Show Notes
This episode was inspired by the 30th annual What’s Hot in Literacy survey, which asks literacy leaders to consider both the topics receiving attention in the field and those that deserve more. Lindsay, Donell, and Stacy use the findings as a jumping-off point to examine where literacy conversations are focused—and what may be getting overlooked.
Resources Mentioned
What’s Hot in Literacy at 30: Trends, Tensions, and Trajectories in a Changing Field
Stephanie Grote-Garcia, Evan Ortlieb, and Jonathan Marine
The 2026 report at the center of this episode explores which literacy topics experts see as “hot” and which they believe should receive greater attention.
Read the article
The Reading League
The hosts discuss The Reading League and its work to advance knowledge and use of evidence-aligned reading instruction through resources, professional learning, conferences, and state chapters.
Explore The Reading League
Decoding Dyslexia
Donell points to the parent-led Decoding Dyslexia movement as an example of how advocacy can raise awareness and help drive changes in literacy policy and practice.
Learn more about Decoding Dyslexia
Emily Hanford
Lindsay discusses journalist Emily Hanford’s reporting and its role in bringing reading instruction and the science of reading to a much broader public audience.
Explore Emily Hanford’s work
Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience — Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
Donell references Csikszentmihalyi’s work during the conversation about the cognitive demands of reading, thinking, and writing.
Learn more about Flow
💬 Want more insights like this?
Subscribe to the Literacy Talks Podcast Digest for episode recaps, resources, and teaching takeaways delivered straight to your inbox!
Core Instruction and Reading Intervention. One System. One Path Forward.
From Pre-K readiness to advanced fluency, Ascend®️ gives educators a consistent, needs-based approach to literacy—helping every teacher deliver the right instruction and every student build lasting mastery, one skill at a time. Coherent literacy for lasting impact.
See how Ascend works.
Do you teach Structured Literacy in a K–3 setting?
Sign up for a free license of Reading Horizons Discovery® LIVE and start teaching right away—no setup, no hassle. Sign-up Now.
