181. Unlocking the World of Literacy with Marnie Ginsburg

Education Evolution

English - September 26, 2023 11:00 - 32 minutes - 29.4 MB
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Previous Episode: 180. Leading Like a Teacher with Miriam Plotinsky

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Reading is simple, right? Not for everyone, and it’s especially challenging for those who don’t have access to all the tools and resources they need to be successful.

This week we hear from Marnie Ginsburg, founder of Reading Simplified, who has dedicated her career to improving reading proficiency in students. She discusses the critical need to disseminate research-backed strategies to teachers, bridging the gap between what we know and what happens in the classroom.

During our conversation, we explore the scientific foundations of reading, the role of phonemes, decoding, and phonological awareness. Marnie provides valuable insights into supporting children with dyslexia and shares tips for fostering a love of reading.

From extrinsic motivation to the magic of public libraries, this episode explores the multifaceted world of literacy and emphasizes the importance of equipping our children with the tools they need to unlock the joy of reading, even before they step into a classroom.

About Marnie Ginsburg:

Marnie Ginsberg, Founder of Reading Simplified, is a reading difficulties detective who streamlines the science and art of reading instruction so teachers can rapidly learn effective techniques that help students accelerate to grade level and beyond. She also helps translate the latest understandings from science into practical, easy-to-implement activities.

In the late 1990s, Marnie uncovered that her 6th-grade language arts students, on average, were reading 2 years below grade level. And despite her master’s degree and enthusiasm, she had no idea how to remediate their word-reading difficulties.

After eventually finding solutions for her struggling readers, she led the development of the Targeted Reading Intervention at the University of North Carolina. Across 15+ years, multiple research articles have demonstrated that struggling K-2 readers grow significantly in reading with the Targeted Reading Intervention (TRI), which is on the federal What Works Clearinghouse and is endorsed by many organizations such as Evidence for ESSA and RAND

Corporation’s Promising Practices Network. Given the repeated, strong results of the TRI across multiple clinical trials, Dr. Ginsberg expanded the resources and adapted the professional learning approach to provide Reading Simplified for a broader audience beginning in 2013.

Jump in the Conversation:

[1:36] - Where Marnie’s story of learning transformation began

[3:42] - It’s not because reading the words are too hard - 67% of American 4th graders are not proficient in reading

[4:43] - What we need to prepare readers is known by researchers, but we need to disseminate that information to teachers

[5:21] - Two major events that have impacted Marnie’s work

[6:46] - What “targeted reading intervention” means

[9:17] - What pieces of reading are science and what pieces are art

[13:13] - Tips for kids with dyslexia

[18:13] - Who Reading Simplified is for

[19:06] - How to make reading more fun for kids

[23:24] - Turbo Time

[26:20] - Marnie’s Magic Wand