
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

Mar 18, 2022 • 53min
Ep 98: Improving Student Reading Growth in Months with Fluency Instruction and Practice
How can regular fluency practice lead to fluent readers? In today’s episode, educators Lorraine Griffith and Lindsay Kemeny discuss the impact of fluency in their classrooms. Fluency is a bridge: It connects word recognition with comprehension. We dive into whole and small group fluency instruction with simple strategies and more. Visit our website and subscribe to our newsletter. Follow us!Facebook and join our Facebook Group Twitter Instagram Resources A Focus on Fluency articleMatt Burns - Partner Reading Paragraph Shrinking PROTOCOL NASP HEREMatt Burns Video Youtube Lindsay Kemeny Youtube Students error correction for partner reading Regular Fluency Practice and Performance OpportunitiesWeekly Poem ExamplesPoetry Foundation Other texts SpeechesReaders TheaterBooks (first person) such as the Dear America series or Because of Winn DixiePattan Literacy Symposium (June 14) Related EpisodesEp. 9 Geodes Rock!Ep. 80 A Primary Teacher’s Perspective on Science of Reading, Small Group Instruction, and Use of Sound WallsEp. 62 Effective Fluency Instruction with Tim Rasinski 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.

Mar 11, 2022 • 54min
Ep 97: Going GLEAM with Lacey Robinson and Andrea Hancock
In this episode, we chat with our friends at UnboundEd about Going GLEAM. Lacey Robinson and Andrea Hancock share the GLEAM process - grade-level, engaging, affirming, and meaningful - and ways that educators can feel empowered to lead from their seat. Visit our website and subscribe to our newsletter. Follow us!Facebook and join our Facebook Group for resources, community, and Live Chats Fridays at 12pm ETTwitter Instagram Related Episodes Ep. 51: Shanita Rapatalo: The Science of Reading, An Equity IssueEp. 7: Why Curriculum Matters!Ep. 79: What Does Equitable ELA Instruction Require?Ep. 54: How can school leaders support teachers in Year 1 HQIM implementation? 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.

Mar 4, 2022 • 57min
Ep 96: What about Spelling? with Richard Gentry
We’ve been asked about spelling and the connection to reading science more times than we can count. Today, we talk with expert J. Richard Gentry, author of Brain Words and blog contributor to Psychology Today: Raising Readers, Writers, and Spellers (An Expert Guide for Parents).He tells us all about spelling and how it connects to our speech and language system. Moreover, he supplies teachers with practical, meaningful, science of reading-aligned strategies to teach spelling. Visit our website and subscribe to our newsletter. Follow us!Facebook and join our Facebook Group Twitter Instagram Related EpisodesEp. 65: Talking with the Literacy Documentary Team: The Truth About ReadingEp. 70: Science of Reading Part 1: Decodable Texts, Sound Walls, & the Aim of Early Literacy Ep. 23: Emily Hanford Epically Defines the Science of Reading 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.

Feb 25, 2022 • 53min
Ep. 95: Discussing the Shift to New Literacy Curriculum with Two District Leaders
Is your district in the process of choosing a new literacy curriculum? Or have you recently gone through the process? Adopting new curriculum is a huge change and involves shifting mindsets at all levels. In today’s episode, we talk with two district leaders and learners doing exciting work with evidence-based, high quality instructional materials (HQIM). Join us in our conversation with Jean Wyche, Elementary Language Arts Specialist at Fairfax County Schools, and Janise Lane, former Executive Director of Teaching and Learning in Baltimore City and current Regional VP for Partner Success at Amplify ELA. By the end of today’s episode, we hope you will learn concrete steps districts need to take when deciding to move to HQIM. We hope you will enjoy hearing how they keep core values close while building coherence, collaboration, and confidence! We’d love to hear your thoughts on this conversation, so send us an email melissaandlori@literacypodcast.com or send us a message on Twitter or Instagram @literacypodcast.Visit our website and subscribe to our newsletter. Follow us!Facebook and join our Facebook Group Twitter Instagram RESOURCES MENTIONEDEd Reports: https://edreports.org/ Selecting for Quality: 6 Key Adoption StepsCurriculum Matters: https://curriculummatters.org/ Rivet Education: https://riveteducation.org/ Book: Shifting the Balance RELATED EPISODESEpisode 48: Behind the Scenes at EdReports.orgEpisode 45: RivetED Talks High Quality Professional Learning (HQPL)Episode 7: Why Curriculum Matters! 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.

Feb 18, 2022 • 55min
Ep. 94: "If only I would have known..." Book Talk with Author Faith Borkowsky
Today we talk with Faith Borkowsky about her book, “If only I would have known… “ What I wish the Pediatrician, the Preschool Teacher, and the Librarian would have told me about Language, Literacy, and Dyslexia. This accessible book explains the science of reading in simple terms. Check out Ifonlybooks.com for free resources such as a book discussion guide. Visit our website and subscribe to our newsletter. Follow us!Facebook and join our Facebook Group Twitter Instagram 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.

Feb 11, 2022 • 50min
Ep 93: School Counselor and Reading Advocate Dad - Tre Hadrick
Tre Hadrick, father, guidance counselor, reading science advocate, and book club leader, joins us on the pod today. You might know him as Mr. Lit on Twitter or Instagram, where he advocates for literacy and justice for all. Tre’s book club, Lit Champs (Dad’s Literacy Book Club), gained attention when he posted a video discussing this book - If only I had known… by Faith Borkowsky. We connected with Tre to discuss the impact of this book on his son and community. We also consider the big impact of this piece by Dr. Stephen Dykstra, titled Trauma and Reading.Digressions include Tre’s children’s book, Cheesesteaks and Clippers: The Barbership where you can learn about you, me and we! and recommendations for both cheesesteaks and clippers in the Philly area. Visit our website and subscribe to our newsletter. Follow us!Facebook and join our Facebook Group Twitter Instagram 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.

Feb 4, 2022 • 1h 4min
[Listen Again] Ep. 23: Emily Hanford Epically Defines the Science of Reading
Hi Literacy Lovers! This week we wanted to offer you all a chance to listen to one of our favorite episodes from when we just started the podcast. The absolutely incredible and inspirational Emily Hanford drops a TON of information in this episode, so it's worth another listen if it's been a while. We hope you get as much from our conversation with her as we did! We will back next Friday with a brand new episode for you all. [From Feb 10, 2020] Today Emily Hanford joins Melissa and Lori to define the Science of Reading, addressing the current misinterpretation of the term and what it really means. She shares thoughts on teacher prep programs and where teachers get knowledge about what or how to teach, contemplates why teacher prep programs are not preparing teachers to teach kids how to read, and how curriculum plays a role in helping teachers who do not know the science of reading.Visit our website and subscribe to our newsletter. Follow us!Facebook and join our Facebook Group Twitter Instagram 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.

Jan 28, 2022 • 56min
Ep 92: Talking About the Literacy Block with Two Early Elementary Teachers
We are honored to talk with two early grade veteran teachers from Vista Peak Exploratory in Aurora, CO. Vista Peak is in Year 4 of Great Minds’ Wit & Wisdom ELA, Geodes, and Wilson Language Fundations… the trifecta! April Evans, grade 1, and Danielle Hunter, grade 3, discuss the transition from piecemeal, low quality curricula materials to high quality materials that focus on building both skills and knowledge. They share how their materials support engagement and excitement in creating a classroom community of learners. What does the literacy block look like in grades 1 and 3? How are knowledge and skills aligned through grade bands? Listen to find out. Decodable Readers Protocol from Student Achievement Partners Visit our website and subscribe to our newsletter. Follow us!Facebook and join our Facebook Group Twitter Instagram 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.

Jan 21, 2022 • 43min
Ep. 91: Part 2: Improving Reading for Older Students with David Liben
David Liben joins us again to discuss how to improve reading for older students. How can teachers help older students with unfinished literacy learning? How can teachers address foundational skills and fluency for older readers? Are decodables appropriate for older students? What is the role of independent reading? What is a volume of reading? Where does knowledge building fit? Listen and learn about these topics and more with one of our favorite literacy friends! David’s Course: Improving Reading for Older StudentsDavid & Meredith Liben’s Graphic Novel for Kids: How we read David’s blogs on Volume of Reading one and two Visit our website and subscribe to our newsletter. Follow us!Facebook and join our Facebook Group Twitter Instagram 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.

Jan 14, 2022 • 33min
Ep. 90: Part 1: Improving Reading for Older Students with David Liben
David Liben joins us again to discuss how to improve reading for older students. How can teachers help older students with unfinished literacy learning? How can teachers address foundational skills and fluency for older readers? Are decodables appropriate for older students? What is the role of independent reading? What is a volume of reading? Where does knowledge building fit? Listen and learn about these topics and more with one of our favorite literacy friends! David’s Course: Improving Reading for Older StudentsDavid & Meredith Liben’s Graphic Novel for Kids: How we read David’s blogs on Volume of Reading one and two Visit our website and subscribe to our newsletter. Follow us!Facebook and join our Facebook Group Twitter Instagram 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.