In this article, Louise Spear-Swerling discusses the key features of structured literacy (SL) beginning with explicit and systematic instruction. The article explains why SL is an effective way to teach children with dyslexia and students who struggle with learning to read. Information on what Spear-Swerling calls typical literacy practices (TLP) cites other types of teaching where the reading is more […]
Elementary (K-5)
Effective Strategies for Teaching the Alphabetic Principle
Progress Monitoring: Reading
This Progress Monitoring: Reading professional learning module builds educator knowledge in how to generate useful feedback for gauging independent student reading development over time within the elementary classroom. Provided by the IRIS Center at Vanderbilt University, the module entails approximately two hours of self-study with optional credit and micro-credentialing features. Users consider the guiding questions, watch numerous brief video clips, […]
Professional Learning Communities Facilitator’s Guide for the What Works Clearinghouse Practice Guide: Teaching Academic Content and Literacy to English Learners in Elementary and Middle School
For use in professional learning communities (PLCs), this Regional Educational Laboratory Southwest facilitator’s guide supports the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) practice guide titled Teaching Academic Content and Literacy to English Learners in Elementary and Middle School. The facilitator’s guide engages educators in a five-step collaborative and cyclical process to build teacher knowledge and application of evidence-based strategies appropriate for […]
Considerations for Scheduling Early Literacy Interventions
A product of the Southeast Regional Educational Laboratory, this infographic depicts an intervention schedule for Grades K–2 classrooms utilizing evidence-based recommendations reported in Institute of Education Sciences (IES) guidance documents. As an example master schedule, the allotted timeframes advocate for reading as a literacy priority in every early grades classroom. The timeframes consist of split schedules–A and B–to ensure that […]