Science of Reading: The Podcast Translating research into action, with Amie Burkholder
Aug 13, 2025
Amie Burkholder, a literacy coach and author of "Literacy Unlocked," joins the discussion to share actionable insights for educators. She addresses the evolution of the Science of Reading movement and the struggles teachers face in adopting research-based methods. Practical classroom activities, especially focused on phonemic awareness, are highlighted to enhance literacy instruction. Amie emphasizes the need for manageable changes and accessible resources, encouraging educators to create a supportive reading community.
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From Basals To A Reading Specialist Pivot
- Amie felt overwhelmed when handed basal readers as a new first-grade teacher and realized she didn't know how to teach reading well.
- That drove her back to school for reading specialist training and launched her deeper work in literacy coaching.
COVID Return To Kindergarten Revealed Gaps
- During COVID Amie was assigned back to teach kindergarten and calls that year her 'sabbatical' because it revealed gaps in classroom instruction.
- The experience let her test changes, then return to coaching with concrete evidence to share with teachers.
Research Without A Practical Whole
- Coursework introduced phonemic awareness and phonics but didn't show how components fit together in practice.
- That lack of cohesion left teachers with activities that didn't build blending, segmenting, and decoding skills in sequence.
