The Reading Symphony

Katie Megrian
  • 5.0 (19)
  • PARENTING

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

  1. Episode 12: Balancing Trust and Urgency in Early Reading with John Bennetts

    5D AGO

    Episode 12: Balancing Trust and Urgency in Early Reading with John Bennetts

    Episode Show NotesIn this episode of The Reading Symphony Podcast, Katie sits down with national literacy consultant John Bennetts to discuss what reading development actually looks like in real classrooms and real families. John shares how an unexpected start in education led him to work alongside renowned literacy expert Linda Farrell early in his career, shaping his approach to evidence-based reading instruction. Together, Katie and John explore a question many parents quietly carry:  How do we know if a child is progressing normally in reading? Their conversation unpacks the difference between healthy developmental variation and signs that a child may need additional support. They also discuss how screening data should be used by schools, how parents can ask better follow-up questions, and why strong literacy systems depend on coherence across instruction and intervention. The episode also highlights the powerful early literacy work of Reach Out and Read, a national program that partners with pediatricians to help families build read-aloud routines from birth. Whether you're a parent trying to understand reading benchmarks or an educator working to build stronger systems, this conversation offers clarity, compassion, and practical guidance. Resources MentionedReach Out and ReadResearch on phases of reading development (Linnea Ehri)Stephanie Stollar’s work on MTSS

    31 min
  2. Episode 11: Decodables, Advocacy, and Supporting Teachers with Elise Lovejoy

    MAR 4

    Episode 11: Decodables, Advocacy, and Supporting Teachers with Elise Lovejoy

    Episode Summary In this episode, Katie sits down with literacy advocate and author Elise Lovejoy, creator of Express Readers and founder of The Teacher’s Table. Elise shares her journey into the science of reading, explains the critical difference between leveled readers and decodable books, and offers practical guidance for parents supporting early readers at home. She also discusses the importance of research-aligned instruction in schools and how The Teacher’s Table is helping teachers access credible, evidence-based resources. In This Episode, We Discuss: How Elise began writing decodable books to make early reading both effective and joyfulThe difference between leveled readers and decodable texts — and why it mattersWhy guessing words from pictures can undermine long-term reading developmentWhat makes a strong decodable bookA simple, low-stress routine parents can use when decodables come homeThe importance of repeated practice and building automaticityHow parents can advocate for science-aligned reading instructionSigns that a school is moving toward (or away from) evidence-based literacy practicesWhy ongoing teacher professional learning is essentialThe mission behind The Teacher’s Table and how it supports teachers with research-backed resourcesKey Takeaways for Parents Decodable books align directly with the phonics skills children have been taught.It’s okay to help with tricky words — reading practice should feel supportive, not stressful.Re-reading builds fluency and confidence.Asking thoughtful questions is one of the most powerful advocacy tools parents have.Supporting teachers ultimately supports all children.Resources Mentioned Express Readers – Decodable book series 👉 expressreaders.orgThe Teacher’s Table – Research-aligned literacy membership for educators 👉 theteacherstable.orgTo set up a gift subscription to The Teacher’s Table, email contact@theteacherstable.org!

    26 min
  3. Episode 10: Insights on Literacy and Policy with Chad Aldeman

    FEB 24

    Episode 10: Insights on Literacy and Policy with Chad Aldeman

    Katie Megrian speaks with education policy expert Chad Aldeman, founder of Aldeman Education LLC and creator of ReadNotGuess.com, about early reading development, intervention, and broader K–12 trends. Chad shares that his son’s kindergarten experience during COVID revealed that his son had not been taught to decode and was guessing words. That realization led him to create Read Not Guess, a free, sequential, parent-facing resource with Levels 1–3, a “daily-ish decodable” program, and an optional app to support sound practice at home. They discuss declines in national achievement that began around 2013–2015, with the largest drops among lower-performing students. Chad explores possible contributors, including shifts in accountability policy, increased screen time, declining independent reading, and reduced emphasis on foundational skills. The conversation also highlights systems such as Mississippi, Louisiana, DoDEA schools, and England that have emphasized phonics and knowledge-rich instruction. Chad explains why rising per-pupil spending has not translated into comparable teacher salary growth, citing increased benefit costs and staffing shifts, and discusses alternative staffing and compensation models. The episode closes with guidance for families: look for high standards paired with high support, seek objective indicators of progress, and do not wait to intervene when a child is struggling. Resources: ReadNotGuess.com chadaldeman.com https://www.chadaldeman.com/p/do-not-wait https://www.the74million.org/article/these-schools-are-beating-the-odds-in-teaching-kids-to-read/

    32 min
  4. Episode 9: Escape Velocity: Helping Kids Crack the Reading Code Faster with Dr. Marnie Ginsberg

    FEB 20

    Episode 9: Escape Velocity: Helping Kids Crack the Reading Code Faster with Dr. Marnie Ginsberg

    Episode Summary In this episode, Katie talks with Dr. Marnie Ginsberg about what helps kids learn to read and why so many teachers were never given the tools to fix word-reading problems. Dr. Ginsberg shares the story that launched her career: sixth-grade students reading years below grade level and a breakthrough approach that helped them make dramatic gains in a single spring. Together they unpack the research-to-practice gap (and why effective interventions still “sit on a shelf”), and then get very practical: Marnie explains how Reading Simplified teaches phonics without over-relying on rules, using the brain’s pattern detection (statistical learning) plus carefully designed contrast (sit/sat, mat/map/mop) to accelerate decoding. You’ll also hear a clear explanation of phonemic awareness vs. phonics, why separating them often creates inefficiency, and how Marnie integrates them through simple routines like Build It and Switch It—activities that feel like games but powerfully build the alphabetic principle. Finally, Marnie and Katie talk state curriculum lists, why implementation details matter, and what parents can advocate for during literacy reform—plus Marnie’s direct call to limit screens and protect attention. Key Takeaways Many struggling readers don’t need “more exposure”—they need explicit instruction that helps them attend to the inside parts of words.The research-to-practice gap isn’t only about evidence. It’s also about incentives, funding streams, and the skillset of dissemination.“Good phonics” doesn’t have to mean a heavy diet of rules. Pattern-based learning can be explicit and still leverage kids’ natural ability to detect patterns.Keeping kids in “short-vowel land” too long can starve them of the data they need to reach reading “escape velocity.”Integrating phonemic awareness and phonics—rather than teaching them in separate lanes—can unlock the alphabetic principle faster.Parents should push for early identification and support (including dyslexia screening and services) and for true expertise in curriculum decision-making.Reading grows in a home environment that protects attention: limit screens, read aloud longer than you think, and listen to kids read longer than you think.Topics We Cover Marnie’s path from sixth-grade teacher → tutor → researcher → founder of Reading SimplifiedWhy whole language/balanced literacy didn’t solve decoding strugglesWhat TRI is and how it connects to Reading SimplifiedThe “17-year research-to-practice gap” and why it persistsLinguistic phonics / speech-to-print and organizing the code by soundStatistical learning, contrast, and “set for variability” (without turning into guessing)Why context is part of reading—but print must be primary for beginnersPhonemic awareness vs phonics: what they are, why both matterTry This at Home / In the Classroom Switch It (5 minutes, feels like a game): Use letter tiles/cards to build a simple word (mop). Then “switch” one sound at a time to make a new word (mop → map → sap → sip). The magic is in the contrast and the attention to each sound position. Free resources and demo videos: readingsimplified.com/switch-it Connect with Dr. Marnie Ginsberg Website: ReadingSimplified.com  Free Switch It resources: ReadingSimplified.com/switch-it  Instagram: @readingsimplified Connect with Katie / The Reading Symphony Substack: katiemegrian.substack.com  Instagram: @thereadingsymphony

    49 min
  5. Episode 7: From Our First Classrooms to Now: Opportunity and Impact with Rosy Hely Reed

    FEB 11

    Episode 7: From Our First Classrooms to Now: Opportunity and Impact with Rosy Hely Reed

    Rosy Hely Reed. Rosy is a Director, Academics at TNTP - a non-profit organization that brings research, policy, and consulting together to reimagine America's K-12 public education system. She has been at TNTP since 2016, and currently leads the execution of academic reviews in schools and districts across the country, providing data and insights on students' and teachers' access to the resources that matter most. Prior to TNTP, Rosy was a literacy teacher and instructional coach in New York City and Washington, D.C., public schools, and then oversaw district-wide teacher-leader and instructional-coaching programs for Pittsburgh Public Schools. She loves driving change-making work within (usually messy) school systems at all levels.  About This Episode In this conversation, Katie sits down with one of her closest friends and longtime education thought partner, Rosy Reed, a Director of Academics at TNTP. We trace our shared beginnings as brand-new teachers in the South Bronx and explore how those early classroom experiences shaped our understanding of curriculum, instruction, and equity. Rosie shares what she has learned through her work at TNTP about the conditions that most powerfully drive student achievement, drawing on insights from The Opportunity Myth and the Opportunity Makers research. We also talk candidly about dyslexia, advocacy, and how parents can partner with schools to build coherent, research-aligned reading instruction. This episode is both a deep dive into literacy and a personal conversation about teaching, friendship, and the long arc of learning. In This Episode We Discuss TNTP’s research: What actually drives student achievement Rosy explains the findings from TNTP’s landmark research, based on 4,000+ students across diverse schools and districts. Four key resources that dramatically impact achievement: Grade-appropriate assignmentsStrong instructionDeep student engagementHigh teacher expectationsWe also discuss: Three core practices of “trajectory-changing” schools: A strong culture of belongingConsistent access to grade-level instructionA coherent instructional programWe explore: Alignment across grades, classrooms, and interventionsThe importance of knowledge-building curriculumWhy teacher planning time and professional learning matterHow schools can better align instruction between general education and intervention

    40 min
  6. Episode 8: Insights on IEPs and Student Success with Gaby Diller

    FEB 9

    Episode 8: Insights on IEPs and Student Success with Gaby Diller

    In this episode of the Reading Symphony Podcast, host Katie Megrian engages in a comprehensive conversation with Gaby Diller, founder of Lotus Advocacy. Launched in 2020, Lotus Advocacy aims to support special education departments, families, and students by centering families as essential members of the special education team. Gaby shares insights on her personal journey with learning challenges and her extensive experience as a special education teacher and administrator. She offers practical advice on creating effective IEPs, the importance of specific and strength-based goals, the necessity of multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), and the benefits and limitations of private evaluations. Gaby also emphasizes the role of collaboration and transparency in advocating for students' needs. This episode provides valuable insights for families, educators, and advocates striving to support children with special needs in their reading and overall educational journey. 00:00 Introduction to the Reading Symphony Podcast 00:27 Meet Gaby Diller: Founder of Lotus Advocacy 01:23 Gaby's Personal Journey and Professional Path 04:21 Understanding and Supporting Students with IEPs 07:53 Navigating Evaluations and School Responsibilities 12:57 Effective IEP Goals and Interventions 18:01 Creative Collaboration and Advocacy Strategies 22:41 Closing Thoughts and Resources Where to find Gaby? https://www.lotusadvocacy.com/ https://www.instagram.com/lotusadvocacy/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriela-diller-8b056230/

    24 min
  7. Episode 6: The Power of Speech to Print with Alyssa Althouse

    FEB 4

    Episode 6: The Power of Speech to Print with Alyssa Althouse

    Where to find Alyssa?  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learn_with_alyssa/?hl=en Website: https://www.learnwithalyssa.net/ Handwriting Resources: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Write-to-Read-Verbal-Cue-Handwriting-Cards-13558681

    43 min
  8. Episode 5: How Connections Build Reading Comprehension with Whitney Whealdon

    JAN 28

    Episode 5: How Connections Build Reading Comprehension with Whitney Whealdon

    In this episode of the Reading Symphony Podcast, Katie Megrian hosts Whitney Whealdon, a career educator and learning architect. They discuss the critical role of background knowledge in reading comprehension, the development of Louisiana's ELA guidebooks, and the importance of coherent and aligned literacy curricula. Whitney shares insights from her career journey, innovation in curriculum development, and the Wonderwood app, designed to help children build knowledge. They also explore practical ways parents can support their children's literacy development at home. Key takeaways include cultivating curiosity, leveraging interconnected knowledge, and advocating for robust science and social studies instruction. 00:00 Welcome to the Reading Symphony Podcast 00:30 Introducing Whitney Whealdon 01:33 Whitney's Journey in Education 03:23 The Importance of Background Knowledge 08:58 Curriculum Transformation in Louisiana 32:43 Building Knowledge at Home with Wonderwood 43:09 Final Thoughts and Resources Where to find Whitney: Secret Life of Learning Substack: https://whitneywhealdon.substack.com/ Knowledge Builders Club for Families: https://www.facebook.com/groups/knowledgebuildersclub/Wonderwood: https://wonderwood.me/en-us/Additional Resources Latent Semantic AnalysisHow book-rich, knowledge-rich curriculum is fueling the Southern Surge  by Karen VaitesThe Knowledge Gap by Natalie Wexler

    47 min
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5
out of 5
19 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
    13
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Reading Symphony
  • Show Website
    The Reading Symphony

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