Reach All Readers
Ready to help every student become a proficient reader? Join literacy expert Anna Geiger, M.Ed., for practical conversations about teaching reading well.
Anna brings you real talk about implementing the science of reading in your classroom, breaking down the research into steps you can take right away, and helping you build the confidence to reach all your readers. Whether you're navigating your own shift from balanced literacy or looking for strategies that work for diverse learners, you'll find support here.
Subscribe for honest conversations, actionable teaching tips, and the encouragement you need to transform literacy instruction in your classroom.
Episodes
286 episodes
How to improve literacy outcomes for secondary students - with Jeanne Schopf
250: What happens when students reach middle or high school without strong reading skills? In this episode, Jeanne Schopf shares why it’s never too late to help struggling readers—and what schools can do to improve literacy outcomes for seconda...
What to do when students can't write complete sentences - with Dr. Shawn Datchuk
249: If your students struggle to write complete sentences, this episode is for you. Dr. Shawn Datchuk breaks down why sentence writing is so challenging—and shares practical, research-based strategies you can use right away to help students bu...
The problem with the "just right text level" theory - and what to do instead - with Dr. Tim Shanahan
248: Is leveled reading helping, or is it holding students back? In this episode, Tim Shanahan joins us to unpack the history and research around grade-level text. You’ll gain a fresh perspective on how to better support all readers. <...
[Listen again] Navigating the complexities of English spelling - with Lyn Stone
Lyn Stone helps us navigate the complexities of English spelling in a way that makes sense for students and teachers. We discuss morphology, etymology, tricky spellings, and even get Lyn's opinion on teaching "blends" and syllable types. Enjoy!...
[Listen again] How to scaffold complex text reading - even in the early grades! with Dr. Jennifer Throndsen
All students need access to rich, challenging text to grow as readers. But how do we support them? Dr. Jennifer Throndsen shares the why and HOW of scaffolding complex texts. This episode is for you no matter what grade you teach.
Does consistency matter more than fidelity? - with John Bennetts
247: What happens when students hear different routines in Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3? In this episode, John Bennetts shares why consistency across tiers is critical for student success and how schools can align routines without overhauli...
[Listen again] Evidence-based practices in teaching writing - with Dr. Steve Graham
With his 47 years of experience, Dr. Steve Graham has much to share about what research says about teaching writing and how to apply it to classroom instruction. We discuss six evidence-based practices for teaching writing and how to implement ...
The biggest mistake to avoid when building comprehension
246: What’s the biggest mistake teachers make when building comprehension? In this episode, we explore why saving questions until the end of reading can leave comprehension gaps, and how using instructional questioning during reading can ...
Is comprehension even teachable?
245: Is comprehension something we actually teach, or does it naturally develop once students can decode? In this episode, we unpack what comprehension really is, why it’s far more complex than a single “skill,” and where it fits within the sci...
Structured Literacy Routines - with Dr. Melissa Orkin & Sarah Gannon
244: Dr. Melissa Orkin and Sarah Gannon share structured literacy routines from their book The Structured Literacy Playbook — including backward planning with decodable texts, vocabulary work even with CVC words, syntactic phrasing exe...
[Listen again] Which literacy assessments are worth your and your students' time? - with Sean Morrisey
Sean Morrisey, former school psychologist turned fifth grade teacher, walks us through the many different literacy assessments teachers administer. Which are useful, and which are a waste of time? You'll love this practical episode!
How to assess comprehension - with Dr. Kelly Powell-Smith
243: Dr. Kelly Powell-Smith explains how to pinpoint specific comprehension issues using strategic diagnostic assessment—without over-testing your students!
What every literacy teacher should know about assessing RAN - with Dr. Erin Pzinski
242: Ever heard of RAN assessment but weren't quite sure what it was or what to do with it? Dr. Erin Pzinski breaks down rapid automatized naming and explains why it's like a "check engine" light. You'll learn what not to do with RAN assessment...
Data-based decision making - with Angie Hanlin
241: Literacy consultant Angie Hanlin helps us understand exactly what data-based decision making looks like. She describes what should be happening at data team meetings and what teachers should do as soon as those meetings are over. This insp...
The difference between CBMs and CATs (and why it matters!) - with Alisa Dorman
240: Alisa Dorman explains what makes universal screeners effective and breaks down the difference between curriculum-based measures and computer adaptive tests—and why this difference matters.
What is CBM, and how should teachers use it? - with Dr. Michelle Hosp
239: Dr. Michelle Hosp, co-author of The ABCs of CBM, explains the history of curriculum based measurement and do's and don'ts for implementing it. A must-listen for any K-3rd grade classroom teachers and all reading interventionists!&...
Reading assessment done right - with Dr. Stephanie Stollar and Kate Winn
238: Assessment doesn't have to be overwhelming! Stephanie Stollar and Kate Winn, authors of Reading Assessment Done Right, share practical strategies for screening, diagnosing, and monitoring student progress effectively.Get...
The 3 types of assessment teachers need for data-based decision making
237: In this quick solo episode, we take a look at the three types of assessment teachers use within MTSS for data-based decision making. You’ll learn the key questions each one answers, how they work together, and why they’re essential for mak...
Important lessons from the history of RTI and MTSS - with Dr. Heidi Beverine-Curry
236: We're continuing our assessment series with Dr. Heidi Beverine-Curry, who walks us through the history of RTI and MTSS—from the "wait to fail" model to today's data-based approaches. Learn why strong Tier 1 instruction must be the foundati...
Kicking off a new assessment series! [What is MTSS?]
I'm kicking off a new assessment series with a replay of an older episode: What is MTSS? In this episode I discuss the collaborative problem solving model, the MTSS assessment system, and the three tiers of instruction.
[Listen again] How to implement the science of reading with young learners - with Amie Burkholder
What should K-2 teachers know about teaching phonemic awareness, phonics, handwriting, and more? Teacher and author Amie Burkholder gives us practical tips in this quick and powerful episode! Get the show notes here:
[Listen again] A lively discussion about syntax, grammar, and punctuation - with Lyn Stone
I take every opportunity I can to learn from Lyn Stone, so I was thrilled to sit down and "rapid fire" questions I had after reading the wonderful second edition of her book, Language for Life. I promise you'll be entertained and come ...
[Listen again] Answers to all your questions about teaching handwriting - with Dr. Shawn Datchuk
Should we teach students to write upper or lowercase letters first? What's the best routine for practicing handwriting? How much time should students practice handwriting each day? Dr. Shawn Datchuk shares what the research says (and does...
[Listen again] How to teach sentence comprehension - with Nancy Hennessy
When our students struggle with comprehension, it may be that we need to go all the way back to the sentence level. In this episode, Nancy Hennessy discusses many different ways that teachers can help improve students' sentence comprehension. Y...
How to use etymology to help students spell high frequency words - with Fiona Hamilton and Rebecca Loveless
235: Did you know that teaching students about the history of specific words can actually reduce cognitive load and help students better remember the spellings? Fiona Hamilton and Rebecca Loveless, authors of The High Frequency Word Project...
