Literacy in Color: A Science of Reading Aligned Podcast for Educators

What is Structured Literacy, exactly? Let’s take a deep dive into this research-based instructional approach rooted in the Science of Reading. We’ll unpack the guiding principles and elements of Structured Literacy, explain how it differs from Balanced Literacy, and share why it’s so effective for teaching all students—especially those with dyslexia or other reading challenges. By the end of this episode, you’ll have a clear understanding of how Structured Literacy sets students up for lifelong success.Key Takeaways:Structured Literacy vs. Balanced LiteracyGuiding Principles of Structured Literacy: Systematic, Cumulative, Explicit, DiagnosticThe Five Elements of Structured LiteracyWhy Structured Literacy MattersResources Mentioned:Structured Literacy - outlined by the IDAThe Ladder of Reading Infographic by Nancy YoungBook: Climbing The Ladder of Reading & Writing: Meeting the Needs of ALL Learners by Nancy Young & Jan HasbrouckLETRS TrainingBook: Uncovering the Logic of English by Denise EideThis post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting the podcast!Connect with Me:Follow me on Instagram: @michelle_thecolorfulclassroomJoin our Facebook CommunitySign up for my NewsletterShop on TPT: The Colorful ClassroomVisit: www.michelleandthecolorfulclassroom.comJoin The COLORFUL Literacy Toolkit Membership

In this episode of The Literacy in Color Podcast, Michelle chats with Merri Polhemus, a district-wide literacy coach focused on supporting teachers in building strong foundational skills. Now in her second year as a literacy coach, Merri discusses her unique role, her journey from classroom teacher to coach, and the many ways she helps teachers master phonics and phonological awareness instruction. She also shares tips on using data to drive instruction and offers advice for new literacy coaches and interventionists working in foundational skills.In this episode, you’ll learn:The unique aspects of Merri's district-wide coaching role and how she supports K-2 teachers.How Merri helps teachers analyze data and implement targeted small-group instruction.The importance of using decodable assessments and how they shift instruction from leveled readers to phonics-focused teaching.Professional development resources Merri recommends for deepening expertise in foundational literacy skills.Key Takeaways:Modeling Lessons is Key: Merri frequently models whole-group and small-group phonics lessons to help teachers implement effective instruction.Data-Driven Instruction: Shifting from leveled readers to decodable assessments helps teachers identify specific phonics skills that students need to work on.Build Relationships: Establishing trust and strong relationships with teachers is crucial for successful coaching and supporting foundational skills work.Resources Mentioned:Professional Books:Know Better, Do Better by David and Meredith LibenSpeech to Print by Louisa Cook MoatsReading Above the Fray by Julia Lindsey7 Mighty Moves by Lindsay KemenyShifting the Balance by Jan Burkins and Kari YatesDifferentiating Phonics Instruction by Wiley BlevinsChoosing and Using Decodable Texts by Wiley BlevinsThe Reading Comprehension Blueprint by Nancy Lewis HennessyOvercoming Dyslexia by Sally Shaywitz, M.D. and Jonathan Shaywitz, M.D.Ready to Read by Mary Lupiani Farrell & Francie M. MatthewsEssentials of Assessing, Preventing, and Overcoming Reading Difficulties by David A. KilpatrickFairleigh Dickinson University’s Dyslexia Program: Merri completed her certification as a dyslexia specialist, which deepened her expertise in foundational skills.This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting the podcast!Tools for Literacy Coaches:A Planner and Pencil: Merri emphasizes the importance of staying organized in her coaching role, with a good planner being an essential tool for managing meetings and schedules.A Teacher-Centric Approach: Always approach coaching with a teacher’s perspective in mind to build trust and rapport.Prepared Resources: Being one step ahead and providing ready-to-use materials for teachers helps ensure instructional fidelity and saves them valuable time.Where to Find Merri:Email: angelteachables@gmail.comInstagram: @angelteachablesTeachers Pay Teachers Store: Angel TeachablesYouTube: Literacy with Mrs. P Connect with Me:Follow me on Instagram: @michelle_thecolorfulclassroomJoin our Facebook CommunitySign up for my NewsletterShop on TPT: The Colorful ClassroomVisit: www.michelleandthecolorfulclassroom.comJoin The COLORFUL Literacy Toolkit Membership

In the final episode of this mini-series on Scarborough’s Reading Rope, we tie everything together by exploring the culmination of skilled reading: fluency and comprehension. We’ll recap the interconnected strands of Word Recognition and Language Comprehension, discuss the role of fluency as a bridge between decoding and comprehension, and unpack why both knowledge-building and strategy instruction are essential for fostering reflective, skilled readers.Key Takeaways:Fluency Defined: Fluency is "reasonably accurate reading at an appropriate rate, with suitable expression," leading to deep comprehension and motivation to read (Jan Hasbrouck & Deb Glaser).Components of Fluency: Accuracy, rate, and prosody work together to create fluent, engaging readers.Fluency as a Bridge: Without fluency, readers struggle to focus on comprehension. Fluency frees cognitive resources to engage deeply with the text.Comprehension Strategies vs. Knowledge Building: Both are essential—strategies help students process text deeply, while background knowledge allows them to make meaningful connections.Skilled Reading: The fluent coordination of word recognition and text comprehension is the ultimate goal, as defined on the right-hand side of Scarborough’s Rope.Related Episodes:Episode 7: Unraveling Scarborough’s Rope: Word RecognitionEpisode 9: Unraveling Scarborough’s Reading Rope: Language ComprehensionResources Mentioned:Reading Fluency by Jan Hasbrouck & Deb GlaserTim Shanahan’s Blog post: Knowledge or Comprehension Strategies -- What Should We Teach?This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting the podcast!Connect with Me:Follow me on Instagram: @michelle_thecolorfulclassroomJoin our Facebook CommunitySign up for my NewsletterShop on TPT: The Colorful ClassroomVisit: www.michelleandthecolorfulclassroom.comJoin The COLORFUL Literacy Toolkit Membership

In this Coaching Conversation, I chat with literacy coach Amie Burkholder about the importance of building trust with teachers. Amie opens up about her journey from classroom teacher to literacy coach, sharing strategies that have helped her foster supportive and impactful relationships with educators. Whether you're a new or experienced literacy coach, Amie’s advice on building trust is invaluable for creating a strong foundation for coaching success.Key Takeaways:The Importance of Trust in Coaching: Learn why trust is essential to the coaching relationship and how it creates a safe space for teachers to open up and engage in growth-focused conversations.Strategies for Creating a Trusting Environment: Amie shares practical steps like student-centered conversations, small acts of kindness, and a commitment to supporting teachers’ individual needs.First Steps for New Coaches: Discover Amie’s approach to setting clear goals, collaborating with administrators, and establishing her role in the school.Balancing Constructive Feedback and Trust: Amie explains how to approach feedback in a non-evaluative way, encouraging reflection and highlighting strengths to build confidence.Tips for Rebuilding Lost Trust: Gain insight into how coaches can reconnect with teachers if trust has been strained, through empathy, patience, and small supportive gestures.Tools for Literacy Coaches:Clear Role Definition Document: Amie recommends a document outlining a literacy coach’s role to clarify responsibilities for administrators and teachers.Engagement Tools: Items like “witch fingers” or other small props to make literacy fun and engaging for students, which also help teachers see the joy in literacy lessons.Positive Feedback Notes: Amie keeps pre-made sheets on her cart for leaving quick, encouraging notes after classroom observations.Resources Mentioned:Coach’s Role PrintableWhere to Find Amie:Instagram: @literacy.edventuresFacebook: Literacy EdventuresWebsite: https://www.literacyedventures.com/Amie’s Coaching Cohort

Join me as we explore the Language Comprehension side of Scarborough’s Reading Rope, a critical yet often under-discussed component in the Science of Reading. While Word Recognition gets much of the spotlight, Language Comprehension is equally vital for developing skilled readers. We’ll unpack the five strands of this half of the rope—Background Knowledge, Vocabulary, Language Structures, Verbal Reasoning, and Literacy Knowledge—and discuss how they work together to foster deep reading comprehension.Five Strands of Language Comprehension:Background KnowledgeVocabularyLanguage StructuresVerbal ReasoningLiteracy KnowledgeRelated Episodes:Episode 7: Unraveling Scarborough’s Rope: Word RecognitionResources Mentioned:The Simple View of Reading (from Reading Rockets)Scarborough’s Reading Rope (from Really Great Reading)The Reading Comprehension Blueprint by Nancy HennessyShifting the Balance for Grades 3-5 by Katie Egan Cunningham, Jan Burkins and Kari YatesThis post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting the podcast!Connect with Me:Follow me on Instagram: @michelle_thecolorfulclassroomJoin our Facebook CommunitySign up for my NewsletterShop on TPT: The Colorful ClassroomVisit: www.michelleandthecolorfulclassroom.comJoin The COLORFUL Literacy Toolkit Membership

In this episode, Michelle welcomes Alicia Drozd, a literacy coach and leader at the Rutgers University Center for Literacy Development, to discuss the art of delivering meaningful and well-received feedback to teachers. They explore the nuances of giving feedback that not only supports growth but fosters trust and collaboration. Alicia shares her insights on the importance of ongoing communication, how to handle resistance from teachers, and why building relationships is the key to successful coaching. Whether you're a coach looking to improve your feedback strategies or a teacher interested in receiving feedback more effectively, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways.In this episode, you’ll learn:How Alicia's coaching journey began and what inspired her to pursue literacy coaching.Why having an open mind and curiosity are two of the most important qualities a coach can have.Practical advice for delivering feedback that is both meaningful and well-received by teachers.How to ensure feedback is specific, actionable, and implemented effectively.The role of ongoing communication in maintaining strong coaching relationships throughout the year.Strategies for handling resistance or defensiveness when delivering feedback.Key Takeaways:Feedback Should Be a Conversation: It’s not a monologue of what a teacher did right or wrong. Engage teachers in a dialogue where they reflect on their instruction, and together, create a plan for improvement.Ongoing Communication is Essential: Coaching is built on relationships, and staying connected with teachers throughout the year fosters trust and openness to feedback.Handle Resistance with Empathy: If a teacher is defensive, pause and assess. Understand why they might be resistant and find a way to meet them where they are.Resources Mentioned:Tim Shanahan's BlogTim Shanahan’s Podcast: Shanahan on LiteracyJohn Hattie’s Research on Effect SizesRutgers Center for Literacy DevelopmentRutgers Center for Literacy Development’s Leader Leaders Institute Tools for Literacy Coaches:A Personalized Coaching Toolkit: Alicia’s gold zip pencil case filled with sharpies, flare pens, Post-its, and reference sheets—her essential tools for every coaching session.Mentor Texts and Current Research: Coaches should always stay on top of new research and have a go-to list of trusted resources.An Open Mind: Flexibility and curiosity are key tools in every coaching scenario. Alicia emphasizes the importance of being receptive to learning from the teachers you coach.Where to Find Alicia:Instagram: @literacytipstersRutgers Center for Literacy DevelopmentEmail: adrozd.coach@gmail.comThanks for tuning in to this episode of The Literacy in Color Podcast! Be sure to subscribe and leave a review if you enjoyed this episode, and stay connected for more expert insights on coaching and literacy development.Connect with Me:Follow me on Instagram: @michelle_thecolorfulclassroomJoin our Facebook CommunitySign up for my NewsletterShop on TPT: The Colorful ClassroomVisit: www.michelleandthecolorfulclassroom.comJoin The COLORFUL Literacy Toolkit Membership

Let’s dive deep into the intricacies of Scarborough’s Reading Rope, focusing specifically on the Word Recognition side. I break down how phonological awareness, decoding, and sight recognition work together to form the foundation of skilled reading. With insights into each strand, practical examples, and research-based explanations, this episode will give you a clearer understanding of what’ Word Recognition truly encompasses.Key Takeaways:Scarborough’s Reading Rope Explained: Learn how this model, developed by Dr. Hollis Scarborough, show how various subskills of Word Recognition and Language Comprehension intertwine.Phonological Awareness: Discover the different components of phonological awareness, from word and syllable awareness to onset-rime and phonemic awareness, and why these skills are essential for decoding and spelling.Decoding and the Alphabetic Principle: Understand how systematic phonics instruction builds decoding skills and why recognizing the relationship between letters and sounds is foundational for reading success.Sight Recognition: Get clarity on what it means to have words orthographically mapped in the brain, turning high-frequency and other words into instantly recognizable sight words, and how this process supports reading fluency.References Mentioned:The Simple View of Reading (from Reading Rockets)Scarborough’s Reading Rope (from Really Great Reading) David Kilpatrick’s Book:Equipped for Reading Success (re: Orthographic Mapping)This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting the podcast!Thank you for tuning in, and stay tuned for our next episode, where we’ll explore the Language Comprehension side of Scarborough’s Rope!Connect with Me:Follow me on Instagram: @michelle_thecolorfulclassroomJoin our Facebook CommunitySign up for my NewsletterShop on TPT: The Colorful ClassroomVisit: www.michelleandthecolorfulclassroom.comJoin The COLORFUL Literacy Toolkit Membership

Michelle sits down with Erin McBride, a seasoned literacy coach who has worked in various educational settings. Together, they explore the power of coaching cycles—how they work, why they're essential, and how they differ from traditional coaching.Erin shares her experiences navigating different coaching environments, from district-wide roles to her current work with the Rutgers Center for Literacy Development. Whether you're a coach, administrator, or teacher, this episode offers practical insights into the role of coaching cycles in driving instructional growth and student success.In this episode, you’ll learn:What a coaching cycle is and why it’s a powerful tool for teacher and student growth.How coaching cycles differ from traditional coaching approaches.Step-by-step guidance on how to run an effective coaching cycle, from goal setting to follow-up.How to prioritize which teachers or grade levels get coaching cycles when your schedule is packed.Tips for working with teachers who may be resistant to coaching or hesitant to engage in a cycle.Key Takeaways:Coaching Cycles are Collaborative: They involve setting mutually agreed-upon goals between coaches and teachers, focusing on both teacher and student development.Rinse and Repeat: Coaching cycles are ongoing processes that include demo lessons, co-teaching, and observation, providing continual feedback and support.Focus on Relationships: Building trust with teachers is key to making coaching successful—teachers are more likely to engage when they feel supported, not judged.Resources Mentioned:Rutgers Center for Literacy DevelopmentRutgers Center for Literacy Development’s Leader Leaders Institute Tools for Literacy Coaches:Bright Colored Paper/Post-its: A fun way to make sure your resources stand out and get noticed by teachers.Mentor Texts: A collection of rich, engaging texts to support teachers in literacy instruction.A Network of Coaches: Connect with other coaches to share ideas, vent, and collaborate—Erin mentions the importance of building this network for support and inspiration.Where to Find Erin:Instagram: @literacytipstersRutgers Center for Literacy DevelopmentThanks for listening to this episode of The Literacy in Color Podcast! Don’t forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review if you found this episode helpful.Connect with Me:Follow me on Instagram: @michelle_thecolorfulclassroomJoin our Facebook CommunitySign up for my NewsletterShop on TPT: The Colorful ClassroomVisit: www.michelleandthecolorfulclassroom.comJoin The COLORFUL Literacy Toolkit Membership

In this episode of The Literacy in Color Podcast, Michelle shares the story and inspiration behind her platform, The Colorful Classroom. From her background in color and design to her passion for literacy, Michelle explores what it means to have a "colorful" classroom. She introduces the acronym COLORFUL: Captivating Our Learners on Reading Fluently and Understanding Language, and dives into three powerful ways to bring color—both literally and figuratively—into literacy instruction. Discover how intentional use of color, language, and energy can create a vibrant, engaging learning environment for students.In this episode, you’ll learn:The backstory behind The Colorful Classroom and how Michelle’s journey in color design influenced her teaching.What it truly means to have a “colorful” classroom in literacy instruction, beyond just the visual aspect.Three strategies to create a COLORFUL classroom:Color Coding for Clarity: Using color to organize information, such as marking phonics patterns, morphemes, or even text comprehension cues.Using Colorful Language: Modeling rich, descriptive language to enhance listening and reading comprehension.Infusing Lessons with Joy and Energy: Captivating students with expressive read-alouds, songs, and movement to make literacy come alive.Resources Mentioned:Carla Siravo from IMSE, known for fun phonics songs on YouTube: We Don’t Talk About Bruno Parody

In this Coaching Conversation, Michelle chats with Hannah Irion-Frake, a first-year literacy coach who shares her inspiring journey from classroom teacher to instructional coach. They discuss the challenges and rewards of her new role, how her background prepared her, and the importance of building trust with teachers. Hannah offers valuable insights for coaches just starting out, including tips for managing time, supporting teachers, and using data to drive instruction. Whether you're new to coaching or simply interested in the perspective of a first-year coach, this episode is packed with relatable and practical advice.In this episode, you’ll learn:What inspired Hannah to transition from a third-grade teacher to a literacy coach.How her experience as a LETRS facilitator and former balanced literacy teacher prepared her for her new role.The strategies she uses to build relationships with teachers and establish trust.Some of the biggest challenges she has faced in her first few months, including time management and balancing responsibilities.The importance of data-driven instruction and the power of early intervention for students.Coaching resources and tools that have been instrumental in Hannah's first year.Key Takeaways:Building Relationships: Establishing trust with teachers is key. Be approachable, collaborative, and present in the classroom to support teachers.Data-Driven Instruction: Effective literacy coaching involves using data to tailor instruction and interventions for students in need.Time Management: Balancing coaching responsibilities requires a solid organizational system and the ability to set realistic goals.Resources Mentioned:Download Hannah’s FREE Lesson Planning Templates LETRS Training95 Percent Group's Top 10 ToolsStephanie Stollar’s Reading Science AcademyThe Reading LeagueInternational Dyslexia AssociationAcadience Learning: Professional DevelopmentMust-Have Tools for Literacy Coaches:Organizational System: Find a system that works for you—Hannah uses a Google Sheets template to manage her schedule and to-do list.Data to Instruction Knowledge: Learn how to turn assessment data into actionable instruction. Acadiance training was highly recommended.Second Computer Monitor: A practical but essential tool for handling data and managing multiple tasks efficiently.Where to Find Hannah:Instagram: @readingwithmrsifWebsite: readingwithmrsif.comEmail: readingwithmrsif@gmail.comThanks for tuning in to today’s episode of The Literacy in Color Podcast! Be sure to subscribe and leave a review if you found this episode helpful, and stay tuned for more conversations with amazing literacy coaches in our bonus series: Coaching Conversations!Connect with Me:Follow me on Instagram: @michelle_thecolorfulclassroomJoin our Facebook CommunitySign up for my NewsletterShop on TPT: The Colorful ClassroomVisit: www.michelleandthecolorfulclassroom.comJoin The COLORFUL Literacy Toolkit Membership