Literacy

Every student should be provided effective and fun classroom instruction that is differentiated for their intellectual ability and academic readiness. Learn 5 ways this can be accomplished in and out of the classroom while addressing the critical skills that underpin fluent reading and writing.

Research is clear - instruction that incorporates systematically designed and explicit instruction along with opportunities for implicit learning is most effective. Drs. Jan Hasbrouck and Nancy Young break down these terms and provide authentic examples of how to appropriately include them in literacy instruction to ensure optimal student outcomes.

Professional educators use sufficient, appropriate information derived from on-going assessments to plan and deliver instruction and intervention for each student. Learn from Dr. Jan Hasbrouck about the 4 categories of academic assessments, each of which is designed to answer simple but important questions.

Fluency is a fuel that helps multilingual learners (MLLs) leverage their superpower. Discover how instruction in reading fluency facilitates the development of essential English oral language skills like phrasing, intonation, and vocabulary among MLLs. Mastering these skills equips MLLs to comprehend English more proficiently, especially when they achieve fluency in decoding.

What comes to mind when you hear the term “reading fluency?” For many educators, one of the first connections is to automatic word recognition and reading speed. However, there is another essential component to reading fluency, that is often overlooked – prosody. Discover the power of prosody and explore effective methods for teaching it, balancing scientific principles with artistic approaches.

The Science of Reading conversation is changing how American schools approach reading instruction, especially in the primary grades. But “The Big Five” of phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension are not enough to foster success in reading.

Teaching metacognitive strategies in the classroom improves student outcomes. Learn what metacognition is, why it’s so important, and how to teach it.

Wherever you fall on the love-hate continuum of grammar, we can all probably find common ground in at least one belief: Writing loses power without the strong, intentional use of grammar. Patty McGee explores 5 simple yet powerful instructional shifts that will have a huge impact on how students use grammar as their artistic tool to mold, construct, and shape their writing.

What is fluency? In the first post in our Best Practices series, we'll examine the definition of fluency, study its components, and consider its instructional implications.

For many students, putting pen to paper can be downright scary! As teachers, we are not powerless in this situation. In fact, what we do early on in the school year can make a world of difference. If we can create a space of trust, where students can show up again and again fully aware of their challenges, and write despite them, writing growth will happen. By establishing a strong community of writers at the onset of the year, students build writing resilience.