Science of Reading: The Podcast A better way to teach our teachers, with Dr. Karen Betz
Apr 23, 2025
Dr. Karen Betz, Assistant Professor of Literacy and Coordinator of Reading Science Programs at Marian University, shares her insights on improving teacher education for literacy success. She discusses her groundbreaking master's program in reading science and highlights the need for collaboration between universities and schools. Betz introduces a course alignment planning tool designed to ensure educators’ materials meet reading science objectives. She also encourages current teachers to actively participate in reforming higher education, fostering transparency and inquiry in educator preparation.
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Karen Betz's Lightbulb Moment
- Karen Betz realized her understanding of teaching reading was incomplete after training to coach with an Orton-Gillingham approach.
- This experience sparked her journey from classroom teacher to higher education literacy professor.
Orthographic Mapping Insight
- Understanding orthographic mapping and the simple view of reading was transformative for Karen Betz.
- These concepts helped her connect the pieces of effective reading instruction.
Gap in Teacher Preparation
- Pre-service teachers often enter classrooms underprepared because higher education faculty may not have enough K-12 experience.
- This gap results in in-service teachers needing additional support to fill literacy instruction gaps.
