In this S5E4 Schoolutions Teaching Strategies conversation, Dr. Molly Ness challenges what you know about learning to read, sharing insights from her most recent book, co-authored with Dr. Katie Pace Miles, "Making Words Stick." Discover how brain science and the alphabetic principle reveal better teaching reading strategies and build stronger reading skills for kids.
You'll discover why 99% of "impossible" sight words actually follow phonetic rules and how orthographic mapping - not memorization - creates fluent readers. This episode is for teachers, education coaches, caregivers, homeschoolers, and anyone supporting developing readers.
🔥 KEY REVELATIONS:
đź’ˇ Why flashcard memorization fails (and what works instead)
đź’ˇThe 4-step process that makes words "stick" permanently
đź’ˇHow adult brains store 30,000-70,000 words instantly
đź’ˇThe rubber band analogy that explains reading vs. spelling
đź’ˇWhy middle school comprehension struggles start in elementary
Molly breaks down complex brain science into actionable teaching tips that work for new teachers, mentor teachers, and seasoned educators alike.
đź“š Make sure to get Making Words Stick: A Four-Step Instructional Routine to Power Up Orthographic Mapping by Dr. Molly Ness & Dr. Katie Pace Miles so that you can implement the 4-step routine tomorrow.
People Mentioned:
Resources from Molly:
Chapters:Â
0:00 - The Flashcard Myth That's Hurting KidsÂ
1:00 - Meet Dr. Molly Ness & "Making Words Stick"
3:00 - The Research Behind Orthographic MappingÂ
5:00 - Lanaya Ehri's Groundbreaking DiscoveryÂ
8:00 - Least to Most Reliable Ways to Learn WordsÂ
11:00 - The Shocking Truth About Sight Words (99% Are Decodable!)Â
13:00 - Why Orthographic Mapping Never StopsÂ
16:00 - High Frequency vs. Sight Words ExplainedÂ
19:00 - The 4-Step Process: See & Say ItÂ
21:00 - Step 2: Segment & Spell ItÂ
23:00 - Step 3: Study & Suss It Out
25:00 - Step 4: Search & Stick ItÂ
27:00 - The Rubber Band Analogy: Reading vs. SpellingÂ
29:00 - Helping Struggling Middle School ReadersÂ
33:00 - The Three-Legged Stool of Word LearningÂ
35:00 - Take Action: Your Next Steps
Join our community of educators committed to cultivating student success, inspired teaching, and creating inclusive classrooms with a pro-kid mindset focused on the whole child.Â
📧 Connect: schoolutionspodcast@gmail.comÂ
🎵 Music: Benjamin Wahl
When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
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