Sold a Story

APM Reports
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Dec 9, 2025 • 58min

Emily Hanford LIVE from Planet Word with Reid Lyon and Margaret Goldberg

Early in her teaching career, Margaret Goldberg was skeptical of the science of reading. Today, she is working with neuroscientist Reid Lyon to bring it into more classrooms. Lyon and Goldberg joined Sold a Story host Emily Hanford for a live conversation about the challenges of translating research into practice. The event was part of the Eyes on Reading series at Planet Word, a museum in Washington, D.C., dedicated to words and language. Read: Transcript of this episodeSee: Slideshow from the event (cute pictures!)Watch: All Eyes on Reading videosConnect: Sold a Story discussion guidesSupport: Donate to APM Reports Email us: soldastory@apmreports.org  Call us: (612) 888-7323Listener survey: Tell us about yourselfMore: soldastory.org Dive deeper into Sold a Story with a multi-part email series from host Emily Hanford. We’ll also keep you up to date on new episodes. Sign up at soldastory.org/extracredit.
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Aug 21, 2025 • 38min

14: The Cuts

The podcast delves into the fallout from federal funding cuts to educational research, spotlighting the crucial role of the Institute of Education Sciences. It shares poignant personal stories of job loss and uncertainty among educational researchers amidst political upheaval. The discussion also tackles the historical conflicts between scientific research and educational practices in reading instruction. Listen for insights on the future of literacy and the urgent need for reform in educational methods.
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Mar 6, 2025 • 34min

13: The List

In a thought-provoking conversation, Christopher Peake, a co-reporter on the Sold a Story series and education policy expert, dives deep into Ohio's controversial reading curriculum laws. They discuss how Steubenville, once a model of reading success, faces challenges from new 'science of reading' lists. Peake reveals the surprising influence of EdReports on district choices and the complexities of balancing curriculum standards with the realities of implementation. The episode sheds light on the critical factors that impact effective reading instruction.
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Feb 27, 2025 • 31min

12: The Evidence

Dive into the transformative journey behind a powerful educational program designed to boost reading skills among underprivileged children. Discover the challenges faced by the Steubenville school district and the promising 'Success for All' initiative that emerged. Uncover the complexities of implementing evidence-based methodologies and the hurdles posed by veteran teachers. The episode critiques the effectiveness of popular reading programs and emphasizes the need for accountability and proven practices in enhancing literacy.
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Feb 20, 2025 • 31min

11: The Outlier

In a surprising twist, a struggling Rust Belt town boasts remarkable reading success among its economically disadvantaged students. A deep dive reveals the essential role of preschool programs and a focus on spoken language. Innovative phonics instruction emphasizes letter sounds to enhance reading skills. Cooperative learning strategies allow students to practice extensively, while consistent teacher training ensures every educator is equipped to teach reading. Attendance initiatives further bolster student engagement, creating a thriving literacy environment.
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Nov 1, 2024 • 3min

The podcast that's changing education

A national journalist dives deep into the troubling history of reading instruction in schools. Discover how outdated methods persist despite being debunked by cognitive science. Explore the podcast's impact on educational policies aimed at enhancing literacy. Hear compelling discussions about the urgent need for reform in teaching practices, highlighting the transformative potential for students and educators alike.
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12 snips
Apr 11, 2024 • 31min

10: The Details

The podcast delves into the impact of the 'science of reading' movement on teachers, students, and parents, discussing the challenges and successes of transforming reading instruction in public schools. Experts highlight the importance of explicit instruction in basic reading skills and caution against oversimplification while emphasizing the need for adaptable teaching methods. The episodes explore the evolving reading landscape, concerns for dogmatism in reading programs, and the balance between implicit learning and explicit instruction in education reform.
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Apr 4, 2024 • 28min

9: The Aftermath

Lucy Calkins, Irene Fountas, and Gay Su Pinnell discuss the changing landscape of reading education. They talk about the struggle to maintain relevance in teaching reading, the consequences of outdated practices, and the fight to stay current in schools. The episode explores the aftermath of removing certain reading curriculums and the shift towards evidence-based programs in education.
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Mar 19, 2024 • 6min

Introducing: Sold a Story en español

Expert in education and literacy, Emily Hanford, discusses the importance of sharing stories in Spanish to engage Spanish-speaking communities in the US and the challenges of teaching English to Spanish-speaking children. The podcast also highlights the launch of 'Sold a Story' in Spanish and teases upcoming English episodes.
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6 snips
May 18, 2023 • 25min

8: The Impact

Across the country, school districts are dropping textbooks, state legislatures are going so far as to ban teaching methods, and everyone, it seems, is talking about "the science of reading." Things have been changing since Sold a Story was released. In this episode, we tell you about some of the changes and what we think about them.  Read: New reading laws sweep the nationRead: Transcript of this episode Watch: The story behind Sold a StoryOrganize: Sold a Story discussion guidesSupport: Donate to APM Reports Listener survey: Tell us about yourselfMore: soldastory.org EXTENDED READING Blog: Seidenberg on translating research into practice Article: Goldenberg, Goldberg on premortem (paywall) | Excerpt Dive deeper into Sold a Story with a multi-part email series from host Emily Hanford. We’ll also keep you up to date on new episodes. Sign up at soldastory.org/extracredit. 

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