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In this episode of Let’s Talk Teacher to Teacher, Dr. Gina Pepin explores why today’s children struggle to visualize and imagine in our fast-paced, image-driven world—and how this impacts their comprehension and creative thinking. Discover practical, engaging activities for home and classroom that help kids build their mental imagery skills, from listen-and-draw games to guided imagery exercises and sensory storytelling. Tune in for easy tips and inspiring ideas to help children reclaim the lost art of visualization—one daydream at a time!

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In this episode of Let’s Talk Teacher to Teacher, Dr. Gina Pepin explores the benefits of moving writing off the desk and onto the wall! Discover how using vertical spaces—like easels, chalkboards, whiteboards, windows, mirrors, brick walls, and craft paper—can spark creativity, improve motor skills, and make writing irresistible for students. Dr. Gina shares practical tips for safe and engaging set-ups in classrooms or at home, plus ideas to make vertical writing a fun part of your daily routine. Tune in and get ready to transform your learning environment, one wall at a time!

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Join Dr. Gina Pepin in Precious Print as she reveals the power of labeling your home to build early reading skills. Alongside coauthor Eric Litwin, Dr. Gina explains how children learn best when they see, touch, and talk about words in their daily world. Discover handy tips for using labeled objects, engaging in word-rich conversations, and make reading a seamless part of family life. Check out the “Ride and Read: Adventure Starts with a Story” program for free travel label printables and lots more resources at www.ginapepin.com. Make every room and ride a step toward reading success!

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In this episode of Table Talk Readers, Dr. Gina Pepin invites families to transform mealtime into a playful learning experience with family-ready placemats. Discover how these creative placemats can help build early reading skills—like concepts of print, the alphabetic principle, and word recognition—right at the kitchen table. Packed with practical ideas for DIY placemats, fun games, and ways to weave reading and language into everyday conversations, this episode empowers parents to make literacy a natural (and joyful) part of daily life. Gather ‘round the table and watch your child’s confidence and curiosity grow—one bite and one word at a time!

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Join Dr. Gina Pepin on Let’s Talk Teacher to Teacher as she explores the real reasons why some students struggle with reading. This episode dives into the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), highlighting the importance of early observation, effective screening tools, and family input. Learn how visual processing challenges can be easily overlooked and discover practical strategies at each tier—from classroom interventions to specialist support—to ensure every student receives the help they need. Whether you’re a classroom teacher or a specialist, you’ll gain insights to better support developing readers and address challenges at their source.

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In this insightful episode of the Let’s Talk, Teacher to Teacher podcast, Dr. Gina Pepin—a passionate reading specialist, professor, and Region 1 Michigan Teacher of the Year—dives into a commonly overlooked factor in early literacy: how vision issues can impact learning to read, especially for students already identified with speech or language impairments. Dr. Pepin shares a powerful real-life story of a young learner whose reading difficulties were connected not just to language needs, but to hidden vision challenges unseen by even the most dedicated intervention team.

You’ll learn why vision screening matters, how to spot subtle signs of visual tracking problems, and what practical steps educators and families can take to support all readers—especially those facing multiple hurdles. Get ready for actionable “make and takes,” heartfelt reminders to look beyond the labels, and an invitation to advocate for the whole child.

Whether you’re a teacher, para, administrator, or anyone who works with young children, this episode offers easy-to-implement ideas and inspiration to help every student experience the joy and power of successful reading.

Subscribe for weekly practical strategies and stories, and let’s keep making joyful reading possible for every child!

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In this inspiring episode of “Let’s Talk Teacher to Teacher,” Dr. Gina Pepin welcomes a special guest who is both an accomplished reading interventionist and the coauthor (alongside children's author Eric Litwin) of The Power of Joyful Reading: Help Your Young Readers Soar to Success. Drawing from her unique dual role, she shares how effective reading instruction is about balancing intensive, systematic interventions with the essential qualities of joy, motivation, student choice, and authentic engagement.

Hear first-hand stories from the classroom, strategies for meeting students exactly where they are, and a candid reflection on debates like the Science of Reading and the “reading wars.” Throughout the conversation, you'll discover why the heart of great literacy teaching isn’t about picking sides—it’s about understanding what each reader needs at any given time, and bringing both research and joy to the journey.

Tune in for practical advice, encouragement, and a reminder that, above all, knowing your students and responding to them with skill and joy is what helps readers truly soar.

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In this episode of Let’s Talk Teacher to Teacher, Dr. Gina Pepin explores the key characteristics of dyslexia in middle and high school students. Learn what dyslexia looks like beyond elementary grades, discover classroom signs to watch for, and gather practical tips for supporting adolescent learners—whether it’s with extra time, audiobooks, alternative assessments, or just a bit more patience and encouragement. Ideal for secondary educators, interventionists, and anyone determined to help every student reach their potential!

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