101. Science of Reading Hot Topics: Navigating the Nuance with Anna Geiger, Reach All Readers
About this episode
Anna Geiger joins Michelle Sullivan to discuss the complexities and debates surrounding the Science of Reading in literacy education.
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 education Heart words Whether any English word is truly irregular (with the role of…
People in this episode
Host: Michelle Sullivan
Guest: Anna Geiger
Topics covered
- Science of Reading
- literacy instruction
- phonemic awareness
- structured literacy
- decodable texts
- educational debates
Keywords
- literacy
- instruction
- phonics
- heart words
- decodable texts
- sound walls
- structured literacy
- phonemic awareness
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Reach All Readers
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- 109. Phonological Awareness & the Alphabet: What the Research Says – and What We Still Don't Know with Dr. Shayne Piasta
- 108. Making Phonics Richer with Multiple Meaning Words
- 107. Stop Overcomplicating Big Words: How to Teach Polysyllabic Word Reading with Dr. Devin Kearns
- 106. How New York City Is Transforming Reading Instruction with Dr. Katie Pace Miles
- 104. Building the Biliterate Reading Brain: Multi-Component Instruction & Deep Reading with Dr. Maryanne Wolf
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