Together in Literacy

This is part two of our episode with Dr. Nancy Young. You can listen to part one, here. 

In this episode, we’re once again joined by Dr. Nancy Young for a conversation about differentiation, meeting students where they are, and understanding students' learning profiles to determine instructional needs.

Dr. Nancy Young is a Canadian educational consultant providing professional development in reading and writing instruction for an international audience.

Nancy’s literacy focus is effective differentiation of instruction to meet the needs of a wide range of learners, including students who have dyslexia, students who have ADHD, and students who are advanced in reading (AIR). Nancy’s expertise encompasses the educational needs of students who are gifted (intellectual ability), including students who are gifted with a co-occurring exceptionality.

Nancy’s formal education includes Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Education (Elementary Education), Master of Education (Special Education), and Doctor of Education (Cognitive Diversity).

A passionate and long-time advocate for improving instruction for all children, Nancy has taught a wide range of learning needs and ages in schools and community organizations as well as in her independent teaching practice. Nancy is a certified teacher and a member of the International Dyslexia Association, Scientific Studies of Reading, the National Association for Gifted Children, the World Council for Gifted & Talented Children, and the Gifted Children’s Association of British Columbia.

Nancy is the creator of The Ladder of Reading & Writing, an infographic visually representing the ease at which children learn to read and write and the instructional implications. Nancy is the co-editor (with Dr. Jan Hasbrouck) of the recently released book Climbing the Ladder of Reading & Writing: Meeting the Needs of ALL Learners (published January, 2024). Looking at literacy through the lens of Nancy’s infographic, this book includes twenty short chapters authored by experts in the field who provide valuable information relating to the wide range of ease in mastering literacy skills and the instructional implications.

Connect with our guest, Dr. Nancy Young! Visit her website and find her on Facebook.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• The Ladder of Reading & Writing infographic
• Climbing the Ladder of Reading & Writing: Meeting the Needs of ALL Learners co-edited by Nancy Young,  Ed.D. and Jan Hasbrouck, Ph.D.

We officially have merch! Show your love for the Together in Literacy podcast!

If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated!

Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at [email protected]!

If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest.

For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom. 

We're currently looking for guests and sponsors for season 3 of the Together in Literacy Podcast! 

Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Nancy Young for a conversation about differentiation, meeting students where they are, and understanding students' learning profiles to determine instructional needs.

Dr. Nancy Young is a Canadian educational consultant providing professional development in reading and writing instruction for an international audience.

Nancy’s literacy focus is effective differentiation of instruction to meet the needs of a wide range of learners, including students who have dyslexia, students who have ADHD, and students who are advanced in reading (AIR). Nancy’s expertise encompasses the educational needs of students who are gifted (intellectual ability), including students who are gifted with a co-occurring exceptionality.

Nancy’s formal education includes Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Education (Elementary Education), Master of Education (Special Education), and Doctor of Education (Cognitive Diversity).

A passionate and long-time advocate for improving instruction for all children, Nancy has taught a wide range of learning needs and ages in schools and community organizations as well as in her independent teaching practice. Nancy is a certified teacher and a member of the International Dyslexia Association, Scientific Studies of Reading, the National Association for Gifted Children, the World Council for Gifted & Talented Children, and the Gifted Children’s Association of British Columbia.

Nancy is the creator of The Ladder of Reading & Writing, an infographic visually representing the ease at which children learn to read and write and the instructional implications. Nancy is the co-editor (with Dr. Jan Hasbrouck) of the recently released book Climbing the Ladder of Reading & Writing: Meeting the Needs of ALL Learners (published January, 2024). Looking at literacy through the lens of Nancy’s infographic, this book includes twenty short chapters authored by experts in the field who provide valuable information relating to the wide range of ease in mastering literacy skills and the instructional implications.

Connect with our guest, Dr. Nancy Young! Visit her website and find her on Facebook.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• The Ladder of Reading & Writing infographic
• Climbing the Ladder of Reading & Writing: Meeting the Needs of ALL Learners co-edited by Nancy Young,  Ed.D. and Jan Hasbrouck, Ph.D.

We officially have merch! Show your love for the Together in Literacy podcast!

If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated!

Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at [email protected]!

If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest.

For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom. 

We're currently looking for guests and sponsors for season 3 of the Together in Literacy Podcast! 

Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Cathleen Killeen-Pittman for a conversation about setting up our learning spaces for success!

Dr. Cathleen Killeen-Pittman, founder of Our Learning Studio, is an academic support specialist and literacy coach. She works with parents, teachers, tutors, and students in her private practice based in North Carolina. 

Cathleen’s career as an educator spans over 30 years. She began her teaching career in a 5th-grade classroom before going on to serve as a teacher or administrator in public school, community college, and university settings. She spent over 15 years serving as a beginning teacher evaluator where she mentored and coached teachers during the first three years of their careers. During that time, she had the opportunity to conduct over 2,000 classroom observations and developed a passion for exploring how to create structured learning environments designed to set students up for success. 

Cathleen is also an entrepreneur, founding her first academic support center in 2006. She currently works in private practice serving families and educators across the country through online small group classes for students, strategy sessions with parents and educators, and self-paced online courses.

Cathleen holds an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education, a graduate degree in Educational Leadership, and a doctoral degree in Higher Education Administration. 

Connect with our guest, Dr. Cathleen Killeen-Pittman! Visit Our Learning Studio and find her on Facebook and YouTube.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• 2.14 Using Evaluations to Better Understand Our Learners with Katy Vassar
• Using A Visual Schedule
• Tutor Success Summit - April 2024 
• Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism by Barry M. Prizant
• Building Readers for Life 2024 Summer Conference

We officially have merch! Show your love for the Together in Literacy podcast!

If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated!

Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at [email protected]!

If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest.

For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom. 

We're currently looking for guests and sponsors for season 3 of the Together in Literacy Podcast! 

Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!

In this exciting episode, we’re joined by Katie Larew for a conversation about using assistive technology to empower students with dyslexia!

Katie began her journey in the field of education in 2007 as a classroom Special Education Teacher in New Jersey. In 2014, she moved to San Diego, California, and worked as an Assistive Technology Specialist for a K-12 School District for eight years. 

As a RESNA Certified Assistive Technology Professional, Katie has worked with students from elementary school to college. She holds a Master’s Degree in Special Education as well as additional certifications as an IMSLEC-certified Orton-Gillingham Teacher and CERI Certified Structured Literacy Dyslexia Interventionist. Katie also serves on the Board of The International Dyslexia Association, San Diego Branch. 

Katie’s approach focuses on the student's unique strengths while finding tools to support specific areas of need. She provides customized step-by-step virtual training, professional development, and workshops for students, parents, and teachers throughout the world. 

Connect with our guest, Katie Larew! Visit Assistive Technology for Dyslexia and find her on Instagram and Facebook.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• 1.15 All About Accommodations for Dyslexia
• SETT Framework 
• 3.10 Effective Vocabulary Strategies in Literacy Intervention
• Reader, Come Home: The Reading Brain in a Digital World by Maryanne Wolf
• 32 Third Graders and One Class Bunny: Life Lessons from Teaching by Phillip Done

We officially have merch! Show your love for the Together in Literacy podcast!

If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated!

Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at [email protected]!

If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest.

For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom. 

We're currently looking for guests and sponsors for season 3 of the Together in Literacy Podcast! 

Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!

In this special episode, we’re joined by Michelle Breitenbach, founder of Read to Rewire, for a conversation about tutoring online.

Michelle Breitenbach is an enthusiastic and dynamic tutor and coach. Hailing from Boston, Massachusetts, she is a certified dyslexia practitioner. After 7 years as a special educator, she founded Read to Rewire in Miami, Florida. Michelle provides online support as a private educator and offers coaching to teachers worldwide. Her passion lies in teaching others how to replicate the in-person experience online to “reach and teach” kids with/ dyslexia globally —especially those without access.

Her interactive webinars and coaching focus on enhancing student engagement, embracing multisensory methods, minimizing tech reliance for successful online lessons, teaching online with ease, and setting up private tutoring businesses. She also knows how to establish effective behavior systems.

Connect with our guest, Michelle Breitenbach! Visit Read to Rewire and find her on Instagram and Facebook.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Goodnotes
• Fathom Note Taking
• Zoom
• Word List Builder
• 2.12 Bringing Handwriting Into Our Literacy Instruction
• Wilson Reading System instructor manual
• Free to Focus: A Total Productivity System to Achieve More by Doing Less by Michael Hyatt
• Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brene Brown
• Tutor and Close the Computer: Become a Stand-Out Dyslexia Tutor - FREE masterclass
• From Teacher to Online - FREE guide

We officially have merch! Show your love for the Together in Literacy podcast!

If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated!

Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at [email protected]!

If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest.

For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom. 

We're currently looking for guests and sponsors for season 3 of the Together in Literacy Podcast! 

Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!

Imagine being a learner who is new to English. Someone says to you, "Can you lend me a hand?” Imagine what that learner is processing. First, it’s a question. Second, think about the word lend. Do I know what that means? Third, lend a hand. Does that mean they literally want one of my hands? 

In just one sentence, we’ve highlighted the essentials of language acquisition.  A well-developed vocabulary is not only important in our conversations but also in the academic setting. For our challenged learners with dyslexia, their listening and speaking vocabulary might be very good, but when it comes to reading and writing, that’s where they need further support. 

In this episode, we’re going to dig into the eight essential components of vocabulary instruction under the lens of literacy intervention. 

200K Giveaway! And the winner is… The Together in Literacy Podcast has hit over 200,000 downloads! We are overjoyed and we want to share our excitement and gratitude with all of you. As a special thank you to our loyal listeners, we are each giving away a $20 credit to our stores: The Literacy Nest Shop and The Dyslexia Classroom Store. The winner is: Katie G. Bear.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• 3.3 The Connection Between Language and Literacy
• Definition of Dyslexia
• 1.13 The Matthew Effect and Literacy Development in Children
• Proust and the Squid by Maryanne Wolf
• RAVE-O
• 3.7 The Importance of Scaffolding in Decoding
• The Frayer Model
• Semantic Feature Analysis
• 1.3 Connecting Metacognition to Your Literacy Lessons
• Improving Vocabulary Skills Through Assistive Technology by Pam F. Lindsey-Glenn, James E. Gentry
• AAC iPad App Wheel
• Bringing Words to Life by Isabel L. Beck, Margaret G. McKeown, Linda Kucan
• Vocabulary Knowledge to Practice by Margie Bussmann Gillis, Nancy Chapel Eberhardt
• Academic Vocabulary for Middle School Students by Jennifer Wells Greene Ph.D., Averil Jean Coxhead Ph.D.
• Why Do We Say That? 101 Idioms, Phrases, Sayings & Facts! A Brief History On Where They Come From! by Scott Matthews
• Casey on TpT - The Dyslexia Classroom or The Dyslexia Classroom
• Emily on TpT - The Literacy Nest or The Literacy Nest 

We officially have merch! Show your love for the Together in Literacy podcast!

If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated!

Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at [email protected]!

If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest.

For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom. 

We're currently looking for guests and sponsors for season 3 of the Together in Literacy Podcast! 

Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!

In previous episodes, we’ve discussed how decodable texts can support social-emotional learning for our students and how they have a specific purpose within our lessons. Yet, we continue to hear questions and conversations surrounding the use of decodable text for early readers.

Join us for a discussion of the purpose of decodable texts, the stages of use, and how we use them to move towards a transfer of knowledge in reading and spelling. 

Listen in as we dig into the purpose and goals of decodable text.

200K Giveaway: The Together in Literacy Podcast has hit over 200,000 downloads! We are overjoyed and we want to share our excitement and gratitude with all of you. As a special thank you to our loyal listeners, we’re having a fun giveaway! We are each giving away a $20 credit to our stores: The Literacy Nest Shop and The Dyslexia Classroom Store. For a chance to win, fill out THIS entry form by February 1, 2024. We’ll announce the winner when our next episode, 3.10, is released on February 5, 2024. 

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• 1.8 How Decodable Texts Support Social-Emotional Learning
• 1.9 Working Memory with Dr. Erica Warren
• 3.7 The Importance of Scaffolding in Decoding
• Casey on TpT - The Dyslexia Classroom or The Dyslexia Classroom
• Emily on TpT - The Literacy Nest or The Literacy Nest 

We officially have merch! Show your love for the Together in Literacy podcast!

If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated!

Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at [email protected]!

If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest.

For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom. 

We're currently looking for guests and sponsors for season 3 of the Together in Literacy Podcast! 

Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!

There’s quite a conversation happening around double dosing of curriculums or lessons as instruction for our struggling students. And we wanted to speak about what works and doesn’t for our children through the lens of appropriate interventions. 

In this episode, we will:

• Share some reasons why we need to be cautious about how we provide interventions 
• Discuss what a double dose of curriculum is 
• Look at why this may not be the best option for our students
• Share tips for how to best serve students with dyslexia

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• 1.9: Working Memory with Dr. Erica Warren
• Casey on TpT - The Dyslexia Classroom or The Dyslexia Classroom
• Emily on TpT - The Literacy Nest or The Literacy Nest 

We officially have merch! Show your love for the Together in Literacy podcast!

If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated!

Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at [email protected]!

If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest.

For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom. 

We're currently looking for guests and sponsors for season 3 of the Together in Literacy Podcast! 

Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!

Have you ever had a student who struggles with blending words or over-emphasizes the strategy of letter-by-letter decoding? Or a student who segments, or pulls apart, individual sounds in words but cannot blend them to read the word? What can you do to move a student forward? 

In this episode, we discuss the importance of using diagnostic and prescriptive teaching measures when applying the appropriate scaffolds.

Tune in as we define what scaffolds are in literacy instruction, explain what diagnostic and prescriptive teaching measures look like, and share specific strategies for scaffolds in decoding!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• 1.10 The Gradual Release of Responsibility
• 2.14 Using Evaluations to Better Understand Our Learners with Katy Vassar
• What Does it Mean to Be Diagnostic and Prescriptive?
• Stuck On Decoding: 5 Ways To Scaffold Instruction
• 2.5 Word Attack Strategies for Older Students with Dyslexia
• 2.13 The Science of Learning

We officially have merch! Show your love for the Together in Literacy podcast!

If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated!

Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at [email protected]!

If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest.

For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom. 

We're currently looking for guests and sponsors for season 3 of the Together in Literacy Podcast! 

Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!

In this special episode, we’re joined by Jennifer Bernheim, founder of Right To Read Advocacy for a conversation about advocacy and the family vision for student success.

As the mom of a dyslexic learner, Jennifer knows how challenging it can be to navigate the special education process in a public school district, and she helps parents demystify this overwhelming process and empower them to support their child's needs.

Her recent education includes the Orton-Gillingham Academy Subscriber Course and WrightsLaw Special Ed Law & Advocacy Training. She has completed the esteemed Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) Special Education and Advocacy Training (SEAT) 1.0 course and is currently enrolled in SEAT 2.0. Jennifer adheres to COPAA’s Advocate Voluntary Code of Ethics.

Jennifer has a master’s degree in Communication Studies from the University of Rhode Island. She lives in Weston, Connecticut with her husband, their three children, and their Australian labradoodle. 

Connect with our guest, Jennifer Bernheim! Visit Right to Read Advocacy and find her on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Pinterest.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Decoding Dyslexia
• International Dyslexia Association
• Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates
• Dyslexia Training Institute 
• Overcoming Dyslexia by Sally Shaywitz M.D.
• Overcoming Dyslexia - Course
• Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy by Pamela Wright and Peter Wright
• Wrightslaw: All About Tests and Assessments by Melissa Lee Farrall, Pamela Wright, and Peter Wright
• Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
• Finding My Superpower: A book for dyslexic thinkers by Sarah Prestidge

We officially have merch! Show your love for the Together in Literacy podcast!

If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated!

Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at [email protected]!

If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest.

For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom. 

We're currently looking for guests and sponsors for season 3 of the Together in Literacy Podcast! 

Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!