Literacy in Color: A Science of Reading Aligned Podcast for Educators

What if we stopped thinking about literacy development as a staircase of isolated skills to master – and started seeing it as an upward trajectory, with each component influencing the next?Dr. Molly Ness returns to the show to introduce The Upward Spiral of Literacy, a new framework designed to bring greater coherence, integration, and optimism to the science of reading conversation. The Upward Spiral illustrates how literacy develops through the interconnectedness of oral language, foundational reading and writing skills, word knowledge, and self-regulated text engagement – culminating in joyful, purposeful reading and writing. We also explore the external influences that help propel literacy development, including literacy-rich environments, data-driven, evidence-based instruction, and courageous literacy leadership.Dr. Ness challenges educators to think beyond comprehension as the ultimate destination. After all, we don't just want students who can read and write; we want students who choose to read and write, find joy in literacy, and use these skills meaningfully throughout their lives.Key Takeaways:Why the Upward Spiral of Literacy is a framework, not a theoretical modelHow the spiral illustrates the recursive and interconnected nature of literacy developmentWhy oral language serves as the springboard for reading and writingHow foundational skills encompass much more than phonicsWhy word knowledge extends beyond definitionsThe role of motivation, executive functioning, and metacognition in self-regulated text engagementWhy joyful and purposeful reading and writing are at the top of the spiralHow literacy-rich environments, evidence-based instruction, and courageous leadership influence literacy developmentPractical ways teachers, coaches, and administrators can use the framework to strengthen instruction and schoolwide literacy systemsWhat's next for the Upward Spiral, including professional learning opportunities and the forthcoming anthology, The Upward Spiral of Literacy, edited by Dr. Molly NessDr. Ness also shares why literacy is ultimately an issue of social justice – and why shifting our focus from literacy deficits to collective responsibility and upward growth may be exactly what our field needs.Learn More about the Upward Spiral of Literacy:Free Webinar about the Upward Spiral with Dr. Molly NessDownload the white paper from Dr. Molly Ness on the Dirigo Literacy at Solution Tree website2-Day Workshop on the Upward Spiral of LiteracyBook: The Upward Spiral of Literacy anthology edited by Dr. Molly Ness anticipated Spring 2027Book: Choosing What Works for Literacy by Dr. Molly Ness (Solution Tree / Amazon)US Literacy Summit in Pasadena, CA: June 2027This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting the podcast!Listen to Past Episodes with Dr. Molly Ness on Literacy in Color:Episode 40: Why Read-Alouds Matter: Equity, Comprehension, and Book Access with Dr. Molly NessEpisode 46: Making Words Stick with Dr. Molly Ness on Orthographic MappingConnect with Dr. Molly Ness:Website: https://www.mollyness.com/Website: https://www.dirigoliteracy.com/LinkedIn: Molly Ness, PhDInstagram: @a_reading_motherBlueSky: ‪@mollyness.bsky.social‬End Book Desert PodcastConnect with Michelle:Visit: www.michelleandthecolorfulclassroom.comFollow me on Instagram: @michelle_thecolorfulclassroom & @logosliteracyacademyJoin our Facebook CommunitySign up for my NewsletterShop on TPT: The Colorful ClassroomFor Phonics Resources, grab: The COLORFUL Phonics ToolkitWant to Support the Podcast?Make a Donation to Support ProductionInterested in Learning More about Morphology?Logos Literacy Academy with Michelle Sullivan & Sarah PaulJoin: Beyond Phonics Club - our Membership CommunityMentioned in this episode:Beyond Phonics ClubFind out more about our membership community: https://beyond-phonics-club.circle.so/beyond-phonics-clubThe Super Popular Suffix <-s>Grab The Super Popular Suffix -s Book + Essie Plushie Bundle for 15% OFF! 🎉 Use code COLORFUL2 at checkout ⏰ Offer valid through November 10, 2026 https://phonicsreadalouds.com/products/suffix-s-book-and-plushie-bundle Book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4yGBGGY

Dyslexia doesn't end in elementary school. So what happens when students with dyslexia enter middle school, high school, college, and eventually the workforce?In this special Dyslexia Awareness Month bonus episode, I’m joined by Mallary Lattanze, a Certified Academic Language Therapist, Licensed Dyslexia Therapist, and Vice President of School and District Partnerships at Neuhaus Education Center, for a deeply personal and powerful conversation about navigating dyslexia beyond the elementary years.Mallary opens up about her own experiences growing up with dyslexia – from struggling academically and emotionally to navigating high school and college without the accommodations and support she needed. Despite the challenges, her journey ultimately led her to a career in education and a mission to become the person she needed when she was younger.We explore how dyslexia can continue to impact adolescents and young adults, the warning signs educators may overlook, and the importance of balancing academic expectations with meaningful accommodations and support. Key Takeaways:Mallary's personal journey with dyslexia and how it shaped her career as a dyslexia therapistOverlooked signs of dyslexia in adolescents, including masking, spelling difficulties, and discrepancies between oral and written languageThe academic and emotional challenges that can emerge as reading and writing demands increaseWhy explicit instruction in language structure and morphology matters for older learnersPractical classroom supports, accommodations, and assessment strategies that help students access learningThe importance of self-advocacy and preparing students with dyslexia for college and adulthoodHow supportive educators and families can influence a student's confidence, identity, and futureConnect with Mallary Latanze:LinkedInhttps://neuhaus.org/Connect with Michelle:Visit: www.michelleandthecolorfulclassroom.comFollow me on Instagram: @michelle_thecolorfulclassroom & @logosliteracyacademyJoin our Facebook CommunitySign up for my NewsletterShop on TPT: The Colorful ClassroomFor Phonics Resources, grab: The COLORFUL Phonics ToolkitWant to Support the Podcast?Make a Donation to Support ProductionInterested in Learning More about Morphology?Logos Literacy Academy with Michelle Sullivan & Sarah PaulJoin: Beyond Phonics Club - our Membership CommunityMentioned in this episode:Beyond Phonics ClubFind out more about our membership community: https://beyond-phonics-club.circle.so/beyond-phonics-clubReading Science AcademyGet your FREE grouping resource bundle here: https://www.stephaniestollarconsulting.com/groupingsheets?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=podcast Join The Reading Science Academy: https://www.stephaniestollarconsulting.com/register?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show-notes&utm_campaign=literacy-in-colorThe Super Popular Suffix <-s>Grab The Super Popular Suffix -s Book + Essie Plushie Bundle for 15% OFF! 🎉 Use code COLORFUL2 at checkout ⏰ Offer valid through November 10, 2026 https://phonicsreadalouds.com/products/suffix-s-book-and-plushie-bundle Book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4yGBGGY

Happy 2nd Birthday, Literacy in Color! 🎂🌈Two years, countless conversations, incredible friendships, and one very COLORFUL literacy community!We're celebrating TWO years of Literacy in Color, and what better way to mark the occasion than by bringing together some of my favorite people in the literacy space for a very special birthday roundtable?I'm joined by eight incredible friends and fellow literacy advocates: Amy Siracusano, Christina Winter, Elizabeth Doherty, Heidi Martin, Jessica Farmer, Justin Browning, Sarah Paul, and Yvette Manns.Because it's a birthday party, of course we have a theme! We're gathering around our virtual birthday table for four conversations:The Toast: What are we celebrating and feeling grateful for in the literacy space?The Gift: What instructional practices, ideas, and beliefs are we bringing to the literacy party?What’s NOT Invited: What practices, mindsets, and trends are getting kicked off the guest list? (And yes, things get a little salty!)The Wish: If we could blow out the candles and make one wish for literacy education over the next five years, what would it be?From the importance of professional learning communities and the power of oral language to courageous leadership, morphology, teacher support, and transforming outdated systems, this conversation is filled with wisdom, laughter, and a whole lot of heart.Above all, this episode is about something bigger than any one person, program, or podcast: the collective power of educators coming together to change literacy outcomes for children.To everyone who has listened, shared an episode, joined a book study, challenged their thinking, or become part of this colorful community over the past two years: THANK YOU!Here's to two years of learning, growing, collaborating, and making literacy a little more COLORFUL!Connect with the birthday roundtable guests!Amy SiracusanoWebsite: https://knowbetterdobetterliteracy.com/Instagram: @knowbetterdobetterliteracyStay tuned for our upcoming book with Solution Tree: Writing Roots (May 2027)!Christina WinterWebsites: https://leadinliteracy.com/ & https://surestartreading.com/Instagram: @lead.in.literacy & @surestartreadingSure Start Reading Program (for Families)Elizabeth DohertyInstagram: @Elizabeth_ReadingSLPWebsite: TheReadingSLP.comHeidi MartinWebsite: https://bumblebeereading.com/IG - @droppinknowledgewithheidi & @bumblebeereadingcoScience of Reading Mini-ConJessica FarmerWebsite: https://farmerlovesphonics.com/Instagram: @FarmerLovesPhonicsJustin BrowningWebsite: http://www.sorformore.comInstagram: @sorformore_llcSarah PaulWebsite: https://sarahsnippets.com/ & https://www.logosliteracyacademy.com/Instagram: @snippetsbysarah & @logosliteracyacademyJoin Beyond Phonics Club - Our Membership CommunityStay tuned for our upcoming book with Solution Tree on Morphology (June 2027)!Yvette MannsFREE National Schwa Day Educator Toolkit - Download the toolkit and celebrate National Schwa Day on April 7th!Website: https://www.yvettemanns.com/ & https://phonicsreadalouds.com/Instagram: @the_lit_teacher & @phonicsreadaloudsCheck out Michelle & Yvette’s Morphology Read-Alouds: The Always Finished Suffix <-ED> & The Super Popular Suffix <-S> (More Coming Soon!)This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting the podcast!Connect with Michelle:Visit: www.michelleandthecolorfulclassroom.comFollow me on Instagram: @michelle_thecolorfulclassroom & @logosliteracyacademyJoin our Facebook CommunitySign up for my NewsletterShop on TPT: The Colorful ClassroomFor Phonics Resources, grab: The COLORFUL Phonics ToolkitWant to Support the Podcast?Make a Donation to Support ProductionInterested in Learning More about Morphology?Logos Literacy Academy with Michelle Sullivan & Sarah PaulJoin: Beyond Phonics Club - our Membership CommunityMentioned in this episode:Reading Science AcademyGet your FREE grouping resource bundle here: https://www.stephaniestollarconsulting.com/groupingsheets?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=podcast Join The Reading Science Academy: https://www.stephaniestollarconsulting.com/register?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show-notes&utm_campaign=literacy-in-colorThe Super Popular Suffix <-s>Grab The Super Popular Suffix -s Book + Essie Plushie Bundle for 15% OFF! 🎉 Use code COLORFUL2 at checkout ⏰ Offer valid through November 10, 2026 https://phonicsreadalouds.com/products/suffix-s-book-and-plushie-bundle Book on Amazon:...

What does dyslexia look like across languages? How can educators distinguish between the challenges of learning a new language and an underlying reading disability?In this special Dyslexia Awareness Month episode of Literacy in Color, I'm joined by Karina Cruz, a speech and language specialist, reading interventionist, and Orton-Gillingham-trained educator from Puerto Rico, to explore dyslexia through a multilingual lens.We unpack how dyslexia can manifest differently in Spanish and English, why understanding a student's language and literacy history matters when assessing reading difficulties, and how educators can recognize patterns that go beyond typical second-language acquisition.Karina shares practical strategies for supporting multilingual learners through structured literacy, including leveraging connections between languages, building phonemic awareness, incorporating oral language, and making intentional instructional decisions – even when teachers don't speak their students' home languages.We also explore the realities of dyslexia identification and access to intervention in Puerto Rico, along with Karina's powerful reminder that literacy is not a privilege – it's a human right.Key Takeaways:How dyslexia can present differently across languages and writing systemsThe differences between Spanish and English orthographies and what they mean for reading developmentDistinguishing language acquisition from a reading disabilityThe importance of language history, family history, and cross-linguistic assessmentWhy oral language provides valuable information beyond reading scoresHow to leverage phonemic awareness, morphology, and sound-spelling connections across languagesResources and References Mentioned:ASHA Phonemic Inventories and Cultural and Linguistic Information Across LanguagesCox Campus Resources on Reading DisordersCox Campus: Module 5: Dyslexia and Multilingual/English Learners: Language and Literacy ConsiderationsBook: Literacy Foundations for English Learners - Dr. Elsa CárdenasEsperanza - Spanish-language structured literacy programAquarela Alphabet CardsThis post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting the podcast!Connect with Karina Cruz:Website: https://eldilemaedu.com/Instagram: @eldilemaeduThis podcast is brought to you by Reading Science Academy, where our friend Stephanie Stollar is giving Literacy in Color listeners an exclusive, free grouping resource bundle designed to help you spend less time figuring out what to do with screening data and move more quickly into purposeful, skill-based groups.Get your FREE grouping resource bundle here.Or, become a member of Reading Science Academy to learn in community and receive research-backed support alongside over 1,600 literacy educators.Connect with Michelle:Visit: www.michelleandthecolorfulclassroom.comFollow me on Instagram: @michelle_thecolorfulclassroom & @logosliteracyacademyJoin our Facebook CommunitySign up for my NewsletterShop on TPT: The Colorful ClassroomFor Phonics Resources, grab: The COLORFUL Phonics ToolkitWant to Support the Podcast?Make a Donation to Support ProductionInterested in Learning More about Morphology?Logos Literacy Academy with Michelle Sullivan & Sarah PaulJoin: Beyond Phonics Club - our Membership CommunityMentioned in this episode:Beyond Phonics ClubFind out more about our membership community: https://beyond-phonics-club.circle.so/beyond-phonics-clubThe Super Popular Suffix <-s>Grab The Super Popular Suffix -s Book + Essie Plushie Bundle for 15% OFF! 🎉 Use code COLORFUL2 at checkout ⏰ Offer valid through November 10, 2026 https://phonicsreadalouds.com/products/suffix-s-book-and-plushie-bundle Book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4yGBGGYReading Science AcademyGet your FREE grouping resource bundle here: https://www.stephaniestollarconsulting.com/groupingsheets?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=podcast Join The Reading Science Academy: https://www.stephaniestollarconsulting.com/register?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show-notes&utm_campaign=literacy-in-color

How long should a child struggle before we recognize that the instruction they're receiving simply isn't enough? Also, why are so many students with dyslexia still caught in cycles of intervention without meaningful progress?In this Dyslexia Awareness Month bonus episode, I'm joined by two returning guests, Dr. Brennan Chandler and Missy Purcell, who are joining forces through The Dyslexia Parent Project to help families and educators better understand how to advocate for effective literacy instruction.We're moving beyond conversations about dyslexia characteristics and myths to examine what happens when children enter the school system and begin showing signs of reading difficulties. From universal screening and MTSS to special education evaluations and individualized instruction, we explore where students fall through the cracks, as well as what we can do to change that.Brennan shares how schools can use curriculum-based measures, progress monitoring, and data-based decision-making to determine whether students are making meaningful progress. Missy brings her perspective as both a former educator and parent advocate, sharing real experiences of children spending years in intervention without receiving the support they need.We also unpack why simply making progress isn't necessarily enough, why the name of an intervention program matters less than how instruction is individualized, and what it really means to turn up the "dials" of instructional intensity.Key TakeawaysHow universal screening and Tier 1 data can help schools identify students who need additional supportWhy MTSS cannot be used to delay or deny an evaluation when a disability is suspectedThe difference between making progress and making meaningful progress toward grade-level expectationsHow curriculum-based measures (CBMs) can guide instructional decisionsWhy specially designed instruction must be individualized, intensive, and responsive to student dataHow educators can adjust instructional intensity when interventions aren't workingHow The Dyslexia Parent Project aims to equip families and educators with accessible information and supportDyslexia Parent ProjectWebsite: dyslexiaparentproject.orgConnect with Brennan Chandler, PhD:Website: brennanchandler.comInstagram: @BrennanChandlerPhDLinkedIn: Brennan Chandler, PhDBrennan Chandler’s Speaking EngagementsConnect with Missy Purcell:Website: https://misspurcell.com/Instagram: @misspurcelladvocatesLinkedIn: Missy PurcellSold a Story - Episode 6: “The Reckoning” features Missy PurcellConnect with Michelle:Visit: www.michelleandthecolorfulclassroom.comFollow me on Instagram: @michelle_thecolorfulclassroom & @logosliteracyacademyJoin our Facebook CommunitySign up for my NewsletterShop on TPT: The Colorful ClassroomFor Phonics Resources, grab: The COLORFUL Phonics ToolkitWant to Support the Podcast?Make a Donation to Support ProductionInterested in Learning More about Morphology?Logos Literacy Academy with Michelle Sullivan & Sarah PaulJoin: Beyond Phonics Club - our Membership CommunityMentioned in this episode:The Super Popular Suffix <-s>Grab The Super Popular Suffix -s Book + Essie Plushie Bundle for 15% OFF! 🎉 Use code COLORFUL2 at checkout ⏰ Offer valid through November 10, 2026 https://phonicsreadalouds.com/products/suffix-s-book-and-plushie-bundle Book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4yGBGGYReading Science AcademyGet your FREE grouping resource bundle here: https://www.stephaniestollarconsulting.com/groupingsheets?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=podcast Join The Reading Science Academy: https://www.stephaniestollarconsulting.com/register?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show-notes&utm_campaign=literacy-in-colorBeyond Phonics ClubFind out more about our membership community: https://beyond-phonics-club.circle.so/beyond-phonics-club