Science of Reading: The Podcast
Science of Reading: The Podcast delivers the latest insights from researchers and practitioners in early reading. Each episode takes a conversational approach and explores a timely topic related to the Science of Reading.
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Meet Our Host: Susan Lambert, Ed.D.
In each episode, host Susan Lambert, chief academic officer of literacy at Amplify, explores the increasing body of scientific research about how reading is best taught. As a former classroom teacher, administrator, and curriculum developer, Susan has special interests in turning theory into best practices that educators can use in the classroom and showcasing national models of reading instruction excellence. Listen and subscribe here!
Browse by season
Adolescent literacy miniseries
This special miniseries is dedicated to one of the most urgent—and often overlooked—topics in literacy today: adolescent readers. Host Susan Lambert is joined by leading authors, educators, and policy experts to explore what middle and high school students need when it comes to literacy, and why it matters more than ever. Across four episodes, Susan and her guests examine what foundational skills can unlock reading growth for adolescent readers, what teachers on the ground are already doing to move the needle, and what meaningful policy should look like to support literacy beyond the early grades.
In the second episode of a special four-part Science of Reading: The Podcast adolescent literacy miniseries, Susan Lambert, Ed.D., speaks with Julie Burtscher Brown, Ed.D., a PreK–12 literacy facilitator. Julie talks about how she and her colleagues built a whole-school literacy initiative from the ground up, and what three years of data about it then revealed. Together, she and Susan also discuss why a few targeted, evidence-based practices (not sweeping overhauls) were what actually moved the needle for Julie’s students; how content-area teachers can begin supporting literacy without reinventing their lessons; and what real, measurable change can look like at the secondary level when a whole school commits to the same practices.
Science of Reading Essentials
Looking for a roundup of the latest research on key literacy topics? Our Science of Reading Podcast Essentials episodes will unlock insights that can truly transform your instruction. In each of these 30-minute episodes, you’ll hear from a handful of esteemed thought leaders providing their insights on a given topic—writing, comprehension, and more.
On this Science of Reading Essentials episode, we’re taking a deeper dive into the science of learning to explore how memory, cognitive load, and knowledge building can transform your literacy instruction. On this synthesis episode, host Susan Lambert, Ed.D., weaves in the insights of our expert guests—Natalie Wexler; Nathaniel Swain, Ph.D.; Hugh Catts, Ph.D.; Daniel Willingham, Ph.D.; Peter C. Brown; Jamey Peavler, Ed.D.; and David Rapp, Ph.D. With their insights, Susan reflects on how memory works and why understanding its processes is foundational to effective teaching; why cognitive load theory and background knowledge are game-changers for literacy instruction; and which evidence-based strategies—like retrieval practice, spaced repetition, and mixed practice—make learning stick.
ML/ELs miniseries
This special miniseries is dedicated to multilingual/English learners (ML/ELs)! Host Susan Lambert will chat with leading researchers and practitioners about how the Science of Reading supports ML/ELs and why this is so important. Through exploration of the key research and enlightening discussions, Susan and guests will discuss the optimal use of the Science of Reading to enhance students’ classroom experiences and overall learning journeys.
In this Science of Reading: The Podcast episode, Susan Lambert speaks with Rebecca Tolson and Lisa Lenhart about their roles at the University of Akron’s newly established Center for Structured Literacy. They discuss their personal journeys in literacy education, the large grant received from the Ohio Department of Higher Education, and how the Center aims to prepare pre-service teachers using the Science of Reading and structured literacy. Rebecca and Lisa elaborate on the faculty’s training program, curriculum updates, and potential community impact. The conversation also touches on the emotional and professional challenges in shifting to evidence-based practices, the history of literacy legislation in Ohio, and the Center’s long-term goals—including IDA accreditation and expanding their impact on both pre-service and in-service educators.
Science of Reading season 10
Throughout Season 10, we’ll break down the leading research on reading comprehension, examining each component of this complex process. From the fundamentals, such as why comprehension is key and its relationship to the Simple View of Reading, to troubleshooting common difficulties with everything from syntax to reading assessments—this season has everything educators need to develop deeper comprehenders.
On this week’s episode of Science of Reading: The Podcast, Susan Lambert, Ed.D., is joined by one of the most influential people in American education, Reid Lyon, Ph.D., to explore what it takes to make systemic change in literacy instruction. Together, Reid and Susan also discuss how literacy education could benefit from a shared vocabulary, how systems must work together from teacher preparation to classroom implementation, and what we can do to close the implementation gap.
Science of Reading season 9
Science of Reading: The Podcast is back for a reboot! Throughout Season 9, we’ll build on the fundamentals of evidence-based literacy instruction, reexamining the key principles of reading research while exploring the latest science. And we’ll also be paying special attention to the reciprocal relationship between reading and writing throughout!
In this crossover episode Susan Lambert joins Ana Torres from sister podcast, Beyond My Years. Together they dive into the idea that all educators contribute to—and thus must invest in—student literacy development, regardless of the content they teach. Throughout the conversation, they discuss how all teachers are literacy teachers, and they offer four simple tips for developing academic language in any classroom. Then, Classroom Insider Eric Cross shares his top three takeaways from Susan.
Science of Reading season 8
Join hundreds of thousands of educators already listening to Science of Reading: The Podcast to get the latest insights from researchers and practitioners in early reading. During this season, we’ll be talking all about knowledge—why it’s so critical for literacy development and student success and how it can be built most effectively.
Susan Lambert joins biliteracy expert and professor Lillian Durán, who holds a doctorate in educational psychology from the University of Minnesota and researches the improvement of instructional and assessment practices with preschool-aged multilingual/English learners.
Durán begins by pointing out the difference between being bilingual and biliterate, then describes the key advantages of being bilingual and the unique skills students who speak multiple languages bring to school. She then discusses how the Simple View of Reading connects to Spanish, the double standard that often occurs when bilingual students are celebrated vs. when they are not, and the process of screening and assessment for multilingual/English learner students. Lastly, Durán compels educators to avoid viewing biliteracy and dual language support as a sub-population of their classroom and instead prioritize the development of students’ home languages, whatever they may be, alongside English instruction.
Science of Reading season 7
We know getting literacy education right is hard, and every day in the classroom brings a new set of challenges to educators. During season 7 of Science of Reading: The Podcast, Tackling the Hard Stuff, we’ll be taking on all the tough questions that come up for literacy educators—from trauma-informed teaching and writing instruction to managing small-group instruction time. We’ll also dive into how the Science of Reading connects to biliteracy, dyslexia, middle school, and more.
In this episode, in honor of Dyslexia Awareness Month, we highlight Kareem Weaver’s daughter Margo and nephew Elijah—both of whom learned they had dyslexia later in life. After many struggles in school, Margo was diagnosed with dyslexia in high school; Elijah was diagnosed with dyslexia only while he was incarcerated. Margo and Elijah discuss the impact of their diagnoses as Kareem reflects on their stories and shares lessons learned for families and caregivers. Margo and Elijah also share their advice for educators and other young people about types of dyslexia.
Science of Reading season 6
The podcast focuses on all levels of education. In particular, this season widens the scope to look beyond the classroom to see the complexities behind even a single student learning to read. With so many systems at work, this season gives listeners a look at national reading assessment, statewide literacy legislature, implementation science, grassroots community organization, curriculum adoption, and higher education to show that enacting change takes many hands on all levels, but ultimately starts at the same place—a passion for unlocking the world for children through literacy.
Learning is at the center of everything in education, so understanding how the human brain processes, retains, and retrieves new information is essential to student growth. In this special crossover episode, Susan joins forces with fellow Amplify podcast hosts Eric Cross from Science Connections and Dan Meyer and Bethany Lockhart Johnson from Math Teacher Lounge to discuss what learning really means across subjects. Susan is also joined by Peter C. Brown, author of the book Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning, to dive into the cognitive science behind how our brains learn and ways you can apply that research in your classroom right now!
Science of Reading season 5
Tune into this season of the podcast to hear from thought leaders and researchers in the field, including Lacey Robinson, Dr. Lillian Durán, Dr. Jan Hasbrouck, Dr. Doris Baker, and Brittney Bills. You’ll learn what it means to have access to equitable education. You’ll hear about the importance of dual language assessment to make sure you’re using the best assessment for your students, and learn about the value of progress monitoring. Plus, you’ll gain an understanding of a Multi-tiered System of Supports and how it centers prevention rather than intervention.
Today, Susan Lambert talks to Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan about the challenges and opportunities in teaching reading to multilingual learners. Dr. Cárdenas-Hagan is a bilingual speech language pathologist and a certified academic language therapist. She is also director of Valley Speech Language and Learning Center in Brownsville, Texas. She discusses how teachers can connect students’ home languages to English, urges teachers to educate themselves on their students’ home languages in order to spot orthographic and phonological connections, and highlights the need for educators to collaborate to ensure student success.
Science of Reading season 4
Check out this season of the podcast for your chance to get insights from literacy experts, including Dr. Tracy Weeden, Sue Pimental, Dr. Julie Washington, Dr. Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan, and more! Tune in for discussions around the pandemic’s effects on literacy achievement, and strategies on how to make up for lost foundational skills while progressing at grade level. Learn why learning to read in print is still pertinent, despite the digital world we live in. Plus you’ll hear about challenges and opportunities educators face when teaching bilingual students how to read. Additional topics include dyslexia and developmental trajectories, universal screening, motivating middle schoolers, and hearing directly from our Science of Reading Award winners.
Today, Susan Lambert talks to our Science of Reading Star Award winners. First, we’ll meet two winners of our Amplifying Your District Award: Brittney Bills (curriculum coordinator, Grand Island Public Schools, Nebraska) and Alli Rice (elementary ELA lead, Kansas City Public Schools). Susan next talks with Anila Nayak (instructional coach and reading intervention teacher, Los Angeles Unified School District), winner of our Superstar award. Lastly, we’ll talk to Cathy Dorbish (principal, Austintown Elementary School, Ohio), who won the Standout School award for successfully shifting her school to the Science of Reading. Tune in to get inspiration and advice to take back to your classrooms!
Science of Reading season 3
Tune into this season of the podcast to hear from leading experts in the field, such as Dr. Jane Oakhill, Alice Wiggins, Dr. Louisa Moats, Natalie Wexler, Dr. Susan Neuman, and others! You’ll explore Scarborough’s Reading Rope and each of the strands it’s composed of, including word recognition, decoding, sight recognition, language structures, background knowledge, language comprehension, and vocabulary. You’ll also increase your knowledge of the Science of Reading and learn how you can make the shift to it in your classroom or entire district.
Join your host, Susan Lambert, as she recaps our season 3 Deconstructing the Rope series. She highlights the special guests we’ve had this season such as Louisa Moats, Bruce McCandliss, and Sonia Cabell and shares their expert insights on Scarborough’s Reading Rope. From vocabulary to word and sight recognition, all strands will be covered in this special episode that will help you cement this knowledge in your Science of Reading journey!
Science of Reading season 2
Tune into this season of the podcast to hear from educational thought leaders such as Dr. LaTonya Goffney, Afrika Afeni Mills, Dr. Sonia Cabell, Dr. Tim Shanahan, Dr. Danielle Damico, and more! You’ll hear real-world stories on adopting a new early literacy curriculum, including challenges and successes, as well as how schools benefited from analyzing the student data they received. Presenters will discuss the evolution of reading and the history of the Science of Reading. And you’ll learn how the pandemic is affecting at-risk students and those in need of intervention.
Join Danielle Damico, director of learning science at Amplify, as she explores the impact of the pandemic on at-risk students and those in need of intervention. She shares the insights drawn from DIBELS® 8th Edition and highlights how data is now more important than ever in understanding where students are—whether assessments are administered in person or through a digital platform. Finally, she leaves our listeners with best practices to nurture readers moving forward and ensure growth and success through the end of the year.
Science of Reading season 1
Check out this season of the podcast to hear from literacy experts on their research and insights in the field. Our guests will discuss dyslexia development, the importance of reading comprehension and the challenges that come with it, as well as the research behind how students learn to read. Don’t miss out on learning about the growing role of technology in the classroom and the importance of dual language instruction. These Season 1 presenters will inspire you and change how you think about literacy.
Join us in reflecting on season one and preview what’s in store for an exciting season two. In this special episode, we revisit the highlights of season one, with key clips from Emily Hanford, Natalie Wexler, Ernesto Ortiz, David and Meredith Liben, and Shawn Joseph, and other moments that inspired us and changed how we think about literacy.
