Spring Special ’26: Systematizing literacy, with Reid Lyon, Ph.D.

On this week’s episode of Science of Reading: The Podcast, Susan Lambert, Ed.D., is joined by one of the most influential people in American education, Reid Lyon, Ph.D., to explore what it takes to make systemic change in literacy instruction. Together, Reid and Susan also discuss how literacy education could benefit from a shared vocabulary, how systems must work together from teacher preparation to classroom implementation, and what we can do to close the implementation gap.

Show notes:

• Our Summer Learning Academy is back! Reserve your spot now to join Susan Lambert for a pair of sessions that will help you dive deeper into the latest reading comprehension research.
• Learn more about Reid Lyon’s 10 Maxims of Reading Instruction.
• Learn more about Drexel University's ALLIED Hub for literacy education.
• Download our free Science of Reading Change Management Playbook.
• Listen to our previous episodes with Reid Lyon (Sept. 2023, Part 1 & Part 2).
• Get ready for Season 3 of the Amplify podcast Beyond My Years.
• Join our community Facebook group.
• Connect with Susan Lambert.

Quotes:

"I know we've let children down, but boy have we let teachers down." —Reid Lyon

"The hallmark of a profession is a common language displaying a common knowledge." —Reid Lyon

"How is it that we know so much yet we are still far behind the curve in helping the majority of struggling readers learn to read?" —Reid Lyon

"Much of our difficulties moving the science [of literacy] into classrooms is a function of not having established ourselves as a profession." —Reid Lyon

"We have a responsibility to use the best information possible that has taught us how we can improve the person's life." —Reid Lyon

"Assessment is a great friend." —Reid Lyon

Timestamps*:
00:00: Introduction: Systematizing literacy with Reid Lyon, Ph.D.
07:00: We are still far behind the curve in helping the majority of struggling readers learn to read. 
11:00: The hallmark of a profession is a common language displaying a common knowledge.
18:00: Listening and speaking occur with exposure and being showered with language around us.
23:00: The science of reading is not a belief system. It's a container with facts that constantly evolves. 
29:00: Can the field of literacy have a common language and common knowledge?
35:00: The systemic challenge is understanding the whole picture.
41:00: Assessment is a great friend.
48:00: Explanation of the evolving 10 Maxim Framework
52:00: What is the work happening at Drexel?
*Timestamps are approximate, rounded to nearest minute