Reading Realities

Science of Reading Center at SUNY New Paltz
  • 4.8 (26)
  • Education

Changing how we teach reading isn’t simple. It’s complex, ongoing, and often overwhelming—and no one should have to figure it out alone. Reading Realities is a podcast about what it really takes to change how we teach reading. Host Rose Else-Mitchell of the Science of Reading Center at SUNY New Paltz talks honestly with educators about the instructional shifts they're making, what they've learned about how humans learn to read, and what it takes to teach it.  Guests discuss what they've tried, what worked (and what didn’t), and what they are learning to do differently now — making change durable, practical, and compassionate for anyone on this journey teaching reading. New episodes air every other week on Wednesdays. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Episodes

  1. 17h ago

    I Didn't Know What I Didn't Know feat. Rachel Manandhar

    Rachel Manandhar, a high school literacy interventionist/education specialist and co-founder of the Project for Adolescent Literacy (PAL), joins Rose Else-Mitchell to talk about her realization that 20 years in special education had not given her the knowledge she needed to identify and support the reading skill development her struggling students were missing. After years of working with students across grade levels and being trained in a range of intervention programs, Rachel decided she needed to really understand where reading was breaking down.  Rose and Rachel explore the pain of older readers who don't outgrow their need for reading instruction just because they are in middle or high school. Rachel shares how learning about foundational reading skills changed what she could do to help, and how she built a literacy center in her school for high school students. They discuss how routines for word recognition, morphology, vocabulary, and comprehension can support students across content areas—and why listening to students read and hearing their voices matters so much in reaching adolescents who struggle to read.  References and Resources: Project for Adolescent Literacy (PAL)EdWeek: What Teachers Say They Need Most to Help Struggling Teen ReadersThe 74: Many Older Students Struggle to Push Beyond the Reading Threshold EdWeek: 4 Ways Teachers Identify and Support Struggling Older ReadersTeaching Foundational Skills to Adolescent Readers by Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey, Sarah Ortega, Kierstan Barbee, and Aida Allen-RotellGood Dirt by Charmaine WilkersonBlack Cake by Charmaine WilkersonScience of Reading Center at SUNY New PaltzCredits: Guest: Rachel Manandhar, High School Literacy Interventionist/Education Specialist and Co-Founder of the Project for Adolescent Literacy, based in Northern CAHost: Rose Else-Mitchell, Executive Director of the Science of Reading Center at SUNY New PaltzProduced by the Science of Reading Center at SUNY New Paltz, Rose Else-Mitchell, and Onalee SmithOriginal music and audio editing by Ross Gentry*** Are you seeking high-quality professional learning that’s affordable and actually fits your schedule? Enroll in the SUNY Science of Reading Center’s Science of Reading Fundamentals microcredential and join a community of educators strengthening their literacy instruction. *** On Wednesday, October 14, join educators from across New York and beyond for the 2026 Leading Literacy Summit, hosted by the Science of Reading Center at SUNY New Paltz. Save the date and stay tuned for more details. *** Get in Touch: Interested in being on a future episode of Reading Realities? Or have a question or topic you’d like us to cover? Contact us at scienceofreading@newpaltz.edu.  If this episode resonated with you, please: Follow Reading RealitiesLeave a rating and reviewShare with a colleague or educator in your networkVisit our website to learn more.

  2. Sep 2

    The Teacher Rolodex feat. Aaron Grossman

    Aaron Grossman, who finished the 2025–26 school year as a fifth grade teacher and begins the 2026–27 school year as a third grade teacher in Reno, Nevada, joins Rose Else-Mitchell to talk about how being curious about ended up changing his approach to reading instruction. After years as a classroom teacher, literacy coordinator, curriculum leader, and standards expert, Aaron returned to the classroom armed with new knowledge to reach more students. Rose and Aaron explore the importance of learning from other teachers. Aaron talks about his “teacher Rolodex” of colleagues to call when he was trying something new and it didn’t work. He reminds us that the hard thing is to focus on a few practices that we absolutely know work, rather than chasing the next new thing. New insights are important, but getting better at managing background knowledge building for new texts is a really important capability for reaching all readers. References and Resources: ELA Knowledge Map from Institute for Education Policy at Johns Hopkins University“Eleven” by Sandra Cisneros How to Know a Person by David BrooksWalk Two Moons by Sharon CreechJust Two Teachers: Aaron’s resource site for fellow teachersRoom360: Aaron’s class website with resourcesScience of Reading Center at SUNY New PaltzCredits: Guest: Aaron Grossman, 3rd Grade Teacher and Goyen Literacy Fellow based in Reno, NVHost: Rose Else-Mitchell, Executive Director of the Science of Reading Center at SUNY New PaltzProduced by the Science of Reading Center at SUNY New Paltz, Rose Else-Mitchell, and Onalee SmithOriginal music and audio editing by Ross Gentry*** Topics: science of reading, reading instruction, elementary literacy, fifth grade reading, literacy instruction, evidence-based reading instruction, research-based instruction, Common Core State Standards, knowledge building, background knowledge, knowledge retention, retrieval practice, forgetting, complex text, grade-level text, close reading, text complexity, reading fluency, repeated reading, prosody, readers' theater, oral reading, systematic phonics, syllabication, morphology, word study, vocabulary, memory, teacher learning, teacher collaboration, instructional coaching, professional learning, teacher community, evidence-based education, literacy research, classroom practice, reading comprehension *** Are you seeking high-quality professional learning that’s affordable and actually fits your schedule? Enroll in the SUNY Science of Reading Center’s Science of Reading Fundamentals microcredential and join a community of educators strengthening their literacy instruction. *** On Wednesday, October 14, join educators from across New York and beyond for the 2026 Leading Literacy Summit, hosted by the Science of Reading Center at SUNY New Paltz. Save the date and stay tuned for more details. *** Get in Touch: Interested in being on a future episode of Reading Realities? Or have a question or topic you’d like us to cover? Contact us at scienceofreading@newpaltz.edu.  If this episode resonated with you, please: Follow Reading RealitiesLeave a rating and reviewShare with a colleague or educator in your networkVisit our website to learn more.

  3. Aug 19

    When You Listen to Your Students Read feat. Erin Hanrahan

    Erin Hanrahan, a middle school English and journalism teacher based in Woodstock, Vermont, joins host Rose Else-Mitchell to explore what fluency can mean for older readers. Erin shares how hearing her students read aloud woke her up to the issues of striving older readers. She understood patterns she hadn't previously recognized: students guessing at multisyllabic words, reading slowly, choppily, and struggling with phrasing even while they could discuss some of the ideas in a text. Rose and Erin discuss why oral reading practice belongs in every secondary classroom, not just in intervention rooms, and how Erin now builds daily opportunities for students to read complex text aloud, with explicit support for multisyllabic words and word structure. They also dig into the harder questions around vocabulary: which words do students need to truly own, which simply need to be decoded or defined in context, and how can teachers build the background knowledge students need to understand a complex text without spending the entire class period on vocabulary? References and Resources: The Stern Center for Language and LearningThe Goyen Foundation's Teachers Teach Teachers programJust Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan StevensonTwelfth Night by William ShakespeareThe Extinction Trilogy by Lydia MilletAnne of Green Gables by L. M. MontgomeryMiddlemarch by George EliotScience of Reading Center at SUNY New PaltzCredits: Guest: Erin Hanrahan, Middle School English & Journalism Teacher, based in Woodstock, VTHost: Rose Else-Mitchell, Executive Director of the Science of Reading Center at SUNY New PaltzProduced by the Science of Reading Center at SUNY New Paltz, Rose Else-Mitchell, and Onalee SmithOriginal music and audio editing by Ross Gentry*** Keywords: science of reading, adolescent literacy, secondary literacy, middle school reading, reading fluency, fluency instruction, reading comprehension, word recognition, oral reading, oral reading practice, multisyllabic word reading, multisyllabic words, decoding, syllabication, morphology, word structure, phrasing, prosody, vocabulary instruction, vocabulary depth, vocabulary prioritization, background knowledge, knowledge building, complex texts, grade level text, secondary English, middle school English, English language arts, reading intervention, structured literacy, explicit instruction, general education, struggling readers, reading confidence, student engagement, reader identity, literacy instruction, evidence-based reading instruction *** Are you seeking high-quality professional learning that’s affordable and actually fits your schedule? Enroll in the SUNY Science of Reading Center’s Science of Reading Fundamentals microcredential and join a community of educators strengthening their literacy instruction. *** On Wednesday, October 14, join educators from across New York and beyond for the 2026 Leading Literacy Summit, hosted by the Science of Reading Center at SUNY New Paltz. Save the date and stay tuned for more details. *** Get in Touch: Interested in being on a future episode of Reading Realities? Or have a question or topic you’d like us to cover? Contact us at scienceofreading@newpaltz.edu.  If this episode resonated with you, please: Follow Reading RealitiesLeave a rating and reviewShare with a colleague or educator in your networkVisit our website to learn more.

  4. Trailer

    Official Trailer: Reading Realities

    * New episodes air every other week on Wednesdays * What does it take to change how you teach reading? Reading Realities is a podcast for teachers who are somewhere in the middle of that shift, trying new strategies, reading the evidence, rethinking old habits, and figuring out what actually works in your classroom.  Each episode, host Rose Else-Mitchell, Executive Director of the Science of Reading Center at SUNY New Paltz, talks with an educator about the evidence-based, instructional, and mindset shifts they're making.  Because the truth is, changing reading instruction is not simple. It's complex, it's ongoing, and some days it can feel really overwhelming. But you don't have to figure it out alone. Get in Touch: Interested in being on a future episode of Reading Realities? Or have a question or topic you’d like us to cover? Contact us at scienceofreading@newpaltz.edu.  If this episode resonated with you, please: Follow Reading RealitiesLeave a rating and reviewShare with a colleague or educator in your networkVisit our website to learn more.

  5. Jul 1

    I Can't Differentiate My Way Out of This feat. Faith Howard

    Faith Howard, a grades 6–12 literacy specialist and former secondary English teacher based in Pinedale, Wyoming, joins host Rose Else-Mitchell to discuss her journey from teaching Shakespeare to teaching older students how to read. Faith shares the moment she realized that creating multiple versions of texts and heavily differentiated materials was not helping her students in the long run. While teaching Othello, she found herself spending hours differentiating for students who still lacked the foundational skills or fluency needed to access complex texts independently.  Rose and Faith discuss the unique challenges facing older students who have spent years hiding their reading difficulties and how Faith's Literacy Lab intervention model evolved and grew over time. They explore the importance of trust, family partnerships, student ownership, and helping adolescents see themselves not only as readers, but as leaders. References and Resources: “It’s Not Too Late: Teaching a High School Student to Read From the Ground Up" by Faith Howard“It’s Not Too Late: An Interview with the High School Student I Taught to Read from the Ground Up” by Faith Howard“I Was Doing Fluency Wrong—Until I Made It About Knowledge” by Faith HowardFaith Howard's Teacher Facebook Page, Literacy Lab with Faith: Contains classroom videos, intervention demonstrations, and examples of secondary literacy instruction.Sold a Story podcast hosted by Emily HanfordThe Teach Like a Champion Guide to the Science of Reading by Doug Lemov, Colleen Driggs, & Erica Woolway and Reading Reconsidered‘Elbow Room’: How the Reading Brain Informs the Teaching of Reading by Maryanne WolfInterpreting comprehension outcomes after multiple-component reading intervention for children and adolescents with reading disabilities study by Lovett et al.Fisher and Frey's circuit model for adolescent reading that prioritizes self-efficacyWhale Eyes: A Memoir About Seeing and Being Seen by James Robinson A selection of books Faith uses with her students: Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates by Wes MooreThe Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca SklootA Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael BeahMelissa & Lori Love Literacy podcastScience of Reading Center at SUNY New PaltzCredits: Guest: Faith Howard, 6-12 Literacy Specialist, English Teacher, and Goyen Literacy Fellow based in Pinedale, WYHost: Rose Else-Mitchell, Executive Director of the Science of Reading Center at SUNY New PaltzProduced by the Science of Reading Center at SUNY New Paltz, Rose Else-Mitchell, and Onalee SmithOriginal music and audio editing by Ross Gentry*** Keywords: science of reading, adolescent literacy, secondary literacy, literacy intervention, morphology instruction, structured literacy, high school reading, middle school reading, reading intervention, reader identity, literacy leadership, fluency instruction, vocabulary instruction, decoding, literacy coaching, knowledge building, family engagement, secondary English, struggling readers, literacy specialist *** Are you seeking high-quality professional learning that’s affordable and actually fits your schedule? Enroll in the SUNY Science of Reading Center’s Science of Reading Fundamentals microcredential and join a community of educators strengthening their literacy instruction. On Wednesday, October 14, join educators from across New York and beyond for the 2026 Leading Literacy Summit, hosted by the Science of Reading Center at SUNY New Paltz. Save the date and stay tuned for more details. Get in Touch: Interested in being on a future episode of Reading Realities? Or have a question or topic you’d like us to cover? Contact us at scienceofreading@newpaltz.edu.  If this episode resonated with you, please: Follow Reading RealitiesLeave a rating and reviewShare with a colleague or educator in your networkVisit our website to learn more.

  6. Jun 24

    A Random Pamphlet Changed My Instruction feat. Anjanette McNeely

    Anjanette McNeely, a kindergarten teacher and former literacy coach in Kaysville, Utah, joins host Rose Else-Mitchell to discuss her professional journey from a whole-language teacher preparation program to becoming an advocate for evidence-based literacy instruction. Anjanette shares how an unexpected pamphlet summarizing the National Reading Panel Report sparked a decades-long pursuit of learning more about effective reading instruction. She also reflects on the role her husband—a former striving reader himself—played in encouraging her to keep searching for better ways to support children in becoming readers. Rose and Anjanette discuss the importance of connecting meaning to foundational skills, the role of vocabulary and oral language in kindergarten classrooms, and how Anjanette gradually reimagined her literacy block to weave reading, writing, and language instruction throughout the day. They also explore coaching, teacher learning, and why following student data (and not any single expert) has guided Anjanette's instructional decisions over time. References and Resources: Word Chaining: An Efficient and Effective Alternative to Oral Phonemic Awareness by Anjanette McNeelyHow to Build a Reading Block: Two Teachers Share Their Approaches by Sarah Schwartz for EdWeek, feat. Anjanette McNeelyHow Do We Learn? by Héctor Ruiz MartínThe Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion series by Beth BrowerScience of Reading Center at SUNY New PaltzCredits: Guest: Anjanette McNeely, Kindergarten Teacher, Former Literacy Coach, and Goyen Literacy Fellow based in Kaysville, UTHost: Rose Else-Mitchell, Executive Director of the Science of Reading Center at SUNY New PaltzProduced by the Science of Reading Center at SUNY New Paltz, Rose Else-Mitchell, and Onalee SmithOriginal music and audio editing by Ross Gentry*** Keywords: science of reading, kindergarten, early literacy, structured literacy, dyslexia, vocabulary instruction, oral language, phonics, writing instruction, literacy coaching, reading rope, kindergarten reading instruction, foundational skills, teacher learning, professional development *** Are you seeking high-quality professional learning that’s affordable and actually fits your schedule? Enroll in the SUNY Science of Reading Center’s Science of Reading Fundamentals microcredential and join a community of educators strengthening their literacy instruction. On Wednesday, October 14, join educators from across New York and beyond for the 2026 Leading Literacy Summit, hosted by the Science of Reading Center at SUNY New Paltz. Save the date and stay tuned for more details. Get in Touch: Interested in being on a future episode of Reading Realities? Or have a question or topic you’d like us to cover? Contact us at scienceofreading@newpaltz.edu.  If this episode resonated with you, please: Follow Reading RealitiesLeave a rating and reviewShare with a colleague or educator in your networkVisit our website to learn more.

  7. Jun 17

    Everyone Sees Themselves as a Reader in My Class feat. Danielle Honsberger

    Danielle Honsberger, a grade one teacher and former literacy coach based in Prince Edward Island, Canada, (our first international guest) joins host Rose Else-Mitchell to discuss her journey from classroom teacher to literacy coach and back to the classroom again.  Danielle shares a pivotal moment when she reexamined familiar assessment data and realized that a single score wasn't telling the whole story of how students were learning to read. Rose and Danielle discuss the shift from guided reading to small-group instruction with decodable texts, the importance of explicit teaching, and how a strong scope and sequence can support highly responsive instruction. References and Resources: Finding Focus by Zelana MontminyScience of Reading Center at SUNY New PaltzCredits: Guest: Danielle Honsberger, Grade One Teacher and Former Literacy Coach based in Prince Edward Island, CanadaHost: Rose Else-Mitchell, Executive Director of the Science of Reading Center at SUNY New PaltzProduced by the Science of Reading Center at SUNY New Paltz, Rose Else-Mitchell, and Onalee SmithOriginal music and audio editing by Ross Gentry*** Keywords: science of reading, structured literacy, first grade reading instruction, literacy coaching, reading assessment, decodable texts, small group instruction, phonics instruction, early literacy, reading intervention, student confidence, reader identity, explicit instruction, literacy leadership, foundational skills, primary literacy, assessment and instruction, reading development *** Are you seeking high-quality professional learning that’s affordable and actually fits your schedule? Enroll in the SUNY Science of Reading Center’s Science of Reading Fundamentals microcredential and join a community of educators strengthening their literacy instruction. On Wednesday, October 14, join educators from across New York and beyond for the 2026 Leading Literacy Summit, hosted by the Science of Reading Center at SUNY New Paltz. Save the date and stay tuned for more details. Get in Touch: Interested in being on a future episode of Reading Realities? Or have a question or topic you’d like us to cover? Contact us at scienceofreading@newpaltz.edu.  If this episode resonated with you, please: Follow Reading RealitiesLeave a rating and reviewShare with a colleague or educator in your networkVisit our website to learn more.

  8. Jun 10

    Centering Text with Middle School Readers feat. Sara Quinn

    Sara Quinn, a middle school reading interventionist in Atlanta, Georgia, joins host Rose Else-Mitchell to talk about her journey from teaching kindergarten to supporting adolescent readers. Along the way, Sara questioned familiar practices, went deep with Orton-Gillingham instruction, and continued searching for evidence about ways to connect reading instruction with meaningful text experiences. Rose and Sara discuss what it takes to teach middle school students who have experienced years of reading difficulty, what’s challenging about assessing comprehension with adolescents, and the importance of explicit instruction that helps students understand both what to do and why as they build reading and writing skills. References and Resources: I’m a reading interventionist, but I don’t teach reading by Sara QuinnQuest for a Better Gist Statement: When "Find the Main Idea" isn't Working by Sara QuinnStaying Power by Zena SharmanWhat Works Clearinghouse Practice Guide: Improving Adolescent LiteracyThe Taste of Country Cooking by Edna Lewis (Sara's favorite cookbook)Jamie’s Italy by Jamie Oliver (Rose's favorite cookbook)Science of Reading Center at SUNY New PaltzCredits: Guest: Sara Quinn, Middle School Reading Interventionist and Goyen Literacy Fellow based in Atlanta, GAHost: Rose Else-Mitchell, Executive Director of the Science of Reading Center at SUNY New PaltzProduced by the Science of Reading Center at SUNY New Paltz, Rose Else-Mitchell, and Onalee SmithOriginal music and audio editing by Ross Gentry*** Keywords: middle school literacy, adolescent reading instruction, science of reading, reading intervention, reading comprehension, explicit instruction, structured literacy, reading fluency, vocabulary instruction, writing instruction, student engagement, literacy coaching, comprehension strategies, reading motivation, literacy development *** Are you seeking high-quality professional learning that’s affordable and actually fits your schedule? Enroll in the SUNY Science of Reading Center’s Science of Reading Fundamentals microcredential and join a community of educators strengthening their literacy instruction. On Wednesday, October 14, join educators from across New York and beyond for the 2026 Leading Literacy Summit, hosted by the Science of Reading Center at SUNY New Paltz. Save the date and stay tuned for more details. Get in Touch: Interested in being on a future episode of Reading Realities? Or have a question or topic you’d like us to cover? Contact us at scienceofreading@newpaltz.edu.  If this episode resonated with you, please: Follow Reading RealitiesLeave a rating and reviewShare with a colleague or educator in your networkVisit our website to learn more.

  9. May 27

    More Structure, More Freedom: Rebuilding First Grade Literacy feat. Holly Price

    What do you do when the way you’ve been teaching reading for years just isn’t working? In this episode of Reading Realities, host Rose Else-Mitchell speaks with Holly Price, a veteran first grade teacher with more than 25 years in the classroom, about how she rethought her long-held beliefs about what teaching reading looked like. Holly shares her journey from enthusiastic trips to New York to learn about the workshop model to the gradual and uncomfortable realization that what she had learned wasn’t actually helping students read. Working across general education, special education, and intervention settings gave Holly a wide lens on a range of student needs—but it was when she saw her students’ writing through the eyes of her principal, she understood change was needed to serve students better. Holly reflects on what it felt like to let go of old routines and embrace instruction in foundational skills and rebuild her literacy block with an explicit teaching of language comprehension, writing, and content knowledge. References and Resources: 5 Shifts I Made in my Phonemic Awareness Instruction by Holly PriceTinkering with Writing Instruction: How I Got 86% of my 1st Graders Writing Solid Topic Sentences by Holly PriceRock Your Literacy Block by Lindsay KemenyPowerful Teaching: Unleash the Science of Learning by Pooja K. Agarwal, Ph.D. and Patrice M. Bain, Ed.S.Sold a Story podcast hosted by Emily Hanford Science of Reading Center at SUNY New PaltzCredits: Guest: Holly Price, First Grade Teacher and Goyen Literacy Fellow based in Vacaville, CAHost: Rose Else-Mitchell, Executive Director of the Science of Reading Center at SUNY New PaltzProduced by the Science of Reading Center at SUNY New Paltz, Rose Else-Mitchell, and Onalee SmithOriginal music and audio editing by Ross Gentry*** Keywords: science of reading, structured literacy, first grade reading instruction, balanced literacy, phonics instruction, phonemic awareness, literacy intervention, teacher professional learning, reading comprehension, writing instruction, literacy coaching, classroom transformation, explicit instruction, early literacy development, teaching first grade *** Are you seeking high-quality professional learning that’s affordable and actually fits your schedule? Enroll in the SUNY Science of Reading Center’s Science of Reading Fundamentals microcredential and join a community of educators strengthening their literacy instruction. On Wednesday, October 14, join educators from across New York and beyond for the 2026 Leading Literacy Summit, hosted by the Science of Reading Center at SUNY New Paltz. Save the date and stay tuned for more details. Get in Touch: Interested in being on a future episode of Reading Realities? Or have a question or topic you’d like us to cover? Contact us at scienceofreading@newpaltz.edu.  If this episode resonated with you, please: Follow Reading RealitiesLeave a rating and reviewShare with a colleague or educator in your networkVisit our website to learn more.

  10. May 20

    Messy Work for Meaningful Change feat. Cherie Kent

    What happens when educators realize the way they were taught to teach reading may not have served their students well? In this episode of Reading Realities, Cherie Kent, a literacy coach and consultant based in Auburn, Massachusetts, discusses her realization about the instructional and emotional shifts involved in adopting evidence-based instructional practices. She reflects on her own ah-ha moments from whole language instruction, grief and growth that came with learning more how to teach reading, and how she now supports teachers today through change.  Rose and Cherie talk about coaching, data-informed instruction, and why explicit teaching can be motivating for students. They also explore what a literacy leader can do — from building teacher confidence to creating systems of support — to help entrench change beyond a single event, person, or program to drive reading outcomes. References and Resources: Sold a Story podcast hosted by Emily HanfordThe Big Beautiful Book of Questions by Warren BergerScience of Reading Center at SUNY New Paltz Credits: Guest: Cherie Kent, Literacy Coach, Consultant, and Doctoral Student based in Auburn, MassachusettsHost: Rose Else-Mitchell, Executive Director of the Science of Reading Center at SUNY New PaltzProduced by the Science of Reading Center at SUNY New Paltz, Rose Else-Mitchell, and Onalee SmithOriginal music and audio editing by Ross Gentry*** Keywords: science of reading, structured literacy, literacy coaching, teacher professional learning, balanced literacy, reading fluency, phonics instruction, literacy leadership, explicit instruction, educational change, oral language development, reading assessment, teacher mindset shifts, literacy systems, early literacy instruction *** Are you seeking high-quality professional learning that’s affordable and actually fits your schedule? Enroll in the SUNY Science of Reading Center’s Science of Reading Fundamentals microcredential and join a community of educators strengthening their literacy instruction. On Wednesday, October 14, join educators from across New York and beyond for the 2026 Leading Literacy Summit, hosted by the Science of Reading Center at SUNY New Paltz. Save the date and stay tuned for more details. Get in Touch: Interested in being on a future episode of Reading Realities? Or have a question or topic you’d like us to cover? Contact us at scienceofreading@newpaltz.edu.  If this episode resonated with you, please: Follow Reading RealitiesLeave a rating and reviewShare with a colleague or educator in your networkVisit our website to learn more.

  11. May 13

    Nobody Looks Silly in My Class: Teaching Literacy in Middle School feat. Kyair Butts

    What happens when students are expected to “read to learn” — but haven’t yet fully learned to read? Kyair Butts, a middle school literacy teacher and instructional leader in Baltimore, Maryland, joins host Rose Else-Mitchell, to explore what it means to teach reading to middle school students — and why this work is so urgent. Kyair's journey into teaching via coaching debate shaped his approach to literacy instruction and continues to influence his work. He loves supporting middle schoolers with diverse reading needs, balancing grade-level material with continued development of foundational skills like decoding, fluency, and lots of oral language practice and comprehension.  They unpack the importance of knowledge-building curricula, the role of fluency in adolescent reading, and how creating a psychologically safe classroom allows students to take risks, self-correct, and grow into confident readers. Kyair also speaks candidly about his own growth as an educator, from early challenges integrating to his ongoing work refining small group instruction. With the right support, strategies, and mindset, middle school classrooms can be places where students continue to build the skills and the identities they need as readers. You are never to old to learn to read. References and Resources: The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der KolkSmall Groups, Big Results by Julia LindseyKnow Better, Do Better by David and Meredith LibenScience of Reading Center at SUNY New PaltzCredits: Guest: Kyair Butts, Middle School Literacy Teacher, Instructional Leader, and Goyen Literacy Fellow based in Baltimore, MD. In 2019, he was named Teacher of the Year for Baltimore City Public Schools.Host: Rose Else-Mitchell, Executive Director of the Science of Reading Center at SUNY New PaltzProduced by the Science of Reading Center at SUNY New Paltz, Rose Else-Mitchell, and Onalee SmithOriginal music and audio editing by Ross Gentry*** Keywords: middle school literacy, adolescent reading instruction, science of reading, fluency strategies, reading intervention, foundational skills in upper grades, literacy leadership, small group instruction, knowledge building curriculum, teaching older readers, reading confidence, literacy coaching, trauma-informed teaching, structured literacy, Baltimore City schools *** Are you seeking high-quality professional learning that’s affordable and actually fits your schedule? Enroll in the SUNY Science of Reading Center’s Science of Reading Fundamentals microcredential and join a community of educators strengthening their literacy instruction. On Wednesday, October 14, join educators from across New York and beyond for the 2026 Leading Literacy Summit, hosted by the Science of Reading Center at SUNY New Paltz. Save the date and stay tuned for more details. Get in Touch: Interested in being on a future episode of Reading Realities? Or have a question or topic you’d like us to cover? Contact us at scienceofreading@newpaltz.edu.  If this episode resonated with you, please: Follow Reading RealitiesLeave a rating and reviewShare with a colleague or educator in your networkVisit our website to learn more.

  12. May 5

    Teaching is a Verb: Rethinking Kindergarten Reading Instruction feat. Caitlin Lucas

    In this first episode of Reading Realities, host Rose Else-Mitchell talks with Caitlin Lucas, a kindergarten teacher and literacy specialist in Pittsburgh, PA, to unpack her journey from familiar routines to research-aligned reading instruction. Through the disruption of the pandemic, Caitlin began rethinking everything—what mattered, what didn’t, and how to better support young learners. She shares how shifting toward explicit instruction, phonemic awareness, and intentional language modeling transformed her teaching and her students’ outcomes. This conversation goes beyond instructional strategies to discuss what it feels like to question your practice, embrace vulnerability, and make meaningful change in the classroom. References and Resources: The Quiet Burnout of Doing Reading Right: What Running Taught Me About Teaching Reading Well by Caitlin LucasThe Knowledge Gap by Natalie WexlerArticulation Tips from Reading UniversePeachie Speechie SLP on YouTubeScience of Reading Center at SUNY New PaltzCredits: Guest: Caitlin Lucas, Kindergarten Teacher, Literacy Specialist, and Goyen Literacy Fellow based in Pittsburgh, PAHost: Rose Else-Mitchell, Executive Director of the Science of Reading Center at SUNY New PaltzProduced by the Science of Reading Center at SUNY New Paltz, Rose Else-Mitchell, and Onalee SmithOriginal music and audio editing by Ross Gentry*** Keywords: science of reading, kindergarten reading instruction, phonemic awareness activities, early literacy strategies, structured literacy, phonics instruction, teaching kids to read, literacy coaching, kindergarten classroom strategies, reading intervention, post-pandemic education, explicit instruction, early reading development *** Are you seeking high-quality professional learning that’s affordable and actually fits your schedule? Enroll in the SUNY Science of Reading Center’s Science of Reading Fundamentals microcredential and join a community of educators strengthening their literacy instruction. On Wednesday, October 14, join educators from across New York and beyond for the 2026 Leading Literacy Summit, hosted by the Science of Reading Center at SUNY New Paltz. Save the date and stay tuned for more details. Get in Touch: Interested in being on a future episode of Reading Realities? Or have a question or topic you’d like us to cover? Contact us at scienceofreading@newpaltz.edu.  If this episode resonated with you, please: Follow Reading RealitiesLeave a rating and reviewShare with a colleague or educator in your networkVisit our website to learn more.

Trailer

4.8
out of 5
26 Ratings

About

Changing how we teach reading isn’t simple. It’s complex, ongoing, and often overwhelming—and no one should have to figure it out alone. Reading Realities is a podcast about what it really takes to change how we teach reading. Host Rose Else-Mitchell of the Science of Reading Center at SUNY New Paltz talks honestly with educators about the instructional shifts they're making, what they've learned about how humans learn to read, and what it takes to teach it.  Guests discuss what they've tried, what worked (and what didn’t), and what they are learning to do differently now — making change durable, practical, and compassionate for anyone on this journey teaching reading. New episodes air every other week on Wednesdays. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Information

  • Creator
    Science of Reading Center at SUNY New Paltz
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    12
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Reading Realities
  • Show Website
    Reading Realities

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