Leveled Reading, Leveled Minds with Dr. Tim Shanahan

Leveled Reading, Leveled Minds with Dr. Tim Shanahan

April 28, 2026 · 51 min · Episode 29

About this episode

Dr. Tim Shanahan discusses his book and challenges the assumption that students should be matched to texts at their individual reading level.

In this episode, host Erin Bailey sits down with Dr. Timothy Shanahan — professor emeritus, former president of the International Literacy Association, and Reading Hall of Fame inductee — to discuss his groundbreaking new book, Leveled Reading, Leveled Lives . Dr. Shanahan challenges one of education's most deeply held assumptions: that students should be matched to texts at their individual reading level. Drawing on decades of research, he explains why this practice may actually be holding kids back — and what teachers should be doing instead. About Dr. Tim Shanahan: Timothy Shanahan is Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois at Chi­cago where he was Founding Di­rector of the UIC Center for Literacy. Previously, he was director of reading for the Chicago Public Schools. He is author/editor of more than 300 publications on literacy education. His research emphasizes the improvement of reading achievement, teaching reading with challenging text, reading-writing relationships, the and disciplinary literacy. Tim is past president of the International Literacy Association. He served as a member of the Advisory Board of the National Institute for Literacy under…

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Reading Inspires by Reading Is Fundamental podcast page.