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The Science of Reading Formula
Welcome to The Science of Reading Formula, the podcast that helps you simplify reading instruction, save time, and support every student’s success—without feeling like you’re running on empty.
I’m Malia Hollowell—a National Board Certified Teacher, author, and founder of Playdough to Plato. Over the past 20 years, I’ve 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 work—saving 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. Let’s get started!
The Science of Reading Formula
Latest Episodes
Behavior Management Strategies That Save Your Sanity with Allie Szczecinski
Ever feel like one more behavior outburst might push you over the edge? You’re not alone. In this episode, we’re breaking down practical, real-life strategies that help K–2 teachers handle challenging behaviors without shame, power struggles, o...
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You Can't Teach Every Vocabulary Word, So Teach This Instead with Dr. Trina Spencer
Teaching kids to decode words is essential, but what happens when they can read the words and still don’t understand what they’re reading? In this episode, we dive deep into the often overlooked role of academic language in reading comprehensio...
Literacy is a Human Right with Dr. Tanji Reed Marshall
What if reading isn’t just a skill we teach—but a right we protect?In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Tanji Reed Marshall, a powerful voice in education who invites us to rethink what it really means to teach every child how to read. We ...
What No One Tells PreK-2 Teachers About Teaching Writing... Until Now with Joan Sedita
You’ve heard all about the science of reading—but what about the science of writing? Most K–2 teachers are handed phonics programs with zero guidance on how to actually teach writing. That changes today.In this episode, Joan Sed...
7 Mighty Moves That Transform Reading Instruction with Lindsay Kemeny
What happens when a veteran teacher discovers that her reading instruction isn’t working—not even for her own son?In this episode, Lindsay Kemeny, author of 7 Mighty Moves, shares the pivotal moment that changed everythin...