The Science (and Art) of Implementation: Using Research To Improve Outcomes

Join us for this insightful and inspiring discussion with a true literacy hero Margaret Goldberg, co-founder of The Right to Read Project. During this podcast, we’ll talk with Goldberg about the next step in the science of reading movement: Educators moving from research consumers to active research participants. While there’s been progress bringing research awareness to classrooms, we now face a moment where the future of reading science depends on practitioner involvement.

This episode examines how educators have moved from implementing prescribed practices to actively seeking evidence-based approaches, and why this momentum can’t stagnate. With uncertain federal support for education research, we must bridge the “last mile” between research and practice—the phase that matters most to students and teachers.

Drawing from personal experiences, this episode reveals what it means to move from research consumer to research contributor, including the moments that change how educators view and engage with scientific evidence. We’ll discuss research-to-practice partnerships and how thinking like a scientist can change classroom implementation.

Listeners will learn:

• Where the science of reading movement stands today
• Why this isn’t another pendulum swing in education
• The importance of bridging the “last mile” between research and practice
• What it feels like to move from research consumer to active participant
• Practical steps for joining research-to-practice partnerships
• How to approach classroom implementation with a scientific mindset
• Why practitioner involvement is essential for sustaining progress
• Strategies for participating in science

Essential listening for educators, administrators, and literacy advocates ready to help shape the future of reading instruction and ensure research continues to benefit students in classrooms.