Orton Gillingham

08/07/2026

District Leaders: Why Improved Literacy Should Be Your #1 Priority

In this clip from the Orton-Gillingham Podcast, a Brainspring production, Dr. Maria Murray explains the far-reaching benefits of focusing 75-80% of your efforts on improved literacy.

Watch the full conversation on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/GCP8SRo_N7E

07/28/2026

Dr. Maria Murray: The One Reason People Can't Read

In this clip from the Orton-Gillingham Podcast, a Brainspring production, Dr. Maria Murray reveals the root cause of literacy challenges and explains why proper teacher preparation is crucial.

Watch the full conversation on YouTube: https://youtu.be/GCP8SRo_N7E

07/24/2026

NEW PODCAST OUT TODAY!
https://youtu.be/GCP8SRo_N7E

“There’s one reason people don’t know how to read… they weren’t taught.”
—Maria Murray, Ph.D.
President and CEO of The Reading League

Many classrooms are still not aligned with the Science of Reading, and the consequences for students can be significant. They may struggle to become proficient readers or, in some cases, never learn to read at all.
In this episode of The Orton-Gillingham Podcast, a Brainspring production, Dr. Maria Murray explains how schools can support teachers who have not received evidence-based literacy training, why ongoing training and coaching are crucial to classroom success, and what school administrators should look for when considering a literacy partner.

“There’s one reason people don’t know how to read… they weren’t tau...

07/20/2026

Natalie Wexler: "We've been making reading and writing harder for kids than they need to be."

In this clip from the Orton-Gillingham Podcast, a Brainspring production, renowned author Natalie Wexler explains why asking students to read or write about unfamiliar topics makes literacy development needlessly difficult.

Watch the full conversation on our YouTube channel!
https://youtu.be/Am70QHCxSIQ

05/11/2026

05/08/2026

NEW PODCAST OUT TODAY!
https://youtu.be/Am70QHCxSIQ

“We’ve been making reading and writing harder for kids than they need to be.”
—Natalie Wexler

Systematic phonics instruction is essential, but it's not enough to ensure strong reading outcomes. In this episode of The Orton-Gillingham Podcast, education journalist and author Natalie Wexler joins us to discuss the vital role of background knowledge in reading instruction, why students struggle when it’s overlooked in lesson planning, and how educators can most effectively integrate knowledge building into their daily practice.

“We’ve been making reading and writing harder for kids than they need to be.”—Natalie WexlerSystematic phonics instruction is essential, but it's not enough ...

04/15/2026

Many middle school students still lack the foundational reading skills they need to succeed.

In this video, Violet Malaj, a 7th- and 8th-grade resource room teacher, explains how Brainspring Structures® equipped her to better support her students' reading development.