Literacy in Color: A Science of Reading Aligned Podcast for Educators

106. How New York City Is Transforming Reading Instruction with Dr. Katie Pace Miles

August 11, 2026·44 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

What does it actually mean for a word to become "stored" in the brain – and how do we design instruction that helps that happen for every student?In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Katie Pace Miles, associate professor at Brooklyn College, founder of The Reading Institute, co-founder of CUNY Reading Fellows, and one of today's leading voices in reading science.She not only shares about the cognitive process of orthographic mapping, but also why understanding how words become permanently stored in memory changes the way we think about reading instruction and intervention.Dr. Miles also shares the fascinating origin story behind Reading Ready, the structured literacy intervention she originally created while teaching her own daughter to read during the pandemic, and explains how both Reading Ready and Reading Go have expanded to support thousands of students through The Reading Institute and CUNY Reading Fellows.She shares the dramatic literacy shifts happening across New York City Public Schools: from increased use of structured literacy and decodable texts to high-impact tutoring, universal screening, and stronger teacher preparation – and what still lies ahead.Key Takeaways:What orthographic mapping really is Why oral language is foundational for orthographic mappingThe origin behind Reading Ready and Reading GoWhy intervention dosage matters more than many educators realizeHow The Reading Institute and CUNY Reading Fellows are expanding access to high-quality literacy interventionThe biggest shifts happening across New York City Public SchoolsWhy teacher preparation must include authentic practice, not just courseworkResources Mentioned:The Reading InstituteReading ReadyReading Go10-hour Science of Reading Micro-CredentialCUNY Reading FellowsBrooklyn College: Advanced Certificate in Reading ScienceBook: Making Words Stick by Dr. Katie Pace Miles &amp; Dr. Molly NessPublications written by Dr. Katie Pace MilesThis post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting the podcast!Connect with Dr. Katie Pace Miles:Instagram: @thereadinginstitutenycLinkedIn: The Reading InstituteFacebook: The Reading InstituteWebsite: https://www.katiepacemilesphd.com/This podcast is brought to you by Reading Science Academy, where our friend Stephanie Stollar is giving Literacy in Color listeners an exclusive, free grouping resource bundle to help you turn fall screening data into skill-based groups that actually move students forward.<a href="https://www.stephaniestollarconsulting.com/groupingshee

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