In this Teacher Appreciation Week episode, host Erin Bailey chats with New York Times bestselling author and educator Matt Eicheldinger about his journey from reluctant reader to published author, how a classroom "story jar" sparked his writing career, and practical strategies for reaching kids who don't love reading — from short chapters and cliffhangers to finding the one book that hooks them. Matt also previews his fast-paced dystopian YA series When the Rain Came and teases a brand-new graphic novel format dropping in 2029.

About Matt Eicheldinger:
Matt Eicheldinger is an American author, former middle school teacher, and social media personality. He is best known for his Matt Sprouts series of middle-grade novels and his memoir Sticky Notes: Memorable Lessons from Ordinary Moments. His debut novel became a The New York Times and USA Today bestseller in its first week of publication.

Matt Eicheldinger

Instagram and tiktok @matteicheldinger

Facebook: @Matt Eicheldinger - Author

In this episode, host Erin Bailey sits down with Dr. Timothy Shanahan — professor emeritus, former president of the International Literacy Association, and Reading Hall of Fame inductee — to discuss his groundbreaking new book, Leveled Reading, Leveled Lives.

Dr. Shanahan challenges one of education's most deeply held assumptions: that students should be matched to texts at their individual reading level. Drawing on decades of research, he explains why this practice may actually be holding kids back — and what teachers should be doing instead.

About Dr. Tim Shanahan:
Timothy Shanahan is Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois at Chi­cago where he was Founding Di­rector of the UIC Center for Literacy. Previously, he was director of reading for the Chicago Public Schools. He is author/editor of more than 300 publications on literacy education. His research emphasizes the improvement of reading achievement, teaching reading with challenging text, reading-writing relationships, the and disciplinary literacy.

Tim is past president of the International Literacy Association. He served as a member of the Advisory Board of the National Institute for Literacy under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, and he helped lead the National Reading Panel, convened at the request of Congress to evaluate research on the teaching reading, a major influence on reading education. He chaired two other federal research review panels: the National Literacy Panel for Language Minority Children and Youth, and the National Early Literacy Panel, and helped write the Common Core State Standards.

He was inducted to the Reading Hall of Fame in 2007, and is a former first-grade teacher.

Dr. Shanahan's Blog: Literacy Blogs | Shanahan on Literacy

Leveled Reading, Leveled Lives: Leveled Reading, Leveled Lives

Dr. Erin Bailey speaks with licensed pediatric psychologist Dr. Caitlin Khoury about her role in developing Lovevery's Reading Skillset. Dr. Khoury shares her journey from graduate school research and reading clinics to clinical practice assessing children for learning disabilities, and how those experiences shaped her approach to creating evidence-based reading materials for families. The conversation explores the core components of the Reading Skillset—including phonological awareness, alphabet knowledge, and oral language development—and how play makes learning to read joyful and engaging. Dr. Khoury offers practical guidance on using alphabet books intentionally, maximizing wordless picture books for storytelling, practicing shared reading with turn-taking, and selecting decodable books that match a child's developing skills. She also discusses signs that children are ready to transition to chapter books and how series can build reading stamina and lifelong love of reading.

About Dr. Caitlin Khoury:
Dr. Caitlin Khoury, PhD, is a licensed pediatric psychologist and product strategist at Lovevery. She specializes in integrating behavioral health care with children’s academic learning needs, with particular expertise in early literacy development. Her research and dissertation focused on the relationship between early literacy skills and self-regulation in young children. Dr. Khoury previously worked at the National Institute for Direct Instruction and has extensive experience partnering with families to identify targeted learning supports through comprehensive evaluations. She also supported the development of Lovevery’s Reading Skill Set, translating literacy science and child development research into practical, parent-friendly tools that support early reading success.

Lovevery Reading Skill Set: The Reading Skill Set | Reading Programs for Kids | Lovevery