We hear an awful lot about the importance of foundational literacy skills, but exactly belongs in that foundation? Educational linguist and author Lyn Stone discusses her newest resource: Foundations for Life — a structured literacy intervention manual designed for educators, interventionists, and parents supporting developing readers and writers.

Lyn also shares her thoughts on the Science of Reading movement and considerations when it comes to thoughtful implementation. This conversation is equal parts intellectually rich, practical, and deeply hopeful for educators looking to better understand how the English writing system actually works – and how to teach it effectively.

Key Takeaways

1. Phonics is necessary, but not sufficient.
2. Writing should begin immediately – not “later”, after reading develops.
3. Graphemes spell morphemes; morphemes spell words.
4. Word relatives help students build durable mental models of the writing system.
5. We also get to hear a live demonstration of one of her lessons, exploring the word family for: one

Resources Mentioned:

1. Book: Foundations for Life
2. More About “Foundations for Life"
3. Book: Spelling for Life
4. Book: Language for Life
5. Book: Reading for Life
6. Lyn Stone’s Courses through Lifelong Literacy

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Connect with Lyn Stone:

1. Website: https://lifelongliteracy.com/
2. LinkedIn: Lyn Stone
3. Instagram: @lynstone8
4. Email: [email protected]

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• For Phonics Resources, grab: The COLORFUL Phonics Toolkit

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