Free Daily Podcast Summary
On the Road to Literacy Success: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Dr. Staci Bain
"On the Road to Literacy Success" is here to be a helpful part of your daily teaching, learning, and leadership life. If you're striving to get the most amount of kiddos as possible reading, spelling, writing, listening, speaking, and critically thinking — this is the place for you. We take the messiness of teaching, learning, and leading and ask people who have figured things out to share their minds with us. So join us and come on the road as we drive for literacy and justice for all 8 billion humans on this planet. -staci
Latest Episodes
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- Aug 31, 202616 min
Season 3, Episode 2: Phonemic Awareness w/Dr. Himilcon Inciarte (Phenomena #1)
Get ready for a special treat! Dr. Inciarte is in the phonemic awareness house. Enjoy! -staci
- Aug 31, 202647 min
Season 3, Episode 1: Nathaniel Swain and Rebecca Birch
Season 3 of On the Road to Literacy Success is HERE—and we are kicking it off with an international K–12 conversation about teaching, learning, literacy, and leadership. Host Dr. Staci Bain is joined by returning guest Dr. Nathaniel Swain and secondary education leader and PhD candidate Rebecca Birch from Australia for a practical conversation that moves from the early grades all the way through secondary school. Dr. Swain has officially become part of our season-opening tradition. He joined us for Episode 1 of Season 1, returned to open Season 2, and is back again for Season 3—this time bringing Rebecca Birch into the conversation. Together, Nathaniel and Rebecca also host Chalk Dust, where they examine real classroom instruction, celebrate great teaching, and translate research into concrete instructional moves educators can use. In this episode, we get into some BIG topics: 💎 Strong whole-group instruction and why teacher-led learning does not mean passive learning 💎 Why interactive, explicit, well-structured instruction can allow teachers to respond to many learners at the same time 💎 The role of small-group instruction—and why it does not need to dominate the instructional block 💎 How classroom structure, explicit teaching, engagement, and behavior may be more connected than we sometimes recognize 💎 Teacher cognitive load and what happens when educators are expected to implement too many new practices at once 💎 Why early-career teachers may benefit from clear instructional structures before being expected to make expert-level decisions in the moment 💎 What strong Tier 1 literacy instruction can look like in middle and secondary schools 💎 The importance of giving older students access to complex text, academic vocabulary, reading, writing, syntax, and disciplinary literacy 💎 Why sentence-level writing and syntactic knowledge deserve far more attention across K–12 classrooms 💎 The importance of high expectations paired with high levels of support 💎 What school and district leaders need to understand about implementation, professional learning, instructional leadership, and creating the conditions for teachers to succeed One of the strongest messages running through this conversation is simple: great teaching is extraordinarily sophisticated work. Whole-group instruction is not a teacher talking while students sit passively. At its best, it is interactive, diagnostic, explicit, responsive, and deeply dependent upon the instructional expertise of the teacher. And meaningful school improvement requires more than introducing another initiative. Leaders have to consider teacher knowledge, cognitive load, implementation, time, resources, and whether educators have had enough opportunity to develop proficiency before something new is added. This conversation is for teachers, principals, instructional coaches, district leaders, superintendents, literacy leaders, and anyone working to create stronger K–12 Tier 1 systems. 🎙️ ABOUT THE GUESTS Dr. Nathaniel Swain is an author, speaker, researcher, and classroom expert whose work focuses on evidence-informed instruction, explicit teaching, student engagement, literacy, and school improvement. He is the author of Harnessing the Science of Learning and co-host of the Chalk Dust podcast. 🌎 Learn more: NathanielSwain.com Rebecca Birch is an English teacher, secondary education leader, PhD candidate, writer, and co-host of Chalk Dust. Her work brings an important secondary lens to conversations about reading, writing, complex text, academic language, explicit instruction, school improvement, and implementation. 🎙️ ABOUT YOUR HOST Dr. Staci Bain is the host of On the Road to Literacy Success and co-founder of Educate America® LLC. A former teacher, principal, executive director, and national literacy facilitator, Staci works with K–12 educators and leaders across the country to strengthen Tier 1 instruction and create systems that empower teachers to teach and students to learn. 🌎 GoodHumansEducate.com If this episode gives you something to think about, share it with another good human in education and leave a review wherever you listen. No paywalls. No corporate sponsorships. No paid endorsements. Just educators learning with and from educators. Welcome to Season 3. Let’s get On the Road. 💛
- Jun 27, 202644 min
Season 2, Ep. 17: Slaying Tier 1 with Brooke Duke, Kimeka Corley, and Kristen Langerman (Mississippi)
In this episode of On the Road to Literacy Success, Dr. Staci Bain sits down with educators from McLaurin Elementary School in Mississippi for a powerful conversation about what it takes to transform literacy outcomes from the inside out. Together, they share the story of how McLaurin’s staff embraced the Science of Reading, strengthened Tier 1 instruction, and worked collectively to move student data in meaningful ways. This episode highlights the real work behind literacy success: strategic planning, teacher learning, coaching, collaboration, trust, and a shared belief that reading failure can and should be prevented. The conversation also explores the human side of school improvement. The McLaurin team reflects on the courage it takes to learn something new, the importance of supporting teachers as they shift practice, and the role of leadership in creating the conditions for sustainable change. From building buy-in to reducing cognitive load for teachers, their story offers practical insight for schools and districts working to improve literacy instruction. This episode is a reminder that statewide success is built by the people closest to students: teachers, coaches, principals, and district leaders who are willing to learn, lead, and stay committed to the process. If you care about literacy, school transformation, and the collective effort it takes to change student outcomes, this conversation is for you.
- Jun 22, 202637 min
Season 2, Ep. 16 w/Leta Palmiter: Dyslexia, Assessment, and Mississippi's Journey
In this episode of On the Road to Literacy Success, Dr. Staci Bain sits down with Leta Palmiter, CEO of Illuminations Literacy Solutions, creator of Vertical Take-Off Reading, founder and board member of the Illuminations Center for Dyslexia in Meridian, Mississippi, and author of Mississippi Rising: How the Last Became First in Literacy Growth. Together, they discuss Mississippi’s remarkable literacy journey, the urgency of dyslexia advocacy, and what becomes possible when educators, leaders, families, legislators, and practitioners work together with clarity and purpose. Leta shares how structured literacy, teacher training, practitioner certification, and innovative tools like VTO Reading are helping transform literacy outcomes for students. This conversation is filled with hope, practical insight, and a powerful reminder that literacy progress does not happen by accident. It happens when people refuse to accept low outcomes, build systems that support teachers, and keep students at the center of the work. From dyslexia advocacy to education technology, Mississippi’s literacy progress offers important lessons for schools, districts, and states across the nation. As you believe, literacy is a human right, and every child deserves access to instruction that helps them read, write, and thrive. R esources mentioned in this episode: 📚 Mississippi Rising by Leta Palmiter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C7F4XK7X 🌐 Illuminations Literacy Solutions https://illuminationsliteracy.com/ 🌐 Vertical Take-Off Reading https://vtoreading.com 🎟️ Breaking Barriers: Expanding Literacy for All Learners Conference Meridian, Mississippi October 1–2, 2026 https://breakingbarriersliteracy.com 📚 Promo Code: readingisahumanright This code provides free shipping on Mississippi Rising or any product available through the Illuminations Literacy Solutions website. I am also honored to be a featured speaker at the Illuminations conference in Meridian, Mississippi, October 1–2, 2026. I hope to see you there.
- Jun 13, 202651 min
Season 2, Ep. 15: Write ON! with Enid Bailot
In this episode, we connect with Enid Ballot, a deeply committed and knowledgeable literacy expert who has helped shape and expand the national and international Science of Literacy conversation. Through her leadership in multiple educator communities on social media, Enid continues to push the field beyond narrow conversations about reading alone and toward a fuller understanding of literacy instruction. Together, we discuss vocabulary development, syntax and grammar, handwriting, writing, and the instructional decisions that help students become stronger readers, writers, and thinkers. This conversation is a powerful reminder that literacy success is not built through isolated skills or one narrow slice of instruction. It is built through clear, connected, evidence-aligned teaching that honors the complexity of language and the expertise of educators.
- May 14, 202646 min
Season 2, Ep. 14: Literacy Implementation Leadership w/Dr. Liz Ritz
On this episode of On the Road to Literacy Success, Dr. Liz Ritz describes how school districts can implement Science of Reading-aligned practices in a way that is cohesive, clear, and coherent across classrooms, schools, and systems. She shares practical insight into what it takes to move beyond awareness and into implementation: building shared language, supporting teachers, aligning instructional expectations, and creating the conditions for literacy practices to actually take root. This conversation is for leaders, coaches, and educators who know the goal is not simply to talk about the Science of Reading. The goal is to bring it to life in classrooms so more students learn to read, write, think, and thrive. It was an honor to have Dr. Ritz on the show. To learn more about Educate's Tier 1 support and literacy implementation resources, visit goodhumanseducate.com.
- Mar 18, 202643 min
Season 2, Ep. 13 - A Superintendent's Message: Centering the Humanity of Our Work w/Dr. Tim Lawless
NOTE: We apologize for the audio quality on Dr. Bain’s track and appreciate your understanding. Season 2, Ep. 13: A Superintendent’s Message: Centering the Humanity of Our Work w/ Dr. Tim Lawless In this meaningful conversation, Dr. Tim Lawless reflects on his journey through education and shares a powerful message for teachers, leaders, and school communities: the work is always about people. Together, we discuss what it looks like to lead with love, build trust over time, hire with heart, and create a school culture grounded in honesty, consistency, faith, humor, and human connection. This episode offers practical insight for educators and leaders who want to strengthen relationships, communicate more effectively, and cultivate school systems where both adults and students can thrive. Dr. Lawless reminds us that strong leadership is not only about systems and strategy. It is also about the way people feel seen, valued, supported, and inspired within the work. Whether you are a superintendent, principal, teacher, coach, or district leader, this conversation will encourage you to keep the humanity of the work at the center. In this episode, we discuss: --The role of love and trust in school leadership --Hiring for heart, character, and relational capacity --Building trust through honesty, consistency, and follow-through --The importance of humor and human connection in schools --Strategies for communication, relationship building, and positive culture
- Mar 6, 202621 min
Season 2, Ep. 12: Supporting Multilingual Learners w/Karen Wattenmaker
In Season 2, Episode 12 of On the Road to Literacy Success Podcast, Staci Bain sits down with Karen Wattenmaker of Edu-Partners to discuss the comprehensive language and literacy work required to build a literate society. At GoodHumansEducate.com, we aim to support female entrepreneurs who are doing this important literacy work. In this episode, you will gain research insights, helpful instructional moves, and insightful systems advice to move your thinking forward. Whether you are working to strengthen classroom practice or build stronger MTSS and Tier 1 systems for all students, this conversation will encourage and equip you. To learn more, feel free to check out Staci Bain, Ed.D. at GoodHumansEducate.com or our good pal Karen at Edu-Partners.
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About On the Road to Literacy Success
"On the Road to Literacy Success" is here to be a helpful part of your daily teaching, learning, and leadership life. If you're striving to get the most amount of kiddos as possible reading, spelling, writing, listening, speaking, and critically thinking — this is the place for you. We take the messiness of teaching, learning, and leading and ask people who have figured things out to share their minds with us. So join us and come on the road as we drive for literacy and justice for all 8 billion humans on this planet. -staci
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