LLCN Brief

About LLCN Brief

Literacy leaders and coaches know that routinely developing knowledge and skills models for students that learning is important. Join hosts Mark Raffler (Literacy Consultant) and Sarah Shoemaker (Early Literacy Coach) for multiple exclusive interviews each school year with local and national literacy experts. In less than an hour, each episode will take a deep dive into current research to help listeners enhance practice and improve literacy.

Publisher

Kent ISD

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

17 Sept 2020

Latest episode

13 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

22 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   13 Oct 2026

   Talk Read Talk Write with Dr. Lora Beth Escalante

   How can one simple routine get every student talking, reading, and writing with confidence? In this episode of The LLCN Brief, the podcast of the Kent ISD (Intermediate School District) Literacy Leaders and Coaches Network (LLCN), hosts Mark Raffler and Sonali Deshpande talk with Dr. Lora Beth Escalante, senior educational consultant for Seidlitz Education. Dr. Escalante shares how the Talk Read Talk Write framework, developed by Nancy Motley, builds engagement, confidence, and academic language for all learners, especially English language learners. You’ll hear how structured conversations like QSSSA (Question, Signal, Stem, Share, Assess) save instructional time, why oral processing strengthens reading comprehension and writing, and the smallest change you can make in your classroom tomorrow. Best for: K-12 teachers, literacy coaches, English learner (EL) specialists, and building leaders looking for practical ways to increase student talk and engagement. CHAPTERS 0:00 Preview 0:58 Welcome and episode overview 2:48 Dr. Escalante’s journey supporting English language learners 6:20 What is Talk Read Talk Write? 13:20 Saving instructional time with QSSSA 19:38 How talking improves reading comprehension and writing 28:15 One small change to try tomorrow 28:48 Finding powerful visuals for your lessons 33:05 What changes in classrooms that use it consistently 41:24 Recommended resources 43:58 A message for educators 47:00 Closing and SCECH credit RESOURCES Find resources for this episode and all 2026-27 LLCN Brief episodes in one place: https://bit.ly/LLCNresources2627 (https://bit.ly/LLCNresources2627) Resources mentioned in this episode: Talk Read Talk Write by Nancy Motley (see the sample K-12 lesson plans in the back of the book): https://www.seidlitzeducation.com/books/talk-read-talk-write (https://www.seidlitzeducation.com/books/talk-read-talk-write) ---2nd-edition QSSSA: The Essential Method for Structuring Conversations in All Classrooms: https://www.seidlitzeducation.com/books/qsssa--the-essential-method-for-structuring-conversations-in-all-classrooms (https://www.seidlitzeducation.com/books/qsssa--the-essential-method-for-structuring-conversations-in-all-classrooms) 7 Steps to a Language-Rich, Interactive Classroom: https://www.seidlitzeducation.com/books/7-steps-to-a-language-rich--interactive-classroom--2nd-edition (https://www.seidlitzeducation.com/books/7-steps-to-a-language-rich--interactive-classroom--2nd-edition) Motivating ELLs: 27 Activities to Inspire and Engage Students by Dr. Lora Beth Escalante: https://www.seidlitzeducation.com/books/motivating-ells--27-activities-to-inspire---engage-students (https://www.seidlitzeducation.com/books/motivating-ells--27-activities-to-inspire---engage-students) The Visual Non-Glossary, a website of vocabulary visuals for science, social studies, and math (free 7-day trial available): https://thevisualnonglossary.com/ (https://thevisualnonglossary.com/) Picture Word Inductive Model (PWIM) strategy guide from Colorín Colorado: https://www.colorincolorado.org/teaching-ells/ell-classroom-strategy-library/picture-word-inductive-model (https://www.colorincolorado.org/teaching-ells/ell-classroom-strategy-library/picture-word-inductive-model) EARN SCECH CREDIT Earn SCECH (State Continuing Education Clock Hours) credit for listening to The LLCN Brief through Podcast PDx, bite-size professional learning from Kent ISD. Get started with Podcast PDx for The LLCN Brief: https://sites.google.com/kentisd.org/podcastpdx/get-started/llcn-get-started (https://sites.google.com/kentisd.org/podcastpdx/get-started/llcn-get-started) SUBSCRIBE AND SHARE YOUR IDEAS Subscribe to The LLCN Brief on Spotify or your favorite podcast platform: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/llcnbrief (https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/llcnbrief) Suggest a future topic or ask a literacy question using our topic request form: https://bit.ly/LLCNtopics (https://bit.ly/LLCNtopics) MUSIC CREDIT The intro and transition music in this episode is used under a Creative Commons license. “Medicine” by WinnieTheMoog: https://filmmusic.io/song/6256-medicine (https://filmmusic.io/song/6256-medicine) License (CC BY 4.0): http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

2. 

   3 Mar 2026

   The Power of Explicit, Systematic Reading Support with Dr. Sharon Vaughn

   In this episode, we (Mark Raffler and Statia Davey) sit down with Dr. Sharon Vaughn, the Manuel J. Justice Endowed Chair in Education and Executive Director of the Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk at the University of Texas at Austin. Drawing on her extensive work with the Michigan Dyslexia Research Network, Dr. Vaughn shares her deep expertise on how we can best meet the needs of all learners under Michigan’s K-12 Literacy and Dyslexia Law. This conversation moves past the buzzwords to look at the heart of structured literacy, the evolving nature of the science of reading, and practical ways to support students who struggle with decoding. Here are some highlights from our conversation: Moving Beyond Dyslexia Myths: Dr. Vaughn helps us understand that dyslexia isn't simply about seeing letters or words backwards in fact, many young children naturally reverse letters as they learn positionality. Instead, educators should look for significant hurdles in phonological awareness, slow acquisition of word reading, and extreme challenges with spelling. The Science of Reading as an Evolving Field: Much like the science of nutrition, our understanding of how the brain learns to read is constantly refined by new research. Dr. Vaughn emphasizes that while some students seem to learn to read "automatically," every student benefits from the explicit, systematic, and organized instruction that is absolutely essential for students with dyslexia. Structured Literacy is for Everyone: Dr. Vaughn explains that structured literacy isn't just a specialized tool for students with dyslexia, it is a comprehensive "umbrella" that benefits every learner in the classroom. By integrating phonics and fluency with the ultimate goal of comprehension, educators can use a single, cohesive framework. She breaks down the "I do, we do, you do" sequence, showing how this explicit model gives every student the opportunity to practice new skills while receiving the immediate, supportive feedback they need to succeed The "Secret Sauce" of Instructional Success: One of the most powerful things a teacher can do is use data-based instruction. Dr. Vaughn encourages educators to be "data processing machines" who use screenings, progress monitoring, and everyday observations to refine their teaching and provide quick, targeted support in those small classroom moments. We closed the interview by asking for Dr. Vaughn's top resource picks. She highlighted the wealth of materials available at the Meadows Center (meadowscenter.org (http://meadowscenter.org)) and spoke highly of the book Structured Literacy Interventions Teaching Students with Reading Difficulties, Grades K-6, by Louise Spear-Swerling (https://www.guilford.com/author/Louise-Spear-Swerling) describing it as a valuable and accessible resource for teachers. Check out our podcast resource page for all the links! We wrap up this episode by asking you to share your thoughts on future podcast topics your voice matters! Please visit bit.ly/LLCNtopics (http://bit.ly/LLCNtopics) to let us know what you want to hear more about. All resources in this LLCN Brief (and future podcasts) can be found at: bit.ly/LLCNresources2526 (http://bit.ly/LLCNresources2526). Subscribe to the Literacy Leadership and Coaches Network podcasts here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/llcnbrief (https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/llcnbrief) or your favorite podcast platform. Please note the audio used as an introduction and in transitions in this podcast is under the Creative Common License and attribution is given as follows: Medicine by WinnieTheMoog Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6256-medicine (https://filmmusic.io/song/6256-medicine) License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

3. 

   20 Jan 2026

   Small Groups Big Results with Dr. Julia Lindsey

   In this episode, we (Mark Raffler and Sarah Shoemaker) welcome back Kent ISD mentor & author, Dr. Julia Lindsey.  Julia’s latest book:  “Small Groups, Big Results:  Evidence-Based Routines to Get Every Child Reading" is the topic of today’s podcast.  Dr. Lindsey offers practical, research-backed insights into transforming small group instruction from a frustrating logistical hurdle into a powerful engine for student growth. Here are some highlights from our conversation: Lead with Data, Not Logistics: Instead of filling a mandatory time block or sticking strictly to guided reading levels, Dr. Lindsey encourages teachers to use data to define a highly specific purpose for every group. By identifying exactly what a student needs next—such as a specific phonics skill like the "ch" digraph—instruction becomes laser-focused, allowing teachers to provide the density of practice and immediate feedback required to move the needle. Embrace Flexibility in Grouping and Timing: Small groups should be fluid and dynamic rather than stagnant fixtures in the classroom. Dr. Lindsey suggests that the structure of these groups should reflect the "reality" of the students' developmental stage; for example, kindergarteners may benefit more from several seven-minute "touch points" throughout the day rather than one long, unsustainable block of independent station time. The "See Something, Teach Something" Mindset: One of the most impactful "small swaps" Dr. Lindsey recommends is moving away from a "wait and see" approach for struggling students. By intervening explicitly the moment a gap is noticed, teachers can prevent small challenges from spiraling into significant reading hurdles later on. Integrate Knowledge with Comprehension Strategies: For older readers (second grade and up), Dr. Lindsey notes that comprehension strategies are most effective when paired with building content knowledge. Instead of teaching a strategy like "retelling" in isolation, she suggests leveraging small groups to help students access the complex texts and topics already being explored in the whole-class curriculum Concluding with our normal podcast protocol, we ask for resources for educators to learn more about Small Group Instruction.  Check out our podcast resource page for all the links! We wrap up this episode by asking listeners to share your thoughts on podcast topics - your voice matters!  Please visit bit.ly/LLCNtopics (http://bit.ly/LLCNtopics) to tell us what you want future podcasts to focus on in relation to literacy. All resources in this LLCN Brief (and future podcasts) can be found at:  bit.ly/LLCNresources2526 (http://bit.ly/LLCNresources2526)  Subscribe to the Literacy Leadership and Coaches Network podcasts here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/llcnbrief (https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/llcnbrief) or your favorite podcast platform. Please note the audio used as an introduction and in transitions in this podcast is under the Creative Common License and attribution is given as follows:Medicine by WinnieTheMoogLink: https://filmmusic.io/song/6256-medicine (https://filmmusic.io/song/6256-medicine)License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 24 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

25

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

60

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Guest appearances

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Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.