The Orton-Gillingham Podcast | A Brainspring Production

“There’s one reason people don’t know how to read… they weren’t taught.”

—Maria Murray, Ph.D. President and CEO of The Reading League

Many classrooms are still not aligned with the Science of Reading, and the consequences for students can be significant. They may struggle to become proficient readers or, in some cases, never learn to read at all.

In this episode of The Orton-Gillingham Podcast, a Brainspring production, Dr. Maria Murray explains how schools can support teachers who have not received evidence-based literacy training, why ongoing training and coaching are crucial to classroom success, and what school administrators should look for when considering a literacy partner.

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“We’ve been making reading and writing harder for kids than they need to be.”

—Natalie Wexler

Systematic phonics instruction is essential, but it's not enough to ensure strong reading outcomes. In this episode of The Orton-Gillingham Podcast, education journalist and author Natalie Wexler joins us to discuss the vital role of background knowledge in reading instruction, why students struggle when it’s overlooked in lesson planning, and how educators can most effectively integrate knowledge building into their daily practice.

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In this episode, we welcome back Dr. Shawn Anthony Robinson, joined by his longtime mentor, Dr. William Kitz. Dr. Kitz played a pivotal role in Dr. Robinson's academic development, beginning with his support through Project Success, a program for adult learners at the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh, and continuing as Dr. Robinson worked toward earning his Ph.D. We discuss their enduring relationship, how Dr. Kitz helped shape Dr. Robinson’s path, and the powerful, life-changing impact mentors can have, especially for struggling readers and students with dyslexia.

Dr. William Kitz

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In this episode, we speak with Dr. Shawn Anthony Robinson, a truly inspiring guest who struggled with dyslexia throughout his childhood. After learning to read at age 18, Dr. Robinson went on to earn a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, and a Ph.D. in Literacy and Language. He is also the creator of Doctor Dyslexia Dude, an award-winning graphic novel about a superhero with dyslexia. Learn more about Dr. Robinson and his work at http://drshawnarobinson.com/

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Today, we'll speak with special guest Anna Toomey, director of LEFT BEHIND, an award-winning documentary about a group of mothers who band together to create the first public school for children with dyslexia in New York City. For more information about the film, including how to watch it, please visit: https://www.leftbehindthefilm.com

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Today, we'll speak with Olivia Whicker, co-author of Talewinds™, Brainspring's new collection of decodable readers, about what makes decodable texts so effective, how decodables differ from other readers, and what teachers and parents should consider when purchasing a collection.

Talewinds™ Decodable Readers by Brainspring are coming this September!

Preorder today at https://brainspring.com/talewinds-library/

Developed with Brainspring’s trusted Orton-Gillingham expertise, these readers follow a carefully sequenced path that reinforces phonics skills while bringing stories to life through rich characters and imaginative plots.

Designed to grow with the reader, each book builds confidence and fluency by integrating newly learned skills with previously taught concepts. Beyond the books, educators also receive digital access to a detailed Teacher Guide, filled with lesson ideas, skill breakdowns, Phonics First® Scope and Sequence alignment guides, and support for targeted instruction.

Take a look inside our flipbook at https://heyzine.com/flip-book/0f4a492fa4.html#page/1

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Today, we’ll speak with Denise Sherman, Curriculum and Instructional Specialist at Brainspring, about the importance of handwriting instruction for students, how handwriting helps develop important skills later in life, and what we risk losing if we cut back on handwriting instruction in schools.

Brainspring’s Handwriting Program is LIVE! Order Now! https://brainspring.com/.../classroom-package.../ We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our brand-new handwriting program, designed to help students develop confident, legible handwriting—one stroke at a time. Grounded in multisensory, structured literacy principles, our program supports fine motor skills and reinforces foundational literacy in every lesson. Whether you're a classroom teacher, interventionist, or homeschool parent, this easy-to-use, engaging curriculum brings handwriting to life for learners of all ages. Explore the program now: https://brainspring.com/.../classroom-package.../

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Today, we’ll speak with special guest Maryanne Wolf, a renowned scholar and director of UCLA’s Center for Dyslexia, about her research on the reading brain, how digital technologies are affecting our brains, and what we can do to prepare young children for an increasingly digital world.

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Today, we’ll speak with Dr. Ryan Lee-James, a speech-language pathologist with expertise in reading disabilities, about her research on inequities in education, what we can do to improve literacy rates, and how we can make classroom environments more equitable.

Dr. Lee-James recommends the following resources for families interested in advocating for their children:

National Center for Improving Literacy (https://www.improvingliteracy.org/index.html)

Cox Campus (https://coxcampus.org/)

Florida Center for Reading Research (https://fcrr.org/)

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Today, we're joined by Jordan Toma, an inspirational author who overcame multiple learning disabilities to become the number one youth motivational speaker and youth advocate in the United States.

Watch the video version of this podcast here: https://youtu.be/C0vj72zCXEg

#dyslexia #inspiration

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Today, we’ll speak with Krista Weltner, a gifted artist who overcame dyslexia and found success as an author, illustrator, puppet maker, stop-motion animator, filmmaker, costume designer, and comic book creator.

Watch the video version of this podcast here: https://youtu.be/OpsG4Rl8k54

Also, be sure to check out Krista's wonderful short film Partially Compensated: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Dk1KAy16Fs

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Today, we’ll speak with Brooke Steingold, a successful nurse with dyslexia and ADHD, about how she went from dropping out of high school to becoming a college graduate and an inspiration to her daughter.

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We’ll speak with Dr. Elena Forzani and Dr. Andrea Bien, two former elementary teachers and current professors at Boston University, about the importance of comprehension instruction and why students need to develop multiple skills to become good readers.

Further reading:

"A Focus on Phonics or Comprehension? What Reading Research Should Look Like in Practice" by Dr. Elena Forzani and Dr. Andrea Bien https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/opinion-a-focus-on-phonics-or-comprehension-what-reading-research-should-look-like-in-practice/2023/08 "The Science of Reading Progresses: Communicating Advances Beyond the Simple View of Reading" by Nell K. Duke and Kelly B. Cartwright (includes a model of the active view of reading) https://ila.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/rrq.411

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We’re joined by Deon Butler, a former tight end for the Detroit Lions, whose personal battle with dyslexia inspired him to start a new vocation as a motivational speaker and advocate for struggling readers.

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Today, we’re joined by special guest Dr. David Kilpatrick, a certified school psychologist, professor emeritus of psychology for the State University of New York College at Cortland, an avid researcher of learning disabilities, and author of several works on literacy. His seminal book, Equipped for Reading Success, has become an essential component of literacy curricula in programs across the country, and has helped thousands of students learn to read.

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Today, we’ll speak with Micki Ray, Chief Academic Officer of the Kentucky Department of Education, about how her experience as a high school English teacher inspired her professional passion to help struggling readers. Then, we’ll hear about what the KDE is currently doing to improve literacy rates in Kentucky.

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Today, we’ll hear from Carolee Dean, a speech-language pathologist, certified academic language therapist, and children’s author whose experiences working with dyslexic students led to a new career as an author of decodable books and educational resources.

Check out Carolee's blog here: https://caroleedeanbooks.blogspot.com/

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Next from the IDA Conference, we'll hear from Nicki Winter, a dyslexia therapist and the creator of Brilliant Strengths, a strengths-based program designed to raise self-esteem and lower anxiety in students with dyslexia. Then, we'll introduce our Student of the Month for January 2024.

Check out Brilliant Strengths here: https://www.brilliantstrengths.com/

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Today, we’ll hear from special guest Trevor Thomas, Superintendent for Heath City Schools in Heath, Ohio and the Superintendent Representative on the Ohio Dyslexia Committee, about how he and his team have worked to advance student literacy at all levels. Then, we’ll introduce our Student of the Month for December 2023.

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Today, we’ll hear from special guest Marilyn Zecher, a Certified Academic Language Therapist, dyslexia specialist, and the creator of two graduate-level methods courses in Multisensory Mathematics.

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