Insights from recent episode analysis
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Insights are generated by CastFox AI using publicly available data, episode content, and proprietary models.
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- 🇺🇸US · Courses#1845K to 30K
- Per-Episode Audience
Est. listeners per new episode within ~30 days
2.5K to 15K🎙 Weekly cadence·47 episodes·Last published 1mo ago - Monthly Reach
Unique listeners across all episodes (30 days)
5K to 30K🇺🇸100% - Active Followers
Loyal subscribers who consistently listen
1.5K to 9K
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On the show
Recent episodes
Why Knowledge Building Matters in Reading Instruction (with Natalie Wexler)
May 8, 2026
27m 41s
Become a Mentor, Transform a Life (with Dr. Shawn Anthony Robinson and Dr. William Kitz)
Feb 6, 2026
28m 15s
From Special Ed to Ph.D. (with Dr. Shawn Anthony Robinson)
Jan 9, 2026
37m 11s
LEFT BEHIND and the Moms Who Built a School (with Anna Toomey)
Nov 14, 2025
22m 57s
Decoding Decodable Readers (with Olivia Whicker)
Aug 10, 2025
24m 15s
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| Date | Episode | Description | Length | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/8/26 | Why Knowledge Building Matters in Reading Instruction (with Natalie Wexler) | “We’ve been making reading and writing harder for kids than they need to be.” —Natalie Wexler Systematic phonics instruction is essential, but it's not enough to ensure strong reading outcomes. In this episode of The Orton-Gillingham Podcast, education journalist and author Natalie Wexler joins us to discuss the vital role of background knowledge in reading instruction, why students struggle when it’s overlooked in lesson planning, and how educators can most effectively integrate knowledge building into their daily practice. Subscribe to our newsletter! https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/S9onxP7/brainspringnewsletter For additional content, please see the links below. Current Open Courses: https://brainspring.com/course-schedule/ Meet with an Ed Consultant: https://outlook.office.com/book/Partn... Website: https://brainspring.com Keep in Touch! Email: podcast@brainspring.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OrtonGillinghamTraining YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BrainspringOrtonGillingham Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brainspringortongillingham/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrainspringOG TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brainspringog LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brainspring/ Podbean: https://ortongillingham.podbean.com/ | 27m 41s | ||||||
| 2/6/26 | Become a Mentor, Transform a Life (with Dr. Shawn Anthony Robinson and Dr. William Kitz) | In this episode, we welcome back Dr. Shawn Anthony Robinson, joined by his longtime mentor, Dr. William Kitz. Dr. Kitz played a pivotal role in Dr. Robinson's academic development, beginning with his support through Project Success, a program for adult learners at the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh, and continuing as Dr. Robinson worked toward earning his Ph.D. We discuss their enduring relationship, how Dr. Kitz helped shape Dr. Robinson’s path, and the powerful, life-changing impact mentors can have, especially for struggling readers and students with dyslexia. Dr. William Kitz Subscribe to our newsletter! https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/S9onxP7/brainspringnewsletter Email: podcast@brainspring.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OrtonGillinghamTraining YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BrainspringOrtonGillingham Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brainspringortongillingham/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrainspringOG TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brainspringog LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brainspring/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/brainspringortongillingham Podbean: https://ortongillingham.podbean.com/ Website: https://brainspring.com | 28m 15s | ||||||
| 1/9/26 | From Special Ed to Ph.D. (with Dr. Shawn Anthony Robinson) | In this episode, we speak with Dr. Shawn Anthony Robinson, a truly inspiring guest who struggled with dyslexia throughout his childhood. After learning to read at age 18, Dr. Robinson went on to earn a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, and a Ph.D. in Literacy and Language. He is also the creator of Doctor Dyslexia Dude, an award-winning graphic novel about a superhero with dyslexia. Learn more about Dr. Robinson and his work at drshawnarobinson.com/ Subscribe to our newsletter! https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/S9onxP7/brainspringnewsletter Email: podcast@brainspring.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OrtonGillinghamTraining YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BrainspringOrtonGillingham Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brainspringortongillingham/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrainspringOG TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brainspringog LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brainspring/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/brainspringortongillingham Podbean: https://ortongillingham.podbean.com/ Website: https://brainspring.com | 37m 11s | ||||||
| 11/14/25 | LEFT BEHIND and the Moms Who Built a School (with Anna Toomey) | Today, we'll speak with special guest Anna Toomey, director of LEFT BEHIND, an award-winning documentary about a group of mothers who band together to create the first public school for children with dyslexia in New York City. For more information about the film, including how to watch it, please visit: https://www.leftbehindthefilm.com Subscribe to our newsletter! https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/S9onxP7/brainspringnewsletter Email: podcast@brainspring.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OrtonGillinghamTraining YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BrainspringOrtonGillingham Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brainspringortongillingham/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrainspringOG TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brainspringog LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brainspring/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/brainspringortongillingham Podbean: https://ortongillingham.podbean.com/ Website: https://brainspring.com | 22m 57s | ||||||
| 8/10/25 | Decoding Decodable Readers (with Olivia Whicker) | Today, we'll speak with Olivia Whicker, co-author of Talewinds™, Brainspring's new collection of decodable readers, about what makes decodable texts so effective, how decodables differ from other readers, and what teachers and parents should consider when purchasing a collection. Talewinds™ Decodable Readers by Brainspring are coming this September! Preorder today at https://brainspring.com/talewinds-library/ Developed with Brainspring’s trusted Orton-Gillingham expertise, these readers follow a carefully sequenced path that reinforces phonics skills while bringing stories to life through rich characters and imaginative plots. Designed to grow with the reader, each book builds confidence and fluency by integrating newly learned skills with previously taught concepts. Beyond the books, educators also receive digital access to a detailed Teacher Guide, filled with lesson ideas, skill breakdowns, Phonics First® Scope and Sequence alignment guides, and support for targeted instruction. Take a look inside our flipbook at https://heyzine.com/flip-book/0f4a492fa4.html#page/1 Subscribe to our newsletter! https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/S9onxP7/brainspringnewsletter Email: podcast@brainspring.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OrtonGillinghamTraining YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BrainspringOrtonGillingham Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brainspringortongillingham/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrainspringOG TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brainspringog LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brainspring/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/brainspringortongillingham Podbean: https://ortongillingham.podbean.com/ Website: https://brainspring.com | 24m 15s | ||||||
| 4/29/25 | A Case for Handwriting (with Denise Sherman) | Today, we’ll speak with Denise Sherman, Curriculum and Instructional Specialist at Brainspring, about the importance of handwriting instruction for students, how handwriting helps develop important skills later in life, and what we risk losing if we cut back on handwriting instruction in schools. Brainspring’s Handwriting Program is LIVE! Order Now! https://brainspring.com/.../classroom-package.../ We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our brand-new handwriting program, designed to help students develop confident, legible handwriting—one stroke at a time. Grounded in multisensory, structured literacy principles, our program supports fine motor skills and reinforces foundational literacy in every lesson. Whether you're a classroom teacher, interventionist, or homeschool parent, this easy-to-use, engaging curriculum brings handwriting to life for learners of all ages. Explore the program now: https://brainspring.com/.../classroom-package.../ Subscribe to our newsletter! https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/S9onxP7/brainspringnewsletter Email: podcast@brainspring.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OrtonGillinghamTraining YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BrainspringOrtonGillingham Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brainspringortongillingham/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrainspringOG TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brainspringog LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brainspring/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/brainspringortongillingham Podbean: https://ortongillingham.podbean.com/ Website: https://brainspring.com | 19m 56s | ||||||
| 3/31/25 | Maryanne Wolf on Digital Literacy | Today, we’ll speak with special guest Maryanne Wolf, a renowned scholar and director of UCLA’s Center for Dyslexia, about her research on the reading brain, how digital technologies are affecting our brains, and what we can do to prepare young children for an increasingly digital world. Subscribe to our newsletter! https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/S9onxP7/brainspringnewsletter Email: podcast@brainspring.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OrtonGillinghamTraining YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BrainspringOrtonGillingham Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brainspringortongillingham/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrainspringOG TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brainspringog LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brainspring/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/brainspringortongillingham Podbean: https://ortongillingham.podbean.com/ Website: https://brainspring.com | 49m 37s | ||||||
| 1/27/25 | Inequities in Education (with Dr. Ryan Lee-James) | Today, we’ll speak with Dr. Ryan Lee-James, a speech-language pathologist with expertise in reading disabilities, about her research on inequities in education, what we can do to improve literacy rates, and how we can make classroom environments more equitable. Dr. Lee-James recommends the following resources for families interested in advocating for their children: National Center for Improving Literacy (https://www.improvingliteracy.org/index.html) Cox Campus (https://coxcampus.org/) Florida Center for Reading Research (https://fcrr.org/) Subscribe to our newsletter! https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/S9onxP7/brainspringnewsletter Email: podcast@brainspring.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OrtonGillinghamTraining YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BrainspringOrtonGillingham Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brainspringortongillingham/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrainspringOG TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brainspringog LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brainspring/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/brainspringortongillingham Podbean: https://ortongillingham.podbean.com/ Website: https://brainspring.com | 35m 53s | ||||||
| 12/9/24 | America's #1 Youth Motivational Speaker (with Jordan Toma) | Today, we're joined by Jordan Toma, an inspirational author who overcame multiple learning disabilities to become the number one youth motivational speaker and youth advocate in the United States. Watch the video version of this podcast here: https://youtu.be/C0vj72zCXEg #dyslexia #inspiration Subscribe to our newsletter! https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/S9onxP7/brainspringnewsletter Email: podcast@brainspring.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OrtonGillinghamTraining YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BrainspringOrtonGillingham Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brainspringortongillingham/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrainspringOG TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brainspringog LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brainspring/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/brainspringortongillingham Podbean: https://ortongillingham.podbean.com/ Website: https://brainspring.com | 52m 21s | ||||||
| 11/14/24 | An Artist with Dyslexia (with Krista Weltner) | Today, we’ll speak with Krista Weltner, a gifted artist who overcame dyslexia and found success as an author, illustrator, puppet maker, stop-motion animator, filmmaker, costume designer, and comic book creator. Watch the video version of this podcast here: https://youtu.be/OpsG4Rl8k54 Also, be sure to check out Krista's wonderful short film Partially Compensated: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Dk1KAy16Fs Subscribe to our newsletter! https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/S9onxP7/brainspringnewsletter Email: podcast@brainspring.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OrtonGillinghamTraining YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BrainspringOrtonGillingham Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brainspringortongillingham/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrainspringOG TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brainspringog LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brainspring/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/brainspringortongillingham Podbean: https://ortongillingham.podbean.com/ Website: https://brainspring.com | 27m 26s | ||||||
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| 9/13/24 | "Keep the Light Burning": How Brooke Steingold Overcame Dyslexia and Became a Successful Nurse | Today, we’ll speak with Brooke Steingold, a successful nurse with dyslexia and ADHD, about how she went from dropping out of high school to becoming a college graduate and an inspiration to her daughter. Subscribe to our newsletter! https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/S9onxP7/brainspringnewsletter Email: podcast@brainspring.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OrtonGillinghamTraining YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BrainspringOrtonGillingham Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brainspringortongillingham/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrainspringOG TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brainspringog LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brainspring/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/brainspringortongillingham Podbean: https://ortongillingham.podbean.com/ Website: https://brainspring.com | 42m 47s | ||||||
| 8/1/24 | The Pillars of Reading: A Need for Comprehension Instruction (with Dr. Elena Forzani and Dr. Andrea Bien) | We’ll speak with Dr. Elena Forzani and Dr. Andrea Bien, two former elementary teachers and current professors at Boston University, about the importance of comprehension instruction and why students need to develop multiple skills to become good readers. Further reading: "A Focus on Phonics or Comprehension? What Reading Research Should Look Like in Practice" by Dr. Elena Forzani and Dr. Andrea Bien https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/opinion-a-focus-on-phonics-or-comprehension-what-reading-research-should-look-like-in-practice/2023/08 "The Science of Reading Progresses: Communicating Advances Beyond the Simple View of Reading" by Nell K. Duke and Kelly B. Cartwright (includes a model of the active view of reading) https://ila.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/rrq.411 Subscribe to our newsletter! https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/S9onxP7/brainspringnewsletter Email: podcast@brainspring.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OrtonGillinghamTraining YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BrainspringOrtonGillingham Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brainspringortongillingham/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrainspringOG TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brainspringog LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brainspring/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/brainspringortongillingham Podbean: https://ortongillingham.podbean.com/ Website: https://brainspring.com | 48m 38s | ||||||
| 6/28/24 | Surviving the NFL...when you can't read the playbook (with Deon Butler) | We’re joined by Deon Butler, a former tight end for the Detroit Lions, whose personal battle with dyslexia inspired him to start a new vocation as a motivational speaker and advocate for struggling readers. Subscribe to our newsletter! https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/S9onxP7/brainspringnewsletter Email: podcast@brainspring.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OrtonGillinghamTraining YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BrainspringOrtonGillingham Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brainspringortongillingham/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrainspringOG TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brainspringog LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brainspring/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/brainspringortongillingham Podbean: https://ortongillingham.podbean.com/ Website: https://brainspring.com | 1h 02m 12s | ||||||
| 5/8/24 | The Pillars of Reading: Dr. David Kilpatrick on Phonemic Awareness | Today, we’re joined by special guest Dr. David Kilpatrick, a certified school psychologist, professor emeritus of psychology for the State University of New York College at Cortland, an avid researcher of learning disabilities, and author of several works on literacy. His seminal book, Equipped for Reading Success, has become an essential component of literacy curricula in programs across the country, and has helped thousands of students learn to read. Subscribe to our newsletter! https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/S9onxP7/brainspringnewsletter Email: podcast@brainspring.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OrtonGillinghamTraining YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BrainspringOrtonGillingham Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brainspringortongillingham/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrainspringOG TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brainspringog LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brainspring/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/brainspringortongillingham Podbean: https://ortongillingham.podbean.com/ Website: https://brainspring.com | 58m 27s | ||||||
| 3/4/24 | "Never Lose Heart": A Push to Improve Literacy in Kentucky (with Micki Ray) | Today, we’ll speak with Micki Ray, Chief Academic Officer of the Kentucky Department of Education, about how her experience as a high school English teacher inspired her professional passion to help struggling readers. Then, we’ll hear about what the KDE is currently doing to improve literacy rates in Kentucky. Subscribe to our newsletter! https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/S9onxP7/brainspringnewsletter Email: podcast@brainspring.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OrtonGillinghamTraining YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BrainspringOrtonGillingham Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brainspringortongillingham/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrainspringOG TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brainspringog LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brainspring/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/brainspringortongillingham Podbean: https://ortongillingham.podbean.com/ Website: https://brainspring.com | 31m 41s | ||||||
| 2/19/24 | A Need for Decodable Stories (with Carolee Dean) | Today, we’ll hear from Carolee Dean, a speech-language pathologist, certified academic language therapist, and children’s author whose experiences working with dyslexic students led to a new career as an author of decodable books and educational resources. Check out Carolee's blog here: https://caroleedeanbooks.blogspot.com/ Subscribe to our newsletter! https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/S9onxP7/brainspringnewsletter Email: podcast@brainspring.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OrtonGillinghamTraining YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BrainspringOrtonGillingham Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brainspringortongillingham/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrainspringOG TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brainspringog LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brainspring/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/brainspringortongillingham Podbean: https://ortongillingham.podbean.com/ Website: https://brainspring.com | 29m 06s | ||||||
| 1/23/24 | Self-Esteem, Anxiety, and Dyslexia (with Nicki Winter) | Next from the IDA Conference, we'll hear from Nicki Winter, a dyslexia therapist and the creator of Brilliant Strengths, a strengths-based program designed to raise self-esteem and lower anxiety in students with dyslexia. Then, we'll introduce our Student of the Month for January 2024. Check out Brilliant Strengths here: https://www.brilliantstrengths.com/ Subscribe to our newsletter! https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/S9onxP7/brainspringnewsletter Email: podcast@brainspring.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OrtonGillinghamTraining YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BrainspringOrtonGillingham Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brainspringortongillingham/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrainspringOG TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brainspringog LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brainspring/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/brainspringortongillingham Podbean: https://ortongillingham.podbean.com/ Website: https://brainspring.com | 30m 25s | ||||||
| 12/22/23 | Voices from the IDA - A Conversation with Trevor Thomas | Today, we’ll hear from special guest Trevor Thomas, Superintendent for Heath City Schools in Heath, Ohio and the Superintendent Representative on the Ohio Dyslexia Committee, about how he and his team have worked to advance student literacy at all levels. Then, we’ll introduce our Student of the Month for December 2023. Subscribe to our newsletter! https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/S9onxP7/brainspringnewsletter Email: podcast@brainspring.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OrtonGillinghamTraining YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BrainspringOrtonGillingham Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brainspringortongillingham/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrainspringOG TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brainspringog LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brainspring/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/brainspringortongillingham Podbean: https://ortongillingham.podbean.com/ Website: https://brainspring.com | 19m 38s | ||||||
| 11/20/23 | Voices from the IDA - A Conversation with Marilyn Zecher | Today, we’ll hear from special guest Marilyn Zecher, a Certified Academic Language Therapist, dyslexia specialist, and the creator of two graduate-level methods courses in Multisensory Mathematics. Subscribe to our newsletter! https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/S9onxP7/brainspringnewsletter Email: podcast@brainspring.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OrtonGillinghamTraining YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BrainspringOrtonGillingham Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brainspringortongillingham/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrainspringOG TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brainspringog LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brainspring/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/brainspringortongillingham Podbean: https://ortongillingham.podbean.com/ Website: https://brainspring.com | 30m 45s | ||||||
| 11/2/23 | Voices from the IDA - A Conversation with Allison Peck | Today, we'll hear from special guest Allison Peck, Chief Academic Officer at Neuhaus Education Center, about how advocating for her son led to a fulfilling career in education. Then, we'll introduce our very first Student of the Month. Subscribe to our newsletter! https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/S9onxP7/brainspringnewsletter Email: podcast@brainspring.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OrtonGillinghamTraining YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BrainspringOrtonGillingham Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brainspringortongillingham/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrainspringOG TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brainspringog LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brainspring/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/brainspringortongillingham Podbean: https://ortongillingham.podbean.com/ Website: https://brainspring.com | 31m 50s | ||||||
| 10/11/23 | How Can You Advocate for Your Child? | Hello and welcome back! This week, Katie and Esther discussed how parents can advocate for their children when they notice that they are having reading difficulties. But first, we wanted to talk about a current hot topic in educational news. According to an article written by Emily Peck for Axios, the wage gap between teachers and other professionals is the widest it has been since 1960. What are your thoughts on this? To access this article, refer to the link below and make sure to tell us what you think! Now to get into today’s topic; How can you advocate for your child? First it is good to recognize the signs that your child may be struggling in school. Some of these signs can include: Your child looking nervous at the mention of school Your child cries when school is mentioned Your child doesn’t want to eat Your child breaks down when it is time to do homework Your child expresses they don’t want to go to school, saying this such as: “I don’t feel well.” “I don’t have any friends at school.” “I feel stupid at school.” “What if I go to school and I start to feel sick?” “I never know what’s going on at school.” “I am afraid of someone at school.” Noticing these signs can help you recognize that your child needs help. Now that you have noticed the signs, what do you do next? Be prepared! Write down all your concerns before talking to your child’s teacher Don’t be afraid to ask for special services Don’t be embarrassed to cry! It’s that time of the year that a lot of schools are having conferences. This is a great opportunity to have all your concerns written down and ready to discuss with your child’s teacher to start the process of getting your child help! Are you a teacher getting ready for conferences? One helpful tip to prepare yourself and parents for conferences is to send a general agenda to parents ahead of time so parents know what to expect. An example of this could be: Something positive An area of concern/opportunity for improvement Review grades Do you have any tips that work for you when it’s time for conferences? Make sure to let us know and spread the knowledge! IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Brainspring is going to be at the IDA 2023 Annual Reading, Literacy, and Learning Conference this weekend October 12-14, 2023, at the Hyatt Regency Columbus in Columbus, OH. If you’re going, make sure to visit us at booth 207. Thank you and talk to you next time! This One Chart Explains the Teacher Shortage by Emily Peck: https://www.axios.com/2023/10/02/teacher-pay-salary-low-gap-chart-graph IDA 2023 Annual Reading, Literacy, and Learning Conference Info: https://dyslexiacon.org/ Podcast Feedback Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/OGpodcastfeedbacksurvey Subscribe to our newsletter! https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/S9onxP7/brainspringnewsletter Email: podcast@brainspring.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OrtonGillinghamTraining YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BrainspringOrtonGillingham Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brainspringortongillingham/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrainspringOG TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brainspringog LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brainspring/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/brainspringortongillingham Podbean: https://ortongillingham.podbean.com/ Website: https://brainspring.com Hosts: Katie Hodgkins, Esther Moreau Production Manager: Michael Flees Multimedia Specialist: Brendan Kelly Podcast Production/Marketing Specialist: Morgan MacKew Marketing Intern: Elena Martin Vice President: Brigitte Crawford | 19m 30s | ||||||
| 8/7/23 | What’s YOUR Superpower? Superheroes with Dyslexia Featuring Dr. Nikolai Vitti | Hello and welcome back! This week we are continuing our series called, “What’s YOUR Superpower? Superheroes with Dyslexia”. This week we have a very special guest. He is the Superintendent of Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) and has an impressive educational background despite having to deal with dyslexia himself. Please help us welcome, Dr. Nikolai Vitti! Dr. Nikolai Vitti is a native Metro Detroiter from an immigrant family who went on to pursue education first as a student, and later as an educator himself. From being a college athlete at Wake Forest University while earning his bachelor's and master's degrees to earning his doctorate degree at Harvard University, Dr. Vitti has an extraordinary educational background. But that doesn’t mean that education always came easy to him. Like a lot of students, Dr. Vitti had difficulties reading when he was younger and did not have the resources available to him to help with his reading comprehension and decoding. Because of this, he faced a lot of struggles in school such as teasing from other kids, which lead to a lack of confidence. It wasn’t until he found his niche in athletics that he was able to build the confidence in himself to become a leader in education. And of course, having supportive educators in his own life inspired him to be a voice and an advocate for future students who struggled like himself. Attending college opened many doors for Dr. Vitti, especially when it came to learning about himself and his struggles with dyslexia. Thanks to one college professor, the idea that he was possibly dealing with dyslexia was planted into his head. From this point on, Dr. Vitti went on a self-discovering process, learning as much as he could about dyslexia and how he could provide his own assistance. These efforts would prove to be fruitful, as he was able to implement these measures as he continued his career as a leader in education advocating for those with dyslexia and other learning differences. Since then, Dr. Nikolai Vitti has been a strong force in the field of education. With the help of his wife, Rachel Vitti, he was able to create GRASP Academy: A School for Children with Dyslexia in Jacksonville, Florida, which utilizes Orton-Gillingham based programs to help their struggling students learn how to read. Since coming back home to Detroit, Dr. Vitti has become the Superintendent of the Detroit Public Schools Community District for almost 7 years now and continues to be a driving force to make sure the students in his school district are getting the education and opportunities they need and deserve. Although he faces a lot of hurdles, which include funding, politics, and resources, he continues to work hard for his students. Because at the end of the day, it’s all about the students and what he can do to help them achieve their dreams. Dr. Nikolai Vitti has no plans of slowing down. Since getting the school district back on track after the COVID-19 pandemic, plans are in place to start helping accelerate students within the Detroit Public Schools Community District with resources for them and their parents, including the Parent Academy available on the detroitk12.org website. He believes that it is the responsibility of the school district to meet parents where they are so they can best help their children succeed. And we couldn’t agree more! We finish up this episode with a fun lightening round of “This or That: Michigan Style” and see how Dr. Vitti feels about our Detroit sports teams, which Coney Island is his favorite, and more! Do you agree with his answers? Make sure to comment and let us know! We would like to thank Dr. Nikolai Vitti for joining us today and sharing his story with us of overcoming his own struggles with dyslexia and being an inspiration for all of us in the field of education. For more information about GRASP Academy: A School for Children with Dyslexia, check out the link here: GRASP Academy / Homepage ( | 49m 03s | ||||||
| 6/26/23 | What’s YOUR Superpower? Superheroes with Dyslexia Featuring Nancy Winar | Hello and welcome back! Unfortunately, Katie couldn’t join us today due to being sick, but we are sending her well wishes and hoping she gets better soon! For today, we are excited to announce a new series we are launching called, What’s YOUR Superpower? Superheroes with Dyslexia. In this series, we will be highlighting people who have dyslexia or reading differences and asking them how it has shaped them into the people they are today and how it helped define their careers. Our superhero guest today is our very own Director of Publications at Brainspring, Nancy Winar! Nancy shares withs us her experience discovering she had difficulties reading at a young age, dealing with dyslexia, and how she did not let this stop her and was able to turn dyslexia into her own superpower! Nancy has an impressive variety of careers she explored, including being a dog groomer, assembly-line worker, video specialist, theatrical makeup artist, shop manager, costume designer, and so much more! Even more impressively, Nancy set a record as the youngest intern hired at the Juilliard School of Performing Arts, which allowed her to rub elbows with celebrities and soon-to-be celebrities that she now watches on the big and little screens (don’t worry, we asked her about the celebrities she worked with!). Of course, her career path did not come without difficulties. Working in so many different fields, it’s impossible not to encounter all sorts of different people. Unfortunately, not all people are patient with those who have dyslexia or any learning difficulty. Nancy shares with us those particularly difficult situations she encountered and how she overcame them, becoming an advocate for her work and herself. After exploring all her different interests and passions, Nancy explains to us how she ended up at Brainspring, working in graphic design and becoming our Director of Publications. When asked for advice, Nancy says, “Find what works for you. If you have interests, don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do them. Experiences are out there for you, don’t wait for them! And most importantly, ASK FOR HELP!” The Orton-Gillingham podcast would like to thank Nancy Winar for joining us today and sharing her experiences with having dyslexia and how she was able to turn it into her very own superpower! Don’t forget to check us out on our social media platforms to stay up to date on all Brainspring news. Have any questions or comments you would like to share? Make sure to reach out to us using the email below or send us a voicemail to be addressed in a future episode! If you would like to look at some of Nancy’s art, visit the links below! Thank you and see you next time! To view Nancy Winar’s art: Creative Work by Nancy Winar Subscribe to our newsletter! https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/S9onxP7/brainspringnewsletter Email: podcast@brainspring.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OrtonGillinghamTraining YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BrainspringOrtonGillingham Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brainspringortongillingham/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrainspringOG TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brainspringog LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brainspring/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/brainspringortongillingham Podbean: https://ortongillingham.podbean.com/ Website: https://brainspring.com Hosts: Katie Hodgkins, Esther Moreau Production Manager: Michael Flees Multimedia Specialist: Brendan Kelly Podcast Production/Marketing: Morgan MacKew Marketing Intern: Elena Martin | 39m 45s | ||||||
| 4/17/23 | De-Stress with Us | Hello and welcome back! On today’s episode of the Orton-Gillingham Podcast, Katie and Esther share tips on how to “spring forward” through springtime burnout that affects teachers and students. But first, we have a contest winner to announce! March was National Reading Month and Brainspring rolled out a contest for a chance for listeners to win a $500 donation to a library of their choosing. To enter, listeners were to comment on our Facebook contest post the book they are currently reading. Names were collected and placed into festive Easter eggs to be drawn on this episode of our contest. We drew the name, and the lucky winner is... FRINZETTA BOMAN! Congratulations, Frinzetta! Marketing will be reaching out to you soon to set up a donation of $500 to a library of your choosing from Brainspring. Now back to the topic at hand. Have you ever experienced springtime burnout? Around this time of year, the weather is getting nicer (hopefully) and it’s darker later, and teachers and students are preparing to finish up the school year. There’s end of the school year meetings, events, testing, and if you’re dealing with a senior in high school especially, all motivation has gone out the window. Because of this, it’s important to take some time out of your busy schedules to take care of yourselves and de-stress. How exactly do we do that? We have some ideas! As you may have noticed, our hosts are dressed and ready for a spa day! They have their robes on, hair pulled back, and ready for some self-care. Join in on the fun by having your own spa day by breaking out the face masks, candles, and wine (for adults only, in moderation!) and get ready for a well-deserved break from springtime burnout chaos. Spa days not your thing? Don’t worry, we have more ideas! Reading is a great way to escape from reality for a bit. If you are itching to keep your hands busy, you can try doodling or some children and adult coloring books as well. And another great way to keep your hands busy while de-stressing is gardening, which is perfect since Earth Day is just around the corner. It’s also a great way to get some sunshine since the weather is nicer! If you are a canine lover, this next tip is PERFECT for you. Petting a dog can help de-stress after a long day, and we demonstrate with our furry friend, Gimbal! Gimbal is a sweet Australian Shephard who we had the pleasure of meeting in the studio. He was such a great costar for this episode! Last but certainly not least, one of the best ways to de-stress is just spending time with those closest to you. Get a group of friends together and play some games or partake in any of the ideas listed above! The big point we are trying to get across is that it is important to take some time to de-stress and take care of our mental health, especially during such a time where a lot of us are struggling with springtime burnout. In our next episode, we will be diving deeper into the subject of mental health and the importance of it, but for now we hope these tips will help you out! Don’t forget to check us out on our social media platforms to stay up to date on all Brainspring news and check out our YouTube channel to see footage of Gimbal with our hosts during this episode. Have any questions or comments you would like to share? Make sure to reach out to us using the email below or send us a voicemail to be addressed in a future episode! Thank you and see you next time! Subscribe to our newsletter! https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/S9onxP7/brainspringnewsletter Email: podcast@brainspring.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OrtonGillinghamTraining YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BrainspringOrtonGillingham Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brainspringortongillingham/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrainspringOG TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brainspringog LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brainspring/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/brainspringortongillingham Podbean | 27m 52s | ||||||
| 3/6/23 | Dyslexia in D.C. (with Jeanine Cyrwus) | Hello and welcome back! On today’s episode of the Orton-Gillingham Podcast, we are speaking with special guest Jeanine Cyrwus about Dyslexia in D.C. Jeanine has an M.Ed. in Special Education and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Education Leadership. She also has a Dyslexia Advocacy Certificate from the Dyslexia Training Institute. Jeanine has an impressive 20 years of experience in the field of Special Education, with her focus being on learning difficulties and dyslexia. Positions that Jeanine has held include Classroom Special Education Teacher, Learning Specialist, Language Arts Coordinator at Oakwood School, and most recently, the Director of Outreach and Literacy at Oakwood School. When asked about her passion, Jeanine responded, “I'm a mother to a child with dyslexia, dysgraphia and ADHD and I know what it's like to see your child struggle to read, not get appropriate intervention, and watch as this impacts their self-esteem.” Jeanine joins us today to talk with us about her time in D.C. attending a Congressional Dyslexia Panel. In this panel, members of the Senate and Congress discussed the 21st Century Dyslexia Act. This bill will allow students to be identified by their school as students with dyslexia and will get them the specialized help they need to succeed. So, what is the status of this bill, and why hasn’t it been passed yet? Jeanine goes through the ins and outs with our hosts and shares what you as a listener can do to help move this bill along and get it passed. Check the links below to see how to contact your state legislators about passing the 21st Century Dyslexia Act today! DON’T FORGET! In honor of National Reading Month, the Orton-Gillingham Podcast has launched a contest. All you have to do is go to our Facebook page at the link below and comment on this post what you are currently reading, and your name will be entered into a drawing to win a $500 donation to a library of your choosing. Hurry, because the contest ends on March 13th! Contest Facebook Post We want to thank Jeanine Cyrwus for joining us today and to remind everyone to make sure to check the links below for the resources discussed in today’s episode. Have any questions or comments you would like to share? Make sure to reach out to us using the email below or send us a voicemail to be addressed in a future episode! Also make sure to follow us on all social media and check out our YouTube for visual resources. Thank you and see you next time! Oakwood School 21st Century Dyslexia Act IDEA Act Phonics First® Level I In-Person Course - Annandale, VA July 24-28, 2023 (8:30 AM - 3:30 PM EST) National Center on Improving Literacy Decoding Dyslexia Decoding Dyslexia VA – Action Alert Campaign List of Senators and Congressmen and women supporting the 21st Century Dyslexia Act Senate: Senator Cassidy - Louisiana Senator Kennedy - Louisiana Senator Scott – South Carolina Senator Graham – South Carolina Senator Braun - Indiana Senator Hickenlooper - Colorado Congress: Rep. Westerman - Arkansas Rep. Brownley - California Rep. Bucshon - Indianna Rep. McGovern - Massachusetts Rep. Palazzo- Mississippi Rep. Golden - Maine Rep. Manning – North Carolina Subscribe to our newsletter! https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/S9onxP7/brainspringnewsletter Email: podcast@brainspring.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OrtonGillinghamTraining YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BrainspringOrtonGillingham Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brainspringortongillingham/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrainspringOG TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brainspringog LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brainspring/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/brainspringortongillingham Podbean: https://ortongillingham.podbean.com/ Website: https://brainspring.com Hosts: Katie Hodgkins, Esther Moreau Production Manager: Michael Flees Soundboard: Brendan Kelly Podcast Production/Marketing: Morg | 45m 08s | ||||||
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