Let's Talk, Teacher to Teacher With Dr. Gina Pepin
Welcome to the Let’s Talk, Teacher to Teacher podcast. My name is Dr. Gina Pepin - and I am so happy to meet you. I am a mom, teacher, professor, supervisor for teacher candidates, a reading specialist and a whole lot more! I am the 2023-2024 Region 1 Michigan Teacher of the Year and State Finalist - and also served in this role as part of the very first group of Regional Teachers/State Finalists of the Year in 2018-2019. But what I want you to know the most about me is… I have a great passion for early literacy and teacher preparation and the thing I am most proud of is of course our children… but my once in a lifetime chance to become a co-author, along with the extremely talented children’s author - Eric Litwin ! Together… we wrote: The Power of Joyful Reading: Help Your Young Readers Soar to Success. You can learn more about me - my experiences, how to hire me to speak at your workshops, schools, teacher programs etc… at www.ginapepin.com I offer you practical make and takes - easy tips along with real life shared stories - so that you can easily create joyful shared reading experiences and other amazing strategies and approaches in your learning space/s right away. I am here to help you make powerful changes - Let’s do this together. Check out the Ride and Read program I designed along with 100s of FREE resources at www.ginapepin.com and https://www.instagram.com/drginapepin/
Episodes
Fine motor development is about much more than “cute crafts”—it’s the foundation for writing, cutting, manipulating tools, and building independence in everyday classroom routines. In this episode of Let’s Talk Teacher to Teacher, we explore what strong fine motor skills look like in early learners, common signs students may need extra support, and simple ways to strengthen hand muscles...
Reading success doesn’t happen by chance—and it’s not built on skills alone. In this episode of Let’s Talk Teacher to Teacher, we explore a simple, powerful formula: Joy + Engagement + Immersion = Reading Success.
You’ll learn how joy creates emotional safety and motivation, how engagement keeps students actively thinking with text, and how immersion (time, access, and volume of reading)...
In this episode of Let’s Talk Teacher to Teacher, Dr. Gina Pepin explores the critical but often unnoticed role of visual sequential memory in early reading and writing. Learn how weak visual sequential memory leads to letter and word order reversals, omissions, and reading confusion. Discover classroom signs to watch for, practical multi-sensory intervention strategies, and tips for building strong sequencing...
Bilateral coordination is a big deal in early learning—because when children can use both sides of their body together, everything from cutting and writing to getting dressed and participating in classroom routines becomes easier.
In this episode of Let’s Talk Teacher to Teacher, we break down what bilateral coordination is, what it looks like when students are still developing it, and how to strengthen i...
Joy isn’t the same thing as “quiet compliance,” and it isn’t constant chaos disguised as fun. In this episode of Let’s Talk Teacher to Teacher, we unpack what real classroom joy looks and feels like in early childhood and elementary settings—warm, structured, inclusive, and grounded in strong relationships.
You’ll hear practical, teacher-friendly ways to build joy through pre...
Let’s Talk Teacher to Teacher
Still have students who “just can’t get” long vowels versus short vowels—no matter how many anchor charts, hand signals, or reminders you try? In this segment, Dr. Pepin shares the shift that helps it finally stick: stop teaching long/short vowels as something students have to hear, and start teaching them as a spelling decision they can see.
You’...
Let’s Talk Teacher to Teacher
Some students know phonics rules—but apply the wrong one at the wrong time. If you have a reader who turns pop into pope, sack into sake, or “fixes” unfamiliar words to make them look more like real ones, this episode is for you.
In this Teacher-to-Teacher conversation, Dr. Gina Pepin breaks down what these long-vowel errors actually signal (hint: they’...
In this Truth Be Told episode of Let’s Talk Teacher to Teacher, I’m tackling a classroom mystery we all know too well: students who can read every word on the page… while completely ignoring punctuation. Commas vanish, periods become optional, and kids power through sentences until they run out of breath like fluency is a sprint.
I’ll share the funny (and painfully familiar) moments that happ...
Unleash the magic of listening and storytelling with Dr. Gina Pepin in Every Sound Has a Story! This playful and interactive podcast turns everyday noises into fantastic adventures, helping young children build early literacy, language, and imagination skills. Each episode guides listeners through The Sound Explorer’s Tale, a creative game where kids guess mystery sounds, dream up imaginative stories inspired ...
On this episode of Word Wonders at Home!, Dr. Gina Pepin shares the magic of “Word Boards” for families who want to boost early language and reading skills. Discover how setting up a simple word board in your home can turn everyday moments into learning opportunities. Dr. Gina offers practical tips for showcasing new words, involving children in decorating and choosing weekly favorites, and weaving these...
Join Dr. Gina Pepin on Let’s Talk Teacher to Teacher as she explores the real reasons why some students struggle with reading. This episode dives into the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), highlighting the importance of early observation, effective screening tools, and family input. Learn how visual processing challenges can be easily overlooked and discover practical strategies at each tier—from c...
In this episode of Table Talk Readers, Dr. Gina Pepin invites families to transform mealtime into a playful learning experience with family-ready placemats. Discover how these creative placemats can help build early reading skills—like concepts of print, the alphabetic principle, and word recognition—right at the kitchen table. Packed with practical ideas for DIY placemats, fun games, and ways to weave r...
Join Dr. Gina Pepin in Precious Print as she reveals the power of labeling your home to build early reading skills. Alongside coauthor Eric Litwin, Dr. Gina explains how children learn best when they see, touch, and talk about words in their daily world. Discover handy tips for using labeled objects, engaging in word-rich conversations, and make reading a seamless part of family life. Check out the “Ride and R...
In this episode of Let’s Talk Teacher to Teacher, Dr. Gina Pepin explores the benefits of moving writing off the desk and onto the wall! Discover how using vertical spaces—like easels, chalkboards, whiteboards, windows, mirrors, brick walls, and craft paper—can spark creativity, improve motor skills, and make writing irresistible for students. Dr. Gina shares practical tips for safe and engaging se...
In this episode of Let’s Talk Teacher to Teacher, Dr. Gina Pepin explores why today’s children struggle to visualize and imagine in our fast-paced, image-driven world—and how this impacts their comprehension and creative thinking. Discover practical, engaging activities for home and classroom that help kids build their mental imagery skills, from listen-and-draw games to guided imagery exercises an...
In this inspiring episode of “Let’s Talk Teacher to Teacher,” Dr. Gina Pepin welcomes a special guest who is both an accomplished reading interventionist and the coauthor (alongside children's author Eric Litwin) of The Power of Joyful Reading: Help Your Young Readers Soar to Success. Drawing from her unique dual role, she shares how effective reading instruction is about balancing intensive, syste...
In this insightful episode of the Let’s Talk, Teacher to Teacher podcast, Dr. Gina Pepin—a passionate reading specialist, professor, and Region 1 Michigan Teacher of the Year—dives into a commonly overlooked factor in early literacy: how vision issues can impact learning to read, especially for students already identified with speech or language impairments. Dr. Pepin shares a powerful real-life st...
In this episode of Let’s Talk Teacher to Teacher, Dr. Gina Pepin unpacks what Michigan’s new dyslexia law means for secondary content area teachers. Learn the law’s key requirements, discover specific classroom strategies, and gather tips for making your subject accessible and empowering for students with dyslexia. Whether you teach literature, chemistry, or American history, this episode will help...
In this episode of Let’s Talk Teacher to Teacher, Dr. Gina Pepin breaks down Michigan’s new dyslexia law and what it means for elementary educators. Learn about universal screening, practical classroom requirements, and actionable strategies for early identification and support. Dr. Pepin empowers teachers to use structured literacy and collaborative practices—so every student has a chance to succe...
In this episode of Let’s Talk Teacher to Teacher, Dr. Gina Pepin explores the key characteristics of dyslexia in middle and high school students. Learn what dyslexia looks like beyond elementary grades, discover classroom signs to watch for, and gather practical tips for supporting adolescent learners—whether it’s with extra time, audiobooks, alternative assessments, or just a bit more patience and...
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