Sold A Story -

When Sold a Story the podcast was released in 2022, I had recently completed my Orton Gillingham training with the Institute for Multi-Sensory Education. 

…& the timing of the podcasts content, immediately peaked my interest.  

I was already on fire advocating for all children to receive explicit, direct phonics instruction and as I listened to the episodes I became more and more intrigued with the research and history of teaching reading. 

Explicit. Direct. Sequential phonics instruction.

Sound by sound.

Until a solid foundation had been established. 

No more guessing words. 

No more looking at the picture. 

No more memorizing. 

THIS, was the mindset behind Orton Gillingham (OG) and it quickly become the foundation for Next Step. 

As I began to use Orton Gillingham practices in my work with children (back when I was still driving around house to house) I almost couldn't believe it! 

Not only were children learning to read but they were carrying over knowledge from one session to the next. 

Sustainably & accurately.

There was no longer a need for weekly spelling tests or homework practice pages. 

I had learned better. 

And so I began do better. 

I began using a Scope & Sequence of instruction that progressed from least complex to most complex word pattern and most widely used to least widely used spelling pattern. 

Week after week, the success continued to build and both parents and children alike were amazed and excited with the results. 

This past week, I reopened my podcast app and gave Sold a Story a second listen. 

5 years into building Next Step, I had a new appreciation in equal parts for the student stories and the research and understanding that came from each episode.

Some new episodes have since been released since 2022 and in re-listening I just kept feeling reassurance growing for the new way I was teaching children to read and that it was really going to make a difference for them.

Often books can take us weeks or months to get through, but Podcasts (& audiobooks) give us an opportunity to take in information while we're on the go. 

…which I'm guessing is likely your reality most days! 

So I've put together some notes to summarize the podcast, and if it sparks your interest, I recommend a listen and I hope in listening it brings you a new level of understanding some of the science and research around reading over the last few decades up to today. 

🎧 Sold a Story Podcast 

What it’s about:

Sold a Story is an investigative podcast by journalist Emily Hanford. It explores how millions of children in the U.S. were taught to read using methods that research has proven don’t work very well. For years, schools relied on popular reading programs that encouraged kids to guess words from pictures or context instead of truly learning how to decode them.

At Next Step, we teach with explicit and direct instruction, that aligns with science and is exactly how children's brains learn to read. 

Why it matters:

Many children — even bright, motivated learners — struggle to read because they weren’t taught with methods grounded in the Science of Reading.

This podcast has sparked a national conversation, leading schools across the country to rethink how they teach reading.

Key takeaway from the podcast for families:

*Why some kids struggle with reading through no fault of their own.

*The importance of evidence-based teaching (like phonics, phonemic awareness, and explicit instruction).

*How families can ask good questions to understand reading instruction in their schools.

👉 In summary:

Sold a Story explains why so many kids are left behind in reading — and why using proven, research-based methods makes all the difference. 

If you've read this far…

I highly encourage you to click the link here to listen with me. Each day for the next week you will receive an email with a link to the next episode and some notes to keep you on track!

You deserve to feel empowered to understand the science behind reading instruction as well as feel reassured that you and your child are not alone.

Your partner on your reading journey,

Meghan