Shows
The Reading SymphonyEpisode 9: Escape Velocity: Helping Kids Crack the Reading Code Faster with Dr. Marnie GinsbergEpisode SummaryIn 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 r...
2026-02-2049 min
The Reading SymphonyEpisode 7: From Our First Classrooms to Now: Opportunity and Impact with Rosy Hely ReedRosy 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...
2026-02-1140 min
The Reading SymphonyEpisode 8: Insights on IEPs and Student Success with Gaby DillerIn 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...
2026-02-0924 min
The Reading SymphonyEpisode 6: The Power of Speech to Print with Alyssa AlthouseWhere to find Alyssa? Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learn_with_alyssa/?hl=enWebsite: https://www.learnwithalyssa.net/Handwriting Resources: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Write-to-Read-Verbal-Cue-Handwriting-Cards-13558681
2026-02-0443 min
The Reading SymphonyEpisode 5: How Connections Build Reading Comprehension with Whitney WhealdonIn 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...
2026-01-2846 min
The Reading SymphonyEpisode 4: Structured Literacy and Purposeful Assessment with Kate WinnThe Reading Symphony Podcast helps families and caregivers understand how reading develops and what truly supports reading success, with clarity, compassion, and evidence-based guidance. Host Katie Megrian (educator, parent, and literacy advocate) interviews experts who translate research into practical next steps for home and school.In this episode, Katie is joined by Kate Winn, an Ontario educator, literacy advocate, and co-author of Reading Assessment Done Right: Tools and Techniques for Data-Driven Instruction. With 25+ years of experience across K–8, Kate breaks down what structured literacy looks like in real classrooms an...
2026-01-2140 min
The Reading SymphonyEpisode 3: From Reading Research to Classroom with Dr. Julia B. LindseyIn this episode of the Reading Symphony Podcast, host Katie Megrian interviews Dr. Julia B. Lindsey, a literacy expert and author of 'Reading Above The Fray.' They discuss how reading develops, the importance of evidence-based practices in literacy instruction, the role of phonics and comprehension, and the use of small group instruction. Dr. Lindsey shares her insights on the prerequisites for reading comprehension, ongoing professional development for teachers, and the integration of technology in reading instruction. She also emphasizes the significance of making reading instruction practical and actionable for educators and families. Throughout the conversation, the importance of...
2026-01-1451 minThe Reading SymphonyEpidsode 1: Why this podcast existsEpisode 1: Why Reading Feels So Hard (and Why It Doesn’t Have to)Welcome to the first episode of The Reading Symphony Podcast. I’m your host, Katie Megrian—educator, literacy leader, and mom to two very different readers.In this episode, I break down the current state of reading in the U.S., why so many children struggle, and the hopeful truth that at least 95% of kids can learn to read with the right instruction. You’ll learn why reading isn’t natural, how it actually develops in the brain, and why all parts of reading...
2026-01-0606 minThe Reading SymphonyEpisode 2: Making Words Stick in the Brain and Leveraging Read Alouds with Dr. Molly Ness🎙 Episode: Making Words Stick and Read-Alouds for All Learners (with Dr. Molly Ness)In this episode of The Reading Symphony Podcast, Katie Megrian sits down with Dr. Molly Ness, former classroom teacher, reading researcher, teacher educator, and author of six books (with a seventh on the way). Molly is known for translating research into practical, usable moves for teachers and families, and this conversation is packed with exactly that.Together, Katie and Molly dig into two big questions families ask all the time:How do we help words actually “stick” so kids become fluent readers...
2026-01-0152 min
Giving Grief GraceEpisode 26 - Grief, Legacy, and Literacy: How Loss Shaped an Educator’s Mission to Help People ReadFormer teacher and principal, and current K–12 literacy director, Katie Megrian has spent over two decades working in schools. She founded The Reading Symphony, a mission-driven platform that helps families and educators understand how reading develops and how it can transform lives. Behind her work lies a deeply personal story of love and loss. In this episode, Katie shares how losing her brother at age four, her aunt as a teen, and her father to pancreatic cancer just months before her wedding shaped not only her outlook on life—but her purpose.Lisa and Katie explore how grie...
2025-11-0338 min2025-10-1301 min