Together in Literacy

We are thrilled to welcome David Kilpatrick, Professor Emeritus at the State University of New York at Cortland and one of the most influential voices in reading research, assessment, and instruction, to the podcast. In our chat, Dr. Kilpatrick breaks down decades of research and gets straight to the heart of what really drives reading success—especially for students with dyslexia. He tackles one of the biggest myths in education: that phonemic awareness is just an early skill you “check off” and move past. Instead, you’ll discover why advanced phoneme proficiency is the engine behind orthographic mapping and automatic word recognition, and why it matters far beyond the primary grades.

What we hope you’ll take away from this is a clarity about which phonemic awareness skills truly move the needle, how to integrate them powerfully with phonics instruction, and how assessment can help you target instruction with precision. If you’ve ever wondered whether going back to phonemic awareness with older students means going backward, this episode will completely reframe that thinking. When you strengthen advanced phonemic awareness, you give students with dyslexia the foundation they need to become confident, capable readers—and that changes everything.

David A. Kilpatrick, PhD is a professor emeritus of psychology for the State University of New York at Cortland and currently serves as Adjunct Lecturer in Psychology. He is a New York State certified school psychologist with 28 years experience in schools. He has been teaching courses in learning disabilities and educational psychology since 1994. David is a reading researcher and the author of two books on reading, Essentials of Assessing, Preventing, and Overcoming Reading Difficulties, and Equipped for Reading Success, and is a co-editor of a third, Reading Development and Difficulties: Bridging the Gap Between Research and Practice.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

The PAST Test (Phonological Awareness Screening Test)

NICHD – National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Society for the Scientific Study of Reading (SSSR)

Florida Center for Reading Research (FCRR)

National Reading Panel Report (U.S. National Reading Panel)

Zeno Word Frequency List

Annals of Dyslexia

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If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated!

Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at [email protected]!

If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest.

For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom.

Let us know what you want to hear this season!

Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!

If your child seems “fine” at school but falls apart the moment they get home, you are so not alone. In this episode of Together In Literacy, we unpack the concept of restraint collapse—what happens when kids use up all their emotional and cognitive energy during the school day and then finally let it all out in their safest place: home.

We talk specifically about why this is especially common for children with dyslexia and other learning differences, what this can look like after school, and how families can respond in ways that are supportive, realistic, and manageable (even on the busiest days).

You’ll walk away with language to better understand what’s happening, practical ideas for creating a softer after-school landing, and simple strategies that support both kids and the adults who love them.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Audible app

Libby app

Decoding Dyslexia

SuperDville

3.12 Harnessing the Power of Assistive Technology with Katie Larew

4.3 Strengthening the Understanding of Dyslexia Through Media with Peggy Stern

We officially have merch! Show your love for the Together in Literacy podcast!

If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated!

Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at [email protected]!

If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest.

For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom.

Let us know what you want to hear this season!

Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!

In this episode we sit down with Deon Butler, former NFL wide receiver, author of The Gift & Curse, and a powerful advocate for people with dyslexia. Deon shares his remarkable journey from growing up with undiagnosed dyslexia to navigating the high-pressure, text-heavy world of the NFL, and finally receiving answers as an adult through a formal diagnosis and Orton-Gillingham tutoring. He reflects on the school experiences that didn’t make sense at the time, the emotional mix of relief and grief that came with his diagnosis, and the unwavering belief of his grandmother that helped shape his resilience. Deon also unpacks the “gift” and the “curse” of dyslexia, offering insight into what students truly need and the importance of systematic change.

Deon's Bio:

Deon Butler is a national speaker, author, and advocate for students who learn differently. A former NFL wide receiver, Deon’s journey defies expectation. He reached the NFL while carrying a hidden struggle: undiagnosed dyslexia. At 27, he sat down with a tutor and began learning what the system never taught him. That turning point became the foundation for his life’s work.

In his book The Gift & Curse: One Man’s Journey with Dyslexia, Deon shares how poverty, trauma, and learning challenges shaped his early life and ultimately cost him a contract with the Detroit Lions. Today, he is a national voice for literacy, resilience, and educational equity. He has helped advance dyslexia legislation, speaks in schools and universities across the country, and inspires audiences to redefine success, build hope, and believe in greatness despite the odds.

Deon is the CEO of Stand Strong Services LLC and continues to mentor, advocate, and speak across the nation. His story resonates deeply with students, educators, and families, leaving a lasting impact long after the event ends.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

The Gift & Curse: One Man’s Journey With Dyslexia by Deon Butler

Deon Butler’s website

Deon Butler’s Instagram

Deon Butler’s Facebook page

We officially have merch! Show your love for the Together in Literacy podcast!

If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated!

Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at [email protected]!

If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest.

For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom.

Let us know what you want to hear this season!

Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!

In this episode, we’re speaking to Dr. Jacob Santhouse, a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, dyslexic learner, and passionate advocate who you may recognize from TikTok and Instagram. We talk about the importance of addressing both the academic and emotional aspects of dyslexia, including the need for self-acceptance and resilience, the necessity of understanding the whole learner, creating safe spaces, and providing emotional support alongside academic interventions. Dr. Santhouse also shares his journey from struggling with dyslexia to becoming a counselor and coach.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Dr. Santhouse on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok

Olive Counseling

Blue J Coaching

Good Inside: A Practical Guide to Resilient Parenting Prioritizing Connection Over Correction by Dr. Becky Kennedy

SuperDville

Eye to Eye Mentoring

We officially have merch! Show your love for the Together in Literacy podcast!

If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated!

Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at [email protected]!

If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest.

For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom.

Let us know what you want to hear this season!

Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!

In this episode, we’re continuing our wonderful conversation with Dr. Melissa Orkin and Sarah Gannon, authors of The Structured Literacy Playbook: Preplanned Lessons for Building Phonics and Fluency Skills. We discuss strategies for empowering teachers to support all learners, particularly older students and those with double deficit dyslexia. We touch on topics including backward design, using sophisticated texts, the POSSuM framework, corrective feedback, and adapting lessons for multilingual learners.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Crafting Minds website

The Structured Literacy Playbook: Preplanned Lessons for Building Phonics and Fluency Skills

Rave-O curriculum

Orkin, Melissa, Martha Pott, Maryanne Wolf, Sidney May, and Elyssa Brand. “Beyond Gold Stars: Improving the Skills and Engagement of Struggling Readers through Intrinsic Motivation.” Journal of Education (2017)

POSSuM in Orkin, M., Vanacore, K., Rhinehart, L., Gotlieb, R., & Wolf, M. “The more you know: How teaching multiple aspects of word knowledge builds fluency skills.” The Reading League Journal (2022)

5.2 Honoring the Emotional Landscape of Older Students with Dyslexia

5.3 From Struggle to Strategy



We officially have merch! Show your love for the Together in Literacy podcast!

If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated!

Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at [email protected]!

If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest.

For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom.

Let us know what you want to hear this season!

Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!