Grit and Grace: A literacy Journey

Grit and Grace
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Welcome to Grit & Grace: A Literacy Journey — the podcast for educators, leaders, and lifelong learners who are passionate about making a difference in literacy. This is your space to explore what it truly takes to lead and learn with purpose. Each episode, we’ll dive into real stories, practical strategies, and inspiring conversations that reflect the grit it takes to tackle the challenges of literacy, and the grace needed to grow through them. Whether you're in the classroom, leading a school, or supporting a system, Grit & Grace is here to empower you on your literacy journey — one step,

  1. 2d ago

    Episode 30: From Struggle to Strength: Diane Lyon's Story

    What if your greatest struggle became the reason you fought for thousands of other children? In Episode 30 of Grit & Grace: A Literacy Journey, Angela Hanlin welcomes Diane Lyon for a deeply personal conversation about dyslexia, advocacy, resilience, and hope. Diane shares her experience growing up struggling to read and the shame, anxiety, and isolation that accompanied it. Years later, she watched her son experience many of the same challenges—and made a decision that changed the course of both their lives. Diane refused to accept that her son's struggles were simply something he had to live with. She advocated, searched for answers, pursued effective instruction, and ultimately witnessed a remarkable transformation when he received the instruction he needed. But Diane's journey didn't stop with her son. His experience became the catalyst for a much larger mission: helping schools, educators, parents, leaders, and communities understand dyslexia and the importance of evidence-based reading instruction. In this powerful conversation, Diane and Angie discuss: 📚 Growing up with dyslexia💔 The emotional impact of struggling to read👩‍👦 Diane's journey advocating for her son📊 Why data and effective instruction matter🏫 The importance of aligned instruction across tiers❤️ Preserving the dignity of struggling readers💡 The power educators have to change lives🌱 Turning personal struggle into advocacy✨ Why there is still hope Diane's final message says it all: "It is possible. Don't give up. It is possible." If you're a parent, teacher, school leader, literacy coach, or anyone who cares about children learning to read, this is a conversation you won't want to miss. Share this episode with someone who needs to hear that there is hope. #GritAndGracePodcast #DianeLyon #AngelaHanlin #Dyslexia #ScienceOfReading #DyslexiaAwareness #LiteracyLeadership #ReadingInstruction #StructuredLiteracy #EveryChildCanLearn #LiteracyAdvocacy #ReadingSuccess #EducationPodcast #TeacherSupport #LiteracyMatters

  2. Aug 4

    Episode 29: The Students Who Changed Us – Our Journey into Dyslexia

    Hosts: Angela Hanlin & Gretchen Goettl Every educator has students they never forget. In Episode 29 of Grit & Grace: A Literacy Journey, Angela Hanlin and Gretchen Goettl share the deeply personal stories that launched their journey into understanding dyslexia and transformed the way they think about reading instruction. This heartfelt conversation explores how struggling readers became their greatest teachers, leading them toward evidence-based practices and a renewed commitment to ensuring every child has the opportunity to become a successful reader. If you've ever wondered what inspired Angie and Gretchen's passion for literacy, this episode tells that story. In this episode: ✔ The students who changed everything ✔ Understanding dyslexia through experience ✔ Lessons learned from struggling readers ✔ The importance of evidence-based instruction ✔ Why every child deserves hope ✔ Building better literacy practices Whether you're an educator, school leader, parent, or literacy advocate, this episode is a powerful reminder that one student's journey can transform an entire career. Subscribe for more conversations about literacy, leadership, and the Science of Reading. #GritAndGracePodcast #ScienceOfReading #Dyslexia #ReadingInstruction #LiteracyLeadership #Teachers #EducationPodcast #StructuredLiteracy #TeacherLife #ReadingSuccess #EducationLeadership #EveryChildCanLearn

  3. Jul 21

    Episode 28: There Is Hope: Conquering Dyslexia

    Hosts: Angela Hanlin & Gretchen Goettl Guest: Dr. Jan Hasbrouck One of our most requested guests is back! Following her most-listened-to episode on reading fluency, Dr. Jan Hasbrouck returns to Grit & Grace: A Literacy Journey to discuss one of the most important topics in education: dyslexia. Together, Angela Hanlin and Gretchen Goettl explore how educators and families can better understand dyslexia, recognize the importance of evidence-based instruction, and most importantly, hold on to hope. Whether you're a classroom teacher, interventionist, school leader, or parent, this episode provides practical guidance, research-based insights, and encouragement for supporting struggling readers. In this episode: ✔ Understanding dyslexia ✔ Evidence-based reading instruction ✔ Supporting struggling readers ✔ Hope for families ✔ Practical classroom strategies ✔ Building confident readers If you believe every child deserves the opportunity to become a successful reader, this episode is for you. Subscribe for more conversations on literacy, leadership, and the Science of Reading. #GritAndGracePodcast #JanHasbrouck #ConqueringDyslexia #ScienceOfReading #DyslexiaAwareness #ReadingInstruction #LiteracyLeadership #StructuredLiteracy #Teachers #Parents #EducationPodcast #ReadingSuccess

  4. Jul 7

    Episode 27: Grit & Grace Unfiltered: Gretchen Spills the Tea on Teaching!

    This might be the most honest episode of Grit & Grace yet. In Episode 27, Angela Hanlin and Gretchen Goettl have an unfiltered conversation about teaching, leadership, and the realities educators face every day. From teacher evaluations and classroom expectations to professional learning, leadership, and instructional challenges, Gretchen shares the truths many educators discuss privately—but rarely say publicly. This episode is raw, honest, and deeply important. Not to criticize education—but to improve it. Because meaningful change starts with truthful conversations. In this episode: ✔ Honest truths about teaching ✔ Challenges educators face daily ✔ Leadership realities ✔ Teacher frustrations ✔ What needs to change in education If you're a teacher, instructional coach, school leader, or literacy advocate, this conversation will resonate deeply. #GritAndGracePodcast #TeachingTruths #EducationLeadership #LiteracyLeadership #TeacherLife #SchoolLeadership #EducationPodcast #ScienceOfReading #TeacherSupport #InstructionMatters

  5. Jun 16

    Episode 26: The Story Behind the Instructional Focus Plan and Excellence Academy

    How do schools move from knowing what works to actually making it happen in classrooms every day? In this special episode of Grit & Grace: A Literacy Journey, hosts Angela Hanlin and Gretchen Goettl pull back the curtain on two groundbreaking initiatives from Angela Hanlin & Associates: the Instructional Focus Plan (IFP) and the Instructional Excellence Academy (IEA). After years of working alongside schools across the country, Angie noticed a common challenge. Educators understood the research. Leaders believed in evidence-based practices. Yet many schools struggled to translate that knowledge into consistent, high-quality instruction that produced lasting results. The Instructional Focus Plan was developed to address that challenge by helping school leaders create intentional, strategic instructional priorities that drive meaningful change. Meanwhile, the Instructional Excellence Academy was designed to build the knowledge, skills, and leadership capacity needed to sustain that change over time. Throughout this conversation, Angie shares lessons learned from her experiences as a principal, instructional coach, and literacy leader, while Gretchen helps unpack the practical realities schools face when implementing improvement efforts. This episode is a powerful reminder that success doesn't happen by accident. It happens when leaders create clarity, establish focus, and build systems that support excellent instruction for every student. In This Episode: ✅ Why many schools struggle with implementation despite understanding the research ✅ The inspiration behind the Instructional Focus Plan ✅ The importance of creating a clear instructional focus every school year ✅ How leaders can move from scattered initiatives to intentional action ✅ Why professional learning must align with instructional goals ✅ The story behind the creation of the Instructional Excellence Academy ✅ Practical leadership lessons from school improvement work ✅ How systems and structures create sustainable change Key Takeaway "Schools don't improve by hoping for the best. They improve through intentional planning, focused leadership, and a commitment to instructional excellence." Whether you're a teacher, instructional coach, principal, district leader, or literacy advocate, this episode offers practical insights for turning vision into action and creating lasting impact for students.

  6. Jun 2

    Episode 25: Fidelity, Scripting, and Complexity, Oh My!

    What happens when educators hear words like fidelity, scripting, and implementation? Too often, these terms spark debate, confusion, or resistance. But what if we've been asking the wrong questions? In this thought-provoking episode of Grit & Grace: A Literacy Journey, hosts Angela Hanlin and Gretchen Goettl are joined by literacy leader Justin Browning for an honest conversation about what schools need most right now. Together, they explore the challenges facing schools across the country, including weak Tier 1 instruction, initiative overload, instructional coherence, and the growing complexity that often prevents meaningful change. The discussion digs into why fidelity matters, how instructional systems can become unnecessarily complicated, and what leaders can do to create clarity, consistency, and sustainable improvement. The conversation also introduces the upcoming All Means All Conference and highlights the shared belief that every student can succeed when schools focus on strong instruction and aligned systems. In This Episode: • Why Tier 1 instruction remains the foundation of student success • The dangers of initiative overload in schools • How complexity can undermine implementation efforts • What fidelity really means—and what it doesn't • Why simplicity and consistency matter in school improvement • How leaders can create instructional coherence across their systems • A preview of the upcoming All Means All Conference #GritAndGracePodcast #ScienceOfReading #InstructionalLeadership #LiteracyLeadership #Tier1Instruction #SchoolImprovement #EducationLeadership #StructuredLiteracy #AllMeansAll

  7. May 19

    Episode 24: The Conversations That Changed Us

    In this special anniversary episode of Grit & Grace: A Literacy Journey, Angela Hanlin welcomes co-host Gretchen Goettl back from maternity leave as they reflect on one full year of conversations, growth, and literacy leadership. Together, they revisit memorable moments from the podcast, discuss lessons learned along the way, and celebrate the community of educators and leaders who have been part of the journey. This episode was produced in partnership with Zaner-Bloser. #GritAndGracePodcast #LiteracyLeadership #EducationPodcast #ScienceOfReading #TeacherLeadership #ZanerBloser

  8. May 5

    Episode 23: From Knowing to Doing: The Leadership Imperative

    In this episode of Grit & Grace: A Literacy Journey, Angela Hanlin is joined by Dr. Reid Lyon and Dr. Lori Severino to explore the critical shift from understanding the Science of Reading to implementing it effectively in schools. This conversation focuses on the role of leadership in driving meaningful change—highlighting the importance of action, alignment, and sustained effort in improving literacy outcomes. Dr. Lyon and Dr. Severino share insights into how schools can overcome barriers and create systems that support every learner. This episode was produced in partnership with Zaner-Bloser. #ScienceOfReading #LiteracyLeadership #EducationPodcast #InstructionalLeadership #SchoolLeadership #ReidLyon #ZanerBloser

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Welcome to Grit & Grace: A Literacy Journey — the podcast for educators, leaders, and lifelong learners who are passionate about making a difference in literacy. This is your space to explore what it truly takes to lead and learn with purpose. Each episode, we’ll dive into real stories, practical strategies, and inspiring conversations that reflect the grit it takes to tackle the challenges of literacy, and the grace needed to grow through them. Whether you're in the classroom, leading a school, or supporting a system, Grit & Grace is here to empower you on your literacy journey — one step,

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