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Jen O’Sullivan

@readwritejen.bsky.social
438 followers 216 following 61 posts

Lecturer in Literacy Education | Teacher Educator | PhD 🎓✏️📝 🇮🇪 Passionate about Early Reading Instruction | Reading Assessment | Reading Difficulties Books 📚 | Travel ✈️ | Food 🍝 Views = Mine

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Jen O’Sullivan @readwritejen.bsky.social · 17/05/2026
In this new post I tease out the differences between “evidence-based” and “research-based” approaches in literacy education and why the distinction matters. open.substack.com/pub/readwrit...
open.substack.com
When ‘Evidence-Based’ Starts Meaning Everything… and Nothing
Spend enough time in literacy education and you begin to notice that almost everybody claims research is on their side.
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Jen O’Sullivan @readwritejen.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
Just shared a new post. I’ve brought together my original article on Reading Recovery, the Reading Recovery Europe response, and my rebuttal. An interesting example of how evidence is interpreted and debated in literacy. open.substack.com/pub/readwrit...
open.substack.com
A Response, A Rebuttal, and an Ongoing Conversation About Reading Recovery
For the past number of years, I have been writing and speaking about early reading intervention in Ireland, often returning to the same underlying question: are we providing the right kind of support ...
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Jen O’Sullivan @readwritejen.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
Following the publication of my recent peer-reviewed paper on Reading Recovery, Reading Recovery Europe issued a formal response. I have now published a detailed rebuttal addressing the claims made. The full rebuttal is available at the following link: drive.google.com/file/d/1DpV0...
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Mark Goodrich @markgoodrich.bsky.social · 18/04/2026
Second, @readwritejen.bsky.social goes for the weekly spelling test. Again, this is a feature of every primary school that I have ever taught in despite a lot of teachers, parents and children really wondering about its purpose. readwritejen.substack.com/p/the-friday...
readwritejen.substack.com
The Friday Fiasco: Why the Weekly Spelling Test is a Pedagogical Dead End
Every Thursday evening, in homes up and down the country, a familiar routine plays out.
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Colum @columfromcork.bsky.social · 18/04/2026
Today is Tasters and Tours at MIE. Not a traditional Open Day, and that's deliberate.
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Jen O’Sullivan @readwritejen.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
Delighted to have had my article published in @irisheducationalstudies www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
tandfonline.com
Rethinking early reading intervention policy in Ireland: evaluating the case for moving beyond Reading Recovery?
Early reading development is critical for long-term academic success, highlighting the need for timely and effective intervention for children with reading difficulties. This paper critically exami...
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Jen O’Sullivan @readwritejen.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
Check out my new Substack blog on spelling! Thank you @markgoodrich.bsky.social for reminding me to hop back onto Bluesky. It’s been a while. open.substack.com/pub/readwrit...
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Jen O’Sullivan @readwritejen.bsky.social · 01/06/2025
Time to question Round Robin Reading and maybe ruffle a few feathers! open.substack.com/pub/readwrit...
open.substack.com
Ruffled Feathers: Why Round Robin Reading Does More Harm Than Good
Think about something you really dislike doing.
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Jen O’Sullivan @readwritejen.bsky.social · 23/05/2025
Thanks for sharing @katewinn.bsky.social 💚
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Jen O’Sullivan @readwritejen.bsky.social · 19/05/2025
Coming up this Wednesday! Join @clarafiorentini.bsky.social and myself for a special webinar on lighthouses and literacy. Packed with creative, end-of-year ideas. Lots of inspiration to carry you through the last few weeks! literacy-channel.mykajabi.com/offers/nG9rC...
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@EvidentlyR @evidentlyreading.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
So important that those of us who advocate for the “science of reading” make clear that we mean so much more than phonics!
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Dr. Nadine Gaab @gaablab.bsky.social · 16/05/2025
All #NIH grants have now terminated here at #Harvard, including ours, which examined shared/distinct underlying neural & cognitive mechanisms between typical/atypical #arithmetic and #reading skills. Results would have been invaluable for development of #screening, diagnostic, & intervention tools.
media.tenor.com
sadness from inside out is crying and saying it 's ok ... i 'm fine .
ALT: sadness from inside out is crying and saying it 's ok ... i 'm fine .
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Jen O’Sullivan @readwritejen.bsky.social · 16/05/2025
New Substack post ‘The Science of Reading is more than just phonics’ open.substack.com/pub/readwrit...
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Patrick Burke @patjburke.bsky.social · 13/05/2025
This evening - May 13 @ 7 PM - join us! #edchat #edchatie #edusky #dyslexia #literacy
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Emma Farragher @emmajf.bsky.social · 02/05/2025
📣LAI Presents: A Closer Look at Dyslexia - May 13th at 7pm #edchatie Really looking forward to this one - what an incredible panel! 🙌 Please share with anyone who might be interested - registration 🔗: zoom.us/webinar/regi... #spéirghorm
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Mark Goodrich @markgoodrich.bsky.social · 09/05/2025
So #EduSky and #EduSkyPrimary, you really want read about orthographic mapping at the weekend, don’t you? This by @readwritejen.bsky.social is the best description I have read of how this works and why it is so important. open.substack.com/pub/readwrit...
open.substack.com
Beyond Memorising Whole Words
The Research Behind Skilled Reading
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Jen O’Sullivan @readwritejen.bsky.social · 09/05/2025
Thanks for sharing! @markgoodrich.bsky.social It’s a complicated process to describe but delighted you think I captured the essence of it!
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Patrick Burke @patjburke.bsky.social · 02/05/2025
Really looking forward to addressing some #dyslexia facts and misconceptions in this webinar. Join us! #edchatie #sor
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Jen O’Sullivan @readwritejen.bsky.social · 01/05/2025
‘Why Guessing Isn’t Reading’ open.substack.com/pub/readwrit...
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Jen O’Sullivan @readwritejen.bsky.social · 25/04/2025
Check out my first post ‘Planning for Infant Classes: Why English Shouldn’t Be Sliced Into Separate Pieces’ open.substack.com/pub/readwrit...
open.substack.com
Planning for Infant Classes
Why English Shouldn’t Be Sliced Into Separate Pieces
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Jen O’Sullivan @readwritejen.bsky.social · 25/04/2025
Trying out a new space! Please feel free to join me as I reflect on literacy research, literacy instruction and broader issues in literacy education. open.substack.com/pub/readwrit...
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Emma Farragher @emmajf.bsky.social · 24/03/2025
📣 Join myself and @alinulty.bsky.social on behalf of the LAI in exploring how art, music, drama, and poetry can enrich oral language learning in a webinar inspired by one 🤗wonderful🤗 wordless picturebook! 🎭🎨🎶🐊✨ #edchatie Please share with anyone who might be interested! ecnavan.ie/cpd-courses-...
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Alex Quigley @alexjquigley.bsky.social · 22/03/2025
🚨NEW🚨 'What is happening with writing?' "Schools are trying to support struggling writers with ‘build-your-own’ approaches & interventions. Writing lacks good diagnostic assessment as well as interventions to address problems that emerge through such assessment." alexquigley.co.uk/what-is-happ...
alexquigley.co.uk
What is happening with writing?
Writing problems, and solutions, can too often go undetected in schools. Unlike reading, there are relatively few specific writing assessments to detect issues that schools can use, so it is hard to f...
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Florida Center for Reading Research @thefcrr.bsky.social · 17/03/2025
This Institute of Education Sciences guide offers a 5-step process to help educators implement evidence-based practices to improve student literacy outcomes. Discover tools and resources to strengthen programs and practices at: bit.ly/3DBquVA
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Jen O’Sullivan @readwritejen.bsky.social · 17/03/2025
A very happy St Patrick’s Day to everyone ☘️ 🇮🇪
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Masud Husain @masudhusain.bsky.social · 06/03/2025
Why academia is sleepwalking into self-destruction. My editorial @brain1878.bsky.social If you agree with the sentiments please repost. It's important for all our sakes to stop the madness academic.oup.com/brain/articl...
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Jen O’Sullivan @readwritejen.bsky.social · 22/02/2025
Purchased this yesterday for #Irelandreads today. Happy reading 📖 🇮🇪
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Jen O’Sullivan @readwritejen.bsky.social · 21/02/2025
Looking forward to jumping into this new arrival and learning more about learning!
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Emma Farragher @emmajf.bsky.social · 20/02/2025
Very excited to participate in this literacy #TeachMeet on March 3rd (just in time for World Book Day!) Bígí linn: zoom.us/webinar/regi... 📚 #edchatie
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Jen O’Sullivan @readwritejen.bsky.social · 20/02/2025
Great read ⬇️ Round robin/popcorn reading is very damaging to struggling readers. Also, the feedback given to children to support their reading is minimal. Could be doing so much more with our instructional time.
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Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 08/02/2025
Brutal takedown of reading policy in Wales and Scotland, as Northern Ireland looks to change course with its new strategy based around phonics. @kathyrastle.bsky.social makes several important (and apparently still necessary) observations about the evidence on reading. www.itv.com/news/2025-02...
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Jen O’Sullivan @readwritejen.bsky.social · 09/02/2025
🔔 Free teacher resource 🔔 Free FAQ handout on phonemic awareness & phonics from @readwritejen.bsky.social @playfulclassroom.bsky.social literacy-channel.mykajabi.com/offers/2jCWN...
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Mme Lockhart @mmelockhart.bsky.social · 08/02/2025
“Orthographic mapping creates connections between graphemes and phonemes to secure spellings bonded to pronunciation of words in memory. However, meanings must also become bonded to spelling in memory.” ~Linnea Ehri #SoRticle #ScienceOfReading Link: www.byramhills.org/uploaded/Cur...
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Jen O’Sullivan @readwritejen.bsky.social · 08/02/2025
Ready to start reading this on my kindle. 👏🏼 👏🏼 @suchmo83.bsky.social
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Joe O'Hara @joeoharadcu.bsky.social · 03/02/2025
So I think I will do a monthly share of this for anyone who hasn't seen it. Do get in touch if you woukd like to join go.bsky.app/8FJAkMG
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Jen O’Sullivan @readwritejen.bsky.social · 31/01/2025
Very excited about our symposium on assessment in literacy this March and even more excited to hear from our special guest Dr Jan Hasbrouck. Registration is open now. literacy-channel.mykajabi.com/offers/z2z3M...
literacy-channel.mykajabi.com
Literacy Channel's First Site
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Clara Maria Fiorentini @clarafiorentini.bsky.social · 31/01/2025
Dr Jan Hasbrouck is joining us for our next literacy symposium on March 8. Registration now open: literacy-channel.mykajabi.com/offers/z2z3M...
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Aimie Brennan @aimiebrennan.bsky.social · 29/01/2025
Very excited to announce the launch of our new SIG - “Research & Reflective Practice” @marinoinstitute.bsky.social #TREX #edchatie 📅 6 February ⏰ 6:30 PM (Online) 🎤 Guest: Dr. Stephen Day, Head of Education, University of West Scotland 🌍 All welcome! To join, email reflectivepractice@mie.ie
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Jen O’Sullivan @readwritejen.bsky.social · 27/01/2025
Delighted to have been involved in this and great to see it getting out to schools and teachers @dyslexiaireland.bsky.social
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Jen O’Sullivan @readwritejen.bsky.social · 12/01/2025
. ‘These results suggest that RR may not currently be the most effective approach, for literacy intervention.’ Thank you @natejoseph.bsky.social for conducting this important research on Reading Recovery.
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Jen O’Sullivan @readwritejen.bsky.social · 11/01/2025
Check it out ‼️ Fantastic resource with many wonderful choices 📕 Thank you for your compilation @sconnor7.bsky.social Off to buy some more books 🤦🏼‍♀️
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Rebecca Broderick @rebeccabroderick.bsky.social · 08/01/2025
A lovely opportunity to speak with Jane and Hugh, the hosts of the ‘That’ll Teach You’ podcast, about my experience as a placement tutor. open.spotify.com/episode/7omJ...
open.spotify.com
School Placement with Rebecca Morrissey
That'll Teach You · Episode
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Julian Girdham @sccenglish.bsky.social · 05/01/2025
As term starts, lots ahead for educators in Ireland to discuss in the revived #EdChatie sessions on every second Monday evening. More details: www.juliangirdham.com/blog/edchati... Many thanks to all who are hosting, and pls repost.
"#EdChatie on Bluesky
All sessions on Monday evenings, 8:30-9:30 PM.

Jan 13th: How can Ireland address its teacher recruitment and retention crisis? Host: @humphreyjones.bsky.social
Jan 27th: AI in Irish education. Host: @john-hurley.bsky.social
Feb 10th: Cognitive Science in Irish education. Host: @patjburke.bsky.social
Feb 24th: Supporting additional needs in Irish schools: barriers and opportunities. Host: @trinagolden.bsky.social
Mar 10th: Leadership in Irish schools: challenges and opportunities. Host: @joerolston.bsky.social
Mar 24th: ESD in Ireland: the role of education in helping Ireland become climate leaders. Host: @codie1cory.bsky.social
April 7th: Open to offers.
The text is in bold yellow and purple on a yellow background, with red emphasizing session timing."
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Jen O’Sullivan @readwritejen.bsky.social · 03/01/2025
Series of free webinars on ‘Teaching Writing Genres in the Early Years’ with Sligo Ed Centre begins on 23 Jan. If interested, register here www.ecsligo.ie/jan-23rd-dr-...
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Alex Quigley @alexjquigley.bsky.social · 02/01/2025
Reading fluency assessments are really useful indicators, but there can be a limited relationship with reading comprehension when it comes to the academic language typically used later in school: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
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natejoseph.bsky.social @natejoseph.bsky.social · 29/12/2024
Does research suggest that structured literacy is more effective than balanced literacy? I’ve spent a long time trying to answer this question, here are my current thoughts: www.teachingbyscience.com/systematic-p...
teachingbyscience.com
Structured Literacy | Teaching By Science
Evidence Based Education
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Adrea Truckenmiller @adrea.bsky.social · 20/12/2024
Did you know that the FCRR student center activities (which are also evidence-based) are in digital game format now too? games.fcrr.org#/
games.fcrr.org
DSCA
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Patrick Burke @patjburke.bsky.social · 16/12/2024
What do we need to bear in mind as we move forward with a new Primary School Curriculum? In a new article for the Irish Teachers' Journal, @paulalehane.bsky.social and I highlight key points from two research reports we published last year. www.into.ie/app/uploads/... #edchatie #edusky /1
Abstract text: Intensive debate surrounds integration, pedagogy, and assessment in educational research.
While these fundamental concepts have regularly been explored individually, they have rarely
been considered in tandem with each other. Research (Burke & Lehane, 2023a, 2023b) to support
the redevelopment of the Primary School Curriculum has highlighted a number of critical
issues for their design and enactment, both individually and in concert. In this article, we chart
the affordances and challenges of curriculum integration, highlighting principles that might
inform its curricular and classroom implementation. The manifold perspectives on pedagogy
are synthesised to highlight convergence and contradiction in the available literature. The
crucial role of assessment in sustaining ongoing learning is outlined. In synthesising the
literature from these areas, the article looks back and projects forwards, identifying meaningful
innovations, potential issues and key implications for the coming period of curriculum reform.
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Jen O’Sullivan @readwritejen.bsky.social · 16/12/2024
I agree with you @patjburke.bsky.social that the webinar model has been very successful thanks to the Ed Centres but I’ve concerns around teachers upskilling in their own time and paying from their own pocket with little recognition. Are the DES being let off the hook where CPD is concerned?
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