Season 9, Episode 10

Phonology as a settled science, with Jane Ashby, Ph.D.

In this episode of Science of Reading: The Podcast, Susan Lambert is joined by Jane Ashby, professor in the Reading Science doctoral program at Mount St. Joseph University. The two define the concept of “settled science” as a jumping-off point before digging into phonology and the argument for not always basing your teaching practice on the newest research. Dr. Ashby touches on the impact of phonology on comprehension, the Matthew Effect, and why the term “instant words” is more accurate than “sight words.” You’ll walk away from this episode with two practical exercises Dr. Ashby recommends for teaching students to transfer oral segmenting and blending to reading and writing tasks.

A smiling person with glasses and gray hair is featured in a circular frame against a background filled with book, pencil, and lightbulb icons, symbolizing the journey of reading and writing. This image perfectly illustrates themes from the Science of Reading podcast on teaching phonological awareness.

Meet Our Guest(s):

Jane Ashby, Ph.D.

Dr. Ashby’s reading journey started 30 years ago. She pursued an Ed.M. at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, then taught adult learners who struggled with reading. This led her to deepen her instruction skills by studying the Orton-Gillingham approach at Massachusetts General Hospital. She supported teachers and students facing reading disorders in the Columbus area, then returned to school to study how readers get the words off the page during silent reading. She earned a doctorate in psychology from the University of Massachusetts, and in 2009, joined the Psychology Department at Central Michigan University, where her eye movement lab investigated the role of speech processes in silent reading. She coauthored the book Psychology of Reading (2012) as well as several papers examining the role of phonology in silent reading. During her sabbatical, Dr. Ashby supported teachers in Vermont who were developing more effective literacy practices. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and outdoor adventures.

Meet our host, Susan Lambert

Susan Lambert is the Chief Academic Officer of Elementary Humanities at Amplify, and the host of Science of Reading: The Podcast. Throughout her career, she has focused on creating high-quality learning environments using evidence-based practices. Lambert is a mom of four, a grandma of four, a world traveler, and a collector of stories.

As the host of Science of Reading: The Podcast, Lambert explores the increasing body of scientific research around how reading is best taught. As a former classroom teacher, administrator, and curriculum developer, Lambert is dedicated to turning theory into best practices that educators can put right to use in the classroom, and to showcasing national models of reading instruction excellence.