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Dyslexia Duo Podcast

Dyslexia Duo Podcast

By: Aimee Rodenroth / Melissa Dean
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Summary

The Dyslexia Duo Podcast is an educational podcast dedicated to sharing stories, insights, and research about dyslexia, literacy, and learning differences.

Your hosts are Aimee and Melissa. We are dyslexia therapists who have decades of experience in dyslexia education at both the student and teacher education level.

The podcast episodes will discuss the early signs of dyslexia and delve into the intricacies of various dyslexia approaches and curricula. Many episodes will be dedicated to the challenges that parents experience when attempting to obtain the support that they need for their child from their school system. We will also have guest speakers who are dyslexia researchers, advocates, and leaders.

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Episodes
  • Listen Again: Dr. Jan Wasowicz

    Listen Again: Dr. Jan Wasowicz
    May 9 2026
    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
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    1 hr and 45 mins
  • Dyslexia Duo Podcast Episode 88 - Dr. Pam Kastner

    Dyslexia Duo Podcast Episode 88 - Dr. Pam Kastner
    May 2 2026
    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
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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Dyslexia Duo Podcast Episode 87 - Deirdre O'Toole, Missy Purcell, & Elise Lovejoy

    Dyslexia Duo Podcast Episode 87 - Deirdre O'Toole, Missy Purcell, & Elise Lovejoy
    Apr 25 2026
    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
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    1 hr and 17 mins
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