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Literacy in Color: A Science of Reading Aligned Podcast for Educators: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Michelle Sullivan • Literacy Coach & Science of Reading Advocate
Literacy in Color is the go-to podcast for elementary teachers, literacy coaches, and reading interventionists who are passionate about bringing the Science of Reading to life in vibrant, engaging, and effective ways. Hosted by Michelle Sullivan — a seasoned literacy expert & Science of Reading advocate - with over a decade of experience as a reading interventionist & literacy coach — this show is designed to help you captivate your learners, boost reading fluency, and foster a deep understanding of language. Each week, you’ll discover practical tips, proven strategies, and creative ideas to make your literacy instruction colorful and impactful. From phonics and morphology to vocabulary building and comprehension techniques, we’ll explore the full spectrum of evidence-based practices that support all learners on their journey to becoming confident readers. Whether you’re a seasoned educator or just starting out, “Literacy in Color” will empower you with the tools, inspiration, and know-how to make literacy instruction not just effective, but truly unforgettable. Are you ready to teach colorfully? Hit subscribe and join us each week for a splash of fun, insight, and colorful learning. Connect with me on Instagram @michelle_thecolorfulclassroom for more tips, resources, and community!
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- Yesterday48 min
104. Building the Biliterate Reading Brain: Multi-Component Instruction & Deep Reading with Dr. Maryanne Wolf
One of the most influential voices around “the reading brain”, Dr. Maryanne Wolf, joins the show to tackle that very subject. Our brains were never wired to read. Reading is a learned, plastic circuit that develops through instruction – and how we teach profoundly shapes how that circuitry is built.Dr. Wolf explains dyslexia, why fluency is much more than reading quickly, and why decoding alone is not enough for deep comprehension. She shares the research behind her POSSUM framework and explains why integrating phonology, orthography, semantics, syntax, and morphology creates stronger, more fluent readers.The conversation also turns toward one of today's biggest challenges: the digital age. Dr. Wolf discusses how technology and AI are reshaping the reading brain, why deep reading matters now more than ever, and how parents and educators can intentionally cultivate what she calls a biliterate brain: one that can thrive in both print and digital environments.This episode offers a hopeful vision for building readers who don't simply decode words, but think deeply, read thoughtfully, and engage fully with language.Key Takeaways:How reading circuitry developsThe evolving understanding of dyslexiaWhy fluency is the bridge between decoding and comprehensionThe importance of multi-component literacy instructionDr. Wolf's POSSUM approach: Phonology, Orthography, Semantics, Syntax, Understanding, and MorphologyThe research behind the RAVE-O interventionWhy vocabulary and oral language matter for reading successThe importance of deep reading in the age of AIHow technology is changing the reading brainPractical advice for raising lifelong readersResources Mentioned:Book: Proust and the Squid by Dr. Maryanne WolfBook: Reader, Come Home by Dr. Maryanne WolfProgram: RAVE-OPOSSUM ApproachNido LearningReading Nest essaysConnect with Dr. Maryanne Wolf & Nido Learning:Website: https://www.nidolearning.com/ Email: david@nidolearning.comThis podcast is brought to you by Reading Science Academy, where our friend Stephanie Stollar is giving Literacy in Color listeners an exclusive, free grouping resource bundle to help you turn fall screening data into skill-based groups that actually move students forward.Get your FREE grouping resource bundle here.Or, become a member of Reading Science Academy to learn in community and receive research-backed support alongside over 1,400 literacy educators.Connect with Michelle:<li data-li
- 1 weeks ago19 min
103. 5 Quick Tips for b/d Letter Reversals
Letter reversals are one of the most common concerns among parents and teachers. In this episode, we dive into what’s happening in the brain when it comes to letter reversals, when reversals may be expected, and 5 practical tips for fixing b/d reversals specifically.Resource Mentioned:Forthcoming Book: Developing Proficient Writers by Amy Siracusano & Michelle Sullivan (Solution Tree, expected late Spring 2027)This podcast is brought to you by Reading Science Academy, where our friend Stephanie Stollar is giving Literacy in Color listeners an exclusive, free grouping resource bundle to help you turn fall screening data into skill-based groups that actually move students forward.Get your FREE grouping resource bundle here.Or, become a member of Reading Science Academy to learn in community and receive research-backed support alongside over 1,400 literacy educators.Connect 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 Science AcademyGet your FREE grouping resource bundle here: https://www.stephaniestollarconsulting.com/groupingsheets?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=podcast Join The Reading Science Academy: https://www.stephaniestollarcons
- 2 weeks ago1h 3m
102. Powerful Fluency Instruction & Performance-Based Practices with Dr. Chase Young
Fluency serves as the critical bridge between accurate word reading and deep comprehension, so how can we build it? In this episode, Michelle sits down with literacy scholar, author, and educator, Dr. Chase Young shares what fluency really is, why it matters, and how teachers can transform fluency instruction from repetitive practice into engaging, meaningful learning experiences.Chase shares the research behind performance-based fluency instruction, including Reader’s Theater, Poetry Slams, Teddy Talks, and his evidence-based intervention framework, Read Like Us. We discuss how fluency supports comprehension, why repeated reading works, and how teachers can create classrooms where students want to practice reading.Key Takeaways:What reading fluency actually is (and what it isn't)Performance-based fluency instruction and the research behind it (like Reader’s Theater, Poetry Slams, and Teddy Talks)The importance of complex texts during fluency instructionThe Read Like Us intervention frameworkWays to make fluency instruction engaging, authentic, and joyfulHelpful ResourcesResources from PodcastReader’s Theatre Scripts (The Best Class)Professional Development Parent ResourcesResearch Article: Read Like Me: An Intervention for Struggling Readers (Chase Young, Stacey Lagrone, Joyce K. McCauley)Research Article: Promoting Fluency Through Challenge: Repeated Reading with Texts of Varying Complexity (Jake Downs, Chase Young, Alycia Cole)Research Article: Promoting Reading Accuracy and Fluency Outcomes with Complex Texts: A Grade 3 Intervention Comparison (Jake Downs, Elfrieda Hiebert, Kristen Conradi Smith, Katie Martz)Connect with Dr. Chase Young:Email: chaser@literrific.comLinkedInX: @ChaseJYoung1Website: https://www.thebestclass.org/Website: http://www.literacylive.orgThis podcast is brought to you by Reading Science Academy, where our friend Stephanie Stollar is giving Literacy in Color listeners an exclusive, free grouping resource bundle to help you turn fall screening data into skill-based groups that actually move students forward.Get your FREE grouping resource bundle here.Or, become a member of Reading Science Academy to learn in community and receive research-backed support alongside over 1,400 literacy educators.Connect with Michelle:Follow me on Instagram: @michelle_thecolorfulclassroom & @log
- 3 weeks ago1h 1m
101. Science of Reading Hot Topics: Navigating the Nuance with Anna Geiger, Reach All Readers
The Science of Reading has transformed literacy instruction, but with that shift has come a new challenge: navigating the growing number of debates, disagreements, and hot topics within the field itself.Author, podcaster, and doctoral student Anna Geiger of Reach All Readers joins the show to explore the nuance behind some of the most talked-about conversations in literacy today. We discuss what research can (and cannot) tell us, why instructional decisions are not always black and white, and how educators can thoughtfully evaluate practices while keeping student outcomes at the center.From heart words and phonemic awareness to decodable texts, sound walls, and structured literacy approaches, this conversation offers a perspective that encourages teachers to think critically and embrace the complexity of literacy instruction. Whether you're new to the Science of Reading or deep into your own learning journey, this episode will leave you reflecting on what it means to be both evidence-informed and responsive to students.We Discuss:How teachers can navigate conflicting opinions in literacy educationHeart wordsWhether any English word is truly irregular (with the role of etymology and morphology)The debate surrounding oral-only phonemic awarenessStructured Linguistic Literacy vs. traditional phonics approachesAre we overdoing phonics?Syllable divisionDecodable texts versus authentic reading experiencesSound wallsWhy teaching remains both a science and an artHow educators can become wise consumers of literacy researchResources Mentioned:Book: Reach All Readers by Anna GeigerThe Right to Read ProjectBlog Post: What Do I Do with All These Predictable Books? by Margaret GoldbergReading Science Academy with Dr. Stephanie StollarThis 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 Anna Geiger:Email: anna@reachallreaders.comWebsite: https://reachallreaders.com/Reach All Readers PodcastReach All Readers Plus MembershipThis podcast is brought to you by Reading Science Academy, where our friend Stephanie Stollar is giving Literacy in Color listeners an exclusive, free grouping resource bundle to help you turn fall screening data into skill-based groups that actually move students forward.Get your FREE grouping resource bundle here.Or, become a member of Reading Science Academy to learn in community and receive research-backed support alongside over 1,400 literacy educators.Connect with Michelle:Follow me on Instagram: @michelle_thecolorfulclassroom & <a href="https://www.instagram.com/logosliteracyacademy/" rel="noopener noreferrer" tar
- 4 weeks ago31 min
100. A Literacy Manifesto After 100 Episodes: 3 Hills I'd Die On, 3 Things I Hope We Leave Behind, and 3 Things I'm Watching Closely
Happy 100th Episode!!! To celebrate this milestone episode, I share:3 literacy hills I’d die on3 things I hope we can leave behind, and3 things I’m watching closely Thank you for helping make the first 100 episodes possible. Here's to the next 100!Favorite Episodes Mentioned:Playlist (if listening from your computer)Playlist (if listening from a podcast player)This podcast is brought to you by Reading Science Academy, where our friend Stephanie Stollar is giving Literacy in Color listeners an exclusive, free grouping resource bundle to help you turn fall screening data into skill-based groups that actually move students forward.Get your FREE grouping resource bundle here.Or, become a member of Reading Science Academy to learn in community and receive research-backed support alongside over 1,400 literacy educators.Connect 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: <a href="https://logosliterac
- Jun 23, 202639 min
99. Inside a Successful Walk-to-Read Model at PS 152Q with Lisa Russo & the 1st Grade Team
What happens when a school decides that "business as usual" is no longer good enough? Principal Lisa Russo and the first-grade team at PS 152Q to discuss their remarkable literacy transformation. After years of using balanced literacy practices, the school shifted toward structured literacy, embraced the science of reading, and implemented a schoolwide Walk-to-Read model supported by Dr. Katie Pace Miles' Reading Ready intervention program.The team shares their journey from seeing students struggle with foundational skills to creating a system that provides targeted instruction based on student needs. You'll hear how leadership, teacher buy-in, strategic grouping, and a commitment to following the research helped create meaningful change for young readers.Resources Mentioned:Reading Ready (The Reading Institute)Book: Making Words Stick by Dr. Katie Pace Miles & Dr. Molly NessThis 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 Lisa Russo & PS 152Q:Website: https://www.ps152q.org/Instagram: @ps152q & @littleextraliteracyThis podcast is brought to you by Reading Science Academy, where our friend Stephanie Stollar is giving Literacy in Color listeners an exclusive, free grouping resource bundle to help you turn fall screening data into skill-based groups that actually move students forward.Get your FREE grouping resource bundle here.Or, become a member of Reading Science Academy to learn in community and receive research-backed support alongside over 1,400 literacy educators.Connect with Michelle:Follow me on Instagram: @michelle_thecolorfulclassroom & @logosliteracyacademyJoin our Facebook CommunitySign up for my NewsletterShop on TPT: The Colorful ClassroomVisit: www.michelleandthecolorfulclassroom.comJoin <a href="https://colorful-classroom.mykajabi.com/the-colorful-literacy-toolkit-membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blan
- Jun 16, 202654 min
98. Syntax is Everything: The Backbone of Comprehension with Dr. Julie Van Dyke
When educators discuss reading comprehension, the conversation often centers around vocabulary, background knowledge, and comprehension strategies, but what if we've been overlooking one of the most critical components of comprehension all along?Research scientist, Dr. Julie Van Dyke shares about the powerful role syntax plays in reading comprehension. Drawing from decades of research in cognitive psychology, neuroscience, linguistics, and language processing, Dr. Van Dyke explains why syntax is much more than word order; it's the system that helps readers determine who did what to whom and construct meaning moment by moment.We discuss what happens in the brain when we read, why comprehension occurs word by word rather than after a passage is finished, how Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) impacts reading, and practical ways teachers can begin supporting syntactic development in their classrooms.We also dive into Cascade Reading, an innovative tool designed to make sentence structure visible and support comprehension for all learners.Key Takeaways:Syntax is not simply word order.Comprehension happens continuously, word by word, as the brain integrates new information into what has already been processed.The brain relies on multiple systems during reading, including perception, language, and thought networks.Syntax serves as the foundation of language comprehension in much the same way phonology serves as the foundation of decoding.Explicit attention to sentence structure can be embedded into existing literacy instruction.Resources Mentioned:IDA Perspectives 2025: Volumes 1 & 2 - Syntax Comes First (Available through the IDA)FREE Tool: Cascade ReadingConnect with Dr. Julie Van Dyke:Website: https://www.drjvandyke.net/LinkedInStay tuned for her upcoming Substack: Decoding SyntaxThis podcast is brought to you by Reading Science Academy, where our friend Stephanie Stollar is giving Literacy in Color listeners an exclusive, free grouping resource bundle to help you turn fall screening data into skill-based groups that actually move students forward.Get your FREE grouping resource bundle here.Or, become a member of Reading Science Academy to learn in community and receive research-backed support alongside over 1,400 literacy educators.Connect with Michelle:Follow me on Instagram: @michelle_thecolorfulclassroom & @logosliteracyacademyJoin our <a href=
- Jun 9, 202657 min
97. Effective Universal Instruction with Dr. Sarah Brown & Dr. Kimberly Gibbons
Drawing from decades of experience in literacy, school psychology, systems-level leadership, and MTSS implementation, Dr. Sarah Brown and Dr. Kimberly Gibbons explain why strong universal instruction is the true foundation of student success. They explore what Tier 1 actually includes, why intervention alone cannot solve widespread literacy struggles, and how leadership, collaboration, fidelity, coaching, and systems-thinking all work together to improve outcomes for students.Key Takeaways:What Tier 1 really means inside an MTSS frameworkWhy MTSS is about resources and systems, not “Tier 2 kids” or “Tier 3 kids”Why buying a new curriculum alone won’t solve literacy problemsThe role of leadership in sustaining effective instructionThe importance of job-embedded coaching and ongoing supportWhy fidelity data matters (...and why it shouldn’t feel punitive)How collaborative teams build consensus and instructional coherenceThe power of strong questioning to uncover root causesWhy prevention through effective Tier 1 instruction is more powerful than over-relying on interventionPractical first steps schools can take immediately to strengthen instructionResources:Book: Effective Universal Instruction: An Action-Oriented Approach to Improving Tier 1 by Sarah Brown & Kimberly GibbonsBook: MTSS for Reading Improvement by Stephanie Stollar & Sarah Brown from Solution Tree (or on Amazon)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 Dr. Sarah Brown:Website: https://systemimpactconsulting.com/Contact Dr. Sarah Brown on her WebsiteLinkedIn: Sarah Brown Ph.D.Join Dr. Brown’s MTSS Data AcademyDr. Brown also offers Virtual Coaching Sessions!Connect with Dr. Kimberly Gibbons:CAREI DirectorCAREI at the University of MinnesotaThis podcast is brought to you by <a href="https://www.stephaniestollarconsulting.com/register?utm_source=podcast&a
About Literacy in Color: A Science of Reading Aligned Podcast for Educators
Literacy in Color is the go-to podcast for elementary teachers, literacy coaches, and reading interventionists who are passionate about bringing the Science of Reading to life in vibrant, engaging, and effective ways. Hosted by Michelle Sullivan — a seasoned literacy expert & Science of Reading advocate - with over a decade of experience as a reading interventionist & literacy coach — this show is designed to help you captivate your learners, boost reading fluency, and foster a deep understanding of language. Each week, you’ll discover practical tips, proven strategies, and creative ideas to make your literacy instruction colorful and impactful. From phonics and morphology to vocabulary building and comprehension techniques, we’ll explore the full spectrum of evidence-based practices that support all learners on their journey to becoming confident readers. Whether you’re a seasoned educator or just starting out, “Literacy in Color” will empower you with the tools, inspiration, and know-how to make literacy instruction not just effective, but truly unforgettable. Are you ready to teach colorfully? Hit subscribe and join us each week for a splash of fun, insight, and colorful learning. Connect with me on Instagram @michelle_thecolorfulclassroom for more tips, resources, and community!
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