The Reading Symphony

Katie Megrian
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  • Parenting

Hosted by Katie Megrian - literacy leader, former principal, and mom of two young readers - The Reading Symphony brings the science of reading to life for parents, teachers, and school leaders who want clarity, not confusion. Each episode blends research-based insight with real-world strategies for helping children thrive in reading, writing, and comprehension. From phonemic awareness and decoding to fluency, vocabulary, and background knowledge, Katie demystifies what great instruction looks like and how families can support it at home. You’ll hear from expert guests in literacy education, cognitive science, and classroom practice - along with relatable stories from parents navigating the journey right beside their kids. Whether you’re an educator implementing the Science of Reading, a school leader designing literacy PD, or a parent decoding report cards and assessments, this podcast is your roadmap to evidence-based reading success. Topics include: How children learn to read and why some struggle What to look for in a strong school literacy program The truth about reading assessments and progress reports Strategies to build fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension The role of knowledge building and background knowledge Advocacy tips for parents and educators Inspiring stories from classrooms and homes that got reading right

  1. Rethinking Adolescent Literacy with Kate Crist

    1 day ago

    Rethinking Adolescent Literacy with Kate Crist

    📚 Join Me for My Stop the Summer Slide Workshop - June 14th Learn practical, evidence-based strategies to help your child maintain reading progress and confidence over the summer. 👉 Register here: https://go.thereadingsymphony.com/offer-5901 Katie hosts Kate Crist, founder of Education 4500 and literacy consultant, to discuss one of the biggest challenges facing schools today: why so many students reach middle school and high school without being able to read grade-level texts fluently. Kate's Links: Website: https://www.education4500.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katecrist/ 📩 Join My Email List Get practical literacy tips, resources, podcast updates, and insights to help every child become a confident reader. Join here: https://link.fgfunnels.com/widget/form/M03vMOX9hAn6YOt6J7HN Chapters: CHAPTERS 00:00 – Why So Many Students Still Can't Read 00:46 – Meet Kate Crist & Education 4500 03:25 – The Goal: Every Student Graduates Literate 05:00 – Literacy Outcomes Are Designed, Not Accidental 07:40 – Why High School Literacy Needs a Different Approach 09:00 – It's Not the Child's Fault 11:00 – The Role of Teachers vs. The Role of Systems 13:20 – Why Leadership Matters for Literacy Success 14:20 – The Type 10 Fluency Protocol Explained 16:00 – Why Students Need More Eyes on Text 18:00 – Fluency and Reading Comprehension: The Missing Link 19:00 – Why Grade-Level Fluency Matters 21:00 – What Happens When Students Struggle to Read 22:00 – Practical Fluency Routines for Older Readers 25:30 – How Schools Can Build Literacy at Scale 28:00 – What Gives Kate Hope About the Future of Literacy #scienceofreading #adolescentliteracy #readingcomprehension #structuredliteracy #strugglingreaders #literacyinstruction #education #middleschool #highschoolliteracy #readingintervention

    47 min
  2. The Importance of Teachers Supporting Teachers with Jaenine Cortazar Rodriguez

    24 May

    The Importance of Teachers Supporting Teachers with Jaenine Cortazar Rodriguez

    📚 Join Me for My Stop the Summer Slide Workshop – June 14th Learn practical, evidence-based strategies to help your child maintain reading progress and confidence over the summer. 👉 Register here: https://go.thereadingsymphony.com/offer-5901 Katie welcomes Jaenine Cortazar Rodriguez, literacy consultant, educator, and co-founder of Boston Literacy Ladies, for a conversation about teacher coaching, literacy instruction, educator burnout, and the support teachers need to help students thrive. Jaenine shares how she and her business partner built Boston Literacy Ladies to provide personalized coaching and practical support for educators navigating curriculum changes, literacy instruction, classroom management, scheduling, intervention planning, and professional growth. Together, Katie and Jaenine discuss the science of reading, teacher efficacy, family-school partnerships, professional development, dyslexia screening, instructional coaching, and why supporting teachers is one of the most effective ways to improve outcomes for students. This episode is for educators, school leaders, literacy coaches, parents, and anyone interested in strengthening literacy instruction and supporting teachers. Jaenine's Links: Website: https://www.bostonliteracyladies.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bostonliteracyladies/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bostonliteracyladies TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@boston.literacy.ladies 📩 Join My Email List Get practical literacy tips, resources, podcast updates, and insights to help every child become a confident reader. Join here: https://link.fgfunnels.com/widget/form/M03vMOX9hAn6YOt6J7HN Chapters 00:00 – Introduction to Jaenine Cortazar Rodriguez 00:45 – Stop the Summer Slide Workshop Announcement 02:00 – Why Boston Literacy Ladies Was Created 04:20 – The Isolation Many Teachers Experience 05:15 – The Biggest Challenges Teachers Face Today 06:50 – Coaching Teachers Across Grade Levels 08:10 – Family Partnerships & Building Trust 10:00 – Why Parent Workshops Often Struggle 11:45 – Reaching Families Who Need Support Most 13:00 – Helping Families Understand Reading Data 15:40 – Dyslexia Screening & Early Intervention 19:00 – What Effective Teacher Support Looks Like 20:15 – Teacher Burnout & Low Teacher Efficacy 21:45 – Curriculum Overload & Initiative Fatigue 23:30 – Why Teachers Shouldn't Have to Write Curriculum 24:45 – Supporting Teachers Through Change 27:00 – Improving Family Communication 28:00 – What Gives Jaenine Hope About Literacy Education

    31 min
  3. Setting The Record Straight On How We Learn with Holly Korbey

    16 May

    Setting The Record Straight On How We Learn with Holly Korbey

    📚 Join Me for My Stop the Summer Slide Workshop – June 14th Learn practical, evidence-based strategies to help your child maintain reading progress and confidence over the summer. 👉 Register here: https://go.thereadingsymphony.com/offer-5901 Katie hosts education journalist and author Holly Korbey to discuss the science of learning and what parents and educators should understand about how children actually learn. Holly explains concepts like cognitive load, explicit instruction, retrieval practice, background knowledge, and why step-by-step teaching matters more than many people realize. Katie and Holly discuss study habits, flashcards, the science of reading, writing instruction, and how evidence-based teaching practices can help more students succeed. Holly Korbey writes The Bell Ringer newsletter focused on the science of learning. Holly’s links: Newsletter: https://thebellringer.substack.com/ Website: https://hollykorbey.com/ X/Twitter: https://x.com/hollykorbey LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/holly-korbey-21617331/ 📩 Join My Email List Get practical literacy tips, resources, podcast updates, and insights to help every child become a confident reader. Join here: https://link.fgfunnels.com/widget/form/M03vMOX9hAn6YOt6J7HN Chapters: 00:00 – Why the Public Needs to Understand How Learning Works 00:43 – Meet Holly Korbey: Education Journalist & Author 05:00 – Why Holly Asked to Speak on Podcasts About Education 06:00 – “We Need to Understand How Humans Learn” 07:20 – Science of Reading vs. Science of Learning 10:40 – What Cognitive Load Theory Actually Means 15:00 – Homework, Apps & Cognitive Overload 17:00 – Why Explicit Instruction Matters 19:30 – Creative Thinking Is the Goal, Not the Starting Point 21:00 – Sports, Music & How the Brain Learns Skills 24:00 – Why Flashcards Are a Miracle for Learning 26:00 – Effective Study Habits & Spaced Retrieval 28:00 – What Gives Holly Hope About Education

    33 min
  4. Trust Your Gut and Raise Your Voice with Missy Purcell

    9 May

    Trust Your Gut and Raise Your Voice with Missy Purcell

    📚 Join Me for My Stop the Summer Slide Workshop – June 14th Learn practical, evidence-based strategies to help your child maintain reading progress and confidence over the summer. 👉 Register here: https://go.thereadingsymphony.com/offer-5901 Katie Megrian hosts Missy Purcell, a literacy and inclusion advocate, educator, and parent, to discuss what parents can do when they know something is wrong but the school data says their child is “fine.” Missy shares how advocating for her dyslexic son’s right to read led her into parent advocacy, structured literacy work, and state-level dyslexia reform. She explains why grades can hide serious reading struggles, how dyslexic children often compensate, and why parents should trust their gut when reading, spelling, writing, or school avoidance feels off. Katie and Missy discuss dyslexia, reading intervention, evidence-based instruction, Orton-Gillingham style support, IEP meetings, school pushback, dyslexia screening, and how to support children after a long, exhausting school day. This episode is for parents of struggling readers, educators, and advocates who want to better understand dyslexia, the science of reading, structured literacy, and how to support children who learn differently. Missy is the co-founder of Gwinnett Advocates for Dyslexia and serves as Education Chair with Decoding Dyslexia Georgia. Missy’s links: Website: https://misspurcell.com/ Instagram: @misspurcelladvocates Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/misspurcelladvocates/ X / Twitter: @MissyPurcell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/missy-purcell-84061b143/ 📩 Join My Email List Get practical literacy tips, resources, podcast updates, and insights to help every child become a confident reader. Join here: https://link.fgfunnels.com/widget/form/M03vMOX9hAn6YOt6J7HN Chapters: 00:00 – Opening: “I Shouldn’t Be the Most Knowledgeable Person in the Room” 01:18 – Meet Missy Purcell: Dyslexia Advocate & Educator 03:10 – Fighting the School System to Get Her Son Help 09:40 – When Good Grades Hide Reading Struggles 15:20 – How Parents Can Spot Dyslexia Early and Push for Support 33:59 – What Effective Reading Intervention Looks Like 36:20 – Why Dyslexia Laws Need Real Accountability 43:50 – How Parents Can Advocate With School Boards 50:20 – Being Brave When Your Child Is Being Failed 01:03:00 – Helping Dyslexic Kids Decompress After School #dyslexia #scienceofreading #structuredliteracy #strugglingreaders #parentadvocacy

    1hr 11min
  5. From Confusion to Confidence. Navigating Dyslexia & Empowering Parents with Michelle Henderson

    7 May

    From Confusion to Confidence. Navigating Dyslexia & Empowering Parents with Michelle Henderson

    Katie Megrian hosts Michelle Henderson, a literacy and dyslexia specialist and creator of the Parent Blueprint, to discuss how reading develops and how parents can advocate for struggling readers. Michelle shares that her son’s reading struggles led her to study the science of reading and focus on equipping parents, noting many children fall through cracks due to gaps in training, not lack of care. They explain why “just read more at home” is insufficient, contrasting structured literacy (explicit, systematic, evidence-based) with balanced literacy, and connect NAEP results to the need for better instruction. Michelle outlines early dyslexia signs, stresses early action, and describes her $47 Parent Blueprint course and free parent-teacher conference guide at michellehendersonliteracy.com. They address older students whose grades mask deficits, the value of OG-style individualized intervention, graphic novels and movies for access and motivation, continuing read-alouds, and supporting children’s self-esteem and self-advocacy. 00:00 Podcast Welcome 00:30 Meet Michelle Henderson 01:15 Why Advocacy Matters 03:13 Reading Symphony Analogy 04:43 Read Aloud Is Not Enough 07:46 Basics of Reading Skills 08:52 Structured Literacy Training 10:09 Balanced Literacy Debate 14:08 Why Dyslexia Name Matters 19:19 Kindergarten Wake Up Call 24:34 Early Signs of Dyslexia 27:17 Parent Blueprint Course 29:20 Tools Modules And PDFs 32:16 Pricing Giveaway And Free Guide 33:40 Teen Dyslexia Hidden Struggles 37:43 Orton Gillingham For Older Readers 43:20 Movies Graphic Novels And Joy 46:51 Read Alouds And Audio Access 49:55 Handling Discouragement And Hope 51:29 Final Thanks And Podcast Outro Michelle's Website Michelle's course

    54 min
  6. From Struggling to Successful: Teaching Reading with Linda Farrell and Michael Hunter

    1 Apr

    From Struggling to Successful: Teaching Reading with Linda Farrell and Michael Hunter

    Linda Farrell and Michael Hunter are founding partners at Readsters in Alexandria, VA. They work in schools all over the country to help educators provide assessment and instruction that ensures all students learn to read. Teachers tell Linda and Michael that they appreciate the practicality of their consulting and their presentations. The reason they can provide practical solutions for helping struggling readers is that they have taught struggling readers from ages 4½ to 81 to read. They also learn from the hundreds of teachers they have worked with in the classroom who work their magic every day with students. Linda and Michael have presented workshops about effective instruction for beginning and struggling readers for more than 20 years. They participated in reviewing required early reading courses in all colleges and universities in two states. They have coauthored curricula for struggling readers and diagnostic assessments to pinpoint decoding difficulties. Linda is the instructor in Looking at Reading Interventions on the Reading Rockets website. Michael is featured in videos used to demonstrate effective teaching techniques in LETRS modules. Episode Summary Katie sits down with two titans of literacy intervention — Michael Hunter and Linda Farrell — whose unconventional paths from investment banking and concrete construction led them to become nationally recognized reading specialists. Together, they unpack the most common reasons children struggle to read, how to identify exactly where a student is stuck, and the powerful (and often overlooked) practice strategies that make the difference between a child who can read and a child who reads fluently and automatically. https://www.readsters.com/ https://www.decodingdyslexia.net/

    29 min
  7. Babies, Books, and Brilliance with Salley King Edwards

    24 Mar

    Babies, Books, and Brilliance with Salley King Edwards

    🎧 Episode Summary In this episode of the Reading Symphony Podcast, I sit down with early childhood educator Salley King Edwards, whose 25+ year career spans classrooms, coaching, and national literacy work through Cox Campus. We explore how language, knowledge, and everyday interactions lay the foundation for reading long before formal instruction begins. Salley shares her personal journey as both an educator and a parent navigating reading challenges, including the early signs she noticed, what she missed, and what she wishes more families understood. This conversation is both deeply practical and incredibly reassuring: reading development doesn’t start in kindergarten—it starts from birth. And there is so much families can do, in simple and meaningful ways, to support it. 🔗 Resources Mentioned Cox Campus (free courses for families and educators) Brilliance of Babies (Salley’s book series and resources) "How Knowledge Helps" (Willingham)

    24 min
  8. Books, Bonds, and Beyond with Kindred Obas

    18 Mar

    Books, Bonds, and Beyond with Kindred Obas

    In this special live episode of The Reading Symphony Podcast, Katie sits down with colleague and friend Kindred Obas for a conversation about joyful reading culture, complex texts, identity, and the kinds of classroom experiences that help children see themselves as readers. Together, Katie and Kindred discuss: how to build a classroom culture where reading feels joyful, social, and meaningfulwhy classroom libraries should include both mirrors and windowswhat Kindred learned from watching students move from books like Dog Man to much more complex texts over timehow her sixth grade Jane Austen book club is helping students grow as readers, thinkers, and community memberswhy exposure to complex text, paired with support and belonging, can strengthen comprehension and confidencehow families can talk with children about harder histories with honesty, empathy, and carewhy it matters to offer books about children of color that are not only rooted in struggle, but also in joy, curiosity, and possibilityKindred’s next chapter at Stanford, where she will study curriculum, teaching, race, language, and healing-centered approaches to teaching hard historyThis episode is a beautiful reminder that reading growth is not just about skill. It is also about identity, access, belonging, and the communities we build around books. Katie Megrian | 10:15 AM (0 minutes ago) | | to me Fundraiser by Kindred Obas : Fund Our Journey to Jane Austen's England https://www.gofundme.com/f/fund-our-journey-to-jane-austens-england https://www.gofundme.com/f/fund-our-journey-to-jane-austens-england?attribution_id=sl:e9fcfcf6-52f6-4666-8406-5c5cc968e35a&lang=en_US&ts=1773612248&utm_campaign=man_sharesheet_dash&utm_content=amp17_tb-amp20_t2&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link Books and Texts Kindred Discusses Kindred by Octavia ButlerEmma by Jane AustenA Wind in the Door by Madeleine L’EngleA Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’EnglePersuasion by Jane AustenNorthanger Abbey by Jane AustenOne Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-GarciaAda Twist, Scientist by Andrea BeatyThe Youngest Marcher by Cynthia Levinson and Vanessa Brantley-NewtonLove Is by Diane AdamsThe Great Cake Mystery by Alexander McCall SmithThe Breakfast Club Adventures series by Marcus RashfordThe Joy Luck Club by Amy TanMillicent Min, Girl Genius by Lisa YeeStanford Wong Flunks Big-Time by Lisa Yee

    28 min
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About

Hosted by Katie Megrian - literacy leader, former principal, and mom of two young readers - The Reading Symphony brings the science of reading to life for parents, teachers, and school leaders who want clarity, not confusion. Each episode blends research-based insight with real-world strategies for helping children thrive in reading, writing, and comprehension. From phonemic awareness and decoding to fluency, vocabulary, and background knowledge, Katie demystifies what great instruction looks like and how families can support it at home. You’ll hear from expert guests in literacy education, cognitive science, and classroom practice - along with relatable stories from parents navigating the journey right beside their kids. Whether you’re an educator implementing the Science of Reading, a school leader designing literacy PD, or a parent decoding report cards and assessments, this podcast is your roadmap to evidence-based reading success. Topics include: How children learn to read and why some struggle What to look for in a strong school literacy program The truth about reading assessments and progress reports Strategies to build fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension The role of knowledge building and background knowledge Advocacy tips for parents and educators Inspiring stories from classrooms and homes that got reading right

Information

  • Creator
    Katie Megrian
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    21
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Reading Symphony
  • Show Website
    The Reading Symphony

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