The Orton-Gillingham Podcast

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 (

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

Hello and welcome back! On today’s episode of the Orton-Gillingham Podcast, we are taking the time to honor some prominent Black figures for Black History Month. We tasked Katie and Esther with providing three people they would like to talk about with their listeners. But first, today is Valentine’s Day! Did you know that Frederick Douglass’s birthday was on Valentine’s Day? Well, it was assumed to be his birthday because his mother used to call him, “my little valentine.” Frederick Douglass was a slave, abolitionist, a writer, and so much more, and was also a very prominent figure in the civil rights movement. This is the perfect moment to transition into the prominent figures Katie and Esther provided to talk about today. From writers, singers, musicians, athletes, and more, our hosts provided people who were not only prominent Black figures, but also literary pioneers who paved the way for future voices to stand up against racial injustices. There were also quite a few from Michigan as well! Want to check out the powerful Black singer who brought the former U.S. President Barack Obama to tears? We have the link below! To wrap up today’s episode, we encourage everyone to read and learn as much as they can about Black History Month, and feel free to share with us what you find! We also hope everyone has a wonderful Valentine’s Day, no matter how or if you celebrate. Have any other 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! Honors Memories: Aretha Franklin honors Carole King | 2015 Kennedy Center Honors: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pT4aRd-hCqQ 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: Morgan MacKew Marketing Intern: Elena Martin