On the Road to Literacy Success

In this conversation, Jan Hasbrouck shares practical, research-aligned insight on what strengthens literacy outcomes in real schools.

She explains why explicit instruction remains essential, why many systems are overloaded with assessment, and how leaders can support clearer, more effective literacy implementation. Jan also clarifies what reading fluency actually is—accuracy and automaticity that protect comprehension, not just speed.

This episode offers a grounded, doable lens for teachers and school leaders who want literacy instruction to be more cohesive, clear, and coherent.

Want to grab the book Jan Hasbrouck spoke about?

Grab it here: https://www.amazon.com/Reading-Fluenc...

Want to grab Staci Bain’s new book?

Grab it here: Empowered to Teach and Lead

In this episode of On The Road To Literacy Success, host Dr. Staci Bain sits down with children’s author Kristen Wilks to explore how storytelling helps build strong, motivated readers.

Kristen shares how her love of writing began early, and how she now creates stories that make kids belly-laugh, stay engaged, and feel genuinely connected to the characters. She unpacks what keeps young readers hooked—especially the blend of humor and action—and explains how books can nurture hope and resilience along the way.

The conversation also highlights how schools and author visits can help grow confident readers and inspire young writers. Whether you’re a teacher, school leader, parent, or literacy advocate, this episode is a reminder that literacy success is built—one story at a time.

Connect with Kristen: kristenjoywilks.com

Connect with Dr. Bain: GoodHumansEducate.com

In this cozy, practical conversation, Dr. Staci Bain sits down with speech-language pathologist and literacy advocate Arti Shah to unpack how language development fuels reading and writing success—from babies (0–3) to early elementary (K–2).

You’ll leave with doable ways to strengthen language at home and at school. Arti Shah is a speech-language pathologist (13+ years) who has worked across early intervention, community health, and schools. She also hosts the podcast Human Chapters, where she explores meaningful “chapters” of people’s lives with deep curiosity and connection.

▶️ To connect with Arti, watch/listen to Human Chapters on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@humanchapters

To collaborate with Staci Bain on K–12 Tier 1 systems, feel free to connect. Educate supports teachers and school leaders with practical, research-aligned tools to strengthen Tier 1 literacy instruction—so the work becomes cohesive, clear, and coherent in real classrooms.

Learn more: https://goodhumanseducate.com

If this episode helped you think differently, lead more confidently, or support kids more clearly—leave a Good Human review on YouTube. It helps other educators and families find the show.

🎙️ On the Road to Literacy Success Podcast

In this episode of On the Road to Literacy Success, host Staci Bain, Ed.D. sits down with Jennifer Throndsen, founder of Impactful Learning Designs and former Department of Education leader, for a grounded, practical conversation about what Tier 1 instruction actually needs to look like in real classrooms.

Together, they explore why strong literacy outcomes don’t come from initiatives alone—but from clear, cohesive systems that translate into daily instructional practice for teachers. Dr. Throndsen shares her personal journey into education, her passion for teaching, and her unwavering commitment to improving literacy outcomes for all students.

She also names several common instructional pitfalls she sees across schools and districts, including:

📌 The need for explicit, intentional instruction

📌 Increasing meaningful engagement with grade-level texts

📌 The danger of over-scaffolding, which can unintentionally limit student independence and cognitive growth

This episode is a must-listen for teachers, instructional coaches, principals, and district leaders who are serious about strengthening Tier 1 literacy in a way that is doable, effective, and sustainable.

👩‍🏫 About the Guest Dr. Jennifer Throndsen is the founder of Impactful Learning Designs and a former Department of Education leader. Her work centers on helping educators build instructional systems that improve outcomes while honoring the realities of classrooms and schools.

💛 About Good Humans Educate and Dr. Staci Bain Good Humans Educate supports teachers and school leaders with practical, research-aligned tools for Tier 1 literacy instruction. Staci Bain, Ed.D. is the author of Empowered to Teach and Lead: Whole-Group Literacy Instruction Made Easy—your go-to elementary school playbook for whole-group literacy that’s cohesive, clear, and coherent.

📘 Learn more at GoodHumansEducate.comExplore:Asynchronous Tier 1 Roadmap CoursesProprietary whole-group Tier 1 instructional frameworksVirtual and onsite professional learning designed to reduce overload and increase clarity

✨ If this conversation resonated with you, be sure to like, subscribe, and share this episode with a fellow educator committed to Tier 1 excellence.

📚 Education is liberation.

🦄 Whole-group is the work.

In this episode, Dr. Staci Bain speaks with Jenn and Mel from Teacher Lunch, who share their journey of creating TikToks that bring joy to teachers and celebrate the profession.

They discuss the importance of community, storytelling, and the role of read-alouds in fostering a love for literacy among students. The conversation highlights the significance of collaboration between teachers and librarians, the challenges faced in education, and the joy of making connections with students and fellow educators. You can connect with Jenn and Mel: [email protected].

They are also on IG and TikTok @ JennMel4.

Join them on YouTube as well ‪@jennmel4‬.

If you enjoy this podcast and this space, we invite you to SUBSCRIBE. If you're wanting to connect with Dr. Bain, please visit GoodHumansEducate.com.

Take-Aways:

Teacher Lunch started as a fun way to connect over lunch.

The joy of teaching is rooted in relationships with students.

Creating a safe space in the library is essential for students.

Community support among teachers enhances the teaching experience.

Storytelling is a powerful tool in education.

Read-alouds are crucial for developing a love for reading.

Motivating reluctant readers requires creativity and patience.

Teachers should encourage students to choose their own reading materials.

The partnership between teachers and librarians is vital for student success.

Celebrating achievements in education fosters a positive environment.