Episode Details

What does it actually mean for a word to become "stored" in the brain – and how do we design instruction that helps that happen for every student?

In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Katie Pace Miles, associate professor at Brooklyn College, founder of The Reading Institute, co-founder of CUNY Reading Fellows, and one of today's leading voices in reading science.

She not only shares about the cognitive process of orthographic mapping, but also why understanding how words become permanently stored in memory changes the way we think about reading instruction and intervention.

Dr. Miles also shares the fascinating origin story behind Reading Ready, the structured literacy intervention she originally created while teaching her own daughter to read during the pandemic, and explains how both Reading Ready and Reading Go have expanded to support thousands of students through The Reading Institute and CUNY Reading Fellows.

She shares the dramatic literacy shifts happening across New York City Public Schools: from increased use of structured literacy and decodable texts to high-impact tutoring, universal screening, and stronger teacher preparation – and what still lies ahead.

Key Takeaways:

• What orthographic mapping really is
• Why oral language is foundational for orthographic mapping
• The origin behind Reading Ready and Reading Go
• Why intervention dosage matters more than many educators realize
• How The Reading Institute and CUNY Reading Fellows are expanding access to high-quality literacy intervention
• The biggest shifts happening across New York City Public Schools
• Why teacher preparation must include authentic practice, not just coursework

Resources Mentioned:

• The Reading Institute
• Reading Ready
• Reading Go
• 10-hour Science of Reading Micro-Credential
• CUNY Reading Fellows
• Brooklyn College: Advanced Certificate in Reading Science
• Book: Making Words Stick by Dr. Katie Pace Miles & Dr. Molly Ness
• Publications written by Dr. Katie Pace Miles

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Connect with Dr. Katie Pace Miles:

• Instagram: @thereadinginstitutenyc
• LinkedIn: The Reading Institute
• Facebook:

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