In this episode, Susan Lambert talks with Kelly Butler and Margaret Goldberg about their experiences and insights into improving reading instruction, particularly in Mississippi and California. Kelly discusses her work with the Barksdale Reading Institute, its impact on reading education, and the importance of coaching and structured literacy. Margaret shares her experiences as a coach in California, the challenges of teacher training, and the importance of having a clear and effective literacy plan that includes acquiring high quality data and using it to inform all your strategies. Both guests emphasize the need for systemic change and the role of community involvement in educational success.

Show Notes 

• Follow: Kelly Butler’s Linkedin:  linkedin.com/in/kelly-butler-5b92b31b
• Follow: Kelly Butler’s Twitter/X: @KellyButler8
• Follow: Margaret Goldberg’s Twitter/X and Facebook: @right2readproj
• Follow: Margaret Goldberg’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaret-goldberg-247613117/
• Listen: S2 E5: The Right to Read Project on nurturing automatic readers, with Margaret Goldberg and Alanna Mednick
• Listen: S6 E1: The other side of Scarborough’s Rope, with Margaret Goldberg
• Listen: Emily Hanford “Sold a Story” series
• Look: Textbook sSpreadsheet from the Center for Reading Science at Mount Saint Joseph University
• Watch: Reading Universe: How Children Learn to Read, with Margaret Goldberg

Quotes

“The laws are telling us that time's up. We need to get this job done. The good news is we know how to do it. We just need to get it done everywhere.” —Kelly Butler

“My role is more to help people make sense of information that is much more widely available, and help them understand how it applies to the work that we're doing. Whereas before, I felt like I was trying to alert people to the existence of research that had been kept out of reach.” —Margaret Goldberg

Episode Timestamps*
03:00 Introduction: Who are Kelly Butler and Margaret Goldberg?
11:00 Challenges in Teacher Preparation
19:00 Effective Coaching Models
28:00 Margaret's Journey into Coaching
29:00 Collaborative Learning and Best Practices
30:00 Challenges and Solutions in Coaching
35:00 The Impact of Legislation on Coaching
36:00 Reflections on Coaching and Curriculum
48:00 Future Visions and Final Thoughts
*Timestamps are approximate, rounded to nearest minute