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!

In this special episode, we’re joined by Erika Lopez for a conversation about using our gifts in our own way to make an impact in this world!

Erika was raised in the Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C. by her mother, an immigrant from Guatemala. She attended college at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.

She started her career in finance in Washington D.C. but realized the thing she liked discussing most with her clients was their philanthropic vision and plan. So she left finance to work in the non-profit industry for the next twelve years. 

Erika moved to North Carolina eight years ago with her husband and two children.

About five years ago, Erika began writing memoirs and essays based on her childhood experiences and began sharing her writings on a blog she named Landings.

This year, she released her first book, The Adventures of Amazing Grace a children's chapter book she created with her daughter.

Connect with our guest, Erika Lopez! Visit her website and her blog. Or, find her on Instagram.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• The Adventures of Amazing Grace by Erika Lopez
• Previous guests who shared their personal journey with dyslexia, Hope and Ryan.
• The Dyslexic Advantage by Brock L. Eide M.D. M.A. and Fernette F. Eide M.D.
• The Dyslexia Empowerment Plan by Ben Foss
• Made by Dyslexia
• Aaron Slater Illustrator by Andrea Beaty
• Just Ask!: Be Different, Be Brave, Be You by Sonia Sotomayor
• Million Bazillion podcast

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 Heather O’Donnell for a conversation about shifting from the classroom to private practice and how we can support parents and classroom teachers.  

Heather O’Donnell MS.Ed and Ed.M began her career as a classroom teacher. Working in both special and general education classroom settings, she left the classroom in 2018 to open New Paltz Multisensory, an online and in-person tutoring practice in New Paltz, NY. After identifying a need for private multisensory reading instruction in her community, the practice has grown to include a team of 13 tutors providing online and in-person multisensory reading, writing, and math instruction to students in over 10 states. 

Heather uses the Orton-Gillingham approach to diagnostically provide explicit instruction so that kids learn to love learning again! 

Connect with our guest, Heather O’Donnell! Visit New Paltz Multisensory. Or, find her on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• 2.15 Looking at Neurodiversity with a Fresh Perspective
• The Right to Read
• UFLI Foundations
• Emily Hanford
• Sold a Story
• Overcoming Dyslexia by Sally Shaywitz M.D.
• The Knowledge Gap: The Hidden Cause of America's Broken Education System--and How to Fix it by Natalie Wexler
• The Knowledge Matters Podcast
• Education Week

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!

We know that language is a vehicle for learning. Everything we do in education is connected to language. Whether it is instructions in math and science, ELA classes, literacy learning, and intervention, language plays an important role in learning about the world around us and how we interact with academics.

In this episode, we discuss the connection between language and literacy and what this means for our Structured Literacy and Orton-Gillingham lessons.

Tune in for some things we, as educators, can be mindful of when planning, and some tips to take into our lessons to bridge oral and written language.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• 3.2 How to Talk About Dyslexia
• 2.9 The Power in Saying Dyslexia
• FREE Dyslexia Awareness Month resources - The Literacy Nest
• FREE Dyslexia Awareness Month resources - The Dyslexia Classroom

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!

For us here at the Together in Literacy podcast, dyslexia is an everyday thing. We also want to highlight that October is dedicated to dyslexia awareness.

With this in mind, in this episode, we’re sharing tips for talking to parents about dyslexia and tips for parents when speaking to their children about dyslexia.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Decoding Dyslexia
• Made by Dyslexia
• Overcoming Dyslexia by Sally Shaywitz M.D.
• Conquering Dyslexia by Donna J. Wilbourn 
• 1.16: The Legal Aspect of Dyslexia Advocacy with Sabrina Axt
• 2.9: The Power in Saying Dyslexia
• Understood.org
• What is Dyslexia? by Kelli Sandman-Hurley
• 2.7: Supporting Families on Their Journey with Dyslexia with Dr. Lauren McClenney-Rosenstein
• 1.7: Hope's Journey featuring Hope McNabb
• 2.17: Using Challenges to Cultivate Success with Ryan Pool
• Books That Connect Social Emotional Learning and Dyslexia. 
• The Adventures of Amazing Grace by Erika Lopez
• 2.14: Using Evaluations to Better Understand Our Learners with Katy Vassar
• 2.4: How to Effectively Work with Older Students with Dyslexia
• FREE Dyslexia Awareness Month resources - The Literacy Nest
• FREE Dyslexia Awareness Month resources - The Dyslexia Classroom

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!

We’re back with season 3 of the Literacy Project Podcast!

This first episode of season three is a continued invitation to look deeply at what structured literacy really is. When we left off last season, we discussed the Knowledge and Practice Standards for Teachers of Reading, referred to as the KPS, and the importance of having highly trained educators. 

Tune in as we review the KPS, look at the five pillars of reading instruction, define Structured Literacy, bust some myths about Structured Literacy, and finally, we’ll offer tips to help others on this journey.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Knowledge and Practice Standards for Teachers of Reading
• 1.3: Connecting Metacognition to Your Literacy Lessons
• 1.8: How Decodable Texts Support Social-Emotional 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!

We’re wrapping up season 2 of the Together in Literacy podcast! And what a season it’s been!

This podcast was built upon a commitment to spreading factual information about dyslexia awareness, structured literacy, social-emotional learning, and the science of learning. As we look back on season 2, we are so proud to see our mission of supporting parents, teachers, and learners come to fruition.

In this episode, we share our major takeaways from season 2, we’ll look at a set of standards that cover key foundational components of structured literacy, we’ll share some articles and suggestions, and then we’ll give a sneak preview of what you can look forward to in season 3!

Let us know what you think about the Together in Literacy podcast by filling out this survey!

We're looking for those who are interested in being a guest on season 3 of the podcast or sponsoring the podcast!

Please feel free to keep in touch with us throughout the summer! You can find Emily at The Literacy Nest and Casey at The Dyslexia Classroom. 

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• 1.17: Finish the School Year Strong
• A list of all Together in Literacy Episodes
• Knowledge and Practice Standards for Teachers of Reading
• 1.12: The Importance of Building Teacher Knowledge and The Peter Effect
• Print-to-Speech and Speech-to-Print: Mapping Early Literacy
• The roles of letter names and letter sounds in connecting print and speech
• Knowing letter names and learning letter sounds: A causal connection

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. 

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 Ryan Pool. Ryan is a high schooler who is taking on the world!

Ryan is an entrepreneur and nationally ranked tennis player. In May, he secured funding from Orange County investors for his most recent business, Tennisify. He serves as an Ambassador for Economics for Leaders and coaches tennis in his spare time. 

Ryan trains hard on and off the tennis court. When not playing, you’ll find him asking questions and soaking up learning opportunities. His mission is to make the world a better place through innovation, using kindness, drive, and curiosity.

Ryan was diagnosed with apraxia of speech at two years old, and dyslexia as a kindergartener. He has big ideas but slow processing time and works hard to understand how to optimize his brain. He’s grateful for his amazing tutors, teachers, and mentors who taught him how to advocate for himself and others.

He recently gave a TEDx talk that you can view here. For more from Ryan, connect with him on Instagram.

We officially have merch! Show your love for the Together in Literacy podcast with a t-shirt or sweatshirt!

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. 

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 Adrianne Meldrum. Adrianne Meldrum is the founder and owner of Made for Math (MFM), an all-online math center focused on serving students with dyslexia, dyscalculia, and math learning disabilities. 

She is a certified Multisensory Math Instructor through Marilyn Zecher. She holds a Master’s Degree from Bridges Graduate School of Cognitive Diversity. 

We chat with Adrianne about using a multisensory approach to teaching math, how challenged learners can benefit from this approach, and so much more! 

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Listen Up: Five Stellar Science of Reading Podcasts Worth Trying
• Multisensory Math Activities That Really Work
• Difficulties Evolve into Doors: The HOPE for Students with Dyscalculia
• Interview with Dr. Xin, creator of Conceptual Model-Based Problem Solving (COMPS)
• Marilynzecher.com
• Asdec.org
• Professor Sharma - Mathematics for All
• Science of Math - Facebook Community
• Effective Teaching Strategies for Dyscalculia and Learning Difficulties in Mathematics by Marie Pascale Noel and Giannis Karagiannakis
• Mathematics for Dyslexics and Dyscalculics by Steve Chinn 
• Discovering Dyscalculia: One Family’s Journey with a Math Disability by Laura Jackson
• 2.13 The Science of Learning
• Is multisensory math for your child (Quiz)
• Unlocking Dyscalculia Web Series

For more from Adrianne Meldrum, check out her website Made for Math. You can also connect with her on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

We officially have merch! Show your love for the Together in Literacy podcast with a t-shirt or sweatshirt!

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. 

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 taking a closer look at neurodiversity. We’re seeing the term neurodiversity come up in a lot of different places from social media, to newspapers, to articles, and more. It is a global conversation that we should all be looking at with a fresh view and perspective. 

Tune in as we discuss what neurodiversity means to us, and, based on the current research, where dyslexia comes into the discussion of neurodiversity. We’ll also look at shifts in language surrounding neurodiversity, and what this all means for educators, parents, caregivers, students, and the world. 

Stick around until the end for some additional podcast and book recommendations on this topic!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Decoding Dyslexia
• 1.16 The Legal Aspect of Dyslexia Advocacy with Sabrina Axt
• The Dyslexic Advantage: Unlocking the Hidden Potential of the Dyslexic Brain by Brock L. Eide M.D. M.A. and Fernette F. Eide M.D.
• Overcoming Dyslexia by Sally Shaywitz MD
• Understood.org
• The Neurodiversity Podcast
• 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 Together in Literacy podcast with a t-shirt or sweatshirt!

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. 

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