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Beyond Memorization: Orthographic Mapping for Dyslexic, Multilingual, and Striving Readers
Wednesday, October 1, 2025 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm EDT
Presented by Kathryn Grace, M.Ed., CAGS, Literacy Advocate and Creator of Phoneme-Grapheme Mapping™; and Dr. Alecia Blackwood, Assistant Professor of Education, Department of Education and Counseling, Longwood University
Moderated by Joan Macenat Charles, Regional Partner (DC, DE, MA, MD, VA), Really Great Reading
Sponsored by Really Great Reading
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In this edLeader Panel, literacy experts explore how orthographic mapping, the brain-based process that turns phonemic decoding into automatic word recognition, unlocks structured literacy for learners across grade levels. You gain insight into how this Science of Reading approach helps educators support English learners, students with dyslexia or other learning disabilities, and adolescents still building foundational skills.
The presenters dive into:
- What orthographic mapping is—and why memorization falls flat
- Real talk about the secondary literacy crisis and untaught decoding gaps
- Strategies to accelerate mapping for older learners, ELs, and special education populations
- How Really Great Reading’s “Lose the Rules” approach eliminates confusion around schwa, heart words, and irregular spellings
- What leaders and coaches in all content areas can do to support word retention
This recorded edLeader Panel builds capacity for K-12 district leaders and literacy coaches seeking to close the literacy gap with actionable, research-aligned practices.
About the Presenters
Kathryn Grace has served as a classroom teacher, special educator, literacy coach, learning specialist, and language arts coordinator for over 40 years in Vermont’s public schools. Kathryn was a professional developer for the Stern Center for Language and Learning and an Adjunct Professor at Trinity College. She is the proprietor of Learning Roots, an educational consulting, tutoring, and student advocacy business, and continues to offer literacy workshops and educational materials. She has been the recipient of numerous awards in education related to her advocacy work in literacy.
Kathryn studied under Dr. Louisa Moats at St. Michael’s College. She created the Phoneme-Grapheme Mapping™ methodology in 1983 which is featured in the renowned LETRS program. Her text, Phonics and Spelling through Phoneme-Grapheme Mapping, was first published in 1991 and is now offered through Really Great Reading. Kathryn has lived in Waterbury, Vermont for 49 years with her husband and three sons. She has served on various local and state boards and helped craft two literacy bills for the Vermont state legislature.
Dr. Alecia Blackwood is an author, consultant, coach, facilitator, international speaker, and former Fulbright-Hays Scholar for Namibia and Botswana with over 25 years of experience in education. A former classroom teacher and literacy instructional coach in public schools, she is widely recognized as one of the leading experts in the United States on Ubuntu pedagogy, a humanistic approach to fostering student engagement in teaching and learning.
In 2024, Dr. Blackwood was named an International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Faculty Research Fellow for her research exploring the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in school environments. She currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Education at Longwood University, where she continues to inspire future educators through her scholarship, teaching, and leadership.
About the Moderator
Joan Macenat Charles serves as a Regional Partner at the Really Great Reading Company, where her focus on literacy advocacy and education has made a significant impact. She has been a respected speaker at numerous conferences, notably delivering presentations on the Science of Reading. As a National Board Certified Teacher and with a career spanning over 15 years in education, including roles as a special education teacher, administrator, and national trainer, Joan has consistently championed the cause of improving reading skills. Her primary goal is to address decoding deficits among students, regardless of their age, by providing invaluable support and resources to district leaders. Joan firmly believes that enhancing teachers’ knowledge ultimately leads to tangible improvements in student performance, fostering meaningful change within literacy education.
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Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features.
Really Great Reading has been leading the charge in effective Science of Reading strategies for over 18 years with our proven PK-12 curriculum in foundational literacy and intervention teaching methodologies. We turn reading research into classroom practice, ensuring teachers have cutting-edge strategies and tools in classrooms across the country. It is our unwavering commitment to students and educators that sets us apart from other Science of Reading curricula, and this is evident in the student outcomes and results that districts and schools see when using our products.
