From Sounds to Words: Fixing the Missing Link in Early Reading Instruction with Katie Pace Miles
In this episode of the Route2Reading Podcast, I sit down with Katie Pace Miles to unpack one of the biggest challenges in early literacy—why phonemic awareness and phonics instruction don’t always translate into real reading and spelling success for struggling readers.
Katie shares insights from her extensive work in literacy research, teacher education, and intervention, along with the development of her program, Reading Ready. We dig into what’s often missing in classroom instruction, how to intentionally build transfer from sounds to words, and what effective, efficient instruction actually looks like in real classrooms.
If you’ve ever felt like your students can do the activities but aren’t applying those skills when it matters most—this conversation will give you clarity and practical next steps you can use right away.
In This Episode, We Discuss:
What led Katie to focus on early literacy intervention and program development
What she consistently saw in classrooms that wasn’t working for struggling readers
The biggest misconceptions around phonemic awareness and phonics
The core principles behind her Reading Ready program
The non-negotiables of strong early reading instruction
How to build true transfer from phonemic awareness into reading and spelling
Simple, repeatable routines that actually work
How to increase intensity without adding more time
Using data to guide instruction without overwhelm
Encouragement for teachers who feel stuck
Learn More About Katie + Reading Ready
Explore Reading Ready: https://www.readinginstitutenyc.org/our-programs
Learn more about Katie’s work and research: https://www.katiepacemilesphd.com
Want More?
Explore more Science of Reading PD, decodables, small-group planning tools, coaching sessions, and literacy resources at Route2Reading inside the Literacy Edventures Membership.
