Latest in Literacy Blog
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Read-Alouds for Older Students — Worth it or Waste of Time?
Read more: Read-Alouds for Older Students — Worth it or Waste of Time?Evaluating the impact of read-alouds for older students (grades 4+) Just as educators like you use data for instructional decision-making, Kids Read Now turned to current research to answer the question: Is reading aloud to students after K-3 really worth it, or are we simply wasting valuable instructional time? Research is clear about the benefits…
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Accelerating Reading Progress with High Effect Size – Part 6: Motivation and Engagement
Read more: Accelerating Reading Progress with High Effect Size – Part 6: Motivation and EngagementWithout student motivation and engagement, everything fails Before we reveal the special significance of student motivation and engagement, let’s look back and connect with the influences we previously explored. While it’s not essential to read all the articles before this one, you may find it gives both a more comprehensive picture and a more detailed…
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Literacy Acceleration Playbook
Read more: Literacy Acceleration PlaybookWin. Excel. Beat a personal best. These are the mindsets of athletes. Even those who are not athletes know that in order to meet goals such as winning or surpassing a personal record one must practice, put in hard work, train, learn technique, and take feedback to help refine performance. In addition to the aforementioned…
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Several Lessons Learned from the COVID Pandemic
Read more: Several Lessons Learned from the COVID PandemicTo put it mildly, the COVID pandemic has been a game changer, a shake-up, a reset, and a force that has made us re-examine who we are, what we can do and a reminder of what we can overcome if we work together in education. Essentially, it has been one of the greatest teachers that…
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The Secret Strength of Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
Read more: The Secret Strength of Universal Design for Learning (UDL)There’s this widgetsmith on the opening screen of my iPhone that reads, “As long as we’re creating it’s not too late to change our story.” People’s stories motivate and inspire but they also connect us, help us grow. Throughout my years of being an educator, tucking in beside my fellow professionals, really hearing their journey,…
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D.R.E.A.M. Literacy
Read more: D.R.E.A.M. LiteracyA literacy environment should be cultivated by its curriculum. Learning how to read and develop literacy skills is a process that will benefit a child their entire life. It is the foundation for other subjects and a manner in which students learn to communicate and learn about their world, near and far. The process to…
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Creating A R.I.C.H. Literacy Environment
Read more: Creating A R.I.C.H. Literacy EnvironmentMost students either really love to read and find joy in growing and sharpening their literacy skills, or they feel the opposite. Their experience depends on two things- the instructional decisions made and the environment in which they learn. Educators are often told to create a “literacy rich” or “print rich” classroom setting, but what…
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PenPals: Handwritten Letters to Support the Whole Child
Read more: PenPals: Handwritten Letters to Support the Whole ChildWhen was the last time you wrote or received a handwritten letter? For thousands of years, handwritten letters have played a critical part in our lives. In this age of digital communication, handwritten letters are becoming a lost art. Emails and text messages can be sent instantly; however, the impact of a good old-fashioned handwritten…
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Meet the School Librarian
Read more: Meet the School LibrarianAugust and September traditionally serve as the months for Meet the Teacher nights. Families file into school buildings to check out classrooms, admire bulletin boards, and inquire about policies and procedures. I am suggesting that parents make a detour on their way to classrooms this school year. Visit the school library. Yes, it’s true. School…
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Autonomy in K-3 Literacy Learning
Read more: Autonomy in K-3 Literacy LearningSomething that I’ve learned in my time as an educator is the power of providing students with choices. Choice to explore their learning, choice to figure things out on their own, choice to learn new things in a variety of ways. Literacy skills are the foundation of learning, and something that educators should get excited…