s as if they had never seen it before? You may wonder what is happening and what you can do to help. This may happen for several reasons, but it should cause us to pause and think - and that is what this episode is all about! We’re discussing the transfer of learning or knowledge.  In this episode, we’ll explore: What is the transfer of learning/knowledge? Why do we sometimes not see a transfer of learning from the intervention setting into the classroom?  What are some things we can do to increase the likelihood of a transfer occurring?  Resources mentioned in this episode: Teaching Beyond the Diagnosis: Empowering Students with Dyslexia by Casey Harrison 4.14 The Role of Attention for Learning in Orton-Gillingham Lessons 1.9 Working Memory with Dr. Erica Warren The Multisensory Teaching of Basic Language Skills by Judith R. Birsh, Ed.D. 3.8 Alternatives to Double-Dosing in Dyslexia Intervention 1.10 The Gradual Release of Responsibility Sold a Story podcast 1.11 The Importance and Benefits of Playing Games with Your Students We officially have merch! Show your love for the Together in Literacy podcast! If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated! Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at support@togetherinliteracy.com! If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram. For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest. For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom.  We're looking for topic and guest suggestions for season 4 of the Together in Literacy Podcast! Let us know what you want to hear this season! Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!

In this episode, we are highlighting the vital role of bringing student awareness and attention to the forefront in effective dyslexia lessons. Grounded in cognitive science research, we discuss how intentional focus and metacognition can enhance learning outcomes for students with dyslexia. From building foundational skills in reading and writing to strengthening comprehension and retention, guiding students to engage with their learning process actively is key to unlocking their full potential. We share how we integrated these strategies into our lessons. Plus, we share practical techniques and tools that can be easily implemented to foster attention, boost memory, and support deeper understanding. Whether you're a teacher, therapist, parent, or advocate, this episode is packed with insights to help you empower your students and make a lasting impact on their learning journey.  Resources mentioned in this episode: 1.9 Working Memory with Dr. Erica Warren 3.13 Setting Your Learning Spaces Up for Success with Dr. Cathleen Killeen-Pittman Language Trinagle poster Teaching Beyond the Diagnosis: Empowering Students with Dyslexia by Casey Harrison We officially have merch! Show your love for the Together in Literacy podcast! If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated! Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at support@togetherinliteracy.com! If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram. For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest. For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom.  We're looking for topic and guest suggestions for season 4 of the Together in Literacy Podcast! Let us know what you want to hear this season! Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!

In this episode, we’re sharing the second part of our interview with Missy Purcell. In this conversation, we look at what drives her dedication and discuss the impact of effective intervention and the power of community in shaping literacy success. Whether you're a teacher seeking better strategies, a parent looking for hope, or a student finding your way, this conversation will inspire and equip you with the tools to move forward. We’ll be back with the second half of the interview in two weeks! Missy holds a degree in middle school education with 15 + years of experience in the classroom, specializing in inclusion. She is both a speaker and a passionate advocate for the science of reading. After successfully advocating for her dyslexic son’s right to read, Missy devoted the bulk of her time volunteering to support countless families of kids with learning differences.  Missy is co-founder of Gwinnett Advocates for Dyslexia, a grassroots organization that advocates for evidence-based instruction in Gwinnett County. Additionally, she serves as the Education Chair with Decoding Dyslexia Georgia, DDGA, which advocates for change at the state level. Recently, she co-founded The Science of Reading for Advocates, which aims to resource and equip leaders committed to ensuring every child can read.  Missy is married to Mark, the mother of three boys, Harrison, William, and Matthew, and two furbabies, Barkley and Bauer. When she’s not working or advocating, she can be found with coffee in hand at a band concert or at the baseball fields cheering on her boys! Keep in touch with Missy! You can find her on Instagram and Facebook, or check out her website, misspurcell.com. Resources mentioned in this episode: The Volunteer Advocacy Project IRIS Center 4.7 The Power of Observation: What, When, and How 4.2 Are students with dyslexia getting lost in the SOR movement? Dyslexia Advocate!: How to Advocate for a Child with Dyslexia within the Public Education System by Kelli Sandman-Hurley The Dyslexic Advantage: Unlocking the Hidden Potential of the Dyslexic Brain by Brock L. Eide M.D. M.A. and Fernette F. Eide M.D. Nessy Express Readers from Elise Lovejoy ADDitude Building Readers for Life Conference Teaching Beyond the Diagnosis: Empowering Students with Dyslexia by Casey Harrison We officially have merch! Show your love for the Together in Literacy podcast! If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated! Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at support@togetherinliteracy.com! If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram. For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest. For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom.  We're looking for topic and guest suggestions for season 4 of the Together in Literacy Podcast! Let us know what you want to hear this season! Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!

In this episode, we’re sharing the first part of our interview with Missy Purcell. In this conversation, we look at what drives her dedication and discuss the impact of effective intervention and the power of community in shaping literacy success. Whether you're a teacher seeking better strategies, a parent looking for hope, or a student finding your way, this conversation will inspire and equip you with the tools to move forward. We’ll be back with the second half of the interview in two weeks! Missy holds a degree in middle school education with 15 + years of experience in the classroom, specializing in inclusion. She is both a speaker and a passionate advocate for the science of reading. After successfully advocating for her dyslexic son’s right to read, Missy devoted the bulk of her time volunteering to support countless families of kids with learning differences.  Missy is co-founder of Gwinnett Advocates for Dyslexia, a grassroots organization that advocates for evidence-based instruction in Gwinnett County. Additionally, she serves as the Education Chair with Decoding Dyslexia Georgia, DDGA, which advocates for change at the state level. Recently, she co-founded The Science of Reading for Advocates, which aims to resource and equip leaders committed to ensuring every child can read.  Missy is married to Mark, the mother of three boys, Harrison, William, and Matthew, and two furbabies, Barkley and Bauer. When she’s not working or advocating, she can be found with coffee in hand at a band concert or at the baseball fields cheering on her boys! Keep in touch with Missy! You can find her on Instagram and Facebook, or check out her website, misspurcell.com. Resources mentioned in this episode: Decoding Dyslexia Georgia 4.10 The Ripple Effects of Dyslexia with Tiffany Solomon Teaching Beyond the Diagnosis: Empowering Students with Dyslexia by Casey Harrison We officially have merch! Show your love for the Together in Literacy podcast! If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated! Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at support@togetherinliteracy.com! If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram. For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest. For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom.  We're looking for topic and guest suggestions for season 4 of the Together in Literacy Podcast! Let us know what you want to hear this season! Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!

To follow up on our interview with Tiffany Solomon in episode 10, we brought her back with another special guest, Helaine Schupack. Helaine has played an instrumental role in Tiffany’s life as she navigated her education with dyslexia. Helaine Schupack is one of the founding Fellows of the Orton-Gillingham Academy (OGA), which was founded in 1995 and now has over 3,800 members. Her mission to help individuals with dyslexia receive the interventions they need to thrive eventually expanded to her joining forces with the Orton Society (now the International Dyslexia Association) when it formed its Teacher Training Initiative. She’s been the recipient of the Massachusetts Branch of the International Dyslexia Association’s Alice Garside award.  Helaine is one of Rhode Island’s abiding champions in the field of dyslexia and was awarded the first Decoding Dyslexia Legacy Award. Resources mentioned in this episode: Orton-Gillingham Academy Decoding Dyslexia Rhode Island Orton-Gillingham Founding Fellows Overcoming Dyslexia by Sally Shaywitz M.D. Teaching to Read: Historically Considered by Mitford M. Mathews Reversals: A Personal Account of Victory over Dyslexia by Eileen M. Simpson Dyslexia over the Lifespan: A Fifty-Five Year Longitudinal Study by M. Rawson Dyslexics of Brown (limited print) 1.5 How Dr. Samuel Orton and Anna Gillingham’s Work Support Social-Emotional Learning 1.6 The Orton Prescription and the Connection to Social-Emotional Learning 2.6 Q&A About OG 4.4 The Foundational Principles of Orton-Gillingham (part 1) 4.5 The Foundational Principles of Orton-Gillingham (part 2) We officially have merch! Show your love for the Together in Literacy podcast! If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated! Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at support@togetherinliteracy.com! If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram. For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest. For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom.  We're looking for topic and guest suggestions for season 4 of the Together in Literacy Podcast! Let us know what you want to hear this season! Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!

In this episode, we’re joined by Tiffany Solomon to discuss the ripple effects of dyslexia, and how it impacts not just the classroom but also shapes lives, families, and the workplace. Tiffany Solomon is the Family and Student Engagement Coordinator for Decoding Dyslexia Rhode Island, an Associate member of the Orton-Gillingham Academy (OGA), and was honored to serve as a Literacy Ambassador through the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) in 2019-2020.  She spent over a decade as a 2nd grade and kindergarten teacher at Highlander Charter School in Providence, Rhode Island. During this time, she was also a primary teaching member of Highlander’s weekly itinerant collaborative meetings, where she worked with the special education support team to implement specialized, evidenced-based strategies within her classroom to ensure success for students who learn differently.  Tiffany holds a Master’s degree in Education, Teaching, and Learning from Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island. Resources mentioned in this episode: Orton-Gillingham Academy Decoding Dyslexia Rhode Island Games to Support Early Literacy Skills Orton-Gillingham Nation The Dyslexic Advocate by Kelli Sandman-Hurley The Right to Read Film  The Short Bus by Jonathan Mooney Normal Sucks by Jonathan Mooney The Bigger Picture Book of Amazing Dyslexics and the Jobs They Do by Kate Power and Kathy Iwanczak Forsyth Splendid Agony: Celebrating Dyslexia by T. Durant Fleming The Marching Ant: A Novel Inspired By True Events by Allyson Chapa The Secret Life of the Dyslexic Child: How She thinks. How He Feels. How They Can Succeed. by Robert Frank and Kathryn E. Livingston We officially have merch! Show your love for the Together in Literacy podcast! If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated! Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at support@togetherinliteracy.com! If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram. For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest. For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom.  We're looking for topic and guest suggestions for season 4 of the Together in Literacy Podcast! Let us know what you want to hear this season!   Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!