9 episodes
A Novel Idea: The History of the Science of Reading Iowa Reading Research Center
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- Education
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4.9 • 41 Ratings
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Host Meg Mechelke explores the history of the science of reading and literacy instruction in the United States.
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1: The Science of Reading: Where Are We Now?
What is the science of reading? And why is everyone in the literacy community talking about it?
In this episode, we explore the current state of the science of reading movement. Along with our original reporting, you’ll hear from:
Melissa McGuire, Tara Rabenberg, and Kimberley Moser of Iowa’s Spencer Community School DistrictMelissa Loftus and Lori Sappington of Melissa and Lori Love Literacy (Twitter: @literacypodcast)Dr. Kymyona Burk of the Foundation for Excellence in Education (Twitter: @kymyona_burk)Kareem Weaver (Twitter: @KJWinEducation) of FULCRUMparents of struggling readers…& more!
Learn More
National Reading Panel
https://www.nichd.nih.gov/sites/default/files/publications/pubs/nrp/Documents/report.pdf
Sold a Story podcast
https://features.apmreports.org/sold-a-story/
Right to Read documentary
https://www.therighttoreadfilm.org/
Special Thanks
Carla Siravo and Mike Archangelo
YouTube: @mrs.siravo5975 and @mikearchangelo
Instagram: @carlasiravoauthor and @mikearchangelo.
Aja McNair (Everything Aja LLC)
YouTube: @EverythingAJA
https://www.everythingaja.com/
Susan Jones
YouTube: @SusanJonesTeaching
https://susanjonesteaching.com/
Episode transcript and sources:
https://irrc.education.uiowa.edu/transcript-and-sources-novel-idea-episode-1
A Novel Idea website:
irrc.education.uiowa.edu/resources/novel-idea-podcast -
2: Noah Webster Loves Phonics
Hear ye, hear ye! In this episode, we travel all the way back to the 17th and 18th centuries to examine the Enlightenment-era roots of reading instruction as we know it. We will introduce several major players in the early days of literacy education, and examine the ways in which their actions have influenced today’s conversations surrounding literacy. Plus, hear from Natalie Wexler (Twitter: @natwexler), author of The Knowledge Gap, and Kate Will of the Iowa Reading Research Center.
Learn More:
In addition to the philosophical and pedagogical changes discussed in this episode, the concept of literacy education was also a subject of political discourse during these years. These resources provide more information on this angle of American literacy learning not covered in the episode and are excellent starting points to learn more.
Confronting Anti-Black Racism: Education, Harvard Library
library.harvard.edu/confronting-anti-black-racism/education
How literacy became a powerful weapon in the fight to end slavery, Colette Colman, HISTORY
www.history.com/news/nat-turner-rebellion-literacy-slavery
Episode transcript and sources
irrc.education.uiowa.edu/transcript-and-sources-novel-idea-episode-2
A Novel Idea website:
irrc.education.uiowa.edu/resources/novel-idea-podcast -
3: The Rise of Picture Books
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go!” In this episode, find out how children’s picture books became a major battleground for debates about literacy instruction. Plus, hear insights from author Natalie Wexler (Twitter: @natwexler) and Dr. Fumiko Hoeft (Twitter: @FumikoHoeft), director of the University of Connecticut Brain Imaging Research Center.
Episode transcript and sources
https://irrc.education.uiowa.edu/transcript-and-sources-novel-idea-episode-3
A Novel Idea website:
irrc.education.uiowa.edu/resources/novel-idea-podcast -
4: Phonics Fights Back
In this episode, we take a deep dive into the work of several influential researchers in the early days of the science of reading. These pioneers of literacy research paved the way for the development of evidence-based instruction of today and played major roles in advocating for effective, equitable literacy instruction for all students. Plus, hear from:
Natalie Wexler (Twitter: @natwexler), author, The Knowledge GapDr. Fumiko Hoeft (Twitter: @FumikoHoeft), director, University of Connecticut Brain Imaging CenterDr. Maryanne Wolf, author, Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain and Dyslexia, Fluency, and the BrainNina Lorimor-Easley, assistant director for education and outreach, Iowa Reading Research Center... & more!Episode transcript and sources
https://irrc.education.uiowa.edu/transcript-and-sources-novel-idea-episode-4
A Novel Idea website:
irrc.education.uiowa.edu/resources/novel-idea-podcast -
5: What's the Deal With Whole Language?
Whole language is one of the most talked about developments in literacy instruction in the past several decades. In this episode of A Novel Idea, we take a look at the history and founders of this popular teaching philosophy and examine its effects on contemporary instruction. Featuring insight from:
Dr. G. Reid Lyon, former director, NICHDNatalie Wexler (Twitter: @natwexler), author, The Knowledge GapKate Will, program coordinator, Iowa Reading Research CenterMelissa Loftus and Lori Sappington (Twitter: @literacypodcast), co-hosts, Melissa and Lori Love LiteracyDr. Maryanne Wolf, author, Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain and Dyslexia, Fluency, and the Brain… & more. Episode transcript and sources
https://irrc.education.uiowa.edu/transcript-and-sources-novel-idea-episode-5
A Novel Idea website:
irrc.education.uiowa.edu/resources/novel-idea-podcast -
6: The Reading Wars
In the 1990s, debates over literacy instruction reached a tipping point in the nation’s most populous state. Learn more about the reading crisis in California and the start of the so-called “Reading Wars” in this episode of A Novel Idea. Plus, hear from:
Dr. G. Reid Lyon, former director, NICHDDr. Maryanne Wolf, author, Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain and Dyslexia, Fluency, and the BrainDr. Timothy Shanahan (Twitter: @ReadingShanahan), distinguished professor emeritus, University of Illinois at Chicago Learn More
“The Reading Wars,” Nicholas Lemann, The Atlantic Monthly
https://www.pbs.org/weta/twoschools/thechallenge/history/
Scarborough’s Rope
https://institute.aimpa.org/resources/readingrope
Episode transcript and sources
https://irrc.education.uiowa.edu/transcript-and-sources-novel-idea-episode-6
A Novel Idea website:
irrc.education.uiowa.edu/resources/novel-idea-podcast
Customer Reviews
So interesting…and infuriating!
As a former elementary teacher with a reading endorsement and mother to a bright daughter with dyslexia, I’m a big fan of this podcast. In trying to help my daughter learn to read, I’ve felt completely robbed by the time and money I spent on my education. I’m ashamed that I was allowed to work as a reading teacher with the laughable education I received in the early 2000s on how to teach reading. I’ve learned more about teaching and learning to read through the relatively inexpensive Orten-Gillingham based curriculum I’ve been using to teach all my kids to read.
Anyone who cares about children or adults who thought of themselves as “slow” or “not smart” as a kid should listen to this podcast.
A must listen podcast series for all educators, families, and policy makers
Thank you, Meg and Iowa Reading Research Center for this incredibly well-researched, timely, and entertaining podcast series. This information will help to change children’s lives because all children have the right to read and write.
As an Orton-Gillingham Fellow, I teach graduate courses for teachers based in the SoR. I am sharing this series with everyone in my courses and everyone I know. Thank you! Thank you!
Great podcast for teachers
This podcast is a gem! Especially the last episode which explains how teachers can evaluate and select curriculums and how teachers can interpret and understand scientific research.