Literacy in Color: A Science of Reading Aligned Podcast for Educators

Jennifer A. Constantine and Kara B. Lee are two educators with deep experience in assessment, Orton-Gillingham-based instruction, and dyslexia intervention — yet it wasn’t until they encountered SWI that many long-standing questions about English spelling, meaning, and structure finally clicked into place.
In this episode, we unpack what Structured Word Inquiry actually is, how it differs from other approaches, and why it offers a powerful lens for teaching all learners – especially those with dyslexia.
Key Takeaways:
A clear, accessible definition of Structured Word Inquiry
How SWI differs from other instructional approaches
Common misconceptions about SWI
A walkthrough of Pete Bowers’ 4 Guiding Questions of SWI in the context of the base <cave>
What to expect inside their practical book, “Structured Word Inquiry: An Implementation Guide for Teachers”

Helpful Resources:
Book: Structured Word Inquiry: An Implementation Guide for Teachers
Bulk Pricing Available: Email [email protected] for more information
Jennifer & Kara’s Workshops

This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting the podcast!
Connect with Jennifer & Kara:
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.swiliteracy.org

Connect with Michelle:
Follow me on Instagram: @michelle_thecolorfulclassroom & @logosliteracyacademy
Join our Facebook Community
Sign up for my Newsletter
Shop on TPT: The Colorful Classroom
Visit: www.michelleandthecolorfulclassroom.com
Join

If you’ve ever said that “English is crazy,” this episode is for you. I’m joined by Dr. Peter Bowers, researcher, educator, and founder of Structured Word Inquiry (SWI). His work has shaped how educators understand the English writing system: not as chaotic or exception-ridden, but as a coherent, meaning-driven system.
Dr. Bowers shares the personal moment when English spelling first made sense to him and explains why misconceptions about spelling persist in classrooms today. This episode unpacks what Structured Word Inquiry truly is (and what it is not), why morphology is considered a binding agent, and how spelling, phonology, and meaning are fundamentally interconnected.
Key Takeaways:
Why morphology acts as a binding agent in the English writing system
What the research actually shows about morphology instruction
How the matrix and word sums help reveal spelling logic
Why inquiry and explicit instruction are not opposites
How recent conversations, including the importance of spelling-meaning correspondences and shifts in how orthographic mapping is understood, are making an impact in the field

If you’ve ever felt like English spelling “just doesn’t make sense,” this episode will change the way you see the written word – and the way you teach them.
Helpful Resources:
Book: Teaching How the Written Word Works by Dr. Peter Bowers
Real Spelling Toolbox
Document on “Guiding Principles, Concepts and Practices of SWI” (Feb 2025)
Video on Combinatorial structure of English orthography & link to matrix and word sum
TEDx Talk introducing a big picture of English orthography and how SWI explains many spellings currently treated as irregular
Spelling-Out-Orthography page with many videos and resources. This includes videos describing the process of spelling-out-orthography and videos of kids engaging in this key practice to support orthographic mapping.
About WordWorks page with many links to free resources, including videos and links to most of his published research.

Michelle Sullivan is joined by her co-founder of Logos Literacy Academy, Sarah Paul, for a deep dive into K–2 morphology through a base-centered lens.
Together, they unpack a question teachers hear all the time:
“Morphology is important… but isn’t that for later?”
Michelle and Sarah explain why morphology does not start with Greek and Latin – and why young learners are more than ready to explore word structure when instruction begins with oral language, meaning, and the base.
You’ll hear why they intentionally designed a K–2 morphology curriculum that:
includes instruction around bases in addition to more traditional affix instruction
aligns directly with a phonics scope and sequence
builds generative vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension over time
helps students see words as organized systems, not random strings of letters

They also introduce their signature BASE Lesson Framework:
Build Awareness (oral language first)
Analyze the Base (connecting sound, spelling, and meaning)
See Word Relatives (exploring families of related words)
Express Understanding (using the right word in context)

Throughout the conversation, they share concrete classroom examples—from simple CVC bases to bound bases like <rupt>—and explain how studying one base deeply prepares students to approach unfamiliar words with confidence later on.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why morphology in K–2 is about language development
How base instruction can strengthen phonics rather than compete with it
What it really means for words to be “related” (shared spelling and meaning)
How morphology supports orthographic mapping, vocabulary growth, and grammar
Where base lessons fit naturally into a K–2 literacy block

Free Resource:
Download a FREE base lesson to see the BASE framework in action. This bonus lesson is not part of the curriculum; it’s an additional bonus lesson to give you a true feel for the approach.
Resources Mentioned:
K-2 Course & Curriculum from Logos Literacy Academy
Save with a Bundle: Get Mastering Morphology AND our K-2 Course & Curriculum bundled together!
Logos Literacy Academy

Returning guest Fiona Hamilton, an international literacy consultant and founder of Word Torque, unites with her partners Lauren Hateley-Crowe and Angela Brienza – the team behind Engage with the Page and Search Engage. Together, they help teachers bring meaningful, joyful word inquiry into their daily read-alouds.
Together, they unpack how their collaboration began, why picture books are such powerful anchors for word study, and how educators can move beyond isolated, word study routines toward integrated literacy instruction that builds spelling, vocabulary, decoding, and deep curiosity.
Key Takeaways:
What “word inquiry” really means
How picture books are rich spaces to teach orthography and cultivate vocabulary growth
The story behind Engage with the Page & Search Engage
What’s inside Engage with the Page & Search Engage

Resources Mentioned:
Engage with the Page
Search Engage

Connect with the Engage with the Page Team:
Website: https://wordtorque.com
Engage with the Page on Facebook
Instagram: @engagewthepage
Fiona Hamilton on LinkedIn & Instagram
Lauren Hateley-Crowe on LinkedIn
Email: [email protected]

Connect with Michelle:
Follow me on Instagram: @michelle_thecolorfulclassroom & @logosliteracyacademy
Join our Facebook Community
Sign up for my