Read Alouds for All Learners & Ending Book Deserts with Molly Ness

Welcome to our National Literacy Month series of podcasts, presented in partnership between the Be Podcast Network and Reading Is Fundamental. 

Molly Ness, a reading researcher, teacher educator, and former classroom teacher is today’s guest. Molly earned a doctorate in reading education at the University of Virginia and spent 16 years as an associate professor at Fordham University in New York City. 

She serves on the Board of Directors for the International Literacy Association (ILA) and is a New York state chapter founder of the Reading League. She is also creator of the End Book Deserts podcast, which brings awareness to the 32 million American children who lack access to books.

We discuss Molly’s book Read Alouds for All Learners and much more:

• Trends in reading instruction
• Defining and understanding Book Deserts 
• What is book culture?
• Implications of limited access to books
• What is preventing better penetration of literacy solutions?
• How students become strong readers
• What does comprehension of a text entail?
• The case for Read Alouds
• What they look like across subject areas
• Find Molly’s book, Read Alouds for All Learners, from Solution Tree

Listen to more National Literacy Month podcasts at https://literacy.bepodcast.network. 

Learn more about Reading Is Fundamental at www.rif.org 

About today’s guest

Molly Ness is a former classroom teacher, a reading researcher, and a teacher educator. She earned a doctorate in reading education at the University of Virginia, and spent 16 years as an associate professor at Fordham University in New York City. The author of five books, Molly serves on the Board of Directors for the International Literacy Association and is a New York state chapter founder of the Reading League. Dr. Ness has extensive experience in reading clinics, consulting with school districts, leading professional development, and advising school systems on research-based reading instruction. She is the creator of the End Book Deserts podcast, which brings awareness to the 32 million American children who lack access to books. Connect with her at http://www.drmollyness.com 

About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or LinkedIn