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

In this heartfelt, powerful, and impactful episode, I am joined by Dr. Jasmine Rogers, a leading national voice in literacy instruction and a trailblazer in culturally competent teaching practices. Dr. Rogers specializes in approaches that affirm Black Language (Black English) in the classroom and has dedicated her career to revolutionizing literacy instruction by honoring every student's linguistic heritage.With nine years of classroom experience in charter and DC Public Schools, Dr. Rogers witnessed firsthand how traditional reading instruction often left Black Language-speaking students behind. Her groundbreaking research at American University’s School of Education challenges long-held misconceptions and shows that even minimal training on Black Language significantly improves teacher effectiveness.In this episode, Dr. Rogers shares insights from her research, discussing how recognizing and celebrating Black Language—rather than correcting it—is essential to honoring students' identities and supporting their academic growth. She explains how Black Language is not a dialect or slang but a fully developed linguistic system with its own phonology, morphology, and syntax, and why we must celebrate this diversity in our classrooms.We dive deep into misconceptions about Black Language, explore the difference between deficit-based and asset-based approaches, and discuss how educators can integrate culturally responsive literacy practices into their teaching - especially in the Structured Literacy classroom. Dr. Rogers introduces the concept of the "Revolutionary Love Response" as a powerful teaching move, emphasizing the importance of affirming students’ linguistic choices while still guiding them toward proficiency in generalized English.This episode is a clarion call for educators to reflect on their teaching practices, embrace linguistic diversity, and create classrooms where every student’s language and identity are celebrated. Dr. Rogers’ mission is clear: to transform literacy instruction by affirming students' linguistic heritage, and in this conversation, she equips us with the knowledge & tools to get us started.Resources Mentioned:Linguistic Justice by Dr. April Baker Bell Black Communications and Learning to Read by Terry Meier Revolutionary Love: Creating a Culturally Inclusive Classroom by Kamania Wynter-Hoyte, Eliza Braden, and Michele Meyers Dr. Megan-Brette Hamilton’s WebsiteDr. Megan-Brette Hamilton’s Podcast: Honeybee Connection Podcast by MBDr. Dionna Latimer-Hearn’s WebsiteDr. Dionna Latimer-Hearn’s Podcast: The Culture We SpeakThis 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!Where to Find Dr. Jasmine Rogers:DC Reading ClinicWebsite: www.jasminerogers.com LinkedIn: Jasmine RogersTwitter/x: @drj_indc IG & Threads: @drj_indc

We’re wrapping up this Literacy Coaching Conversations series with my good friend and colleague, Alison Kantor, a literacy coach and Orton-Gillingham trainer, to discuss the unique and impactful role of a literacy coach. Alison shares her journey from classroom teacher to literacy coach, her daily responsibilities, and her strategies for supporting teachers as they navigate the shift from Balanced Literacy to Structured Literacy. Whether you’re a new coach or a seasoned veteran, this episode is packed with practical advice and inspiration.Key Takeaways:A Day in the Life of a Literacy CoachBuilding Trust with TeachersImpactful Coaching MomentsResources Mentioned:Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Center for Dyslexia StudiesHeggerty Phonemic Awareness ProgramTools for Literacy Coaches:Google Calendar: Alison’s top recommendation for staying organized and following through on commitments.A Mobile “Tackle Box”: Filled with literacy materials like letter cards, mini whiteboards, and manipulatives to model strategies with teachers.Professional Development: Resources like blogs, podcasts, and coaching communities to stay up-to-date and continue learning.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

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