Literacy in Color: A Science of Reading Aligned Podcast for Educators

Dr. Melissa Orkin and Sarah Gannon, co-authors of The Structured Literacy Playbook, join Michelle to unpack what it really takes to move students from accurate decoding to fluent, meaningful reading.They explore how teachers can intentionally plan to build fluency using a backward design approach rooted in the brain science of reading.Drawing on the work of Dr. Maryanne Wolf, Melissa and Sarah introduce the POSSUM framework, a multi-component model that integrates phonology, orthography, semantics, syntax, and morphology within a single lesson. Rather than isolating skills, this approach connects them, reflecting how the reading brain actually works.Key Takeaways:An explanation of the POSSUM FrameworkThe role of retrieval (RAN) in fluency and reading developmentHow to design small-group instruction using a backwards planning approachWhat to try when students get “stuck” in sound-by-sound reading“Winning strategies” and other high-leverage routines – like syntactic phrasingResources Mentioned:Book: The Structured Literacy Playbook by Dr. Melissa Orkin, Sarah Gannon, and Alexandria OsburnStructured Literacy Game Plan Generator (One Month Trial) - Backward planning tool that generates lessons!Decoding Duo ResourcesMorphology AnthologyRAVE-O Program (Intervention)This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting the podcast!Connect with Crafting Minds Group:Website: https://www.craftingmindsgroup.com/Instagram: @craftingmindsgroup Email: [email protected] & [email protected] with Michelle:Follow me on Instagram: @michelle_thecolorfulclassroom & @logosliteracyacademyJoin our Facebook CommunitySign up for my NewsletterShop on TPT: The Colorful ClassroomVisit: www.michelleandthecolorfulclassroom.comJoin The COLORFUL Literacy Toolkit MembershipWant to Support the Podcast?Make a Donation to Support ProductionInterested in Learning More about Morphology?Logos Literacy AcademyCourse 1: Mastering Morphology: Foundations for Every EducatorCourse 2 & Curriculum: K-2 MorphologyMonthly Coaching Calls: Logos Live

In this episode of Literacy in Color, Michelle chats with Montessori educator and literacy advocate Zil Jaeger to explore a powerful instructional tool: storytelling.Zil shares how Montessori storytelling goes far beyond engagement; it’s a structured, intentional approach to building background knowledge, activating imagination, and anchoring learning in meaningful ways.Key Takeaways:Why storytelling is foundational to Montessori educationThe concept of cosmic education and helping students see the interconnectedness of knowledgeThe “whole-to-parts” approach and how it supports schema-building and retrievalHow storytelling strengthens memory through curiosity, imagery, and repetitionZil’s “Story of English Spelling” & why English spelling is not random and how history lives inside words - Through timelines, maps, and multisensory storytelling, students begin to understand why words are spelled the way they are.Zil also shares how Montessori & Structured Literacy can align with intention, bringing research-based practices into a Montessori framework in thoughtful, systematic ways.Resources Mentioned:Zil’s Story of English Spelling: https://www.ziljaeger.com/shop/p/englishspellingEtymonline (Etymology Dictionary)Book: The High Frequency Word Project by Rebecca Loveless & Fiona HamiltonBook: Dictionary of Word Origins by John AytoBook: Oxford School Dictionary of Word Origins by John AytoBook: Spell It Out by David CrystalBook: Language Visible by David SacksThis post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting the podcast!Connect with Zil Jaeger:Website: www.ziljaeger.comInstagram: @ziljaegerConnect with Michelle:Follow me on Instagram: @michelle_thecolorfulclassroom & @logosliteracyacademyJoin our Facebook CommunitySign up for my NewsletterShop on TPT: The Colorful ClassroomVisit: www.michelleandthecolorfulclassroom.comJoin The COLORFUL Literacy Toolkit MembershipWant to Support the Podcast?Make a Donation to Support ProductionInterested in Learning More about Morphology?Logos Literacy AcademyCourse 1: Mastering Morphology: Foundations for Every EducatorCourse 2 & Curriculum: K-2 MorphologyMonthly Coaching Calls: Logos Live

Dr. Brennan Chandler, assistant professor at Georgia State University and researcher specializing in spelling, reading intervention, and literacy development — particularly for students with persistent reading difficulties unpacks what the research sayings about spelling instruction.He shares insights from his large-scale meta-analysis examining decades of spelling intervention research and explains why spelling has the capacity to be far more than a writing skill; it can be a lexical lever that strengthens both reading and writing.Key Takeaways:Why spelling is essential for building strong word representationsCommon misconceptions (including the infamous “Friday spelling test”)What current research says actually works in spelling instructionThe impact of technology (spellcheck, AI, predictive text) on literacy developmentPractical ways teachers can embed effective spelling instruction into their dayDr. Chandler also shares actionable guidance for educators, including how just 10–15 minutes of intentional spelling instruction daily can make a meaningful difference.Resources:A Meta-Analytic Review of Spelling Interventions for Students With or At-Risk for Learning Disabilities - Chandler, B. W., Toste J. R., Novelli, C., Rodgers, D., Hardeman, E. (2025)Article: ​​Why your kid can't rely on tech tools to spellSpelling Mastery (Direct Instruction program)Connect with Brennan Chandler, PhD:Website: brennanchandler.comIG: @BrennanChandlerPhDLinkedIn: Brennan Chandler, PhDThank you to Reading.com for supporting the production of this episode.Visit reading.com/color for 60% off the annual plan today.Instagram: @_readingcomYouTube: ReadingComFacebook: Reading.comPinterest: Reading_comConnect with Michelle:Follow me on Instagram: @michelle_thecolorfulclassroom & @logosliteracyacademyJoin our Facebook CommunitySign up for my NewsletterShop on TPT: The Colorful ClassroomVisit: www.michelleandthecolorfulclassroom.comJoin The COLORFUL Literacy Toolkit MembershipWant to Support the Podcast?Make a Donation to Support ProductionInterested in Learning More about Morphology?Logos Literacy AcademyCourse 1: Mastering Morphology: Foundations for Every EducatorCourse 2 & Curriculum: K-2 MorphologyMonthly Coaching Calls: Logos LiveMentioned in this episode:Reading.comVisit reading.com/color for 60% off the annual plan today!

Spelling longer words can feel overwhelming for students - even for those who can read them with ease. In this episode, I unpack why multisyllabic spelling is such a leap and, more importantly, what we can do to support students through it.Rather than relying on memorization alone, this episode explores how spelling is deeply connected to the structure of our language. You’ll walk away with three practical strategies that help students approach longer words with confidence.From breaking words into syllables, to leveraging morphology and word relatives, to using a “spelling voice,” this episode offers a toolkit teachers can immediately bring into their instruction.Key Takeaways:Spelling multisyllabic words requires more than phonology; students need access to structure and meaning as well.Syllabication helps reduce cognitive load by chunking words into manageable parts.Every syllable has at least one vowel (ESHALOV): a helpful anchor for spelling longer words.Morphology provides stability; morphemes maintain consistent spellings even when pronunciation shifts.Word relatives can unlock tricky spellings (i.e. preside → president).A spelling voice can support memory by making less obvious spellings more transparent.Strong spellers use metacognition; they choose strategies flexibly depending on the word.English spelling is not random: it reflects the interaction of phonology, morphology, and etymology.Resources Mentioned:Building BRIDGES: A Design Experiment to Improve Reading and United States History Knowledge of Poor Readers in Eighth Grade - O’Connor, Beach, Sanchez, Bocian, & Flynn - ESHALOV principle (Every Syllable Has At Least One Vowel)Helping Students With Dyslexia Read Long Words by Devin Kearns & Victoria WhaleyLogos Literacy AcademyCourse: Mastering MorphologyCourse & Curriculum: K-2 MorphologyMorphology Membership (Coaching Calls & Resources)Book: Seven Mighty Moves by Lindsay Kemeny (Spelling Voice Strategy mentioned)Multisyllabic Words Skill Explainer from Reading UniverseThis post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting the podcast!Thank you to Reading.com for supporting the production of this episode.Visit reading.com/color for 60% off the annual plan today.Instagram: @_readingcomYouTube: ReadingComFacebook: Reading.comPinterest: Reading_comConnect with Michelle:Follow me on Instagram: @michelle_thecolorfulclassroom & @logosliteracyacademyJoin our Facebook CommunitySign up for my NewsletterShop on TPT: The Colorful ClassroomVisit: www.michelleandthecolorfulclassroom.comJoin The COLORFUL Literacy Toolkit MembershipWant to Support the Podcast?Make a Donation to Support ProductionInterested in Learning More about Morphology?Logos Literacy AcademyCourse 1: Mastering Morphology: Foundations for Every EducatorCourse 2 & Curriculum: K-2 MorphologyMonthly Coaching Calls: Logos LiveMentioned in this episode:Reading.comVisit reading.com/color for 60% off the annual plan today!

In this episode, Elise Lovejoy tackles one of the most important topics in early literacy instruction: how to use decodable books effectively – and how to thoughtfully bridge students from controlled text into authentic reading.Elise explains why decodable texts are such a critical tool for early reading development. She also, though, emphasizes an important truth: decodables are not the entire literacy experience; they are one piece of a larger instructional puzzle.In this episode, you’ll hear Elise discuss practical ways teachers can maximize decodable books for phonics practice, build comprehension within decodable texts, and scaffold students toward more complex and authentic reading experiences.You’ll also gather actionable routines teachers can use during small-group instruction, how to help students develop flexibility when encountering unfamiliar spellings, and the signals that students may be ready to move beyond tightly controlled text.Key Takeaways:Why decodable texts are essential for practicing newly taught phonics skillsThe difference between using decodables intentionally vs. using them like leveled readersWhy comprehension should still be addressed within decodable textsPractical small-group routines for using decodable books effectivelyHow to help students develop flexibility with spelling and pronunciationSigns that students are ready to move beyond tightly controlled textWhy teachers should use decodable texts and authentic texts side-by-sideResources Mentioned:The Teachers TableLyn Stone’s Book: Foundations for LifeConnect with Elise Lovejoy of Express Readers:Website: Express ReadersInstagram: @expressreadersLinkedIn: Express ReadersFacebook: Express Readers Inc.Thank you to Reading.com for supporting the production of this episode.Visit reading.com/color for 60% off the annual plan today.Instagram: @_readingcomYouTube: ReadingComFacebook: Reading.comPinterest: Reading_comConnect with Michelle:Follow me on Instagram: @michelle_thecolorfulclassroom & @logosliteracyacademyJoin our Facebook CommunitySign up for my NewsletterShop on TPT: The Colorful ClassroomVisit: www.michelleandthecolorfulclassroom.comJoin The COLORFUL Literacy Toolkit MembershipWant to Support the Podcast?Make a Donation to Support ProductionInterested in Learning More about Morphology?Logos Literacy AcademyCourse 1: Mastering Morphology: Foundations for Every EducatorCourse 2 & Curriculum: K-2 MorphologyMonthly Coaching Calls: Logos LiveMentioned in this episode:Reading.comVisit reading.com/color for 60% off the annual plan today!