TRT Podcast#37: A simple look at how the brain learns to read
How exactly does the brain learn to read … and why should teachers even care? In today’s episode I simplify the science and share exactly why this understanding is important for K-2 teachers.
Listen to the episode here
Full episode transcript
Recommended reading
- Language at the Speed of Sight, by Mark Seidenberg
- Overcoming Dyslexia, by Sally Shaywitz
- Reading in the Brain, by Stanislas Dehaene
Link to original Facebook Live presentation
Check out the full science of reading bootcamp
- Introduction to the series
- Episode 1: What are the reading wars?
- Episode 2: My reaction to the article that reignited the reading wars
- Episode 3: How the brain learns to read
- Episode 4: What the science of reading is based on
- Episode 5: What’s wrong with three-cueing?
- Episode 6: Should you use leveled or decodable books?
YOU’LL LOVE THIS PRACTICAL BOOK!

Looking for an easy-to-read guide to help you reach all readers? If you teach kindergarten through third grade, this is the book for you. Get practical ideas and lesson plan templates that you can implement tomorrow!
Juhi
Very informative!
Thank you!
Anna Geiger
Thanks for listening, Juhi!
Cari
After this podcast I’m even more worried about how we’ve
been teaching our virtual learners! Time to reinvent things AGAIN! Any suggestions for virtually introducing preschoolers to reading without as many pictures?
Anna Geiger
Hi Cari! I know that virtual learning is tough! I would do phonological/phonemic awareness activities virtually, which are very easy to do and are a great foundation for beginning reading! You can get a free and quality curriculum here: https://www.readingdoneright.org/programs-by-grade
Jessica Hicks
How may get started on reading much more bigger words ones I haven’t seen before such as in books or journals too and trying to pronounce them with out trying to have any help from any only first but some of the reading is kinda easy and some is a real challenge for me to so when I even haven’t seen the word or even had it as an spelling word.
Anna Geiger
I’m not sure what you’re asking, Jessica; could you rephrase your question?