“There's nothing that's going to change student achievement more powerfully than the teacher, but it's very difficult for the teacher to do that job if they don't have support from leadership at the top,” Dena Mortensen, Ed.D. explains in Episode 7 of All For Literacy™.

Mortensen sits down with host Dr. Liz Brooke to discuss a boots-on-the-ground perspective about implementing the science of reading. An elementary reading and language arts supervisor for Waterbury Public Schools in Waterbury, Connecticut, Mortensen offers listeners a detailed look into how the school district is making changes to improve student literacy rates. Mortensen also discusses her involvement with the documentary “Hopeville: How to Win the Reading Wars,” directed and produced by All For Literacy Episode 6 guest Harvey Hubbell V.

Mortensen and Brooke explore how to:

• Encourage teachers to adopt the use of progress-monitoring data
• Make a dedication to evidence front and center
• Repurpose balanced literacy and whole language materials
• Support teachers as they learn about the science of reading
• Make in-classroom coaching accessible to all

Explore the show notes for links to people and resources mentioned in the episode. Subscribe to All For Literacy today and never miss an episode.

“This has been a long, crazy journey of me trying to figure out what the heck is going on with education,” says Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker Harvey Hubbell V in Season 2, Episode 6 of All For Literacy™.

Hubbell sits down with host Dr. Liz Brooke for an insightful look into how documentary films affect the educational system and the science of reading movement. His company, Captured Time Productions, has released several education-related documentaries, including “Dislecksia: The Movie” which focuses on the misunderstood subject of dyslexia, and “Hopeville: How to Win the Reading Wars,” which takes a never-before-seen look at the challenging process of learning to read.

Gain an in-depth understanding of how these documentaries fuel the greater literacy conversation, the critical choices made in each film to tell stories in digestible and impactful ways, and where the next need for advocacy is to make the most significant difference in the lives of students.

Tune into All For Literacy today to gain an exclusive look at Hubbell’s films, and subscribe to the podcast to never miss an episode!

What role can social media play in advancing the science of reading movement?

Recorded live during Plain Talk About Literacy and Learning 2024 in New Orleans, host Dr. Liz Brooke sits down with literacy influencer Jessica Farmer to discuss how social media provides an effective platform for transferring data-backed practices to educators, administrators, and parents. A former first grade teacher, Farmer shares actionable activities and tips with more than 300,000 followers on her Farmer Loves Phonics accounts on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook.

Farmer shares how to:

• Spot literacy misinformation on social media
• Support teachers as they go through rigorous professional learning while also teaching
• Use evidence-based practices at home with children
• Make quick changes today in the classroom and see real results
• Use social media to complement formal professional learning

In this special All For Literacy episode, listeners at the live recording had the opportunity to ask Farmer specific questions about the role of certain platforms in literacy education and enjoy memorable audience interactions.

Listen to Episode 5 to understand another side of the science of reading movement. And don’t forget to subscribe to All For Literacy and never miss an episode.