Science of Reading News Digest: March 2024

Last chance! We don’t want you to miss out on this limited-time offer, ending March 31: Use coupon code LLN50-OFF for 50% off your first month of the Literacy Leadership Network.

Plus: We have an exclusive offer for D.C. educators. Thanks to the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), 4th-12th grade educators in Washington, D.C. can register for our self-paced course, Addressing Learning Gaps with Syllable Instruction, for free! Strengthen your understanding of how to use syllable knowledge to improve students' multisyllabic word reading skills by registering today.

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What does it take to propel all students towards the literacy success we know they’re capable of? Throwing random initiatives and trainings disconnected from implementation to the wall just to see what sticks isn’t likely to be effective, and literacy success takes a lot more than just passing a law. This month’s literacy headlines consider this same question, reinforcing a belief that’s central to our work here at The Literacy Architects – it takes a village to meet our collective goal of ensuring every student will learn how to read.

School Leaders Need Training in the Science of Reading, Just Like Teachers?

To ensure literacy best practice implementation efforts are successful in schools, training teachers simply isn’t enough. In Massachusetts, initiatives include adopting new instructional materials and providing training for both teachers and leaders. Principals are now trained alongside teachers to observe classrooms effectively, provide meaningful feedback, and ensure appropriate and sustainable implementation. This comprehensive approach has resulted in reading score improvements, highlighting the importance of investing in professional development at all levels to sustain progress. (P.S. – if you’re a leader looking for training, check out our Literacy Leadership Network below!)

Learning science might help kids read better?

A recent study in a North Carolina urban school district suggests that integrating science and social studies lessons with reading instruction led to significant and lasting improvements in reading and math scores for low-income students. The study emphasizes the importance of depth over breadth in curriculum design, focusing on teaching vocabulary and developing schema that can aid in generalizing comprehension across various topics. However, implementing such coordinated lessons poses challenges for schools, requiring coordination across grades and adoption of knowledge-building curricula.

Budget committee rejects DPI literacy curriculum recommendations?

Wisconsin’s Joint Finance Committee has rejected a literacy curriculum recommendation list from the state’s Department of Public Instruction, opting for a smaller list proposed by the Early Literacy Curriculum Council. This decision reflects Wisconsin's embrace of evidence-based literacy instruction, providing partial funding to districts that select curricula from the approved list. Despite concerns voiced about potential lawsuits from excluded vendors, the approved list aims to prioritize quality over quantity, with proponents arguing that a narrower selection will benefit schools and simplify the work of literacy coaches.

What We're Working On

?? Announcing April’s Literacy Leadership Network Topic: Avoiding a Lemon in Curriculum Adoption and Implementation ??

?? Here's what's on the Literacy Leadership Network Calendar:

? April 1: Live webinar to help you translate reading research into concrete plans for instructional change.

? April 2: Webinar recording + members-only resources and downloads so you can take your learning with you.

? April 8: 2–4 short videos aligned to this month's topic so you can further your learning.

? April 15: Live consultancy meeting to give you the time and space to receive feedback from and exchange ideas with peers.

? April 22: Office hours to ask our literacy specialists questions about your specific school or district situation.

Don’t miss your chance for 50% off your first month! This offer expires on March 31. Register today using coupon code LLN50-OFF!

Attention D.C. Educators!

Time is running out on this exclusive offer for D.C. educators! Thanks to the Office of the State Superintendent of Education, DC educators in grades 4–12 can register for Addressing Learning Gaps with Syllable Instruction for free! Strengthen your understanding of how to use syllable knowledge to improve students' multisyllabic word reading skills by registering today.

Here’s what one participant had to say:

“The asynchronous lessons were organized and allowed me to work on them as I had time. The content was beneficial and helped me understand how I can help struggling readers."

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