Where do you fall on the Science of Reading learning curve?

In many schools, the Science of Reading (SoR) is no longer a question of whether, it’s a question of where people are starting from.

Some staff have spent years working in balanced literacy. Others have already shifted instruction to SoR and are refining small details. And a few are ready to dive deep into the research.

That makes leading literacy change uniquely complex, as professional learning rarely works when everyone is handed the exact same resource at the same time.

Progress usually happens when teachers encounter ideas that meet them just slightly beyond their current level of understanding. Not far ahead of it, and not far behind. Just a little bit more challenging than what they’re already familiar with.

One simple way to support that is through podcasts.

Podcasts give educators space to process new information privately, at their own pace, without the pressure of a meeting agenda or implementation checklist.

Below are four strong options, each helpful at a different point in the learning curve:

For understanding the problem: Sold a Story

Best for educators who still want to stick with Balanced Literacy, or those who question whether the Science of Reading is going to bore their students. 

This series explores how Balanced Literacy spread, and how the nation’s literacy scores have plummeted since. It helps staff understand why Balanced Literacy practices really do fail so many learners, and highlights how Balanced Literacy was actually rooted in bogus research.

Good for:

• Building shared background knowledge

• Teachers questioning Balanced Literacy

• Schools shifting into the Science of Reading

For getting started in SoR: The Science of Reading Formula

Best for educators who want practical entry points for using SoR in their classrooms.

This podcast translates research into clear classroom actions and vocabulary. It’s where teachers start connecting research to real instruction.

Good for:

• Early adopters of SoR

• Moving from theory into practice

• Teachers asking “what does SoR actually look like in the classroom?”

For building confidence in SoR: Reach All Readers

Best for strengthening understanding and consistency in SoR principals.

The episodes focus on implementation, supporting multilingual learners, intervention decisions, and instructional planning. It helps teams refine how they apply SoR principles across classrooms.

Good for:

• Instructional coaches

• Schools mid-transition to SoR

• Grade teams aligning practice

For going deeper: Research to Practice

Best for educators already comfortable with SoR foundations, and looking to improve on what they’ve already got going in their classrooms.

This one dives into nuance: assessment interpretation, instructional precision and research details that shape high-quality teaching.

Good for:

• Literacy leads

• Reading specialists

• Advanced professional learning

Small Inputs Matter

Literacy change rarely comes from a single training day.

More often, it comes from repeated, low-pressure exposure to ideas, a conversation just before a drive home, a thought sparked during planning, a connection made weeks later in the classroom.

Sometimes, the most productive step isn’t another initiative. It’s simply putting the right resource in front of the right person at the right time.

Choose one to listen to yourself, or share one with a colleague.

Small, consistent steps often make the biggest difference.

If this was helpful, feel free to share: