Science of Reading: The Podcast

David N. Rapp, Ph.D., a Professor at Northwestern University, explores the intricate relationship between memory and comprehension. He explains how comprehension involves both cognitive processes and memory retention. Rapp emphasizes the dangers of misinformation and its long-lasting effects on learning. He discusses strategies to combat incorrect memories, highlighting the importance of media literacy and source evaluation for young learners. Rapp’s insights shed light on how accurate knowledge can be built through comparing multiple sources.

Doug Lemov, a former teacher and the chief knowledge officer at Teach Like a Champion, dives into the crucial connection between fluency and comprehension, especially in middle and secondary education. He emphasizes the importance of reading whole books to enhance understanding and cautions against relying solely on vocabulary context clues. Lemov argues for intentional teaching strategies, including expressive read-alouds and close reading, to combat disfluency in students. He highlights that deep empathic connection to texts can unlock profound comprehension.

In this special dyslexia-focused Essentials episode of Science of Reading: The Podcast, Susan Lambert pulls from past episodes to summarize everything you need to know about dyslexia, from experts Emily Lutrick, Ed.D.; Nadine Gaab, Ph.D.; Tim Odegard, Ph.D.; Sally Shaywitz, M.D.; and Francisco Usero-González, Ph.D. You'll also hear first-hand accounts from young people about their personal experiences with dyslexia, reading, and the education system. Even if you have little prior knowledge of dyslexia, you’ll walk away from this episode with a foundational understanding of the condition, including what it is, what causes it, how to identify it, the importance of early screening, how it is a continuum, methods for intervention, and more.Show notes:ResourcesAccess free high-quality resources at our brand new professional learning page: http://amplify.com/science-of-reading/professional-learning Download your Dyslexia Support Power PackJoin our community Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/scienceofreadingEpisode Timestamps00:27 Introduction to SoR: Essentials01:02 Susan’s personal connection with dyslexia02:53 Accounts from young people on their experience of dyslexia05:09 Defining dyslexia with Dr. Emily Lutrick06:53 Dyslexia as a reading disability with Dr. Nadine Gaab07:39 Three key characteristics of people with dyslexia with Dr. Tim Odegard09:42 Longitudinal study with Dr. Sally Shaywitz11:54 The causes of dyslexia13:09 Early identification and effective intervention15:22 Discrepancy model/Waiting to fail model16:35 How early is too early to screen for dyslexia18:37 How to know when a student is at risk for dyslexia21:54 Identifying risk factors in older students22:54 Decoding nonsense words24:27 The power of naming a struggle25:28 The importance of having a cohesive system in place26:43 Screening students in their home language with Dr. Francisco Paco Usero Gonzalez29:45 Dyslexia as a continuum33:41 Final thoughts from young people on dyslexia36:12 Preview of upcoming episode*Timestamps are approximate, rounded to nearest minute

Katie Pace Miles, Ph.D., a reading scientist and founder of The Reading Institute, shares insights on orthographic mapping as a key cognitive process in reading. She explains how it integrates spelling, pronunciation, and meaning but emphasizes it can't be directly taught. Practical strategies for developing good reading habits in young learners are highlighted, along with the critical role of spelling in comprehension. Katie also discusses effective interventions for struggling readers, stressing that persistent, structured practice can lead to success.

Wesley Hoover, Ph.D., a psycholinguist from the University of Texas at Austin, dives deep into the complexities of the Simple View of Reading. He explains how reading comprehension hinges on both word recognition and language comprehension. Discover the impact of these factors on student struggles and misconceptions surrounding the model. Wesley also highlights the importance of assessing reading frameworks against research while advocating for the value of language comprehension instruction in lifelong learning.

Podcast host Susan Lambert gives you a first look at Season 10 of Science of Reading: The Podcast. This season will focus on reading comprehension, taking a deep dive into what is ultimately the goal of every classroom: breaking down why comprehension matters and how to achieve it. Get a glimpse into the season’s different angles on comprehension, as well as the expert guests you can look forward to hearing from.Show notes:Access free, high-quality resources at our brand new, companion professional learning page: http://amplify.com/science-of-reading/professional-learning  Join our community Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/scienceofreadingConnect with Susan Lambert: www.linkedin.com/in/susan-lambert-b1512761/Trailer: Beyond My Years is back for Season 2!

In this engaging discussion, Susan Lambert, an experienced educator and advocate for literacy, teams up with hosts Ana Torres and Eric Cross. They emphasize that every educator plays a crucial role in literacy development, regardless of subject matter. Susan shares practical tips for enhancing academic language, highlighting strategies like connecting new vocabulary to existing knowledge. The trio also explores the importance of coherence in instruction and how building knowledge should be a school-wide initiative. Eric illustrates these concepts through Scarborough's Rope, expanding literacy beyond traditional boundaries.

Amie Burkholder, a literacy coach and author of "Literacy Unlocked," joins the discussion to share actionable insights for educators. She addresses the evolution of the Science of Reading movement and the struggles teachers face in adopting research-based methods. Practical classroom activities, especially focused on phonemic awareness, are highlighted to enhance literacy instruction. Amie emphasizes the need for manageable changes and accessible resources, encouraging educators to create a supportive reading community.

Tim Shanahan, Distinguished Professor Emeritus and a renowned literacy expert, delves into his book, 'Leveled Reading, Leveled Lives.' He challenges the effectiveness of leveled reading, arguing it often holds students back rather than helping them. Shanahan advocates for explicit instruction and practical strategies teachers can implement to enhance reading outcomes. He highlights the importance of tackling complex sentence structures for better comprehension and stresses the need for a comprehensive approach to literacy that addresses diverse student needs.

Sharon Vaughn, a leading researcher and Executive Director at the Meadow Center for Preventing Educational Risk, joins expert Hugh Catts from Florida State University to dive deep into the complexities of reading comprehension. They discuss reframing comprehension not just as a skill but as a multifaceted outcome influenced by vocabulary and background knowledge. The conversation emphasizes the importance of asking the right questions, selecting appropriate texts, and understanding that reading serves a purpose beyond mere comprehension.