Everything is Figuroutable, and most things worth figuring out take time, hard work, perseverance, and collaboration. Proof of this very concept has come to light over and over again, including this past week. Collaborating with Coaches Our FMCSD instructional coaching staff was tasked with refining our district’s work around identifying essential standards for social emotional … [Read more…]
My summer kicked off with a commitment to reading 9 books, following a method for accomplishing goals suggested by George Couros. The second book on my to-read list for Summer ’24 is one that has been on my shelf for several years: Speech to Print by Louisa Moats. I have pulled Speech to Print several … [Read more…]
I have been more and more nervous about gross misinterpretations and misuses of the phrase, “The Science of Reading.” Among the many fears I hold, one is that educators are interpreting the Science of Reading to mean: teach phonics (only or first). Timothy Shanahan, brilliantly explained how this fear is playing out in terms of … [Read more…]
Staying Grounded in Research When I get fired up about structured literacy versus balanced literacy… and I often do… I make sure that what I say or write is grounded in research. I rely on the Science of Reading resources that are in great supply, I process their content through reading, writing (this blog!) and … [Read more…]
We (I use this pronoun loosely) have made significant gains as an educational society in shedding light on the power of the Science of Reading/a structured literacy approach. Phenomenal resources like The Reading League, Amplify Science of Reading the Podcast, the International Dyslexia Association, and reporting from journalist Emily Hanford and author Natalie Wexler have … [Read more…]
A Few Disruptions My Sunday routine has been a bit disrupted today. Where I normally spend my Sunday morning in a chair by the woodstove in our porch chipping away at the weekly blog, this morning I was instead enjoying coffee and danishes with my sisters at my kitchen counter (great disruption, I must say!). … [Read more…]
I missed posting last week – I believe it is the fifth missed post since January 1, when I made a commitment to posting weekly. I feel an immense amount of gratitude to those readers (I might have five regular readers?!), who give a nudge or notice when I haven’t written. I write for my … [Read more…]