Dyslexia Duo Podcast

The Dyslexia Duo: Dr. Jan Wasowicz on Dyslexia, Developmental Language Disorder, and the Language Literacy Network
 
Melissa Dean and Amy Rodenroth of the Dyslexia Duo interview Dr. Jan Wasowicz, an ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist and literacy specialist with 40+ years of experience, inventor of Ear Aerobics, and creator of Spell Links and the SpellTalk listserv. Dr. Wasowicz explains the quadrant model distinguishing typical learners, dyslexia (word-level decoding/encoding weaknesses), developmental language disorder (spoken-language weaknesses affecting comprehension and writing), and a mixed profile, noting that about half of people with dyslexia also have DLD and discussing screening tools such as the TILS. She introduces her Language Literacy Network as an updated, research-based alternative to the Reading Rope that integrates reading and writing, morphology, pragmatics, and sight recognition as a byproduct of decoding/encoding. The conversation covers integrating phonology, orthography, and meaning, supporting spelling instruction, prosody as an outcome of underlying skills, parent reinforcement strategies, cautious use of AI for creating pattern-loaded materials, and vetted research resources and communities.
 
00:00 Meet Dr Jan Wasowicz
01:44 Credentials and Work
05:35 Spell Talk and Sites
07:06 From SLP to Literacy
09:15 Quadrant Model Dyslexia
12:45 DLD Screening Tools
17:15 Private Practice Patterns
21:05 Aerobics Origin Story
26:40 Hyperlexia and Pragmatics
30:23 Language Literacy Network
38:20 Pragmatics After COVID
41:19 Education Changes
42:09 Science of Reading Shift
43:04 Capital vs Lowercase SOR
45:35 Comprehension Beyond Phonics
49:55 Phonology Meets Orthography
52:13 Sounds Letters Meaning Glue
53:04 Teaching Word Meanings
57:29 Spelling Instruction Comeback
59:49 Spelling Approach to Reading
01:06:36 Prosody as an Outcome
01:09:09 Prosodic Competence and Stress
01:16:10 Helping Parents Reinforce
01:17:30 Read Aloud Coaching
01:18:58 Link Sounds to Writing
01:19:24 Family Time Matters
01:20:00 AI Tools Caution
01:20:52 ChatGPT Pattern Passages
01:24:26 Vetted Research Sources
01:26:42 PeaceNEX Inspirations
01:29:58 Lunch and Lit Learning
01:37:50 One Wish for Students
01:41:08 Closing Thanks and Credits

The Dyslexia Duo: Dr. Pam Kastner on Structured Literacy, the Instructional Hierarchy, and the Role of Syntax in Reading
 
Melissa Dean and Aimee Rodenroth of the Dyslexia Duo interview Dr. Pam Kastner, a longtime educator and former Pennsylvania state literacy lead, about her career and why she shifted from balanced literacy and whole language approaches to structured literacy after seeing students struggle and having a dyslexic granddaughter. Dr. Kastner contrasts structured literacy’s direct, explicit, systematic instruction with assumptions in balanced literacy, explaining the instructional hierarchy (acquisition, building fluency, generalization, adaptation), the need for accuracy first, immediate corrective feedback, many opportunities to respond, and avoiding hand-raising as a comprehension check. She discusses syntax as a key but underemphasized component of language that supports comprehension and writing, and stresses oral language development through rich vocabulary and complete sentences. She calls for stronger teacher preparation, leadership, and system-level support, and encourages parents that dyslexic children can learn to read and it is not the child’s fault.
 
00:44 Meet Dr. Pam Kastner
01:47 Career Journey in Education
05:12 Family and Purpose
07:30 Origin Story in Literacy
13:01 Why Structured Literacy
15:02 Instructional Hierarchy Explained
19:26 Accuracy and Errorless Learning
27:03 Data Driven Teaching
36:25 Dyslexia Services Promo
37:25 Why Syntax Matters
38:14 Legacy of William Van Cleve
38:57 Teaching Syntax Early
42:42 Oral Language to Literacy
43:08 Robust Vocabulary in Class
47:10 30 Million Words Initiative
50:23 Fixing Teacher Preparation
56:54 Message to Dyslexic Families
01:01:44 Lightning Round Q&A

The Dyslexia Duo:  Inside Ireland’s Right to Read Conference: Building a Global Movement for Dyslexia and Literacy
 
The Dyslexia Duo hosts, Melissa Dean and Aimee Rodenroth, interview Deirdre “Dee” O’Toole, chairperson of Right to Read Ireland and organizer of Ireland’s inaugural Right to Read Conference, along with U.S. literacy advocates Missy Purcell and Elise Lovejoy. Dee describes moving from primary teaching into literacy research, beginning a PhD, and leading a team of nine to plan a March conference for 400 attendees that sold out in 90 minutes with a 300+ waiting list. The guests discuss why the event felt uniquely mission-driven and practitioner-focused, the value of global collaboration for dyslexia and literacy, Ireland’s bilingual English/Irish context, and gaps affecting disadvantaged and dyslexic learners despite high national reading scores. They highlight advocacy strategies, teacher autonomy and hunger for evidence-based learning, concerns about U.S. implementation barriers, and plans for a larger, possibly expanded conference next year.
 
00:50 Meet Dee and Right to Read
02:41 Conference Growth Story
03:42 Meet Missy Purcell, the Advocate
05:03 Meet Elise Lovejoy of Express Readers
06:34 Why the Conference Felt Different
09:18 Global Dyslexia Collaboration
12:26 Advocacy Steps for Change
19:00 Ireland Literacy Reality Check
22:24 Inside the Conference Lineup
28:15 Decodables Go International
39:59 Conference Design Takeaways
41:49 Bilingual Dyslexia Testing
42:43 Irish Reading Challenges
43:35 Etymology Rabbit Holes
44:27 Dysgraphia and Dyscalculia
46:06 Second Language Anxiety
47:50 Morphology and Latin
51:24 Teacher Support Strategies
56:57 Funding and Teacher Pay
01:01:03 Next Year Conference Plans
01:03:52 Where to Find Them
01:05:23 Accents and Ireland Stories
01:10:14 Lightning Round Wrap Up

The duo bid adieu to the ALTA 2026 conference

The duo have a lively discussion with the founder of Celebrate Dyslexia, Jasmin Dean.