The Reading Symphony

Katie Megrian
  • 5.0 (10)
  • EDUCATION FOR KIDS

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 struggleWhat to look for in a strong school literacy programThe truth about reading assessments and progress reportsStrategies to build fluency, vocabulary, and comprehensionThe role of knowledge building and background knowledgeAdvocacy tips for parents and educatorsInspiring stories from classrooms and homes that got reading right

Episodes

  1. 4D AGO

    Epidsode 1: Why this podcast exists

    Episode 1: Why Reading Feels So Hard (and Why It Doesn’t Have to) Welcome to the first episode of The Reading Symphony Podcast. I’m your host, Katie Megrian—educator, literacy leader, and mom to two very different readers. In this episode, I break down the current state of reading in the U.S., why so many children struggle, and the hopeful truth that at least 95% of kids can learn to read with the right instruction. You’ll learn why reading isn’t natural, how it actually develops in the brain, and why all parts of reading—phonics, vocabulary, knowledge, and comprehension—must work together. New episodes drop every Wednesday morning. Starting with Episode 2, I’m joined by leading literacy experts who help translate the science of reading into clear, practical guidance for parents and educators. If you’ve ever felt unsure about your child’s reading, you’re in the right place.

    6 min

  2. JAN 1

    Episode 2: Making Words Stick in the Brain and Leveraging Read Alouds with Dr. Molly Ness

    🎙 Episode: Making Words Stick and Read-Alouds for All Learners (with Dr. Molly Ness) In this episode of The Reading Symphony Podcast, Katie Megrian sits down with Dr. Molly Ness, former classroom teacher, reading researcher, teacher educator, and author of six books (with a seventh on the way). Molly is known for translating research into practical, usable moves for teachers and families, and this conversation is packed with exactly that. Together, Katie and Molly dig into two big questions families ask all the time: How do we help words actually “stick” so kids become fluent readers?What can we do at home to build language and comprehension in ways that feel doable?You’ll learn why memorizing word lists often fails, what “orthographic mapping” really means in plain language, and how read-alouds can be one of the highest-leverage tools for building vocabulary, knowledge, and comprehension at any age. In this episode, we cover: Molly’s path from Teach For America to reading research and why she’s passionate about closing the research-to-classroom gapThe concept of orthographic mapping and why it matters for fluency and comprehensionWhy flashcards and rote memorization often don’t lead to lasting word learningThe difference between sight words, high-frequency words, and heart words, and how to think about them at homeWhy spelling is one of the best windows into a child’s literacy developmentA parent-friendly way to support tricky patterns, including r-controlled vowelsHow to talk to teachers with curiosity, not conflict, when homework or instruction doesn’t feel alignedMolly’s best read-aloud advice for families, including:The “decline at nine” and why you should keep reading aloud well past third gradeWhy reading informational text matters more than most people realizeHow to use think-alouds (instead of constant questions) to model comprehensionWhy kids benefit when we expand beyond the books we loved growing up and how to find high-quality diverse book recommendationsMolly’s simple framework for getting kids to read more: ARC (Access, Relevance, Choice)Book and author shout-outs from the conversation: Making Words Stick (Molly Ness & Katie Pace Miles)Read Alouds for All Learners (Molly Ness)Authors mentioned: Matt de la Peña, Chris Van Dusen, Jarrett LernerConnect with Dr. Molly Ness: Molly’s website: mollyness.com (resources, videos, and contact info) Want more support from Katie? 📩 Subscribe to Katie’s free weekly Substack: katiemegrian.substack.com 📱 Follow on Instagram: @thereadingsymphony If this episode helped you, it would mean a lot if you would follow the show, leave a quick 5-star rating or review, and share it with a parent, teacher, or caregiver who cares deeply about helping kids become joyful, confident readers.

    53 min

  3. 10/12/2025

    The Reading Symphony Podcast Trailer

    The Reading Symphony

    1 min
  • 3 Episodes

5
out of 5
10 Ratings

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 struggleWhat to look for in a strong school literacy programThe truth about reading assessments and progress reportsStrategies to build fluency, vocabulary, and comprehensionThe role of knowledge building and background knowledgeAdvocacy tips for parents and educatorsInspiring stories from classrooms and homes that got reading right

Information

  • Creator
    Katie Megrian
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    3
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Reading Symphony
  • Show Website
    The Reading Symphony