What it Really Means to “Teach” the Science of Reading
Science of reading. It seems to be the only term we’re hearing lately in the literacy world. It’s being thrown around everywhere. One way we hear it a lot is…
The Swiss Army Knife of Effective Literacy Instruction
Social media is FILLED with polarization regarding effective literacy instruction. It’s filled with shame and blame. It makes you feel terrible–and confused. And a lot of it is grounded in…
Teach vs Tell: The Difference Between Strong and Poor Instruction
There are some terms in the field of education that seem synonymous, but aren’t. Two such terms: teacher vs educator. According to the Mirriam-Webster dictionary, a “teacher” is one whose…
Want Students to Succeed in Reading? Build Background Knowledge!
We know that what readers bring to a text matters a lot. Louise Rosenblatt, way back in the 1930’s, told us about “reader response theory,” which basically means that the…
Balanced Literacy Instruction: What It Actually Means
The term “balanced literacy instruction” is a grossly misinterpreted and misrepresented one lately. Social media is spreading these wrong messages like wildfire–so I’d like to clarify what this term truly…