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The Science of Reading FormulaAuthor: Malia Hollowell
Welcome to The Science of Reading Formula, the podcast that helps you simplify reading instruction, save time, and support every students successwithout feeling like youre running on empty.Im Malia Hollowella National Board Certified Teacher, author, and founder of Playdough to Plato. Over the past 20 years, Ive honed my craft, combining science-backed practices with practical solutions to meet the real challenges educators face every day.Each episode dives into essential pillars of teaching success:Smart strategies to meet the needs of every student without adding extra stress to your plate.Honest conversations and tips to tackle teacher burnout and find a balance between school and home life.Science-backed practices that actually worksaving you time and boosting student results.Practical tips to streamline your planning and free up time for what matters most.This is your space to find encouragement, expert insights, and actionable ideas to create a classroom (and life) that works for you. Lets get started! Language: en-us Genres: Courses, Education, How To Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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What if Irregular Words Aren't Irregular? Introducing Structured Word Inquiry for Elementary Teachers with Peter Bowers
Episode 36
Monday, 2 February, 2026
What if the word “does” isn’t irregular at all?Most teachers were taught to memorize tricky words like does, there, or really—but today’s guest says that’s exactly the problem. In this episode, Dr. Peter Bowers introduces us to Structured Word Inquiry (SWI)—a powerful, meaning-based approach to spelling that helps students (and teachers!) understand how English truly works.If you've ever wondered why certain words are spelled the way they are—or struggled to explain them to students—this episode will blow your mind in the best way.In this episode, we'll talk about:Why “irregular” words like does and really actually follow logic.How to teach irregular words with meaning, not memorization.What Structured Word Inquiry looks like in real K-2 classrooms.How this approach supports dyslexic learners—and every learner.The #1 shift that helps students become curious, confident spellers.Show LinksPeter's WebsiteBeneath the Surface of Words by Sue HeglandMarie Foley's WebsiteSpelling ToolboxJoin Malia on Instagram.Become a Science of Reading Formula member!Rate, Review, and FollowIf you loved this episode, please take a minute to rate and review my show! That helps the podcast world know that this show is worth sharing with other educators just like you.Scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review". Then let me know what you loved most about the episode!While you're there, be sure to follow the podcast. I'm adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed and I don't want you to miss out!
