READ Podcast

This LEAD on READ episode features Dr. Amy Murdoch, Assistant Dean of Reading Science at Mount St. Joseph University. Starting her career as a school psychologist, Dr. Murdoch has been a leader in reading education, driving systemic change and empowering teachers through the science of reading. In this episode, Dr. Murdoch discusses

• adopting a systems-level perspective and fostering collaboration among all stakeholders to instil...

Dr. Stephanie Al Otaiba joins READ to share her expertise in literacy interventions, the impact of social-emotional development on learning, and the future of reading education research. A leading researcher and professor at Southern Methodist University, Dr. Al Otaiba has led and collaborated on key studies on literacy and learning disabilities. In this episode, she discusses

• a framework for applying interventions in schools.
• th...

Ola Ozernov-Palchik, PhD, joins READ to discuss her work in dyslexia, neuroscience, and early literacy policy. She explores the paradox of dyslexia—why early identification is critical yet often delayed—and how neuroimaging research uncovers the brain's role in reading development and challenges. In this episode, you'll learn:

• What neuroscience studies reveal about reading acquisition and dyslexia
• How research informs u...

The Windward Institute team joins READ Podcast host Danielle Gomez for an in-depth exploration of knowledge and reading comprehension. Colleen McGlynn, associate director of language arts, and Alison Leveque, content and implementation director, discuss the research supporting comprehension, the role of knowledge in reading, and how these insights translate into classroom practice. In this episode, the co-hosts share

• insights on...

This month on READ, we’re revisiting one of our most popular episodes featuring Dr. Sonia Cabell to highlight the vital role of knowledge in reading comprehension.

In this conversation from episode 50, Dr. Cabell and Danielle discuss the integrated nature of reading comprehension, knowledge and writing. You will learn about

• the reciprocal nature between background knowledge and comprehension.
• literacy and content-rich instruction.
• ...

The READ Podcast celebrates its 5th anniversary in research, education, and advocacy with distinguished professor and researcher in literacy, Devin Kearns, PhD. A longtime friend and advisory board member of The Windward Institute, Dr. Kearns and host, Dr. Danielle Gomez, reflect on the evolution of the Science of Reading (SoR) and its impact on educational practices over the past five years. In this episode, you will learn about

Join co-hosts Danielle Gomez and Jamie Williamson as they interview Kelly Carvajal Hagemen for an episode of LEAD on READ. Kelly Carvajal Hagemen shares the story of the Seaford School District as the district transformed its literacy outcomes from an underperforming "focus school" to one of the highest achieving districts in the state of Delaware. As the former Director of Instruction of Seaford, Kelly shares a behind th...

Jan Hasbrouck, PhD, joins READ to discuss the complexities of fluency, including its components and misconceptions, and how it relates to word reading and comprehension. Dr. Hasbrouck emphasizes the importance of effective assessment, instruction, and intervention to support struggling readers at all grade levels.

In this episode, you will learn about

• the multifaceted nature of fluency.
• effective instruction that address...

Kareem Weaver, a leading advocate for literacy equity and social justice, joins a special conversation of LEAD on READ to discuss critical issues and questions surrounding literacy, leadership, and education. Kareem's commitment to literacy for all is unwavering. In this episode, we discuss

• literacy as a fundamental civil right for all children across the United States.
• the consequences to illiteracy that impact all aspects ...

Current research and insights in education examine a whole child approach to development. What does this mean in the context of literacy and social emotional learning?

 In this episode of READ, Dr. Rebecca Gotlieb explores the interconnectedness of literacy and social emotional learning and emphasizes the importance of viewing these two aspects of child development as coordinated and interdependent processes. In this episode, you wi...

How should teachers understand text comprehension, and what are effective practices to facilitate comprehension, particularly for adolescents across all content areas?

Letty Martinez, PhD discusses her research on supporting adolescents and multilingual students as they engage with and comprehend text. In this episode, you will learn about

• Comprehension through a multicomponent lens 
• Challenges and opportunities for ado...

This episode marks a special LEAD on READ episode with Dr. Jacqueline Rodriguez, CEO of the National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD). Dr. Rodriguez reflects on her leadership in education and advocacy, highlighting a lifelong learning journey. She shares NCLD’s vision to scale and expand advocacy efforts for people with learning disabilities in schools, professional spaces, and communities throughout their lives and across ...

Dr. Steve Graham, renowned expert in writing instruction, joins READ for a timely discussion on effective writing instruction, the reading-writing connection, and the role of technology and AI on writing education. In this episode, you will learn about

• approaches to reading and writing instruction through an integrated lens.
• considerations for instructional planning across content areas.
• multiple strategies for effective writing i...

Sara Hart, PhD, joins READ to discuss the role of genes and the environment on reading development and disabilities. Throughout her career, Dr. Hart has investigated child development through an interdisciplinary lens. In this episode, you will learn about Dr. Hart’s

•  studies with twins to understand individual development in reading and math with the goal to inform approaches to education and equity.
• role as co-PI of The Learnin...

Dr. Sarah Woulfin, an expert on leadership and school reform, joins the READ Podcast for a LEAD on READ conversation, co-hosted by Dr. Danielle Gomez and Jamie Williamson. Dr. Woulfin outlines effective actions of leaders to enact school reform and shares her expertise on how to sustain change in education.

 In this episode, you will learn about

• curriculum coherence, capacity building, and conditions for effective change.
• key acti...

Colby Hall, PhD, shares her research on reading and language from kindergarten through adolescence. Dr. Hall, an assistant professor at University of Virginia, discusses her vast research collaborations spanning across areas of literacy, age groups, and language, providing a window into the research process and offering implications for classroom practice. In this episode, you will learn about

• the findings from a pilot study inv...

Neena Saha, PhD, joins READ for an illuminating and entrepreneurial discussion about translating research to practice. In this episode, Dr. Saha offers insights on 

• shifting how educators interface with research through an entrepreneurial lens.
• integrating and broadening the role of technology in sharing research.
• developing a systematic and explicit approach to the translation of research to practice.

Dr. Saha discusses oppor...

Join READ host Dr. Danielle Gomez as she offers a perspective on reading research from translation to implementation. She synthesizes key insights from READ guests in 2023, highlights current research from the broader community, and forecasts opportunities and challenges for the future of implementation of research in practice. In this episode, you will learn about

• the benefits of translating research in education.
• current framew...

Amy Elleman, PhD, joins the READ Podcast to discuss the evidence supporting reading comprehension development and implications for effective instruction. This episode builds upon previous READ conversations in conceptualizing comprehension as an integration of skills. In this episode, you will learn about

• the components and processes of reading comprehension.
• research frameworks applicable for educators of students at any age.
• evi...