Literacy Talks

Are you spending too much time on assessments without getting the clarity you need? In this episode, we break down which reading assessments actually matter, which ones may be wasting your time, and how to make smarter, more efficient decisions about the data you collect.
Show Notes
Guests in this Episode:
Andrea Setmeyer – National Chapter Director at The Reading League and former school psychologist. Andrea works with literacy leaders and educators across the country to support evidence-aligned assessment and instruction.
Dr. Adrea Truckenmiller – Associate Professor at Michigan State University and a school psychologist. Her research focuses on assessment, writing development, and improving how educators use data to inform instruction. She is the principal investigator of the federally funded Writing Architect project.
Resources & References Mentioned:
The Reading League Journal (Jan/Feb 2026 issue) Subscribe.
Article: “Balancing Cost and Accuracy: How to Select Reading Assessments for Universal Screening”
Intervention in School and Clinic (Special Issue on Assessment)
Guest edited by Adrea Truckenmiller & Jessica Toste
Writing Architect Project
(Assessment tool for identifying key writing components to support student progress)
Book: Reading Assessment Done Right by Stephanie Stollar & Kate Winn
Common Assessment Tools Referenced:DIBELS: Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills
Acadience Reading Assessments
FastBridge
easyCBM
MAP Growth
Amira

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Coming Soon: Reading Horizons Ascend™
From Pre-K readiness to advanced fluency, Ascend™ offers a consistent, needs-based reading experience across every grade, tier, and model—so every student can build mastery, one skill at a time. Learn More.

Show Notes
Early reading screening is one of the most powerful tools educators have—but only if it’s used well. In this episode of Literacy Talks, we unpack what screening actually measures, why timing matters, and how to use data to support students before small gaps become major challenges.
We explore the difference between screening and diagnosis, why “wait and see” can be harmful, and how early data should drive immediate, targeted instruction. You’ll also hear how screening results can reveal more than individual student needs—they can highlight strengths and gaps in your core instruction and overall system.
This conversation is especially timely as schools and states continue to emphasize dyslexia screening and early literacy outcomes. The key takeaway: screening is just the starting point—what you do next makes the difference.
Key Topics Discussed
What reading screening measures across grade levels
Why screening is not the same as diagnosis
How screening connects to MTSS and Tier 1 instruction
The role of persistence in identifying dyslexia risk
Why early intervention matters more than waiting
How to interpret and act on screening data

Resources Mentioned
The Reading League Journal (Subscribe)
Learn more about Dr. Patrick Kennedy

💬 Want more insights like this?
Subscribe to the Literacy Talks Podcast Digest for episode recaps, resources, and teaching takeaways delivered straight to your inbox!
Do you teach Structured Literacy in a K–3 setting?
Sign up for a free license of Reading Horizons Discovery® LIVE and start teaching right away—no setup, no hassle. Sign-up Now.

Coming Soon: Reading Horizons Ascend™
From Pre-K readiness to advanced fluency, Ascend™ offers a consistent, needs-based reading experience across every grade, tier, and model—so every student can build mastery, one skill at a time. Learn More.

If you’ve ever looked at your students’ reading data and wondered, “What am I actually supposed to do with this?”—this episode is for you.
In this episode, we discuss:
Why reading data often feels more like compliance than instruction
How to actually use assessment data to guide day-to-day teaching decisions
Assessment is a constant in education—but too often, it’s disconnected from what happens in the classroom. In this conversation, we unpack one of the biggest misconceptions about reading data. As our guests explain, different types of assessments (screening, diagnostic, progress monitoring) are designed to answer different questions—and when we misunderstand that, instruction suffers.
We also explore what effective data-based decision making really looks like in practice. From thinking of instruction as a hypothesis to understanding why progress monitoring is one of the most underused tools in literacy, this episode offers a clearer, more actionable way to connect data to instruction. The goal isn’t more data—it’s better use of the data you already have.
Guests:
Dr. Jessica Toste, Associate Professor at the University of Texas at Austin and Editor of The Reading League Journal
Andrea Setmeyer, School Psychologist and Chapter Director at The Reading League
Show Notes
Resources mentioned:
The Reading League Journal
Measuring What Matters (Open Access Article)
💬 Want more insights like this?
Subscribe to the Literacy Talks Podcast Digest for episode recaps, resources, and teaching takeaways delivered straight to your inbox!
Do you teach Structured Literacy in a K–3 setting?
Sign up for a free license of Reading Horizons Discovery® LIVE and start teaching right away—no setup, no hassle. Sign-up Now.

Coming Soon: Reading Horizons Ascend™
From Pre-K readiness to advanced fluency, Ascend™ offers a consistent, needs-based reading experience across every grade, tier, and model—so every student can build mastery, one skill at a time. Learn More.

What if the data you’re collecting could actually make your teaching easier—not more overwhelming? In this episode, we unpack what reading assessment is really telling you and how to use it with clarity and purpose.
In this episode, we discuss:
The true purpose of different types of reading assessments
How to move from data collection to meaningful instructional decisions
Assessment can feel like one more thing on a teacher’s already full plate—but when used well, it becomes one of the most powerful tools for improving student outcomes. In this conversation, we explore common misconceptions about assessment, including the belief that one test can tell the whole story, and why understanding the why behind assessment matters just as much as the data itself.
Our guests share practical insights on how assessment should function within a larger system—supporting both classroom instruction and schoolwide decision-making. From listening to students read aloud to interpreting screening and diagnostic data, this episode highlights what it looks like when assessment and instruction truly work together.
Guests:
Andrea Setmeyer, School Psychologist & Professional Learning Director (and now Vice President of Marketing), The Reading League
Elisabeth Lamoureaux, Professional Learning Director (Leadership & Implementation), The Reading League
Show Notes
 Learn more about The Reading League Summit and resources on assessment:
The Reading League Summit
💬 Want more insights like this?
Subscribe to the Literacy Talks Podcast Digest for episode recaps, resources, and teaching takeaways delivered straight to your inbox!
Do you teach Structured Literacy in a K–3 setting?
Sign up for a free license of Reading Horizons Discovery® LIVE and start teaching right away—no setup, no hassle. Sign-up Now.

Coming Soon: Reading Horizons Ascend™
From Pre-K readiness to advanced fluency, Ascend™ offers a consistent, needs-based reading experience across every grade, tier, and model—so every student can build mastery, one skill at a time. Learn More.

What happens when you bring together thousands of literacy educators for one powerful conference? In this episode, we break down the biggest takeaways you can actually use in your classroom tomorrow.
In this episode, we discuss:
Key insights from the Plain Talk About Literacy and Learning Conference
Practical strategies for spelling, syntax, writing, and student engagement
Show Notes
In this conference rewind episode, Lindsay reports back from Plain Talk, sharing standout moments from keynotes and sessions—including ideas around academic risk-taking, meaningful task design, and the importance of intentional family engagement. The conversation highlights how creating safe conditions for learning can empower students to take risks and build confidence.
You’ll also hear practical, classroom-ready strategies for improving syntax and writing instruction, along with fresh thinking on spelling and language development. Plus, the team reflects on how to evaluate instructional practices (and even conference ideas) with a critical eye—always grounding decisions in what truly leads to student learning.
Whether you attended Plain Talk or not, this episode brings you actionable insights and thought-provoking takeaways to strengthen your literacy instruction.
Resources mentioned:
Plain Talk About Literacy and Learning Conference
Literacy Talks Episode with Dr. Grant Rivera

💬 Want more insights like this?
Subscribe to the Literacy Talks Podcast Digest for episode recaps, resources, and teaching takeaways delivered straight to your inbox!
Do you teach Structured Literacy in a K–3 setting?
Sign up for a free license of Reading Horizons Discovery® LIVE and start teaching right away—no setup, no hassle. Sign-up Now.

Coming Soon: Reading Horizons Ascend™
From Pre-K readiness to advanced fluency, Ascend™ offers a consistent, needs-based reading experience across every grade, tier, and model—so every student can build mastery, one skill at a time. Learn More.