Phonics Part 2: Access Literacy Team Interview with Melody Furno & Dorothy Kardatzke

Apr 18, 2024

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About The Guests

ACCESS LITERACY TEAM

Dorothy Kardatzke
I live with my husband in Columbus, Ohio. I taught for more than 25 years in both general education classrooms and in classrooms for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Since 1997, when I was first trained in the English code, all my literacy instruction has been delivered using programs that are Orton-based. I left the classroom in 2018 to create space to write curriculum, and train/coach teachers. However, I will always be a teacher. It is who I am! I tutor little folks and big folks in literacy whenever I have the chance.

I had a rather circuitous educational journey which offered me the opportunity to embark on what I do presently. I completed a double major in Elementary Education and Deaf Education from Augustana College. I later completed post-graduate work in Linguistics and Language Development at the University of South Dakota and Neuroanatomy at The Ohio State University.

During leisure time, I enjoy spending time with my family, reading, hiking, fishing, canoeing, camping and cross-country skiing.

Melody Furno
My husband and I live in Columbus, Ohio where I taught an Orton-based Method for literacy in Kindergarten and first grade classrooms for 19 years. Encountering struggling readers in the classroom motivated me to enroll in coursework and to research current information on reading disabilities and dyslexia to set up interventions in the classroom.

Since leaving the classroom, I have used an Orton-based Method to train and consult teachers in literacy across the country and tutor struggling readers in 4th and 5th grades for Columbus Public Schools.

I enjoy nature, fishing, hiking and biking. My special interest is to encourage faith-based ministries to play a part in addressing youth and adult illiteracy.

Show Notes
Phonics programs are an important foundation for teaching students how to read. There are many programs and they differ widely. Learn about the unique features of this program. Discover what is important when looking for a phonics curriculum for your students.

Dorothy Kardatzke and Melanie Furno are the founders of Access Literacy. Their phonics curriculum, Literacy Essentials: Journey from Spelling to Reading is commonly used in classical schools. In this interview, they articulate the details that explain what a good phonic-based program looks like and why it matters. The Access Literacy program supports the road to integrating the components of writing, thinking well, and reading well.
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Note: Adrienne does not recieve compensation for recommending any curriculum on her podcast. The purpose of presenting curriculum on the podcast is to help parents and school leadership make well-informed decisions on curriculum that is most aligned to the classical tradition.
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Resources
Link to their Home page: https://www.accessliteracy.com/

Parent page including phonogram videos: https://www.accessliteracy.com/parents

Link for ordering teaching materials through Hillsdale: https://www.accessliteracy.com/projects-2

Link for ordering the Student Orthography Notebook: https://www.accessliteracy.com/projects-2

Books mentioned
Why Our Children Can’t Read, and What You Can Do About It by Diane McGuinness

Author in the Science of Reading field — Dr. Louisa Moats

The Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton- Porter
How to Read a Book by Mortimer Adler
How To Read a Difficult Book (free link to one page essay) by Mortimer Adler
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Credits:

Sound Engineer: Andrew Helsel

Logo Art: Anastasiya CF

Music: Vivaldi's Concerto for 2 Violins in B flat major, RV529 : Lana Trotovsek, violin Sreten Krstic, violin with Chamber Orchestra of Slovenian Philharmonic