Together in Literacy Emily Gibbons & Casey Harrison

We’re wrapping up season 2 of the Together in Literacy podcast! And what a season it’s been!

This podcast was built upon a commitment to spreading factual information about dyslexia awareness, structured literacy, social-emotional learning, and the science of learning. As we look back on season 2, we are so proud to see our mission of supporting parents, teachers, and learners come to fruition.

In this episode, we share our major takeaways from season 2, we’ll look at a set of standards that cover key foundational components of structured literacy, we’ll share some articles and suggestions, and then we’ll give a sneak preview of what you can look forward to in season 3!

Let us know what you think about the Together in Literacy podcast by filling out this survey!

We're looking for those who are interested in being a guest on season 3 of the podcast or sponsoring the podcast!

Please feel free to keep in touch with us throughout the summer! You can find Emily at The Literacy Nest and Casey at The Dyslexia Classroom. 

Resources mentioned in this episode:


1.17: Finish the School Year Strong
A list of all Together in Literacy Episodes
Knowledge and Practice Standards for Teachers of Reading
1.12: The Importance of Building Teacher Knowledge and The Peter Effect
Print-to-Speech and Speech-to-Print: Mapping Early Literacy
The roles of letter names and letter sounds in connecting print and speech
Knowing letter names and learning letter sounds: A causal connection

We officially have merch! Show your love for the Together in Literacy podcast!

If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated!

Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at support@togetherinliteracy.com!

If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest.

For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom. 

Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!

In this episode, we’re joined by Ryan Pool. Ryan is a high schooler who is taking on the world!

Ryan is an entrepreneur and nationally ranked tennis player. In May, he secured funding from Orange County investors for his most recent business, Tennisify. He serves as an Ambassador for Economics for Leaders and coaches tennis in his spare time. 

Ryan trains hard on and off the tennis court. When not playing, you’ll find him asking questions and soaking up learning opportunities. His mission is to make the world a better place through innovation, using kindness, drive, and curiosity.

Ryan was diagnosed with apraxia of speech at two years old, and dyslexia as a kindergartener. He has big ideas but slow processing time and works hard to understand how to optimize his brain. He’s grateful for his amazing tutors, teachers, and mentors who taught him how to advocate for himself and others.

He recently gave a TEDx talk that you can view here. For more from Ryan, connect with him on Instagram.

We officially have merch! Show your love for the Together in Literacy podcast with a t-shirt or sweatshirt!

If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated!

Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at support@togetherinliteracy.com!

If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest.

For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom. 

Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!

In this episode, we’re joined by Adrianne Meldrum. Adrianne Meldrum is the founder and owner of Made for Math (MFM), an all-online math center focused on serving students with dyslexia, dyscalculia, and math learning disabilities. 

She is a certified Multisensory Math Instructor through Marilyn Zecher. She holds a Master’s Degree from Bridges Graduate School of Cognitive Diversity. 

We chat with Adrianne about using a multisensory approach to teaching math, how challenged learners can benefit from this approach, and so much more! 

Resources mentioned in this episode:


Listen Up: Five Stellar Science of Reading Podcasts Worth Trying
Multisensory Math Activities That Really Work
Difficulties Evolve into Doors: The HOPE for Students with Dyscalculia
Interview with Dr. Xin, creator of Conceptual Model-Based Problem Solving (COMPS)
Marilynzecher.com
Asdec.org
Professor Sharma - Mathematics for All
Science of Math - Facebook Community
Effective Teaching Strategies for Dyscalculia and Learning Difficulties in Mathematics by Marie Pascale Noel and Giannis Karagiannakis
Mathematics for Dyslexics and Dyscalculics by Steve Chinn 
Discovering Dyscalculia: One Family’s Journey with a Math Disability by Laura Jackson
2.13 The Science of Learning
Is multisensory math for your child (Quiz)
Unlocking Dyscalculia Web Series

For more from Adrianne Meldrum, check out her website Made for Math. You can also connect with her on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

We officially have merch! Show your love for the Together in Literacy podcast with a t-shirt or sweatshirt!

If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated!

Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at support@togetherinliteracy.com!

If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest.

For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom. 

Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!

In this episode, we’re taking a closer look at neurodiversity. We’re seeing the term neurodiversity come up in a lot of different places from social media, to newspapers, to articles, and more. It is a global conversation that we should all be looking at with a fresh view and perspective. 

Tune in as we discuss what neurodiversity means to us, and, based on the current research, where dyslexia comes into the discussion of neurodiversity. We’ll also look at shifts in language surrounding neurodiversity, and what this all means for educators, parents, caregivers, students, and the world. 

Stick around until the end for some additional podcast and book recommendations on this topic!

Resources mentioned in this episode:


Decoding Dyslexia
1.16 The Legal Aspect of Dyslexia Advocacy with Sabrina Axt
The Dyslexic Advantage: Unlocking the Hidden Potential of the Dyslexic Brain by Brock L. Eide M.D. M.A. and Fernette F. Eide M.D.
Overcoming Dyslexia by Sally Shaywitz MD
Understood.org
The Neurodiversity Podcast
Casey on TpT - The Dyslexia Classroom or The Dyslexia Classroom
Emily on TpT - The Literacy Nest or The Literacy Nest 

We officially have merch! Show your love Together in Literacy podcast with a t-shirt or sweatshirt!

If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated!

Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at support@togetherinliteracy.com!

If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest.

For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom. 

Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!

In this episode, we’re joined by Katy Vassar. Katy is a Dyslexia and Reading Consultant, Licensed Dyslexia Therapist, Qualified Instructor of therapists, and Educational Diagnostician with over 20 years of experience in the field of education. Her history includes roles in special education, general education, reading/dyslexia intervention, and coaching at the elementary and secondary levels in both public and independent school systems. 

Katy currently teams with various centers to train teachers as dyslexia therapists, train educators to better work with students with dyslexia in the classroom, provide psychoeducational evaluations, and support individual students and families as they navigate the world of dyslexia. She also contracts with schools, districts, and other state and local organizations to provide consultation services and professional development. 

Katy is passionate about supporting the learning needs of all students as they navigate their journey toward being successful life-long learners.

We’ll talk about how Katy got started on her journey, the role of an educational diagnostician, what tests and assessments are used, what testing can reveal about a child, and so much more!

Join us as we take a deeper look at special education evaluations with a focus on both families and educators.   

Resources mentioned in this episode:


Season 1, Episode 16: The Legal Aspect of Dyslexia Advocacy with Sabrina Axt
Dyslexia Advantage: Unlocking the Hidden Potential of the Dyslexic Brain by Brock L. Eide M.D. M.A. and Fernette F. Eide M.D.
Dyslexic Advantage Newsletter
Casey on TpT - The Dyslexia Classroom or The Dyslexia Classroom
Emily on TpT - The Literacy Nest or The Literacy Nest

For more from Katy Vassar check out her website, Vassar Education Services, or the Wimberley Dyslexia & Learning Center.  

We officially have merch! Show your love Together in Literacy podcast with a t-shirt or sweatshirt!

If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated!

Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at support@togetherinliteracy.com!

If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest.

For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom. 

Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!

At the heart of the Science of Reading, we look deeply at how we learn, not just how we read. Studying how we learn has been a dynamic field of research in education for years. In this episode, we are looking to further our scientific study and knowledge and remembering that education is not a static field. We are all always learning. 

Tune in as we talk about how we can advocate the shift from focusing solely on the Science of Reading and begin focusing more on the Science of Learning. We’ll explain the reasons why we feel this is a beneficial shift and who will benefit from the shift, we’ll look at the key points at the heart of the Science of Learning, and we’ll share some resources you may want to consider for building your own knowledge.  

Resources mentioned in this episode:


2.10 The Science of Reading: More Than Just a Buzzword
1.15 All About Accommodations for Dyslexia
1.10 The Gradual Release of Responsibility
2.11 How to Keep Your Eye on the Goal in Intervention
Explicit Instruction: Effective and Efficient Teaching by Anita Archer
1.12 The Importance of Building Teacher Knowledge and The Peter Effect
How We Learn: Why Brains Learn Better than any Machine… for now by Stanislas Dehaene  
A Little Guide for Teachers: Cognitive Load Theory by Greg Ashman
Neuroteach: Brain Science and the Future of Education by Glenn Whitman 
Make it Stick: The Science of Successful Learning by Peter C. Brown, Henry L. Roediger III, and Mark A. McDaniel
1.11 The Importance and Benefits of Playing Games with Your Students

If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated!

We officially have merch! Show your love Together in Literacy podcast with a t-shirt or sweatshirt!

Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at support@togetherinliteracy.com!

If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest.

For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom. 

Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!