
Melissa & Lori Love Literacy ™
Melissa & Lori Love Literacy™ is a podcast for teachers. The hosts are your classroom-next-door teacher friends turned podcasters learning with you. Episodes feature top literacy experts and teachers who are putting the science of reading into practice. Melissa & Lori bridge the gap between the latest research and your day-to-day teaching.
Latest episodes

Nov 3, 2023 • 1h 7min
Ep. 167: The Relationship Between Phonics and Language Comprehension with Tiffany Hogan
Researcher Tiffany Hogan discusses the relationship between phonics and language comprehension, emphasizing systematic instruction. They explore components of language, word recognition, assessment challenges, and strategies for teaching. The discussion includes mispronunciations, dyslexia, developmental language disorder, and the importance of supporting neurodivergent individuals.

Nov 1, 2023 • 3min
Episode 166: Quick Q&A: What is Developmental Language Disorder?
What is Developmental Language Disorder, or DLD? Developmental Language Disorder is a brain-based neurodevelopmental diversity - such as autism or dyslexia or dysgraphia. Students with DLD are six times more likely to have reading difficulties. DLD is a brain variation that makes it difficult to learn language from the environment. ResourcesNew IDEA Guidance Includes Developmental Language Disorder as a Qualifying Category by Tiffany P. Hogan, Kelly Farquharson, Karla McGregorDLD and Me Educator Fact Sheet We answer your questions about teaching reading in The Literacy 50-A Q&A Handbook for Teachers: Real-World Answers to Questions About Reading That Keep You Up at Night.Grab free resources and episode alerts! Sign up for our email list at literacypodcast.com.Join our community on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter.

Oct 27, 2023 • 56min
[LISTEN AGAIN] Ep. 128: Dear Balanced Literacy Teacher with Missy Purcell
From October 7, 2022In this episode, we talk with former balanced literacy teacher and parent, Missy Purcell. She authored a blog post titled Dear Balanced Literacy Teacher.Missy writes, “According to Nancy Young’s ladder of reading, roughly 10-15% of kids can figure out reading out with this type of instruction, but my child, who would later be diagnosed with dyslexia, would never be able to become a proficient reader with any version of balanced literacy. He, according to Young, like 85% of students, benefit from or need systematic explicit instruction that follows a scope and sequence with fidelity to become proficient readers and writers.”We want to normalize the idea that most kids CAN learn how to read with structured literacy instruction. ResourcesDear Balanced Literacy Teacher Looking for Heroes: One Boy, One Year, 100 Letters 2nd EditionThese resources from the International Dyslexia Association are helpful to spread the word on social media about October as Dyslexia Awareness Month! We answer your questions about teaching reading in The Literacy 50-A Q&A Handbook for Teachers: Real-World Answers to Questions About Reading That Keep You Up at Night.Grab free resources and episode alerts! Sign up for our email list at literacypodcast.com.Join our community on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter.

Oct 20, 2023 • 42min
Ep. 165: How Brains Learn to Read and Dyslexia with Nadine Gaab
Nadine Gaab, Associate Professor of Education at Harvard, talks about how brains learn to read, debunking dyslexia myths. She emphasizes the importance of early identification and intervention for reading difficulties, as well as the challenges in teaching reading. The podcast also discusses the significance of early screening for learning disabilities, pre-screening children in community settings, and the mental health aspect of learning to read.

Oct 13, 2023 • 1h 10min
[LISTEN AGAIN] Ep. 127: Richard Gentry, Dyslexia Expert
From September 30, 2022 Dr. J. Richard Gentry, Dyslexia Expert and the “Guru of Spelling,” joins us on the podcast today to discuss dyslexia. Dyslexia is a specific learning disability, neurobiological in origin. It’s the #1 reading disability that manifests itself in a continuum. People with dyslexia have difficulty in accurate fluent reading, spelling, and decoding abilities. Dr. Gentry shares his personal story of overcoming dyslexia, how dyslexia affects people, and how teachers can help students with dyslexia in the classroom. We answer your questions about teaching reading in The Literacy 50-A Q&A Handbook for Teachers: Real-World Answers to Questions About Reading That Keep You Up at Night.Grab free resources and episode alerts! Sign up for our email list at literacypodcast.com.Join our community on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter.

Oct 6, 2023 • 46min
Ep. 164: Misconceptions about Learning to Read with Carolyn Strom
Carolyn Strom, a literacy expert, joins Melissa and Lori to debunk misconceptions about how the brain learns to read. They discuss explicit instruction, mapping words instead of memorizing, making drills engaging, the importance of spoken language in comprehension, and the phase of collecting and organizing in children's learning process.

Sep 29, 2023 • 50min
Ep. 163: Mom Advocate Discusses Dyslexia Awareness
This podcast episode features discussions on dyslexia awareness, the struggles and emotional impact on children with dyslexia, the importance of professional learning and quality materials for teachers, the frustration of not implementing effective teaching methods, the journey of a mother creating board games to teach reading, finding the right school for children with dyslexia, supporting struggling readers and empowering teachers with resources and techniques.

Sep 22, 2023 • 1h 14min
[Listen Again] Ep. 109: The Right to Read with Second Language Educator, Kim Lockhart
Canadian French immersion teacher and special educator, Kim Lockhart, discusses meeting the needs of students by removing the three cueing system and focusing on reading science. She models an evidence-based phonics lesson and emphasizes the importance of building language comprehension. The challenges faced by second language learners in French immersion programs are examined, along with the teaching approach for letter sounds and blending drills. The podcast also covers supporting children's education during the pandemic, tier one support for students with pronunciation difficulties, and the passion for literacy and favorite books.

Sep 15, 2023 • 1h 2min
[Listen Again] Episode 8: Kyair & Katie Talk REAL Teacher Talk!
Listen Again from July 9, 2019: A teacher's perspective on curriculum implementation is invaluable... and today, we have not ONE, but TWO teacher perspectives on Wit & Wisdom year one implementation! Kyair and Katie are funny, smart, and have incredible learner-mindsets. They discuss the engagement of their students in texts and tasks, how Wit & Wisdom provides equity and opportunity, and their thoughts on teaching with an integrated (not isolated) curricula - a shift in mindset from the way "school was done" previously. Look out for some cheesy dad jokes along the way (thanks, Kyair), and so much insight and inspiration from these two incredible educators!Connect with Kyair on Twitter @KyairbConnect with Katie on Twitter @KstoryscottiTNTP's The Opportunity Mythhttps://opportunitymyth.tntp.org/The Wrong Way to Teach Grammar - Michelle Navarre Clearyhttps://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2014/02/the-wrong-way-to-teach-grammar/284014/ We answer your questions about teaching reading in The Literacy 50-A Q&A Handbook for Teachers: Real-World Answers to Questions About Reading That Keep You Up at Night.Grab free resources and episode alerts! Sign up for our email list at literacypodcast.com.Join our community on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter.

Sep 8, 2023 • 39min
Ep. 162: Back to School: Teachers Speak Out
It's our first CALL IN EPISODE! Teachers voices are so important in this reading science movement. We asked teachers to call in and answer two questions: What is the most important thing you've learned so far about the science of reading?What is a goal you have this year connected to reading science?Listen and learn as fellow educators share about what big things are happening in their classrooms aligned to reading science. We answer your questions about teaching reading in The Literacy 50-A Q&A Handbook for Teachers: Real-World Answers to Questions About Reading That Keep You Up at Night.Grab free resources and episode alerts! Sign up for our email list at literacypodcast.com.Join our community on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter.