Episode 89: Not My Problem... Until It was Science of Reading for Secondary Teachers

When most educators hear the phrase Science of Reading, they picture elementary classrooms, phonics lessons, and beginning readers. But what if we've been thinking about it too narrowly?In this episode of the Compass PD Podcast, Dr. Carrie Hepburn sits down with Dr. Natalie Fallert, former secondary English teacher and instructional leader, to explore what the Science of Reading really means for middle and high school classrooms. After spending the past year immersed in the research, Dr. Fallert shares the mindset shift that transformed her thinking—from believing literacy wasn't a secondary teacher's responsibility to recognizing that every content area plays a role in helping students access complex text.Together, they unpack practical, research-based strategies that any secondary educator can implement without becoming a reading specialist. You'll hear why oral language, word recognition, morphology, background knowledge, fluency, and comprehension matter across disciplines, along with actionable ideas like rapid research, partner talk, and intentional reading routines that help students engage more deeply with rigorous content.Whether you teach English, science, social studies, math, or career and technical education, this conversation will challenge assumptions, spark new thinking, and leave you with practical strategies you can use immediately to help every student become a more confident reader and learner.Secondary Science of Reading blogs by Dr. Natalie FallertNot My Problem... Until It Was: A Secondary Teacher's Wake-Up Call on the Science of Reading Pt. 1Making Sense of Word Recognition in Secondary ClassroomsEyes on Print, Voices in Sync: Strengthening Oral Language and FluencyComprehension isn't a Strategy: It's Words and KnowledgePrint Awareness Didn't End in Elementary School: How Explicit Instruction in Text Structures Supports Comprehension