Welcome to My Substack
Dr. Jen O’Sullivan: Literacy Educator, Researcher, and Advocate for Early Reading
Welcome, and thank you for visiting!
My name is Jen O’Sullivan, and I am delighted to introduce myself and my work to you here.
I am a lecturer in literacy education with a background in primary teaching, having spent several years working in a DEIS Band 1 junior school. Throughout my career, I have been committed to ensuring that all children—particularly those most at risk of reading difficulties—have access to high-quality, evidence-based literacy instruction.
My academic work has focused on the foundations of early reading. I completed my PhD in Early Literacy, where I examined the critical role of phonemic awareness in children's early reading development. This research continues to inform my approach to literacy instruction, intervention design, and teacher education.
I have had the privilege of serving as past president of the Literacy Association of Ireland, where I worked to promote research-informed literacy practices and foster dialogue between researchers and teachers across the country.
In 2021, I was honoured to be awarded a Fulbright Scholarship, which enabled me to spend three months at the Florida Center for Reading Research, collaborating with Prof. Hugh Catts, a globally recognised expert in reading development and reading difficulties. This experience allowed me to deepen my engagement with international research communities and to reflect on how global best practices can inform the Irish literacy landscape.
In addition to my academic work, I have contributed to instructional resources. I collaborated on the development of Sounds Like Phonics, a widely used phonics programme, and I am the sole author of A Sound Beginning for Reading, a systematic phonological awareness resource designed to support early reading instruction in schools.
I am also a part of The Literacy Channel, an initiative dedicated to providing research-informed professional development resources for teachers and schools. Through webinars, videos, and publications, we seek to bridge the gap between literacy research and classroom practice.
Over recent years, I have delivered numerous webinars and professional development sessions focused on early literacy, phonemic awareness, phonics instruction, and intervention strategies, aimed at supporting practising teachers in delivering effective, evidence-based reading instruction.
Through this Substack, I hope to share reflections on research, policy developments, literacy instruction, and broader issues in literacy education. I look forward to creating a space for thoughtful dialogue about how we can continue to improve literacy outcomes for all learners.
Thank you for reading,
Jen
