For The Love Of Literacy

Meghan Hicks returns to talk about how teaching structure at the word, sentence, and text levels can help students make sense of the writing process. We often discuss literacy as a system and the importance of students understanding how it works. Meghan explains the broader system and how her students discover that the whole is much greater than the sum of its parts. You’ll learn that syntax—how sentences are constructed from words, phrases and clauses—isn’t an abstract language concept. Rather, it is a straightforward way to improve reading comprehension and sentence construction. Meghan explains a simple sentence diagramming method that provides visual representations of sentence structure.Meghan also dives into the cognitive aspects of writing, starting with thinking. Students who can structure their thoughts are better able to structure their sentences. You learn about the four categories of thinking and how they influence students’ writing.  You can contact Meg at ThinkWriteReadCommunity@gmail.com or visit the Think~Write~Read Community Bruce Howlett's Seven Layers of Literacy Project - ReadingShift.com

Bonnie Feeney, a dyslexic mother and Jen Petrich, her PhD neuroscientist daughter discuss dyslexia from a unique perspective—one of from a journey of personal discovery and the other from studying brain science. Hear how their journeys came together, enriching both their lives. Learn the difficulties that dyslexics confront within and beyond the classroom. Dyslexics share more than a diagnosis and supporting them requires more than just a reading intervention. They deserve our respect and understanding. For decades, Bonny experienced biases and judgments that included narrow instruction that didn’t develop her interest in language. Jen became a neuroscientist not to help her mother, but to understand neurodiversity and find methods that support students broadly. Bonny began to listen in on Jen’s tutoring sessions with students and realized that this type of word and sentence inquiry made sense to her. A note from Jennifer Petrich: I would like to clarify a comment I made on this podcast episode that doesn’t reflect my true beliefs. In recounting someone else’s experience, I used language and framing that I no longer align with, including referring to a good IQ and not being dumb. I believe that measures like IQ do not define a person’s worth or fully capture their abilities, and I’m mindful that words we use—especially casually—can reinforce harmful assumptions. This was an unfiltered moment, and I’m committed to being more thoughtful and aware of my language and biases moving forward.Bruce Howlett’s Seven Layers of Literacy Approach: ReadingShift.com Literacy Dr website:https://www.theliteracydr.comD.O.T.S. course info and registration:https://www.theliteracydr.com/pd/dotsWednesdays with Literacy Dr (free drop-in) info and registration:https://www.theliteracydr.com/drop-inLiteracy Dr videos:https://www.theliteracydr.com/videosList of Resources for Further Learning:https://cb29367d-4ec0-40b5-af0b-a46966ed9d5a.filesusr.com/ugd/2c8fa0_47cff29b89e34ae2bcf16d59670de2d7.pdf

Meghan Hicks, an Australian teacher-educator who runs Think~Write~Read and a Boys Writing Group, and Rebecca Marsh, a copy editor and workshop leader in syntax and self-editing, explore sentence construction, diagramming, and punctuation as tools for clarity. They discuss collaborative peer revision, iterative workshops, using real sentences for learning, and balancing authentic voice with AI tools.

Peter Bowers, creator of Structured Word Inquiry and expert on morphology and orthography, and Kim Murphy, speech-language pathologist researching spelling–comprehension links, discuss spelling as a meaning-based system. They explain matrices and word sums, show how morphology binds spelling and meaning, and describe interventions that boost memory, confidence, and reading comprehension.

In this engaging discussion, Kathleen Love, a speech-language pathologist and literacy intervention expert, teams up with Beth Coppock-Gunshor, also a speech-language pathologist specializing in Structured Word Inquiry (SWI). They dive into the nuances of Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) and its significant impact on literacy skills. Listeners learn practical strategies like morphology instruction, the importance of recognizing DLD signs, and how SWI can transform vocabulary understanding. Their passion for student support shines through as they offer resources to educators and parents alike.

Lisa Barnett, a literacy educator who trains teachers in English orthography; Skot Caldwell, a veteran teacher who turned his classroom into a lab for word investigation; and Mary Beth Steven, a retired teacher who transformed spelling and sentence instruction. They explore Structured Word Inquiry, turning spelling homework into investigative play. They also show how sentence investigations reveal phrase relationships to boost comprehension and engagement.

Would you like to:understand how the English spelling system, or orthography, can be taught in so it makes sense to students and teachers, alike? integrate morphemes, the meaningful core of every word, into your reading, spelling and vocabulary instruction? Alternatives to memory and attention demanding practices like sight word spelling, syllable types, and spelling rules? In this episode, Sue Scibetta Hegland, author of Beneath the Surface of Words, chats with Liisa Freure—founder of Fundamental Learning and an elementary, ESL, and special education teacher—about the fascinating, complex, yet logical system behind English spelling. Both passionate advocates for Structured Literacy, Sue and Liisa talk about why teaching spelling can be even more challenging than teaching reading, and how understanding the spelling system can strengthen literacy for all students. Using engaging examples, they show how exploring the structures and interconnected meanings of words can capture students’ interest, improve comprehension, and help them become confident readers and writers.Sue Hegland:Website: Learning About Spelling -Spelling Always Makes SenseBeneath the Surface of Words - The Book Amazon (US)Kendore Learning (U.S.)Amazon (Canada)Select Educational Supplies  (Australia)Silver Eye (Australia) Liisa Freure – Fundamental LearningSue Scibetta Hegland began her career doing research and instructional design, but that changed in 2003, when she learned that one of her children is dyslexic. Trained in the Orton-Gillingham approach to literacy instruction, she has been studying and teaching about often overlooked aspects of the English orthographic system since 2014. Sue is a former school board member, serves as Editor-in-Chief for IDA’s Fact Sheet publications, and is the founder of the website LearningAboutSpelling.com. Sue is the author of the book Beneath the Surface of Words: What English Spelling Reveals and Why It Matters.Liisa Freure is the founder of Fundamental Learning, an organization dedicated to teaching the structure of the English language clearly and meaningfully. She has taught Kindergarten through Grade 8, ESL, and Special Education. Holding a Master’s in Education, Liisa has extensive experience in professional development, curriculum design, and provincial assessments. She trained with the Orton-Gillingham Academy, where she became an Accredited Training Fellow.  Liisa has held leadership roles with the International Dyslexia Association Ontario Branch, including serving two terms as President, and currently serves on the IDA’s Fact Sheet Editorial Board. Her&a

A wonderful plan for teachers, starting with five-year-old students on up to secondary school, to create a community of students who love exploring language, starting with the written and spoken word.Based on Ann Whiting and Lyn Anderson's beautiful books, A Field Guide to Words and A Year in Words. Children learn how the English spelling system, or orthography, works and how it is the foundation of reading, spelling and writing. Children learn to explore the three components of the spelling system, morphology (meaning), phonology (pronunciation) and etymology (history). They learn to build morphological matrices using word sums (con + struct + ion) as well as how to analyze the graphemes (letter or letters) that write morphemes. Handwriting instruction is woven into writing lessons. Language lessons are integrated into other areas with a strong emphasis on the words and concepts needed to understand science. Hearing how they weave the cycle , for example, across the curriculum will inspire you. Lyn Anderson and Ann Whiting BeyondtheWord International ConsultancyCaught in the Spell of Words

Do you know how English spelling really works? Go beneath the surface of words to find the connections between orthography (spelling system) and morphology, the meaningful core of every word in every language. While sound-symbol relationships in English are variable the spelling-meaning relationships are consistent. Jennifer Petrich and Brad Johnson are dedicated to advancing their students’ language, literacy and cognitive growth.  depth of understanding of words and how they function in sentences and beyond. Their book, Investigating English Spelling: An Interactive Guide to Understanding How English Spelling Works, is a great entry point for diving deeply into words. While the topic of language and literacy is complex Jen and Brad make this world of words immediately accessible for all. Dr. Jennifer Petrich works with students who have learning challenges, including dyslexia, specializing in those with attention issues, sensory-seeking behaviors, phonological working memory issues, deficits in executive functioning, and autism. She also offers training in scientific word study, based on orthographic linguistics, that benefits both neurodivergent and neurotypical learners. Dr. Petrich started teaching children and adults with dyslexia over 30 years ago but has been interested in reading and dyslexia since childhood due to having multiple family members who are dyslexic. She earned her PhD in Neuroscience at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. She is currently the co-director of Literacy Dr, LLC.    Bradley K. Johnson works with students with learning challenges and provides professional development for teachers. He has worked in the field of education for almost 25 years. He holds an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and has his administrator's license. While working as a classroom teacher and an instructional coach, Brad found his true passion in developing lessons that helped underserved populations access literacy and math instruction. In his roles as professional development specialist, curriculum director, and adjunct professor, he has coached and provided professional development to hundreds of teachers working with urban and minority populations and students with language-based learning disabilities. Brad's search for "what works" has included executive functioning, metacognition, mathematical reasoning, and social-emotional learning. In addition to currently working with students, he is also the founder of One Step Now Education.Literacy Dr October event: https://www.theliteracydr.com/swieventInvestigating English Spelling: Order at Amazon https://a.co/d/hCvMPw7Literacy Dr website:  theliteracydr.comLiteracy Dr’s Facebook: https://facebook.com/LiteracyDr Brad’s website onestepnoweducation.com Brad’s newsletter: newsletter.onestepnoweducation.com Literacy Dr drop-in: https://www.theliteracydr.com/drop-inLiteracy Dr curricular modules: https://www.theliteracydr.com/siesLiteracy Dr D.O.T.S. class: https://www.theliteracydr.com/pd/dots

The High Frequency Word Project, is an explicit, systematic resource that teaches the 130 high frequency words using strategies that make them stick. Each of these critical words is taught on multiple levels, from sounds and spellings to the morphological meaning, and how they are defined in sentences. Each word is further defined using something new: linguistically-accurate and fascinating stories about high frequency words’ etymologies providing the missing link to explain the mysterious parts of their spellings. The second edition contains a complete program: content background information, a teaching guide, 130-word lessons, along with activities, games, and an assessment. The first edition student Study Booklets can still be found on the website for those who want ready-to-go activities and structured practice pages.The High Frequency Word Project website: https://www.thehfwproject.com/Purchase the book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/hPuUuJlThe High Frequency Word Project YouTube: www.youtube.com/@thehfwprojectFiona Hamilton is the owner and director of Wordtorque. With 38 years of Australian and international educational experience, she has MEd degrees in Educational Administration and Literacy, plus Literacy Coaching certification. She provides educators with accurate information about English orthography and easy-to-implement teaching strategies. Words take fascinating journeys, twisting through history in meaning, pronunciation, spelling, and structure. Wordtorque brings that journey into classrooms, combining explicit teaching with inquiry so students truly understand words. They become word noticers who grow into word knowers - readers and thinkers with skills to explore connections, build vocabulary, and understand language deeply. Fiona collaborates on Engage with the Page and searchENGAGE with Angela Brienza and Lauren Hateley-Crowe. Engagewthepage is a regular free post on wordtorque.com highlighting picture books and showing the different concepts of word inquiry you can teach from each book.https://wordtorque.com/category/engagewthepage/searchENGAGE is the accompanying searchable database that includes over 300 picture books linking them with key orthographic features. It makes finding the perfect read aloud text to support your word study easy. Search by bases, affixes, graphemes, phonemes, word histories, and classroom connections. https://wordtorque.com/searchengage/wordtorque.comhttps://wordtorque.com/Including https://wordtorque.com/workshops-menu/https://wordtorque.com/classroom-visual-resources/LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/fiona-hamilton-09222919