Let's Talk, Teacher to Teacher With Dr. Gina Pepin
Welcome to the Let’s Talk, Teacher to Teacher podcast. My name is Dr. Gina Pepin - and I am so happy to meet you. I am a mom, teacher, professor, supervisor for teacher candidates, a reading specialist and a whole lot more! I am the 2023-2024 Region 1 Michigan Teacher of the Year and State Finalist - and also served in this role as part of the very first group of Regional Teachers/State Finalists of the Year in 2018-2019. But what I want you to know the most about me is… I have a great passion for early literacy and teacher preparation and the thing I am most proud of is of course our children… but my once in a lifetime chance to become a co-author, along with the extremely talented children’s author - Eric Litwin ! Together… we wrote: The Power of Joyful Reading: Help Your Young Readers Soar to Success. You can learn more about me - my experiences, how to hire me to speak at your workshops, schools, teacher programs etc… at www.ginapepin.com
I offer you practical make and takes - easy tips along with real life shared stories - so that you can easily create joyful shared reading experiences and other amazing strategies and approaches in your classroom, daycare centers, and homes right away.
I am here to help you make powerful changes - Let’s do this together.
Check out the Ride and Read program I designed along with 100s of FREE resources at www.ginapepin.com
Episodes
78 episodes
Let’s Talk About the Value of Authentic Texts in Early Reading Instruction
In this episode, Dr. Gina Pepin explores the critical role of authentic texts in early reading development. Rather than relying solely on scripted or predictable practice readers, authentic texts—such as storybooks, poems, and real-world materi...
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Season 2
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Episode 32
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1:49
The Difference Between Nonfiction and Informational Text
Join Dr. Gina Pepin as she tackles one of the most common confusions in the literacy world: the difference between nonfiction and informational text. In this episode, you’ll learn why not all nonfiction serves the same purpose and how understan...
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Season 2
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Episode 31
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2:04
Book Exploration Time
What happens when students have the freedom to browse and interact with a wide variety of texts—no matter the level, genre, or format? In this episode, Dr. Gina Pepin explores the transformative power of book exploration in the classroom. From ...
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Episode 30
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2:27
Vision Series: Why Do Young Learners Often Transpose—or Flip—Letters When They’re Learning to Read and Write?
Why do young learners flip or reverse letters when they start reading and writing? In this bite-sized episode Dr. Gina Pepin sheds light on one of the most common concerns in early literacy—letter transpositions! Discover why these mix-ups happ...
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Season 2
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Episode 29
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2:53
Vision Series: Vertical and Horizontal Reading and Writing Spaces – OT Strategies
How can your classroom design help students develop both strong literacy skills and healthy motor development? Join Dr. Pepin in this eye-opening episode as she explores the power of vertical and horizontal reading and writing spaces—and how si...
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Season 2
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Episode 28
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5:27
Learning to Read Should Not Just Be Taught – It Should Be Experienced and Celebrated!
Welcome to Let’s Talk Teacher to Teacher with Dr. Gina Pepin! In this inspiring episode, “Learning to Read Should Not Just Be Taught – It Should Be Experienced and Celebrated!”, Dr. Gina Pepin invites educators to see reading instruction in a w...
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Season 2
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Episode 27
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7:20
Vision Series: - Functional Vision, Visual Efficiency, and Their Impact on Reading
Did you know that 20/20 eyesight isn’t enough for reading success? In this episode, Dr. Gina Pepin explores the critical difference between being able to see the page and truly being able to read it. You’ll learn about functional vision
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Season 2
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Episode 23
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4:46
Vision Series - Not Just 20/20: When Seeing Isn’t Reading
Can a student have perfect eyesight and still struggle to read? Absolutely! In this eye-opening episode of “Let’s Talk Teacher to Teacher,” Dr. Gina Pepin unpacks the difference between simply seeing letters and truly reading ...
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Season 2
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Episode 24
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2:28
Positive Childhood Experiences Can Squash ACEs
How can we as educators help students not only overcome adversity but truly flourish? In this episode, Dr. Gina Pepin explores the powerful impact of Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs) and how shifting our focus from challenges to strengths ...
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Season 2
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Episode 25
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5:57
Vision Series - From Cat to Catastrophe: Why Varying Orthographic Patterns Matters
Why does a student who can read “cat” get stuck on “catastrophe”? In this lively and practical episode of "Let’s Talk Teacher to Teacher," Dr. Gina Pepin breaks down why varying orthographic patterns during literacy intervention is a game-chang...
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Season 2
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Episode 26
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3:55
The Truth Be Told: "You Don’t Even Have Your Own Classroom?"
Ever had a student ask, “You don’t even have your own classroom?” For reading specialists, interventionists, and instructional coaches, that innocent question can hold more weight than you’d think. In this episode, Dr. Gina Pepin shares the joy...
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4:49
The Truth Be Told: When Your Hair Looks Like a Goat
Have you ever wondered what your students really think when they see you walk into the classroom—especially on one of those “bad hair” days? In this episode, Dr. Gina Pepin shares a lighthearted yet meaningful story about the day a student said...
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Season 2
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Episode 22
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4:59
Reading in Focus: Vision Strategies - Eyes on the Prize: Fun Strategies for Visual Tracking and Convergence
In Eyes on the Prize: Fun Strategies for Visual Tracking and Convergence, you’ll pick up easy, classroom-friendly tips to help students whose eyes have a mind of their own—pencil push-ups, line trackers, flashlight games, and more. Discover why...
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Season 2
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Episode 21
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5:08
The Truth Be Told: "Bilingual? Nope, Bi-Cursive!”
Dr. Gina Pepin returns with another classroom story guaranteed to make you smile! If you think being bilingual is impressive, wait till you meet Michael—he reads and writes only in cursive, thanks to Dad’s legacy. In this episode, you’ll laugh ...
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Season 2
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Episode 20
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5:24
Imagination Walk
Step into a world where literacy meets play and imagination leads the way. In this episode, Dr. Gina Pepin shares a simple but powerful routine—an Imagination Walk—that builds vocabulary, sparks creative thinking, and nurtures joyful expression...
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Season 2
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Episode 19
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2:42
Dance A Story!
What happens when stories step off the page and come to life—literally? In this episode of Let’s Talk Teacher to Teacher, Dr. Gina Pepin explores the powerful connection between movement, memory, and meaning through a simple but ...
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Season 2
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Episode 18
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5:14
The Truth Be Told: The Pumpkin Promise
When is a pumpkin more than a pumpkin? In this moving episode, Dr. Gina Pepin shares an unforgettable moment when a student in a simple classroom activity reveals how pumpkins have become a symbol of hope—and reunion—for his family. What starts...
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Season 2
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Episode 17
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4:01
Flashlight Friday – A Fun, Interactive Classroom Activity
Shine a light on learning—literally! In this episode, Dr. Gina Pepin shares the magic of Flashlight Friday, a simple but powerful way to boost student engagement and joy in the classroom. From word hunts and storytime to review games a...
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Season 2
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Episode 16
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6:33
Truth Be Told: “In Order?" – When a Simple Task Isn’t So Simple
What happens when a child pauses before writing the alphabet and asks, “In order?” In this episode, Dr. Gina Pepin explores how a simple question reveals the hidden pressures students feel, the unspoken rules they try to follow, and th...
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Season 2
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Episode 15
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3:34
When Parents Say, "They Just Memorized the Book"
Ever hear, “He’s not really reading—he just memorized it”? In this episode, Dr. Gina Pepin reframes memorization as an essential step in early literacy. From print awareness to story structure and fluency, those “memorized” books aren’...
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Season 2
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Episode 14
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3:29
Reading in Focus: A Vision Series - Sand, Songs, and Silly Puppets: Multisensory Reading for Vision Challenges
Glitter in your hair, rice on your sweater, and a puppet demanding snacks? Welcome to the world of multisensory reading! In this episode, Dr. Gina Pepin shares fun, practical strategies—like sand tracing, rhythm reading, and puppet storytelling...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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4:01
Respecting Every Learner — Finding Balance with Pronouns and Policies
In this episode, Dr. Gina Pepin explores how teachers can create inclusive classrooms by using neutral, professional language and respecting students. Learn practical strategies for balancing policies, honoring identities, and building a learni...
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Season 2
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Episode 12
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5:05
Reading in Focus: A Vision Series - Eye Spy… a Struggling Reader
In this episode, Dr. Gina Pepin invites teachers to become reading detectives as we explore the mysteries behind students whose eyes seem to have a mind of their own. From skipped lines to jumbled letters, these signs often point to visual proc...
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Season 2
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Episode 11
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5:49
The Sound of Story: Bringing Tempo and Dynamics to Read-Alouds
Ever thought of your read-alouds as musical performances? In this episode, Dr. Gina Pepin explores how tempo and dynamics—from slow and reflective Largo to fast and joyful Allegro—can transform the way children experience stor...
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Season 2
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Episode 10
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5:27
