Melissa & Lori Love Literacy ® | Science of Reading for Teachers

Supported by Great Minds

Melissa & Lori Love Literacy® is a science of reading podcast for teachers who want to understand how reading really works and what that means for classroom instruction.Each month, Melissa & Lori explore topics in reading instruction by talking with researchers, authors, and classroom teachers who are bringing reading research into their classrooms.Melissa & Lori are like the teachers next door, now behind the mic. They learn alongside listeners and ask the same questions educators everywhere are asking: What does the research say about reading? What does strong literacy instruction actually look like in real classrooms? Through these conversations, the podcast helps bridge the gap between reading research and day-to-day teaching.Episodes explore topics including phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, writing, spelling, reading intervention, and other key areas of structured literacy instruction.Melissa & Lori help teachers think through what reading research can look like in their own classrooms.

  1. Word Chaining for Building Phonemic Awareness with Anjanette McNeely

    7 hrs ago

    Word Chaining for Building Phonemic Awareness with Anjanette McNeely

    Episode 254 In this episode, we sit down with kindergarten teacher Anjanette McNeely to take a close look at one powerful instructional routine: word chaining. Anjanette walks us through exactly what word chaining looks like in her classroom, from the materials she uses to the language she says, and explains why this routine is such an effective way to build both phonemic awareness and phonics at the same time. We also explore how word chaining supports orthographic mapping, why connecting sounds to print matters, and how small instructional shifts, like continuous blending and interleaving, can have a big impact on student learning. Whether you're new to word chaining or looking to refine your practice, this episode offers practical ideas you can try right away. Resources Word Chaining: An Efficient and Effective Alternative to Oral Phonemic Awareness by Anjanette McNeely: Blog post about word chaining and a video of Anjanette's classroom in action Word Chaining: A Simple Routine for Reading and Spelling (printable) You can see a picture of Anjanette's word chaining tray hereWord Chains for Decoding and Encoding Practice: An overview on how to make and use word chains to teach decoding and encoding (from UFLI) 44 Phonemes (video): Learn how to pronounce the 44 phonemes in the English alphabet (from Rollins Center for Language and Literacy) Looking for more literacy support and resources? Explore all of our podcast episodes, free listening guides, and classroom tools at literacypodcast.com. Interested in bringing Melissa & Lori Love Literacy to your school or event? Email us at literacypodcast@greatminds.org.

    43 min
  2. [Listen Again] What Research Says About Phonemic Awareness Instruction with Matt Burns

    19 June

    [Listen Again] What Research Says About Phonemic Awareness Instruction with Matt Burns

    We’re revisiting this episode with Matt Burns because it offers one of the clearest explanations of phonemic awareness and how it fits into reading instruction. In this conversation, Matt helps unpack what the research actually says and what that means for what we prioritize in the classroom. He explains why phonemic awareness is not a standalone precursor to reading, but develops alongside it, and why decoding should take center stage as students move into the upper elementary grades. If you’ve ever felt unsure about how phonemic awareness fits into your instruction, or what to focus on as students progress, this episode brings clarity and practical direction. Resources Phonemic Awareness, Research, Misconceptions, and Fads with Dr. Matt BurnsThey Say You Can Do Phonemic Awareness Instruction “In the Dark”, But Should You? A Critical Evaluation of the Trend Toward Advanced Phonemic Awareness TrainingRIP to Advanced Phonemic Awareness | Shanahan on LiteracyPhonemic Awareness with Letters YouTube video, Matt BurnsMatt Burns YouTube Channel National Reading Panel Report Elkonin Boxes, Reading RocketsFlorida Center for Reading Research UFLI Foundations Ep. 159: Back to School: Science of Reading or Snake Oil with Holly Lane Road to the Code, Book IES Practice Guides Empirical Analysis of Drill Ratio Research: Refining the Instructional Level for Drill Tasks, Matt Burns (meta-analysis) Looking for more literacy support and resources? Explore all of our podcast episodes, free listening guides, and classroom tools at literacypodcast.com. Interested in bringing Melissa & Lori Love Literacy to your school or event? Email us at literacypodcast@greatminds.org.

    45 min
  3. Research-Based Shifts to Strengthen Phonemic Awareness with Marianne Rice

    12 June

    Research-Based Shifts to Strengthen Phonemic Awareness with Marianne Rice

    Episode 253 In this episode, we talk with Marianne Rice about key findings from a Tennessee report examining how well early literacy materials align with research on phonemic awareness and early reading instruction. Marianne walks us through five essential practices that can help teachers make the most of their instructional time:  focusing on phoneme-level workusing articulatory gesturesconnecting phonemic awareness to printbeing mindful of instructional timeprioritizing blending and segmenting.Throughout the conversation, Marianne shares practical ways teachers can evaluate and adjust their current curriculum without starting from scratch.  The big takeaway: small instructional shifts, especially connecting sounds to print and focusing on blending and segmenting, can have a big impact on helping students become strong readers and spellers. Resources  Kindergarten and First-Grade HQIM Alignment with Research on Code-Focused Instruction: Tennessee Early Literacy Report (referenced in the episode)5 Focus Areas for Phonemic Awareness (printable)44 Phonemes (video): Learn how to pronounce the 44 phonemes in the English alphabet (from Rollins Center for Language and Literacy)Word Chains for Decoding and Encoding Practice: An overview on how to make and use word chains to teach decoding and encoding (from UFLI) What Works Clearinghouse Guide: Foundational Skills to Support Reading for Understanding in Kindergarten Through 3rd GradePhonemic Awareness: A Meta-Analysis for Planning (need ILA access)   Looking for more literacy support and resources? Explore all of our podcast episodes, free listening guides, and classroom tools at literacypodcast.com. Interested in bringing Melissa & Lori Love Literacy to your school or event? Email us at literacypodcast@greatminds.org.

    48 min
  4. Supporting Readers as Texts Get More Complex with Luke Morin

    22 May

    Supporting Readers as Texts Get More Complex with Luke Morin

    Episode 252 What actually happens when students encounter a complex text? In this episode, we’re joined by Luke Morin to discuss his article "Wading Into the Deep End: What Reading Actually Requires When the Text Gets Hard." Luke shares a powerful classroom moment where students applied reading strategies before tackling a tough text and still couldn’t make sense of a single sentence. That experience led him to rethink what it really means to teach reading. In this conversation, we explore: Why using strategies doesn’t guarantee understandingHow text complexity is shaped by the interaction between text, reader, and taskWhat collective close reading looks like in practiceHow to provide “lily pad” supports without rescuing studentsLuke challenges the idea that comprehension can be reduced to checklists or isolated skills. Instead, he offers a vision of instruction that prepares students to wade into deep water with support, intention, and growing independence. RESOURCES "Wading Into the Deep End: What Reading Actually Requires When the Text Gets Hard" by Luke Morin"A Lily Pad, in Practice" (Collective Close Reading Sample)"Why Mastery Doesn't Matter" by Luke Morin "The Surprising Power of the Humble Worksheet" by Luke MorinLooking for more literacy support and resources? Explore all of our podcast episodes, free listening guides, and classroom tools at literacypodcast.com. Interested in bringing Melissa & Lori Love Literacy to your school or event? Email us at literacypodcast@greatminds.org.

    58 min
  5. [Listen Again] Why Knowledge Matters for Comprehension with Daniel Willingham & Barbara Davidson

    15 May

    [Listen Again] Why Knowledge Matters for Comprehension with Daniel Willingham & Barbara Davidson

    Episode 139 As we continue our focus on comprehension this month, we’re revisiting one of our most essential conversations. In this episode, we explore a foundational truth about reading: comprehension depends on knowledge. We’re joined by cognitive scientist Daniel Willingham, who explains why background knowledge is one of the strongest drivers of reading comprehension and why strategies alone can’t compensate for gaps in knowledge. We also talk with Barbara Davidson, Executive Director of the Knowledge Matters Campaign, about the role strong, knowledge-building curriculum plays in helping students access complex text. Whether this is your first listen or a return, this episode remains foundational. Resources Knowledge Matters Campaign website Books by Daniel WillinghamReading Rockets Q&A with Daniel WillinghamLooking for more literacy support and resources? Explore all of our podcast episodes, free listening guides, and classroom tools at literacypodcast.com. Interested in bringing Melissa & Lori Love Literacy to your school or event? Email us at literacypodcast@greatminds.org.

    1hr 1min
  6. To Read Stuff, You Have to Know Stuff with Kelly Gallagher

    8 May

    To Read Stuff, You Have to Know Stuff with Kelly Gallagher

    Episode 251 One of the most consistent findings in reading research is this: how much you know determines how far you can go as a reader. In this episode, we’re joined by Kelly Gallagher, author of To Read Stuff, You Have to Know Stuff, to explore why knowledge is central to comprehension and what that means for classroom instruction. Kelly helps us rethink the long-standing emphasis on isolated reading strategies and instead focus on building knowledge at multiple levels: word, sentence, passage, article, and book. Kelly offers clear examples and practical thinking that will help you reflect on how knowledge is built over time and how we can design instruction that goes deeper, not just wider. RESOURCES To Read Stuff, You Have To Know Stuff by Kelly GallagherKelly Gallagher’s Article of the Week Looking for more literacy support and resources? Explore all of our podcast episodes, free listening guides, and classroom tools at literacypodcast.com. Interested in bringing Melissa & Lori Love Literacy to your school or event? Email us at literacypodcast@greatminds.org.

    56 min
  7. Vocabulary Strategies to Boost Word Learning with Melissa Cheesman Smith, Savannah Campbell, & Tim Rasinski

    24 Apr

    Vocabulary Strategies to Boost Word Learning with Melissa Cheesman Smith, Savannah Campbell, & Tim Rasinski

    Episode 251 In this episode, we’re joined by Tim Rasinski, Melissa Cheesman, and Savannah Campbell, authors of The Megabook of Vocabulary, to talk about practical, classroom-ready strategies that actually work. We dig into the biggest misconceptions about vocabulary instruction, where vocabulary words should come from, how many exposures a word truly needs, and how to move words from simple recognition to confident use in speaking and writing. You’ll hear about: Why morphology and generative vocabulary are more powerful than weekly word listsHow Word Ladders build decoding, spelling patterns, and vocabulary simultaneouslyHow to integrate fluency and vocabulary through repeated reading, Readers’ Theater, and performance-based routinesWhat “deep processing” really means—and why it makes words stick long termThis conversation bridges research and practice, showing how vocabulary connects to decoding, fluency, and comprehension in meaningful ways. If you’re looking for high-impact routines that support all learners. This episode will leave you with actionable ideas you can use right away. Vocabulary doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. It can be powerful, generative, and deeply connected to everything else we teach. Resources  Megabook of Vocabulary (Free Printable Resource aligned to this episode!) Megabook of Vocabulary (Book) Tim Rasinski's Website + ResourcesLooking for more literacy support and resources? Explore all of our podcast episodes, free listening guides, and classroom tools at literacypodcast.com. Interested in bringing Melissa & Lori Love Literacy to your school or event? Email us at literacypodcast@greatminds.org.

    1hr 1min
  8. [Listen Again] Ten Vocabulary Moves Backed by Research with Blythe Anderson

    17 Apr

    [Listen Again] Ten Vocabulary Moves Backed by Research with Blythe Anderson

    What does the research really say about effective vocabulary instruction—and how can we translate it into daily classroom practice? In this episode, we’re joined by literacy expert Blythe Anderson to unpack vocabulary moves grounded in research that make a measurable difference for students. From intentional word selection to meaningful student talk, Blythe shares practical, classroom-ready strategies that help educators move beyond “word of the week” and into instruction that builds deep, lasting word knowledge. Together, we explore: Why explicit vocabulary instruction mattersHow to choose the right words to teachThe role of discussion and student engagementPractical routines that strengthen word learning across content areasHow to ensure vocabulary sticks for long-term comprehensionWhether you’re a classroom teacher, instructional coach, or school leader, this conversation will leave you with concrete, research-backed practices you can implement immediately. Tune in to learn how small, intentional shifts in vocabulary instruction can lead to big gains in student word learning and comprehension. Looking for more literacy support and resources? Explore all of our podcast episodes, free listening guides, and classroom tools at literacypodcast.com. Interested in bringing Melissa & Lori Love Literacy to your school or event? Email us at literacypodcast@greatminds.org.

    48 min
See All (341)

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

4.6
out of 5
18 Ratings

About

Melissa & Lori Love Literacy® is a science of reading podcast for teachers who want to understand how reading really works and what that means for classroom instruction.Each month, Melissa & Lori explore topics in reading instruction by talking with researchers, authors, and classroom teachers who are bringing reading research into their classrooms.Melissa & Lori are like the teachers next door, now behind the mic. They learn alongside listeners and ask the same questions educators everywhere are asking: What does the research say about reading? What does strong literacy instruction actually look like in real classrooms? Through these conversations, the podcast helps bridge the gap between reading research and day-to-day teaching.Episodes explore topics including phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, writing, spelling, reading intervention, and other key areas of structured literacy instruction.Melissa & Lori help teachers think through what reading research can look like in their own classrooms.

Information

You Might Also Like