READ: The Research Education ADvocacy Podcast

Shayne Piasta, PhD, joins the READ Podcast to share her expertise on the evidence in early literacy education including alphabet instruction and oral language. She cites integrated approaches to the Science of Reading and supporting evidence-based practices that inform both educators and families. Dr. Piasta then discusses the knowledge educators need to effectively deliver reading instruction, with a focus on oral language. Educat...

Lakeisha Johnson, PhD, returns to the READ Podcast for the second episode of LEAD on READ. Dr. Johnson, Director at The Village at FCRR, associate professor at Florida State University (FSU), and creator of Maya’s Book Nook, shares her leadership story from her childhood through her professional career. 

Dr. Johnson tells more about her partnership with Dr. Nicole Patton Terry in creating The Village to support and empower communiti...

The READ Podcast invites Margaret McKeown, PhD, for a deep dive on vocabulary development and instruction. Dr. McKeown is a celebrated researcher, professor, teacher educator, and co-author of numerous books on vocabulary such as Bringing Words to Life.

In this episode, Dr. McKeown discusses robust, integrated, and comprehensive approaches to engaging children with vocabulary. She explains the role of vocabulary in readin...

What does it truly mean to invest in the livelihood of all children? Lakeisha Johnson, PhD, joins the READ Podcast for a timely and important discussion on an integrated, systems approach to supporting all students in school communities, with a focus on vulnerable and marginalized populations. 

 Applying an ecological systems framework to reading, Dr. Johnson explains the “both, and” of applying the Science of Reading in classrooms ...

Kristen Wynn joins LEAD on READ, a special, four-part series on the Research Education Advocacy Podcast with co-hosts, Danielle Scorrano, host of the READ Podcast, and Jamie Williamson, Head of School at The Windward School and Executive Director of The Windward Institute. LEAD on READ explores the central question: What does it mean to be a leader in education right now?

Kristen Wynn, the State Literacy Director for the M...

The READ Podcast introduces listeners to a special, four-part series, LEAD on READ, co-hosted by READ host Danielle Scorrano and The Windward School’s Head of School and Executive Director of The Windward Institute, Jamie Williamson. 

LEAD on READ explores the central question: What does it mean to be a leader in education right now? In this introduction episode, Jamie and Danielle outline the “why” behind this series and discuss ke...

Tiffany Hogan, PhD, CCC-SLP returns to the READ Podcast for a timely and important discussion on addressing reading and language development for all children. She explains how school disruptions during the pandemic impacted literacy and language development – highlighting the disparate consequences on children in vulnerable populations. Dr. Hogan, a researcher and advocate for people with developmental language disorder (DLD), expl...

Katie Pace Miles, PhD, joins the READ Podcast to discuss the foundations of word level reading instruction. Dr. Miles explains orthographic mapping, a fundamental strategy for literacy development, in which readers map out letter patterns, sounds, spelling, and meaning to learn words. She discusses the essential building blocks for orthographic mapping, demonstrating to READers that children do not learn to read by memorizing whole...

Dr. Dave Anderson, leading expert in child and adolescent mental health and Vice President of School and Community Programs at Child Mind Institute, joins the READ Podcast for a timely and vital conversation about wellness and mental health in the wake of the pandemic. Dr. Anderson addresses the current mental health crisis and discusses its disparate impacts that could last for decades. He provides both solace and actionable strat...

Rebecca Rolland, EdD, speech pathologist and author of The Art of Talking with Children, joins the READ Podcast to share her expertise in cultivating high quality conversations with children. Dr. Rolland explains the science and art to high quality conversations, which can be used to build better relationships with our kids.  She identifies skills adults can use to bring mindfulness, curiosity, and playfulness into daily conversati...

In this enlightening summer READ episode, Dr. Carolyn Strom explores the fundamental question: How do we share the science of the reading brain more effectively? Dr. Strom, a teacher educator and researcher at NYU, connects the science and story of the reading brain and offers applicable strategies for educators and families, from the “classroom to the kitchen table,” to support reading development in children. This episode dissemi...

Tim Odegard, PhD, joins the READ Podcast to discuss his research and perspectives on the state of reading policy and education in the United States. Dr. Odegard, a professor of psychology and the Katherine Davis Murfee Chair of Excellence in Dyslexic Studies of Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), shares his story in school as he struggled to read as a child, which fueled his career and research in dyslexia and reading. Citing...

Reading comprehension, by nature, is multifaceted and complex, and for Mindy Bridges, PhD, understanding its development and factors in children is a key passion in her professional work and research. This episode dives deep into the role of language in reading comprehension. Dr. Bridges explains how various factors contribute to comprehension, reflects on her research on comprehension across developmental stages, and offers insigh...

What does it take to invest in improving the educational outcomes and livelihood of all children? In this episode, Nicole Patton Terry, PhD, director of the Florida Center for Reading Research (FCRR) shares her expertise and experience in collaborating between researchers, schools and community partners, and families to support literacy and academic goals of their students. 

Dr. Terry’s research focuses primarily on young learners w...

How can an interdisciplinary research approach inform our understanding of the systems of education? This month’s guest, Matthew Kraft, PhD, associate professor of education and economics at Brown University, offers a research-based commentary of the macro-level trends in education that particularly impact large urban settings, including teacher growth and well-being, the role of school climate and context, and instructional coachi...

What is the role of language in our schools and curriculum? Simply put, language is everything. In the words of this episode’s guest, Lydia Soifer, PhD, “Language is the vehicle that drives the curriculum.” Dr. Soifer is a renowned language pathologist and literacy specialist with over forty-five years of experience in clinical settings as well as in professional and parent education. She explains a multidisciplinary approach to ch...

In the first episode of 2022, Dr. Louise Spear-Swerling, a leader and trailblazer in reading education, joins the READ Podcast. Speaking from her background and expertise as a professor, teacher educator, author, and researcher, Dr. Spear-Swerling identifies evidence-based practices that support structured literacy and clarifies common pitfalls of implementation. Listeners will understand how curriculum, consistency, and coherence ...

READ in Review is the “epilogue” that highlights this year’s episodes with leading experts in research, education, and advocacy. Host Danielle Scorrano reflects upon her conversations from throughout 2021, centered around the theme of integration. The top bookmarks captured by our guests include current research in the Science of Reading (SoR) and dyslexia, advocacy for increased access and equity to high quality education, and an ...

All READers are invited to take a journey in mathematics with Penn State professor and The WI faculty member, Paul Riccomini, PhD. Dr. Riccomini and Danielle discuss the language of math with the underlying principle – if kids don’t understand the language of instruction, they’re not going to be able to learn to their potential. Dr. Riccomini explains certain markers of why children may experience challenges in math, when difficult...