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Feb 14, 2022
Building Equity in Literacy
Addressing a Harmful Narrative In order to address the problem, we must first acknowledge that there is a problem: we are faced with inequity in literacy instruction and achievement, particularly for students of color. If we want to provide equity in literacy, we must first confront the barriers that create inequities in literacy. First and
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Feb 2, 2022
Early Identification for English Learners (ELs)
The Importance of Literacy Screening for ELs Literacy screening for early identification of reading difficulties is an essential part of education for all students, including those students who are learning English (DESE, 2021, p. 69). It is common thinking that a student who is learning English cannot be screened for learning disabilities, like dyslexia, until
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Jan 24, 2022
Executive Function and Process Writing
Using 5-Step Writing Process At Landmark, teachers help students develop written language skills through a consistent, research-based, multi-step writing process that occurs in two distinct phases: the prewriting phase (brainstorm, organize), which is all about generating and organizing ideas, and the writing phase (rough draft, edit/proofread, final draft), which tasks students to take all of
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Jan 12, 2022
Using Visualizing as a Reading Comprehension Strategy to Engage High School Learners
Common Language for Reading Comprehension Much like developing a base for discussing decoding and fluency with students, establishing a common language for reading comprehension is of great importance. Many teachers focus on the six active reading strategies: Visualize; Clarify; Question; Predict; Connect; Evaluate. I’ve even heard the catchy mnemonic device, “Vicky called Queen Penelope cute
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Jan 6, 2022
Bottom-up and Top-down Teaching
Teacher training models where component skills and content are acquired and then passed on encourage us to think “bottom-up” as educators. There are many benefits to what might be termed bottom-up teaching: the inductive practice of introducing specific skills in sequence and with abundant, success-oriented practice. A teacher leading her students on this journey often
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Nov 29, 2021
The Simple View of Reading
Decoding refers to word-level reading and linguistic comprehension refers to the ability to understand the spoken language in which the words are written. When students are able to decode, they engage their cipher skills and word-specific knowledge. Cipher skills reflect an understanding of the code of the language and how to use that code to
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Nov 18, 2021
Supporting Students in Developing Automatic Word Recognition
Why do we need to perform rocket science for some students? Reading researcher, Maryanne Wolf, reports in her book Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain (2007) that reading ability is not an inherent genetic trait in humans: it is a specific skill that must be taught. Spoken language has
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Oct 28, 2021
Handwriting and Literacy Development
Although every student can benefit from handwriting instruction and practice, focus and attention on letter formation are especially necessary for students who are diagnosed with specific learning disabilities (SLD), like dyslexia or dysgraphia. Often, students with SLD write more slowly and less clearly than their peers. In an effort to help students record information quickly
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Oct 12, 2021
Paraphrasing to Support Reading Comprehension
Reflect back on the first pages of To Kill a Mockingbird. They make many references to American history and relevant locations in the American south: Andrew Jackson, “Creeks up the creek,” Battle of Hastings, Mobile, Montgomery, and the list goes on. Imagine trying to make a mental movie of the setting of this novel if
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