Podcasts about International Literacy Association

Send us a textDr. Doug Fisher is known for his prolific work in instructional design, curriculum development, and professional learning. Additionally, he is a teacher leader at Health Sciences High & Middle College, an award-winning, open-enrollment public school in the City Heights neighborhood of San Diego, California that he co founded in 2007. Previously, Doug was an early intervention teacher and elementary school educator. Much of his work has been published with San Diego State University colleague, Dr. Nancy Frey. Together, they offer tailored professional learning opportunities around the world. With colleagues, Doug has published over 250 books, chapters, and articles focused on school improvement including Rigor Unveiled, The Teacher Clarity Playbook, PLC+, and Welcome to Teaching. He is the recipient of an International Reading Association William S. Grey citation of merit and an Exemplary Leader award from the Conference on English Leadership of NCTE. He was named an Adolescent Literacy Thought Leader by the International Literacy Association in 2016 and elected into the Reading Hall of Fame in 2022. Doug loves being an educator and hopes to share that passion with others. Dr. Douglas Fisher  is Professor of Educational Leadership at San Diego State University. You can connect with Dr. Fisher at https://www.fisherandfrey.com/ and follow him on X (formerly Twitter) for updates @DFISHERSDSU.Resources mentioned in this episode:International Literacy Association's Literacy Glossary - https://www.literacyworldwide.org/get-resources/literacy-glossaryTo cite this episode:Persohn, L. (Host). (2025, Mar. 11). A conversation with Doug Fisher (Season 5, No. 8) [Audio podcast episode]. In Classroom Caffeine Podcast series. https://www.classroomcaffeine.com/guests. DOI: 10.5240/0A22-E8D7-3F09-096B-C056-D Connect with Classroom Caffeine at www.classroomcaffeine.com or on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

On episode 2 of We Can't Do It Alone, Nōn sits down with NY Times bestselling author Frederick Joseph to explore the craft and respite of writing poetry, Black boys and men being whole beings capable of being strong and soft, collective liberation, and how we feel collective care should look like: I am yours and you are mine. Frederick is the author of the heart-stirring poetry collection, We Alive, Beloved. Helpful things mentioned during this episode: Frederick Joseph@fredtjosephWe Alive, BelovedTrans Defense Fund LA Frederick Joseph is a Westchester raised two-time New York Times bestselling author, and a “genius across genres.” His books include a poetry collection, We Alive, Beloved, two books of nonfiction, Patriarchy Blues, and The Black Friend, a collaboration, Better Than We Found It, and a children's book, The Courage to Dream, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Joseph's books have been named an Amazon Editors' Pick, notable by the International Literacy Association, Best Children's Book of the Year by Bank Street College, a Cooperative Children's Book Center Choice selection, Booklist Editors' Choice, and more. He has written for The Boston Globe, Essence, Huffington Post, AdWeek, and Cosmopolitan, and won both the Letter Review Poetry prize and a Letter Review Essay prize. His most recent writing on politics and culture can be found on his Substack. He lives with his wife Porsche and dog Stokely in New York City. How you can support Nōn and this independently-run podcast: Leave a 5-star rating and a wildly glowing review for We Can't Do It Alone on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your pods.Share your helpers with Nōn here and he may (or may not but still be delighted) share your helper on the podcast in season 2.Order The Feely Cards on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org or your local indie bookseller for yourself and everyone you know.Follow @wecantdoitalone on Instagram. Thank you for listening to We Can't Do It Alone! Don't forget about the helpers. We all need help. Even you.

Many skeptics of the science of reading are concerned that structured approaches will bore kids and make it less likely they'll enjoy reading. These concerns are unfounded for a number of reasons. First, structured approaches help reach students who don't learn through implicit learning (which is a lot of kids).It's hard to develop a love of something when you've failed repeatedly and no one has given you the tools to do it. Enjoyment comes with competence and confidence.Second, many people assume that the science of reading is all about drilling phonics worksheets. But it's not!Good teachers know how to make structured approaches engaging and interesting. Even if they're challenging. Good phonics instruction is not about drill and kill. And finally, the science of reading is WAY more than just phonics. It includes many other linguistic skills that help students decode, comprehend sentences, understand what they're reading, spell words, or communicate through writing. Read-alouds and think-alouds are a powerful, accessible way to build these important language skills. That's why I invited Dr. Molly Ness to episode 182 of De Facto Leaders as part of the National Literacy Month RIF series to talk about literacy advocacy work and the power of using read-alouds and think-alouds to build vocabulary. Dr. Molly Ness is a former classroom teacher, a reading researcher, and a teacher educator. She earned a doctorate in reading education at the University of Virginia, and spent 16 years as an associate professor at Fordham University in New York City. The author of five books, Molly served on the Board of Directors for the International Literacy Association and is a New York state chapter founder of the Reading League. Dr. Ness has extensive experience in reading clinics, consulting with school districts, leading professional development, and advising school systems on research-based reading instruction. She provided literacy leadership for nationally recognized literacy non-profits, as well as major educational publishers. In 2024, Molly was invited to serve on the New York State Dyslexia Task Force. A frequent speaker and presenter, her happy place is translating the science of reading to schools and teachers. As a tireless literacy advocate, Molly created the End Book Deserts podcast, which brings awareness to the 32 million American children who lack access to books. She is currently writing a forthcoming Scholastic book, helping teachers understand orthographic mapping. In 2024, she founded Dirigo Literacy, a literacy consulting firm supporting schools, districts, and states align with and implement the science of reading.This episode is part of the National Literacy Month series of podcasts, presented in partnership between the Be Podcast Network and Reading Is Fundamental (RIF).In this conversation, we discuss:✅The impact of vocabulary on comprehension ✅The science of reading as an evolving body of work instead of a trend or curriculum✅Book deserts: Concerning statistics and how to help✅Getting started with policy briefs and advocacy work✅Think-alouds and read-alouds: Why they're not just for younger kidsIn this episode, I mention the School of Clinical Leadership, my program that helps related service providers develop a strategic plan for putting executive functioning support in place in collaboration with their school teams. You can learn more about that program here. In this episode I mention Language Therapy Advance Foundations, my program that helps SLPs create a system for language therapy. You can learn more about Language Therapy Advance Foundations here. You can get 25% off either program when you join between September 15-October 15. Just enter coupon code RIF25 on the checkout page to get this special rate. *If you're already a member of either program and you refer a friend, tell them to email me at talktome@drkarenspeech.com if they join and let me know you referred them and I'll send you a $100 referral bonus. Here's what you can do right now to support this campaign and ensure you don't miss any of these amazing interviews/commentary. Go to Apple, Spotify, or any other directory you use for podcasts and subscribe to the De Facto Leaders podcast.Once you listen to an episode or two, leave me a rating and review. This helps get my show into the hands of people who need the information.Do you have a colleague or friend who needs to learn more about the research surrounding language and literacy? Do you want to spread the word about practices and ideas you'd like to see in your school, community, or state? If so, tell them about the De Facto Leaders podcast so they can listen to all the episodes in this special campaign. Reading Is Fundamental is a nonprofit that focuses on connecting educators and families with materials and training aligned with evidence-based literacy instruction. Not only is their model aligned with the science of reading; they also offer unique book ownership solutions for professionals and families to address book equity issues. You can learn more about Reading Is Fundamental here. You can also learn more about the other BE Podcast Network shows at https://bepodcast.network  We're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments

Molly Ness is a former classroom teacher, a reading researcher, and a teacher educator. She earned a doctorate in reading education at the University of Virginia, and spent 16 years as an associate professor at Fordham University in New York City. The author of five books, Molly serves on the Board of Directors for the International Literacy Association and is a New York state chapter founder of the Reading League. Dr. Ness has extensive experience in reading clinics, consulting with school districts, leading professional development, and advising school systems on research-based reading instruction. She is the creator of the End Book Deserts podcast, which brings awareness to the 32 million American children who lack access to books.That's 32 milllion in the US alone!!Deborah's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/what.ive.learnt/Mind, Film and Publishing: https://www.mindfilmandpublishing.com/Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/what-ive-learnt/id153556330Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3TQjCspxcrSi4yw2YugxBkBuzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1365850

On episode 2 of We Can't Do It Alone, Nōn sits down with NY Times bestselling author Frederick Joseph to explore the craft and respite of writing poetry, Black boys and men being whole beings capable of being strong and soft, collective liberation, and how we feel collective care should look like: I am yours and you are mine. Frederick is the author of the heart-stirring poetry collection, We Alive, Beloved.Helpful things mentioned during this episode:Frederick Joseph@fredtjosephWe Alive, BelovedTrans Defense Fund LAFrederick Joseph is a Westchester raised two-time New York Times bestselling author, and a “genius across genres.” His books include a poetry collection, We Alive, Beloved, two books of nonfiction, Patriarchy Blues, and The Black Friend, a collaboration, Better Than We Found It, and a children's book, The Courage to Dream, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Joseph's books have been named an Amazon Editors' Pick, notable by the International Literacy Association, Best Children's Book of the Year by Bank Street College, a Cooperative Children's Book Center Choice selection, Booklist Editors' Choice, and more. He has written for The Boston Globe, Essence, Huffington Post, AdWeek, and Cosmopolitan, and won both the Letter Review Poetry prize and a Letter Review Essay prize. His most recent writing on politics and culture can be found on his Substack. He lives with his wife Porsche and dog Stokely in New York City.How you can support Nōn and this independently-run podcast:Leave a 5-star rating and a wildly glowing review for We Can't Do It Alone on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your pods.Share your helpers with Nōn here and he may (or may not but still be delighted) share your helper on the podcast in season 2.Pre-order The Feely Cards on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org or your local indie bookseller for yourself and everyone you know.Follow @wecantdoitalone on Instagram.Thank you for listening to We Can't Do It Alone! Don't forget about the helpers. We all need help. Even you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Send us a Text Message.The One About…Program Review Protocols with Dr. Timothy ShanahanTimothy Shanahan's latest blog on problems with textbook reviews got us talking!Shanahan took some time out of his busy schedule to join us on The Literacy View todiscuss problems and his suggested solutions.Shanahan on Literacy Article:What About Textbook Reviews?https://www.shanahanonliteracy.com/blog/what-about-the-textbook-reviewsQuote:Despite the rhetoric of these groups, the term “evidence aligned” is meaningless. Oftenthere is no direct evidence that what is being required has ever benefited children'slearning in a research study.TIMOTHY SHANAHAN bio:Timothy Shanahan is Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois atChicago where he was Founding Director of the UIC Center for Literacy. Previously, hewas director of reading for the Chicago Public Schools. He is author/editor of more than200 publications on literacy education. His research emphasizes the connectionsbetween reading and writing, literacy in the disciplines, and improvement of readingachievement.Tim is past president of the International Literacy Association. He served as a memberof the Advisory Board of the National Institute for Literacy under Presidents George W.Bush and Barack Obama, and he helped lead the National Reading Panel, convened atthe request of Congress to evaluate research on the teaching reading, a major influenceon reading education. He chaired two other federal research review panels: the NationalLiteracy Panel for Language Minority Children and Youth, and the National EarlyLiteracy Panel, and helped write the Common Core State Standards.He was inducted to the Reading Hall of Fame in 2007 and is a former first-gradeteacher.Support the Show.The Literacy View is an engaging and inclusive platform encouraging respectful discussion and debate about current issues in education. Co-hosts Faith Borkowsky and Judy Boksner coach teachers, teach children to read, and hold master's degrees in education.Our goal is to leave listeners thinking about the issues and drawing their own conclusions.Get ready for the most THOUGHT-PROVOKING AND DELICIOUSLY ENTERTAINING education podcast!

Dr. Jerri Johnson has served 20-plus years in the field of education. She has had the honor of serving as District English Language Arts Supervisor, Principal, Assistant Principal, Instructional Coach, Reading Specialist, and Classroom Teacher at various grade levels. She is a Consultant and Author. Previously, she assumed the role of Assistant Professor for the Teachers College at Columbia University and founding Principal of a PreK-2nd grade school in Texas. Before this, she was Director of Education for the Community Impact Network, a place-based non-profit organization in Saint Louis, Missouri. In addition, Dr. Johnson has taught at the post-secondary level as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Missouri. She earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education from Harris-Stowe State University. Subsequently, earning advanced degrees at the University of Missouri: Master's and Educational Specialist Degrees in Educational Administration, then a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Education, with an emphasis on Teaching and Learning. Jerri is a member of the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development, the International Literacy Association, and the National Council of Social Studies.You can reach Dr Jerri at fromthedeskofthedr.com https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/inspiring-stories--2917948/support

Lorraine M. Radice, PhD - Leading a Culture of Reading: How to Ignite & Sustain a Love of Literacy in Your School Community. This is episode 653 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. Lorraine Radice, PhD, is the PreK–12 director of literacy in Long Beach Public Schools in New York. There, she leads curricular improvement and facilitates professional learning experiences for teachers. Dr. Radice leads teams to develop literacy curricula, monitor student engagement and progress, bridge literacy experiences between the school and community, and consistently build a culture that promotes and celebrates reading and literacy. She also teaches professional development courses for teachers that align with district goals. Prior to becoming a school leader, Lorraine was an English teacher and literacy specialist. She also taught in programs to support language acquisition for elementary, middle, and high school students learning English. Dr. Radice teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in childhood education and literacy at Hofstra University in New York. Dr. Radice is a member of the National Council of Teachers of English and presents at its national conferences. Her writing has been featured on the NCTE blog. she is also a member of the International Literacy Association and has published in ILA's Literacy Today. Dr. Radice is committed to sharing in professional learning communities at the local, state, and national levels where she presents her research and field work. Her research on digital literacies in middle level classrooms was published in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment: Intersecting New Needs and New Approaches, a volume in The Handbook of Research in Middle Level Education. Student work from Dr. Radice's teams has been featured in ASCD's Educational Leadership magazine. Lorraine earned a bachelor's degree in childhood education and psychology and a master's degree in literacy studies at Hofstra University. She earned an advanced certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from St. John's University. She also earned an advanced certificate in educational leadership and a doctorate in philosophy in literacy studies at Hofstra University. Our focus today is Lorraine's book - Leading a Culture of Reading: How to Ignite & Sustain a Love of Literacy in Your School Community. So much to learn! Great conversation. Before you go... You could help support this podcast by Buying Me A Coffee. Not really buying me something to drink but clicking on the link on my home page at https://stevenmiletto.com for Buy Me a Coffee or by going to this link Buy Me a Coffee. This would allow you to donate to help the show address the costs associated with producing the podcast from upgrading gear to the fees associated with producing the show. That would be cool. Thanks for thinking about it.  Hey, I've got another favor...could you share the podcast with one of your friends, colleagues, and family members? Hmmm? What do you think? Thank you! Okay, one more thing. Really just this one more thing. Could you follow the links below and listen to me being interviewed by Chris Nesi on his podcast Behind the Mic about my podcast Teaching Learning Leading K12? Click this link Behind the Mic: Teaching Learning Leading K12 to go listen. You are AWESOME! Thanks so much! Connect & Learn More: https://www.solutiontree.com/leading-a-culture-of-reading.html https://www.solutiontree.com/lorraine-radice.html https://www.lorrainemradice.com/ https://twitter.com/Lorrainemradice https://www.instagram.com/lorrainemradice/ https://www.facebook.com/people/Lorraine-M-Radice/100095320931842/ Length - 53:28

The One About:Reading Fluency and the Science of Reading with Dr. Tim Rasinski Is Fluency Instruction Part of the Science of Reading? What Types of Fluency Instruction Works Best? Nate Joseph's work grounds our discussion. All about Dr. Tim Rasinski and his books:https://www.timrasinski.com/ Article:https://www.timrasinski.com/presentations/Reading-Fluency-and-the-Science-of-Reading.pdf This article was written by Nathaniel Hansford (Nate Joseph).If you want to learn more about reading instruction and meta-analysis, be sure to check out his website:www.pedagogynongrata.com or his book: The Scientific Principles of Reading Instruction. If you would like to contact Nathaniel, you can reach him atevidenced.based.teaching@gmail.com Timothy Rasinski, Ph.D.Professor of Reading EducationReading and Writing CenterKent State University401 White HallKent, OH 44242trasinsk@kent.edu ; 330-672-0649website: www.timrasinski.comTwitter: @timrasinski1Timothy Rasinski is a professor of literacy education at Kent State University and director of its award-winning reading clinic. He also holds the Rebecca Tolle and Burton W.Gorman Endowed Chair in Educational Leadership. Tim has written over 250 articles andhas authored, co-authored or edited over 50 books or curriculum programs on reading education. He is author of the best-selling books on reading fluency The Fluent Reader and The Megabook of Fluency. Tim's scholarly interests include reading fluency and word study, reading in the elementary and middle grades, and readers who struggle. Hisresearch on reading has been cited by the National Reading Panel and has been published inn journals such as Reading Research Quarterly, The Reading Teacher, ReadingPsychology, and the Journal of Educational Research. Tim is the first author of the fluency chapter for the Handbook of Reading Research, Volume IV.Tim served a three-year term on the Board of Directors of the International Reading Association and was co-editor of The Reading Teacher, the worlds most widely read journal of literacy education. He has also served as co-editor of the Journal of LiteracyResearch. Rasinski is past-president of the College Reading Association and he has wonthe A. B. Herr and Laureate Awards from the College Reading Association for hisscholarly contributions to literacy education. In 2010 Tim was elected to the InternationalReading Hall of Fame and he is also the 2020 recipient of the William S. Gray Citation ofMerit from the International Literacy Association. In a 2021 study done at StanfordUniversity Tim was identified as being among the top 2% of scientists in the world.Prior to coming to Kent State Tim taught literacy education at the University of Georgia. He taught for several years as an elementary and middle school classroom and reading intervention teacher in Omaha, Nebraska. Tim is a veteran of the United States armed forces.Support the showThe Literacy View is an engaging and inclusive platform encouraging respectful discussion and debate about current issues in education. Co-hosts Faith Borkowsky and Judy Boksner coach teachers, teach children to read, and hold master's degrees in education.Our goal is to leave listeners thinking about the issues and drawing their own conclusions.Get ready for the most THOUGHT-PROVOKING AND DELICIOUSLY ENTERTAINING education podcast!

Louise Baigelman is the founder and CEO of Storyshares, a mission-driven literacy organization focused on engaging and empowering readers and writers of all levels. Before starting Storyshares, Louise was a reading and writing teacher, middle school EL coordinator, and literacy specialist, working with students from preschool through high school. Louise was named to the Forbes 30 under 30 list, the International Literacy Association's 30 Under 30 list, and she has received awards from the Library of Congress, Teach for America, Milken Penn GSE, and Reimagine Education for her work with Storyshares. Louise holds a B.A. in English & Psychology from Cornell University, and an M.A. in Education from Boston University.Recommended Resources:Sold a Story podcastFuture of Education by Michael Horn

My guest today is Chris Wenz, researcher and teacher, whose dissertation focused on profiles of adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders. We begin our conversation with an understanding of the diverse profiles of autistic individuals, and move into a conversation about considerations for literacy assessment and teaching. In the second part of the episode I'm joined by my colleague Elisha Li, a former elementary inclusion teacher, to discuss practical takeaways. ***Read a full transcript of this episode and learn more about the show athttps://www.jenniferserravallo.com/podcast ***Follow Dr. Chris Wenz on Twitter @ChrisWenz8****More about this episode's guest:Chris Wenz, PhD, is a researcher and teacher educator at the Landmark College Institute for Research and Training (LCIRT). His recent work has focused on adolescent literacy and literacy instruction for students with disabilities. His dissertation on reading profiles of adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder is supported by grants from the International Literacy Association and the Connecticut Association for Reading Research. Chris previously worked in the Boston Public Schools as an AmeriCorps volunteer, and as a residential dean and humanities instructor at Franklin Academy, a high school for students with autism and nonverbal learner differences.Special thanks to Alex Van Rose for audio editing this episode. Support this show: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/TotheClassroomSupport the show

My guest today is Dr. Steve Graham, who has, for over 40 years, studied how writing develops, how to teach it effectively, and how writing can be used to support reading and learning. We'll discuss some of his research around reading and writing reciprocity, and we'll learn about writing instructional practices that have the strongest evidence, as published in his lES practice guides, available on What Works Clearinghouse. Transcript & More about the show: https://www.jenniferserravallo.com/podcast ****Steve Graham's research involves typically developing writers and students with special needs in both elementary and secondary schools, with much of occurring in classrooms in urban schools.  Graham is the former editor of Exceptional Children, Contemporary Educational Psychology, Journal of Writing Research, Focus on Exceptional Children, and Journal of Educational Psychology. He is the co-author of the "Handbook of Writing Research," "Handbook of Learning Disabilities," "APA Handbook of Educational Psychology," "Writing Better," "Powerful Writing Strategies for all Students" and "Making the Writing Process Work." He is also the author of three influential Carnegie Corporation reports: Writing Next , Writing to Read , and Informing Writing.Graham has served as an advisor to a variety of organization, including UNESCO, National Institute of Health, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Zuckerberg Initiative, National Writing Project, Institute of Educational Sciences, the College Board, and the What Works Clearinghouse. He was the chair of the What Works Clearinghouse Practice Guides for both elementary as well as secondary writing. Steve was a member of the National Research Conference committee on adolescent and adult literacy. He has provided background information for a wide variety of magazine, newspaper, television, and radio reports including National Geographic, Time, Newsweek, La Monde, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, USA Today, National Public Radio, CBS Sunday Moring News, and NBC Today Show.He is the recipient of the Thorndike Career Award from Division 15 of the American Psychological Association, Sylvia Scribner Award from Division C of the American Educational Research Association, William S. Gray citation of merit from the International Literacy Association, John S. Nesbit Fellowship from the British Educational Research Association, Exemplary Research in Teaching and Teacher Education from Division K of the American Educational Research Award, Career Research Award from the International Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), the Kauffman-Hallahan Distinguished Researcher Award from the Division of Research (CEC), Jeannette Fleischner Career Leadership Award from the Division of Learning Disabilities (CEC), Samual A. Kirk Award from the Division of Learning Disabilities (CEC), Distinguished Researcher Award from the Special Education Special Interest Group of the American Education Research Association, J. Lee Weiderhot Lecture Award from the Council of Learning Disabilities, and the Don Johnston Literacy Lectureship Award for career contributions to literacy. He was elected to the Reading Hall of Fame for 2018.Graham is a fellow of the American Educational Research Association, Division 15 of the American Psychological Association, as well as a fellow of the International Academy for Research in Learning Disabilities.Special thanks to Alex Van Rose for audio editing this episode. Support the show

Today my guest is Dr. Margaret McKeown. We'll start our conversation discussing vocabulary development and explicit vocabulary instruction, including how to choose words for instruction, how to teach words so students understand them deeply, and how to help students build connections between words. Our conversation then shifts to the Questioning the Author instructional intervention, which focuses on developing comprehension through conversation and can be used to foster independence and discussion amongst students. Later, I'm joined by my colleagues Gina Dignon and Rosie Maurantonio for a conversation about how we'll bring what we learned to the classroom. ****Read a full transcript of this episode and learn more about the show and Jennifer Serravallo at JenniferSerravallo.comBringing Words to Life: Robust Vocabulary Instruction ****More about Dr. Margaret McKeown:Margaret G. McKeown, PhD, is Clinical Professor Emerita of Education at the University of Pittsburgh. Before her retirement, she was also a Senior Scientist at the University's Learning Research and Development Center. Her work addresses practical, current problems that classroom teachers and their students face. She has conducted research in the areas of learning, instruction, and teacher professional development in reading comprehension and vocabulary. Dr. McKeown is a recipient of the Outstanding Dissertation Award from the International Literacy Association, is a Fellow of the American Educational Research Association, and was inducted into the Reading Hall of Fame. She is coauthor of books including Bringing Words to Life, Second Edition; Creating Robust Vocabulary; Robust Comprehension Instruction with Questioning the Author; and Vocabulary Assessment to Support Instruction.Special thanks to Alex Van Rose for audio editing this episode. Support this showSupport the show

How long have “the reading wars” been a part of the national education discourse? What are the recurring themes? What can 4K-12 practitioners do to engage in a dialogue that leads to a better understanding of effective literacy instruction?In this episode, Paul Thomas shares his findings about the science of reading movement and how educators can navigate this conversation.Paul, a professor at Furman University, is the author of the policy brief The Science of Reading Movement: The never-ending debate and the need for a different approach to reading instruction (NEPC, 2022). He also wrote How to End the Reading War and Serve the Literacy Needs of All Students: A Primer for Parents, Policy Makers, and People Who Care (IAP, 2020). Paul is a frequent writer at his blog, Radical Scholarship and on Twitter at @plthomasEdD. Special thanks to Mary Howard, Joy La Vay Taylor, Debra Crouch, and Mary Beth Nicklaus for engaging in and elevating this conversation. Full subscribers can join these conversations in real time. They also have access to the video archive and professional discussion guide here. Sign up today to fully engage in this community.Know someone who would benefit from Read by Example? Refer them to this space - see button below. Complimentary subscriptions can be earned with sign ups.Full TranscriptMatt Renwick (00:03):Welcome to Read by Example, where teachers are leaders and leaders know literacy. We are joined today by Dr. Paul Thomas. Paul is a professor of education at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, and taught high school English in rural South Carolina before moving to teacher education. He is a former column editor for English Journal, National Council Teachers of English, current series editor for Critical Literacy Teaching Series: Challenging Authors and Genres and author of Teaching Writing as a Journey, Not a Destination: Essays Exploring What Teaching Writing Means, and the book, which I believe is in its second edition now, How to End the Reading Wars and Serve the Needs of All Students: A Primer for Parents, Policymakers, and People Who Care. NCTE named Paul the 2013 George Orwell Award winner. He co-edited the award-winning volume, Critical Media Literacy and Fake News in Post-Truth America. You can follow Paul's work at on Twitter at @plthomasedd and at Radical Scholarship at radicalscholarship.wordpress.com. Welcome, Paul.(01:26):Thank you very much. Nice to be here.(01:29):And we have a few who could join, if they could share too. Who you are, briefly just what you do. We'll start with Mary.Mary Howard (01:39):I am a literacy consultant and now doing Zoom, because I'm in Honolulu and I'd rather not get on a plane. This is year 51.Matt Renwick (01:57):Joy.Joy La Vay Taylor (01:59):Hi, I'm Joy La Vay Taylor, and I work for James Madison University with student teachers. Before that, I was literacy coach, reading recovery teacher and reading specialist.Matt Renwick (02:15):Deborah.Debra Crouch (02:17):Hi, I'm Deborah Crouch. I'm a literacy consultant as well and a co-author of Made For Learning with Brian Cambourne.Mary Beth Nicklaus (02:30):Hi, I'm Mary Beth Nicklaus, and I am with Eastern Harbor County Schools in Minnesota. And I'm a secondary level reading specialist. This is my 34th year.Matt Renwick (02:48):Welcome everyone. And I have a few questions for Paul, but we'll definitely save time for any questions that you might have. The first one for Paul is, you are consistently on point in your policy brief, which we will link in the newsletter, the Science of Reading Movement, which is a condensed version of your book on the topic. It's a nice summary, as well as what you post online on Twitter and on your blog. What motivates you to keep coming back to this topic of the science of reading movement?Paul Thomas (03:27):Oh, that's a really good question because most of my career, I'm really a composition writing person. And when I discovered Emily Hanford's Hard Words, early 2018, it really struck a chord, but I had no idea that it would get the momentum that it did. So I've always been a holistic literacy person, and I've always been skeptical of over focusing on things like grammar and phonics. And although I taught high school English at Furman, I have taught master's literacy program. So I've been working with early literacy teachers who are getting graduate degrees. And a former colleague of mine, Nita Schmidt, who moved from Furman to Iowa and now she's retired, she's brilliant, she was an early literacy people, and she, she brought me in at N C T E.(04:33):And so I had had this kind of transition to being, what I would say, a literacy generalist where I understand kind of K-16 literacy, or birth to grave literacy. My focus I feel like is public work. Like, how do I talk to the public? How do I help people understand education? And this movement just kind of intersected with that public work. And throughout 2018, 2019, I found myself blogging maybe too much, but I had quite a number of blogs on this, and I said, "I've got enough for a book. I did see how it was developing in a direction that regretfully has come true. That early kind of messaging has now become policy. So in the last, I guess that's what, five years now, I have shifted very much into being a policy person, which I think was the rightful place for me to go.(05:44):I do think trying to work on public narratives, how we talk about critical discourse analysis is a big thing for me. It's a central part of my upper level reading and writing course. At Furman, that's a requirement at Furman, they have to have an upper level writing and research course. So I think it was just kind of a perfect storm for me because I do feel like it's really important for scholarly work to have a real world place. And this felt way more engaging. It felt way more productive than my composition work. Although my book before this was on writing. I'm still, I teach first year writing. I care very much about writing. But reading is very central to sort of how we think about education in the United States. So it seemed like kind of a natural development for me.Matt Renwick (06:47):Yeah, your policy brief is very practical, very useful. It was easy to read, but you covered the, the essential topics of it and really gave, for me anyway, it gave me some nice talking points. Right now in Wisconsin, we're dealing with it, right this very week, up for discussion, so to speak. How might educators and parents best use this resource to effectively advocate for more reasonable policies? What can we do with this to, to make some kind of a difference, or at least try to influence policymakers?Paul Thomas (07:29):So first I would like to say I really am very proud of the policy brief. And I think a huge part of that was the N E P C staff itself. They did not make this easy . I had to a 6,000 word policy brief. I probably wrote 15 to 20,000 words and three or four drafts, and I was kind of taken to task three or four or five times before it even went to peer review. And I think they should be commended for that. The editorial group at N E P C weren't literacy people, so they were constantly going, "What do you mean by this? Uh, is this real?" And the the fun part was being challenged on using the simple view of reading.(08:22):One person said to me, "Paul, nobody uses that. That's silly. That's a silly term." And I had to say, "No, it's a technical term. It's a real term." So I do appreciate that opportunity, and I will say any PC believes in practical. So it had to build to what do people do. I do feel really good about the policy implications at the end. I've been working indirectly with Diane Stephens, who is Professor Emeritus from the University of South Carolina. She taught several other places. Diane has really perfected taking actual legislation and copy editing it, . It's amazing, "Here is where you're off base, but here is how to reform that." So I think what we have to do is, it kind of parallels the book banning and the anti C R T movement.(09:23):It seems almost silly to have to argue for access to books. It seems silly to have to say you shouldn't ban books. So I think it seems kind of pointless for a lot of reasonable people to argue for teacher autonomy and serving the needs of all students. And very simply put, that's kind of what the policy brief boiled down to. We really targeted, "there's no such thing as one size fits all instructional practices." So there should not be any one size fits all mandates in policy and legislation. We really kind of honed in on, "it's not the place of legislators to ban or mandate anything that goes against what is a reasonable approach to day-to-day classroom practices." So I think what can people do is I think is, kind of target these simple messages.(10:37):I've been trying to work better about clarifying that I'm advocating for teacher autonomy. I'm advocating for meeting the needs of every individual child. I am not an advocate for reading recovery. I'm not an advocate for balanced literacy. I'm not an advocate for National Council Teachers of English. I'm not an advocate for International Literacy Association. I'm not being trivial here. I don't advocate for labels and organizations, even though I love N C T E, for example. It's been my home for a long time, and I respect N C T E, but I think what we have to advocate for are key principles. And I've called this challenge out many times, you know, on social media. If someone says they don't agree with me or that I'm wrong, I say, so you're saying that there should not be teacher autonomy, so you're saying we shouldn't serve the individual needs of every student, and I really think we have to call people on the carpet about that.(11:47):I also think it's really important, and it might be too much for most people, I just don't believe in misinformation. I get called out that I'm advocating for X when I simply say Y isn't true . This is a really good example to me, is the attack on Lucy Calkins, I think is just unfair. It's not accurate. Lucy Calkins Units of Study and Fountas and Pinnell work are in one in four schools in the country. It's 25% of the reading programs, I just tweeted out today. You know, their programs are not the dominant programs in New Mexico. And New Mexico has the lowest NAEP fourth grade reading scores and the highest percentage of children below basic. So creating a bad guy is a trick of storytelling.(13:00):And regretfully the science of reading movement, I mean, Sold a Story. I mean, it's about storytelling, and they're manufacturing the crisis. They're manufacturing the bad guy. I really just don't like misinformation. And again, I don't like the way balance literacy is defined. It doesn't mean that I endorse balanced literacy, even though I don't have any actual problem with the concept of balanced literacy. I'm really a critical literacy person. Do I like whole language people and their philosophies? Yes, there are a lot of my friends. Do I find balanced literacy ideas compelling? Yes, of course I do. I am a holistic person. So I think we have to, I have to keep sort of simple messaging on the key concepts that we support.(13:55):But we also have to say, actually what you're saying isn't true. Your definition isn't true. Your cause of the problem isn't true. Your solution isn't true. Over and over the national reading panel is just misrepresented. I use Diane Stephen's work. The National Reading Panel found that systematic phonics was no more effective than balanced literacy or whole language. Almost every single credible study says the exact same thing. The major study out of England said systematic phonics no more effective than balanced literacy. We need balance in England, over and over. That's the truth. And then you've got the science of rooting people saying, it's the Emily Hanford mantra, that it's simple and it's settled, and neither one of those are true.Matt Renwick (14:48):That leads into my next question, Paul, is this towards, especially phonics instructions, kind of this reason why kids are failing to read because they don't have enough of it, or we need more of it to ensure that they can read. And then picking on some of these targets, whether it's a person or it's a program or approach, are these strawmen for maybe avoiding bigger issues that we do need to address, such as poverty or teaching and learning conditions? Or is there some reasonableness to what some people might be advocating for in the sor movement? Where do you see that falling?Paul Thomas (15:33):Really nice job there. I appreciate that. Because that's two other kind of key points that we need to hit on. So, the part of my book and the policy brief that I'm most proud of is the historical perspective. In the 1940s, draftees performed very poorly on literacy tests, and Eleanor Roosevelt and the government shouted reading crisis. And John Dewey in progressivism was blamed. The woman I did my dissertation on, Lula Brandt ,did an analysis and found out that most draftees went to traditional schools and had traditional instruction, like phonics instruction, had skills instruction. And there's Elementary English, which became Language Arts, had a special issue on it, very similar to Reading Research Quarterly, having two special issues on it in the 2020s.(16:33):There was one article, , and they literally say this false attack on progressivism is to avoid the truth. The problem with literacy in the United States is poverty. You know, that was the 1940s. Then it recurs, the Johnny Can't Read in the fifties and sixties, same thing. It's phonics, it's lack of phonics. And people are like, "no, the people who are doing poorly are impoverished." And then it recycles into the sixties, into the 1990s, and then around No Child Left Behind is this same thing. So I think two other messages that we really have to make sure we make clear is, and I refer to Martin Luther King toward the end of his life in 1967, he said, "We would find that instead of reforming education to erase poverty, that if we erase poverty, education would improve."(17:30):And there is nothing truer. If children had universal healthcare, if they had no food deserts, if they had steady homes, if their parents had steady well-paying jobs, if there were books in their homes, the NAEP scores would go up. And that's doing nothing in the schools. Now, I'm not saying don't do anything in schools. I actually think this is the other thing that drives me crazy. I've been accused of being a protector of the status quo. And people who know me would laugh, they should talk to some of the people I've worked for. I think I entered education in 1984. I start year 40 in the fall. And when I started education, I was a reformer.(18:23):That's why I want, I wanted to do school better than it had been done to me. And then when I was in my doctoral program in the 1990s, I found out there were the reconstructionist. There was a whole movement in the early 20th century to reform schools. And so I want things to be different. I want school to be different. And you said it just a second ago. So we've got to address the lives, the homes, and the communities of children. I mean, we have to do that. And this constantly pointing at teachers and saying they don't know what they're doing and that schools are failing is a distraction. But simultaneous to that teaching and learning conditions, I just cannot say that often enough. There's been research for decades that marginalized students are more likely to have beginning and uncertified teachers.(19:25):That's a simple thing to address. We should guarantee that no child who is performing below what we believe they should be, instead of using third grade test scores to retain students, why don't we use third grade test scores to ensure children to have experienced certified teachers and low student-teacher ratios in fourth grade? That's a much better policy. And I would 100% endorse the use of standardized testing for that. But we are not going to do those things. I mean that's what's kind of criminal about this. Special needs children...we're overly concerned about dyslexic students. I am not saying that we should not be, absolutely, we should be concerned with dyslexic students. But special needs students are really highly likely to have beginning and new teachers, special needs students are really highly likely to have uncertified teachers.(20:31):Those are things that could be addressed. Now I think that would solve a lot of problems, systemic forces outside of the school. And then, I agree, this is a national education policy center thing. Instead of accountability reform, we need equity reform. So inside schools, I would say no grade retention. We should not be stratifying students. We should not be gatekeeping students into courses. But the biggest thing to me in school is a teacher assignment. The dirty little secret about education, nobody wants to talk about...if you teach long enough when someone retires, you get the good kids. And I think that's one of those little dirty secrets that we don't talk about. Beginning teachers too often... administration sits down, the remaining teachers get to pick their courses for next year, and the leftovers go to the new person. That is a terrible policy. It's a terrible way to treat children. And these are things we could address. We never talk about them, and we don't do them. So I think as you were implying, I think a lot of this is about ways to avoid doing the hard stuff.Matt Renwick (21:53):Yeah, for sure. You hit on a lot of topics there with that. There were couple of questions and, and I won't bring it up here just because it could, who knows where it would to go. But the money aspect too. You noted on Twitter, that a lot of these arguments and blaming are actually creating a space, a void, in which then certain individuals, publishers, organizations can sell their programs, trainings to solve the problem that they created in the first place. But that's a whole nother topic almost, I think.Paul Thomas (22:38):I could interject there real quick. Sure. I think people don't understand. I just had a conversation with a producer of a major news series yesterday morning. Instead of chasing the right reading program, we should reevaluate that. We use reading programs. It's much simpler than that. At W S R A, I think it was 2019, it was right before covid, teachers taught me a lesson. The problem that they had with units of study was not units of study, it was how it was implemented. And we too often hold teachers accountable for implementing a program instead of serving the needs of students. And I think that's a really important distinction. And it would also, I think it would address the money issue. We do, I think we do spend too much money on educational materials, and then we feel obligated to holding teachers accountable because of that investment.Matt Renwick (23:41):Yeah. Too much money and resources is not enough. And the ultimate research, which is teachers and students as well is, how can we structure students to be resources for each other? I'd like to open it up to other people who have questions here, or Paul, if you have anything you'd like to share that to come to mind. I'll open the floor up.Mary Howard (24:06):Okay. I was just gonna come back to, and I appreciate this so much because it led me back to what you wrote. One of the best things about this is that it's so specific to suggestions for decision makers and policy makers. And so one of the, and I loved every one of them, but one of the things that I kept coming back to is at the very end, two that really keep, are really in my head. One is be wary of overstatements and oversimplifications within media and public advocacy. Acknowledging concerns raised but remaining skeptical of simplistic claims about causes and solutions. And one of the challenges is that there are so many, the policy makers, the people who are making these decisions, they want oversimplification. They want to know, all I have to do is write a check and there's nothing else I have to do.(25:11):And if, because they don't have a background in education, that sounds really, really compelling. And then the other one is just a couple down from that, which is so important. Recognize student-centered as an important, research supported guiding principle, but also acknowledge the reality that translating research-based principles into classroom practices is challenging. So not only do they want those over simplifications, but they want to be able to take the research and say, here's what the research says, which is complicated research. And so we're gonna do this. You know, it brings me back to RtI where the solution was the walk-to-intervention model. So they know the importance of supporting children, but they're going to find the easiest possible, not just the one that they can write a check for, but the one that's going to be the easiest possible to implement.(26:09):So, you know, those just loom really large in my mind, and I don't know how we undo. Let me just say one more thing. I remember so many times walking out of a session where someone, usually someone with a really big name, said something really absurdly ridiculous. Like, time for reading, independent reading doesn't matter. And does it in such a compelling way that people I really admire walk out of that session and say, "Oh my God, I never thought about that before." And that's been happening with the science of reading too. "Oh my God, I never knew that." And so it's really smart, lovely, wonderful people. But for some reason, , it's coming across not as what is being said. I don't know. It's a really weird thing to me.Paul Thomas (27:11):Yeah. One advantage of my career being pretty eclectic is I've taught some graduate level leadership courses, and I used to use Howard Gardner's book Leading Minds. He's known for multiple intelligences, but I don't think that's his best work actually. In Leading Minds, he directly says all the research shows that leadership functions on black and white statements. And there's very little you can do about that. So there's an ethical obligation if you're going to compel the public, you're going to have to be relatively simple. So to me, I think the line is between simple and simplistic. And the challenge we have, and again, the conversation I had yesterday morning, really, really drove this home to me, is we're in a bind because our message is not simple. And the sor people are, it's become a cult of personality because they're doing the simple and settled.(28:12):And it is very compelling. I, like you Mary, know some very lovely people who have bought it. I knew some, and I still know, I know some lovely people, bright, who bought Teach for America. I know some lovely and bright people who bought charter schools. And those have now passed, and we know they didn't work. Teach for America has really dramatically fallen off. And some of the best people I know in education went through Teach for America. So it's not the people. The simplistic message, that you just had to demand more of students, it's that soft bigotry of low expectations. And if you just demand more, and if you just work harder, these kids will succeed. And then those poor people who did that, and those children didn't succeed. They were devastated.(29:07):So we do have a problem. Our message is not simple. But that's the only message that works. And also I think, another point of yours Mary, is the idea of evidence. I think I said this the other day, but the most important evidence is the child in front of you. The first five or 10 years of my teaching, the best thing that happened to me was humility. I had missionary zeal. I came in thinking I knew what I was doing. I kind of had my butt kicked at the National Writing Project. I'll shout out to Brenda Davenport. She almost literally kicked my butt. She saw something in me. She did respect me, but she took me in a room and she let me have it. And it was an awakening for me.(30:00):I softened, I backed up off of my certainty, and I learned to work from the ground up. Research and theory... I love theory. I love philosophy. These things are important, but they're for you back here. I mean, they sit somewhere back here. But it's the actual child in front of you. So I've learned, Furman has really taught me a lesson too. I mean, for the last 21 years, my college first year writing students are a different type of human than what I taught in rural South Carolina in high school. So I try to work from the student and instead of imposing Paul's beliefs about writing, Paul's beliefs about learning. You know, one simple thing is we we're always told that, that you have to give students credit for class participation.(31:04):I know a lot of professors still put that on their syllabus, and there's a percentage for it. Well, Furman has taught me that students can participate by being completely quiet in the room. And I had to listen to that, which is kind of ironic. And , I don't say that anymore. I don't say, "You have to speak in class, you have to participate this specific way." So I think one of our messages, I think has to be that, evidence is not simplistic. And the most important piece of evidence is the child in front of you.Matt Renwick (31:41):Thanks, Paul. Thanks, Mary.Debra Crouch (31:45):Can I ask a question, Paul? How do you simplify in a way, I guess, how do you talk to student-centered in a way that keeps it understandable for people who don't come at this from "Look at the child and recognize what children are bringing" and that sort of thing. How do we talk to that? Because I agree with you. I think that piece is huge.Paul Thomas (32:12):Yeah. And teacher education, that's one thing I do is I talk about artifacts of learning. I talk about things like, I really think music teachers, art teachers, coaches, that I think the average person understands that. So, there was a piece in Phi Delta Kappan many, many years ago, somewhere in the 1990s. And the guy said, what if we had two football teams line up every Friday night and take a multiple choice test to decide the football game? Parents would revolt, my hometown, the entire town would revolt. So, you know, in art class, we have a child actually draw an artifact of learning, and then we work from there. Until the child does a drawing or a clay sculpture, we don't have any way to teach them. We have children play instruments, we have children sing, we have children play the sport.(33:13):So I think putting it in terms of behaviors, having students do the thing, and I think that's where my holistic urge is. I was a soccer coach, I coached for quite a few years. And I love scrimmage. I was a big fan of scrimmaging. So you could end the moment, you could teach, of course we did some skills, but to be perfectly honest, that's not that effective. If people practice the same thing over and over incorrectly, they're not actually learning. They're getting worse. They're building the wrong tools. So, the joke of my teaching high school was I graded about 4,000 essays a year for 18 years. Wow. And I graded about 6,000 journals on top of that. So my joke was, it was volume, volume, volume.(34:07):Until a kid wrote a paper, I did not know what they needed, Until a player lined up as a centerback and played and played a soccer match, I did not know what he needed. So I do think we have to talk in terms of sort of holistic behaviors that we're trying to teach children to do. And then our job to me is mentoring. It is coaching. I love the word coach. I think the right kind of coaching, not the stereotypical United States coach that screams and cusses, but the kind of coach that goes, "Look, you did it this way, now do it this way." Like, here is why. One thing I loved about soccer is it's conceptual. You don't run plays and it's not very structured, the type the clock runs, and it's these concepts. So it's these holistic behaviors at the conceptual level, what should you be doing? But the key element is why are you doing this? I hope that answered your question, I feel like I did.Matt Renwick (35:12):Yeah. Thanks Deborah. Thanks, Paul. Joy, did you want to throw that question out of how did we engage in this? I think Paul spoke to that previously. Was there anything else that you wanted to follow up on though, Joy regarding how to engage in conversation around this time?Joy La Vay Taylor (35:35):The article that you put out, Paul, was really helpful, Mary and I will follow it a little bit better.Paul Thomas (35:51):A lot of this movement is public, so I think a lot of it is on social media. And there is a problem. I do think Twitter is not a good place for discussion. I haven't had good luck with it. I've had a few people try to. I had one person a couple times lately, very kindly say, would you mind, you know, let's have a discussion about this blog post. I don't. There's just not enough room. There is no chance for nuance. I joke and say the best way to deal with social media discussions is don't do it. But a more practical one is, are you dealing with a serious person? So probably six months ago, a woman who is an s o r person engaged with me.(36:42):She was patient, she was kind, she was clear. I did two or three tweets with her. I realized she was a serious person. We had a very long Twitter discussion. She didn't change her mind. I did not mute her. I did not block her. Everything was fine. The key was not that we agreed with each other. The key was that she was a serious person. And that's the hard part. I often check the Twitter bios. If there's four followers, probably not serious. If they've got the little hashtag, #amplify, probably not serious. Way too much of the science of reading movement is driven by the exact thing that Hanford is attacking. If it is in fact a problem that Lucy Caulkins has made money, which is an odd thing to accuse somebody of in the United States, then the science of reading, people who are driven by market intentions are just as guilty.(37:56):My home state and the most recent budget, 15 million for LETRS training, were a very small state. Can you imagine how much state money, tax money is being earmarked for LETRS training? I don't trust advocates of LETRS anymore than I trust anyone. I mean, we learned that the tobacco industry said cigarettes were okay. They had a market interest. So I do think we have to navigate public discussions with serious people. I do not mute people instantly. I generally give everybody one or two tweets. I give you a chance. Then it's it, and it's just little things, right? Are they selling something? Do they have almost no followers? I've got people out there. I know I muted them, so I didn't block them, but they can still do it. They say, don't listen to Paul Thomas. He works for reading recovery. That's just a blatant lie. There was an organization that blogged and said, don't listen to me because I'm not a teacher. I start year 40 in the fall. I've been a literacy teacher for 40 years, over five decades since the eighties. It's just a blatant lie. So lying means you're not a serious person. If if you're trying to sell something, you're probably not a serious person. So I just think navigating that space, we're looking for serious people and then we can engage.Matt Renwick (39:34):I had the pleasure of watching Paul have a panel discussion with other serious people. It was a research panel at the Wisconsin State Reading Association Conference. He was talking with a researcher at UW-Madison, a principal out of California, and they did not all agree. I think we talked about this later, Paul. You did not all agree on the same issues, but you all were respectful the way you talked. "I hear what you're saying. Here's where I'm coming from." It was very, it was just a good conversation. And I learned a lot. And I think, I thought it was a really good model for, for what this could be, but unfortunately, often is not.Paul Thomas (40:16):Right. And I really don't think we have to all agree. Like, there are people I love that I don't agree with everything about them. And that's not what we're looking for.Mary Howard (40:29):Yeah. And in a conversation like that, you have the opportunity to have a fluid coming back and forth. That's impossible. But one of the things that I looked for on Twitter, and I've only been recently really trying to dig into it, there are just certain catchphrases that people use over and over. And that to me is a dead giveaway because it's almost like they came out with a s o r attack list of these are the things you want to say. It really is problematic that you can't. There's a big difference to being able to look at someone in the face, for example, and listen to what they're saying and then come back and respond to that than it is. It's almost like the Twitter social media is a ping pong ball, and it's really easy to get caught up in it, you know, especially when emotions are involved.Paul Thomas (41:32):That's why I say the, the s o r movement is too similar to the anti CRT movement. They're both too often ideological. So when you're ideological it's very simplistic and narrow. So you do have recurring things to say that are just, they're just imposed onto the situation. They're not drawn from the situation. Someone I blocked, I mean, I muted. I didn't see them, but I saw the response. And apparently somebody on Twitter just in the last couple of days, said that they listened to Emily Hanford. Cause she's an expert. I'm not. And the interesting thing there is not only have I taught literacy for 40 years, I taught journalism for 13 years, and I've published journalism for the last 20. I have a level of expertise in both journalism and education. That's where you can tell somebody's not serious. This is not a serious comment. That is just a blanket imposed statement. And so I think that is the ideological problem. It's not everybody who's in the science of reading movement by any stretch. But there is a faction that is just, it's just an ideologue. And it's the same thing. You know, woke , woke by DeSantis, woke by too many Republicans, uh, c r t, these have just been catchphrases. They're not, again, they're not serious people. They're not credible people.Matt Renwick (43:00):This conversation's been great as always. Any closing thoughts or takeaways from anyone in the group that you'd wanna share out before we close things out?Joy La Vay Taylor (43:15):I'm such a novice, I feel like, at Twitter for sure. I was so focused on being in the classroom, working with teachers that I was so shocked when this whole s o r thing just seemed to slam in. And I hadn't, I didn't have time to be on Twitter. I shouldn't say I have time now, but I thank you so much all for all this information that you put out. And Mary, I love Mary and Matt is great. I don't know you too, but I'm sure you two are great too. .(44:15):Because I thought that all the information that you gave about politics and the movement of reading was so helpful for me. It just gave me a background. I kind of came in with balanced literacy when it was just kind of called balanced literacy. So all of that was helpful. But is is then, if we think about the purpose of being on Twitter to share information like you do, so is that the best way to think about it as a vehicle for getting truth out there?Paul Thomas (45:00):Yeah. I would say, I would say two things. One historically we have told teachers not to be political, which is a political demand, by the way. And we also keep classroom teachers way too busy. If you keep people with their head down, they don't see what's happening to them. So I do not expect teachers to sacrifice themselves. I don't expect K-12 teachers to speak out. Absolutely, that is not an expectation. If you do find the opportunity, I think you said it perfectly. Most of my work that I do on social media is to teach, it's an extension of my teaching. I cite, my blogs are heavily cited. I cite, I link to peer review journal articles on Twitter. So I think you have to perform on social media, not to change people's minds that you're speaking to, but to leave a trail for other people to learn.(46:03):I am rarely actually speaking to the individual I'm responding to. I am leaving a trail for other people to learn from. Nobody's asking K-12 teachers to sacrifice themselves. Nobody's asking K-12 teachers to lose their jobs. As a matter of fact, I don't want you to lose your job. I'm relatively safe. I'm even at a private university. If I were in Florida and I was at a public university, I would be toast. But my university is incredibly supportive. I'm a white guy, I'm tenured, I'm old. Let us do it, you know, let us take the brunt of the damage. But if you do engage, it's not to change people's minds, it's to teach.Matt Renwick (46:54):Well said Paul. And your policy brief, half the brief is citations. I mean, it's just so well resourced. And I remember Peter Aach speaking about your work too, and just said you were meticulous. I think that's one of the first people he brought up about how to be become more knowledgeable about this topic and stay engaged. So thank you Paul Thomas. Thank you everyone for being here. This has been great. We wish you all a good rest of the year if you're still going. Otherwise, we hope you are enjoying your summer break. Thank you.Paul Thomas (47:27):Thank you. A pleasure.Matt Renwick (47:28):Thank you. Get full access to Read by Example at readbyexample.substack.com/subscribe

Authors, speakers, presenters, and change agents, Cornelius and Kass Minor of Minor Collective share how they live in the space of possibility.Cornelius Minor is a Brooklyn-based educator and part-time Pokemon trainer. He works with teachers, school leaders, and leaders of community-based organizations to support equitable literacy reform in cities (and sometimes villages) across the globe. His latest book, We Got This, explores how the work of creating more equitable school spaces is embedded in our everyday choices — specifically in the choice to listen to kids.Cornelius has been featured in Education Week, Brooklyn Magazine, and Teaching Tolerance Magazine. He has partnered with The Teachers College Reading and Writing Project, The New York City Department of Education, The International Literacy Association, Scholastic, and Lesley University's Center for Reading Recovery and Literacy Collaborative. Kass Minor is an inclusive educator and community organizer deeply involved in local, inquiry-based teacher research and school community development. Alongside partnerships with the University of Chicago, Teachers College Inclusive Classrooms Project, The Author Village, and the New York City Department of Education, since 2004, she has worked as a teacher, staff developer, adjunct professor, speaker, and documentarian. Kass reads books like other people listen to albums; the classroom is her concert space. While Kass's organizing work in school communities is inspired by her NorthStars Myles Horton and Fannie Lou Hamer, her pedagogy is centered on joy from the surrounding communities and motivated by the idea that every adult can teach and every student can learn. Teacherhood, paired with motherhood, has driven her love of information sharing and redefining who gets to be a knower in the fiery world we live in today. She is the author of, Teaching Fiercely: Spreading Joy and Justice in Our Schools.Twitter: @MsKass1Instagram: @MsKass1 @theminorcollective LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kass-minorClubhouse: @kassminor / House: Joyful NoiseNewsletter: bit.ly/TeachFierceUpdates Website: Kassandcorn.com

Today's guest is Dr. Rachael Gabriel. We'll talk about the newly published book, How Education Policy Shapes Literacy Instruction, which includes chapters she authored and co-authored and which she edited. Specifically, we'll explore the history of studies relating to teacher quality and instructional materials, and what research shows makes the biggest difference in supporting early literacy growth.  Later, I'm joined by my colleagues Macie Kerbs and Molly Wood for a conversation about practical takeaways.***To learn more about this podcast, see the first season's guests, read full transcripts and blog responses from listeners, and read more about Jennifer Serravallo and her work, visit www.jenniferserravallo.com/podcastMore information on How Education Policy Shapes Literacy InstructionRead the Annenberg report about considerations for high quality professional learning (link to actual studies can be found within this report).***About this episode's guest: Rachael Gabriel is Professor of Literacy Education at the University of Connecticut. She is author of more than fifty refereed articles, and author or editor of six books for literacy teachers, leaders and education researchers, including the newly published How Education Policy Shapes Literacy Instruction which we'll be talking about today. Rachael currently teaches courses for educators and doctoral students pursuing specialization in literacy.  She serves on the editorial boards of journals focused on literacy, education research and education policy, and has served on the boards of the International Literacy Association and Reading Recovery Council of North America. In addition to experience as a classroom teacher and reading specialist, Rachael holds graduate certificates in both quantitative and qualitative research methods.  Rachael's research is focused on: literacy instruction, leadership and intervention, as well as policies related to teacher development and evaluation.  Her current projects investigate: supports for adolescent literacy, state literacy policies and discipline-specific literacy instruction. Special thanks to Scotty Sanders for audio editing this episode. https://www.scottysandersmedia.com/Support the show

Today's guest is Dr. Melanie Kuhn, who you may know from her research and teacher professional writing around reading fluency. We'll talk about what fluency is, how to best assess and teach it, and ways to differentiate instruction in K-5 classrooms. Later, I'm joined by my colleagues Gina Dignon, Macie Kerbs, Lainie Powell, and Lea Mercantini-Leibowitz for a conversation about what we are most excited to bring to the classroom right away.****Read a full transcript of this episode and learn more about the show at  jenniferserravallo.com/podcastLearn more about Melanie's work at The Reading Forum. ****About this episode's guest:Melanie R. Kuhn, PhD, isProfessor and Jean Adamson Stanley Faculty Chair in Literacy at the Purdue University College of Education. In addition to reading fluency, her research interests include literacy instruction for struggling readers, and comprehension and vocabulary development. Formerly on the faculties of the Boston University School of Education and the Rutgers Graduate School of Education, Dr. Kuhn began her teaching career in the Boston public schools and worked as an instructor at an international school in England. She served as a member of the Literacy Research Panel for the International Literacy Association. Dr. Kuhn has published several books and numerous journal articles and book chapters.Special thanks to Scotty Sanders for audio editing this episode. https://www.scottysandersmedia.com/Support the show

Today my guest is Dr. Peter Afflerbach who researches individual differences in reading development, reading assessment, and comprehension. We'll talk about the differences between skills and strategies – and why that matters for the classroom, as well as his new book Teaching Readers Not Reading in which he argues that factors such as efficacy, motivation, engagement, epistemic beliefs, attributions, and executive functions play a significant role in developing readers. Later, I'm joined by my colleagues Lainie Powell, Lea Leibowitz, and Gina Dignon for a conversation about practical takeaways. ***Read a full transcript of this episode and learn more about the show at  jenniferserravallo.com/podcastRelated reading:Clarifying the Differences between Reading Skills and Reading Strategies Teaching Readers Not Reading ***More about this episode's guest:Dr. Peter Afflerbach is Professor of Education at the University of Maryland. Dr. Afflerbach's research interests include individual differences in reading development, reading assessment, reading comprehension, and the verbal reporting methodology. Dr. Afflerbach serves on various literacy-related committees affiliated with the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), the International Literacy Association, the Common Core State Standards, and the National Academy of Sciences.Special thanks to Scotty Sanders for audio editing this episode. https://www.scottysandersmedia.com/Support the show

On this episode of The Literacy View, we discuss:Emily Hanford's “Sold a Story” podcast ☑️The “Call for Rejecting the Latest ‘Reading Wars'” letter ☑️The “Parents Say Enough” response letter ☑️Dr. Rasinski's response letter ☑️AND…FLUENCY‼️ All letters posted below Parent letterhttp://hechingerreport.org/opinion-parents-say-enough.../58 literacy “experts” letterhttps://hechingerreport.org/opinion-a-call-for-rejecting.../Tim Rasinskihttps://openletter.earth/why-i-signed-an-open-letter-to-parents-and-others-concerned-about-children-who-struggle-in-learning-to-read-bc111721PBS News Hour letterhttps://readingrecovery.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Concern-letter-to-PBS.pdfDr. Rasinski's bioTimothy Rasinski, Ph.D.Professor of Reading EducationReading and Writing CenterKent State University401 White HallKent, OH 44242trasinsk@kent.edu ; 330-672-0649website: www.timrasinski.comTwitter: @timrasinski1Timothy Rasinski is a professor of literacy education at Kent State University and director of its award-winning reading clinic. He also holds the Rebecca Tolle and Burton W. Gorman Endowed Chair in Educational Leadership. Tim has written over 250 articles and has authored, co-authored or edited over 50 books or curriculum programs on reading education. He is author of the best-selling books on reading fluency The Fluent Reader and The Megabook of Fluency. Tim's scholarly interests include reading fluency and word study, reading in the elementary and middle grades, and readers who struggle. His research on reading has been cited by the National Reading Panel and has been published in journals such as Reading Research Quarterly, The Reading Teacher, Reading Psychology, and the Journal of Educational Research. Tim is the first author of the fluency chapter for the Handbook of Reading Research, Volume IV. Tim served a three-year term on the Board of Directors of the International Reading Association and was co-editor of The Reading Teacher, the world's most widely read journal of literacy education. He has also served as co-editor of the Journal of Literacy Research. Rasinski is past president of the College Reading Association, and he has won the A. B. Herr and Laureate Awards from the College Reading Association for his scholarly contributions to literacy education. In 2010 Tim was elected to the International Reading Hall of Fame and he is also the 2020 recipient of the William S. Gray Citation of Merit from the International Literacy Association. In a 2021 study done at Stanford University Tim was identified as being among the top 2% of scientists in the world. Prior to coming to Kent State Tim taught literacy education at the University of Georgia. He taught for several years as an elementary and middle school classroom and reading intervention teacher in Omaha, Nebraska. Tim is a veteran of the United States armedforces.Faith Borkowsky and Judy Boksner, discuss education articles that all educators, parents, and taxpayers should read.All currently teach children reading and hold master's degrees in education.The Literacy View lights up the information and leaves listeners to ponder and draw conclusions.The Literacy View IS INTERACTIVE, THOUGHT-PROVOKING, AND DELICIOUSLY ENTERTAINING!

The patriarchy hurts everyone, including men. Does that mean we need a man's point of view on it?    In this episode, Layla Saad interviews Frederick Joseph, a two-time New York Times bestselling author, the International Literacy Association's 2021 Children's & Young Adults' Book Award recipient, a 2019 Forbes 30 Under 30 list-maker for marketing and advertising, an activist, and philanthropist.His book, Patriarchy Blues: Reflections On Manhood is a thought-provoking collection of essays, poems, and short reflections, explores issues of masculinity and patriarchy from both a personal and cultural standpoint. Together they explore: The importance of being in community and honoring the voices within our communitiesThe work people of color must engage in to dismantle oppressive systems of powerHow to talk to kids about the patriarchyPatriarchy Blues published by Harper Collins is our August 2022 selection in the Become A Good Ancestor book club. “When you lead with love within spaces with people you actually do love, it makes way for the accountability to be done in a way where change can happen.”-     Frederick Joseph, author of Patriarchy Blues Episode Six, The Become A Good Ancestor PodcastLearn more and follow Frederick:Website: https://frederickjoseph.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fredtjoseph/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/fredtjoseph  Join the Become a Good Ancestor Community:Websitehttps://www.becomeagoodancestor.com/ Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/become_a_good_ancestor/ Book Clubhttps://www.becomeagoodancestor.com/book-club Patreonwww.patreon.com/becomeagoodancestor BookShopU.S.: https://bookshop.org/shop/goodancestorbookclub-usUK: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/goodancestorbookclub-uk 

Dr. Graham is known for his work in writing development and writing instruction for both writers developing typically and writers with special needs. Steve has authored or co-authored over 300 journal articles, over 100 book chapters, 5 books, edited nearly 20 books or book series, and has contributed to reports for the International Literacy Association, the What Works Clearinghouse, and the Alliance for Excellence in Education. In 2021, he received the William S Gray Citation of Merit from the International Literacy Association and in 2018 he was elected to the Reading Hall of Fame. Dr. Steve Graham is a Regents and the Warner Professor in the Division of Leadership and Innovation in the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University.To cite this episode:Persohn, L. (Host). (2022, Aug 2). A conversation with Steve Graham. (Season 3, No. 5) [Audio podcast episode]. In Classroom Caffeine Podcast series. https://www.classroomcaffeine.com/guests.DOI: 10.5240/84F9-75E9-365C-52B4-2CC8-8

This week on the KORE Women podcast, Dr. Summer Watson welcomes Dr. Jerri Johnson, who has over 20 years of experience in education, she has held multiple positions in the field, such as District English Language Arts Supervisor, Principal, Assistant Principal, Instructional Coach, Reading Specialist, she has her doctorate in Education, authored and released her new book “Imagine That! Chronicles of an Urban School Principal” and is the owner and sole consultant for EJUC8U (Educate You) Consulting LLC. She was most recently the founding Principal of a PreK-2nd grade school in DeSoto ISD, located in DeSoto, Texas. Before this, she held the position of Director of Education for the Community Impact Network, a non-profit organization that is place-based within the Normandy School Collaborative footprint in St. Louis, MO. Over her 20 plus years in education, she has had the honor of holding the positions of District English Language Arts Supervisor, Principal, Assistant Principal, Instructional Coach, Reading Specialist, and Classroom Teacher at various grade levels. In addition, Dr. Johnson taught at the post-secondary level, serving as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. She earned her bachelor's degree from Harris-Stowe State University in Elementary Education. Subsequently earning advanced degrees at the University of Missouri-St. Louis: Masters and Educational Specialist Degrees in Educational Administration; then a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Education with an emphasis in Teaching and Learning. Dr. Johnson is a member of the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development, International Literacy Association, and National Council of Social Studies.  You can follow Dr. Jerri Johnson on LinkedIn and her website at: FromtheDeskoftheDr.com and you can find her book at Barnes and Noble and on Amazon! LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/jerri-johnson-ph-d-7ba7552a Website: fromthedeskofthedr.com Book Links https://www.amazon.com/Imagine-Chronicles-Urban-School-Principal/dp/1891282255/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3KKVTHRFS95SQ&keywords=imagine+that+jerri+johnson&qid=1647108609&sprefix=imagine+that+%2Caps%2C1028&sr=8-1  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/imagine-that-chronicles-of-an-urban-school-principal-jerri-a-johnson/1140998697;jsessionid=4D8E41C74B8860253C68A60EAB7757E5.prodny_store01-atgap06?ean=9781891282256   ***Thank you for taking the time to listen to the KORE Women podcast and being a part of the KORE Women experience. You can listen to The KORE Women podcast on your favorite podcast directory - Pandora, iHeartRadio, Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, YouTube, Spotify, Stitcher, Podbean, JioSaavn, Amazon and at: www.KOREWomen.com/podcast. Please leave your comments and reviews about the podcast and check out KORE Women on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. You can also learn more about Dr. Summer Watson and KORE Women at: www.korewomen.com

Dr. Nell K. Duke talks to us about equity, research, and equitable, research-based resources for schools and teachers. Nell is known for her work in the areas of early literacy development, particularly the development of informational reading and writing in young children, comprehension development and instruction in early schooling, and issues of equity in literacy education. Dr. Duke has received numerous awards for her work including the P. David Pearson Scholarly Influence Award from the Literacy Research Association and the International Literacy Association's William S. Gray Citation of Merit for outstanding contributions to research, theory, practice, and policy. Nell has been named one of the most influential education scholars in the U.S. in EdWeek. You can connect with Dr. Duke through her website at www.nellkduke.org or on Twitter @nellkduke.During her episode, Dr. Duke mentions these websites: www.LiteracyEssentials.org and www.NellKDuke.org. To cite this episode:Persohn, L. (Host). (2022, Jul 5). A conversation with Nell K. Duke. (Season 3, No. 3) [Audio podcast episode]. In Classroom Caffeine Podcast series. https://www.classroomcaffeine.com/guests.DOI: 10.5240/6B76-0A22-1F1F-7758-A5CA-T

Pre-Order the Leading Equity Book Today! About Jerri A. Johnson, Ph.D. Dr. Jerri Johnson is author of the book “Imagine That! Chronicles of an Urban School Principal." In addition to this she is the owner and sole consultant for EJUC8U (Educate You) Consulting LLC. In the field of education, she was most recently the founding Principal of a PreK-2nd grade school located in DeSoto, Texas. She held the position of Director of Education for the Community Impact Network, a non-profit organization that is place-based within the Normandy School Collaborative footprint in St. Louis, MO. Over her 20 plus years in education, she has had the honor of holding the positions of District English Language Arts Supervisor, Principal, Assistant Principal, Instructional Coach, Reading Specialist, and Classroom Teacher at various grade levels. In addition, Dr. Johnson taught at the post-secondary level, serving as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. She earned her bachelor's degree from Harris-Stowe State University in Elementary Education. Subsequently earning advanced degrees at the University of Missouri-St. Louis: Masters and Educational Specialist Degrees in Educational Administration; then a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Education, with an emphasis in Teaching and Learning. Dr. Johnson is a member of the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development, International Literacy Association, and National Council of Social Studies. Show Highlights Understanding a students background and trauma Supports needed for students healing from trauma Self-care as a school leader Connect with Jerri Instagram LinkedIn Website Imaging That! Chronicles of an Urban School Principal Additional Resources Learn more about the Advocacy Room Free Course on Implicit Bias 20 Diversity Equity and Inclusion Activities Annihilating Racial Injustice in School Course FREE AUDIO COURSE: Race, Advocacy, and Social Justice Studies

Literacy has been one of the most talked-about aspects of education over the last few years, due to a statewide focus on the science of reading, several grant opportunities, and now the dyslexia legislation going into effect next school year. And now, as our podcast delves into ineffective teaching practices this season, we are thrilled to welcome Dr. Tim Shanahan to the podcast. Dr. Shanahan is a noted researcher, speaker, and thought leader on all things literacy, and he has been a partner with the Ohio Department of Education for the last several years, as we have developed and implemented Ohio's Plan to Raise Literacy Achievement. Today, Dr. Shanahan talks with SST8's Sarah Egan-Reeves and gives us a lot to think about in terms of how we design literacy instruction - really, this is a master class on literacy from one of our favorite gurus. We can't wait for you to hear all that he has to share. Co-Host: Sarah Egan-Reeves, SST8 Educational Consultant About Our Guest: Dr. Timothy Shanahan is Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois at Chi­cago where he was Founding Di­rector of the UIC Center for Literacy. Previously, he was director of reading for the Chicago Public Schools. He is author/editor of more than 200 publications on literacy education, and research emphasizes the connections between reading and writing, literacy in the disciplines, and improvement of reading achievement. Tim is past president of the International Literacy Association. He served as a member of the Advisory Board of the National Institute for Literacy under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, and he helped lead the National Reading Panel, convened at the request of Congress to evaluate research on the teaching reading, a major influence on reading education. He chaired two other federal research review panels: the National Literacy Panel for Language Minority Children and Youth, and the National Early Literacy Panel, and helped write the Common Core State Standards. He was inducted to the Reading Hall of Fame in 2007, and is a former first-grade teacher. Additional Resources: Shanahanonliteracy.com | Dr. Shanahan's website and blog Why Children Should Be Taught to Read With More Challenging Texts (Article, 2019) What Constitutes a Science of Reading Instruction? (Article, 2020) Disciplinary Literacy in Elementary Education: Video | Slides (presentation at Ohio Literacy Academy, 2020)

Dr. Robert J. Tierney talks to us about waves of thinking in education research, students as agents of change, and crossing borders in new ways by considering our approach to ideas. Rob is known for his work in the areas of reading and the reading-writing connection, theories of literacy instruction and research, and teaching, learning, and researching with digital literacies, and global knowledge mobilization. He has worked in the United States, Canada, Australia, and China. Rob has published numerous books and scholarly articles focused on literacy education, teacher development, cross-national educational research, educational assessment and equity. He recently published A History of Literacy Instruction: Waves of Research and Practice with well-known literacy scholar and former Classroom Caffeine guest, P. David Pearson. Rob currently serves as the President of the Board of the International Literacy Association. Rob is Professor Emeritus and Dean Emeritus of the Faculty of Education at the University of British Columbia. To cite this episode:Persohn, L. (Host). (2022, Feb 1). A conversation with Rob Tierney. (Season 2, No. 19) [Audio podcast episode]. In Classroom Caffeine Podcast series. https://www.classroomcaffeine.com/guests. DOI: 10.5240/27CF-EBB9-5745-102A-9927-L

Join us for a discussion about designing powerful and effective learning experiences, using digital technologies while juggling the demands of pandemic teaching and learning. Follow on Twitter:  @bamradionetwork @jonharper70bd  @ISTE  @mrhooker @cmurcray  @elkorda Angela Elkordy, Ph.D., is chair and assistant professor, learning sciences, and program director for learning technologies at National Louis University in the Chicago area. Her writing has appeared in numerous platforms and publications, including books such as Foundation of Digital Badges and Micro-Credentials and Gamify Literacy. Her research focuses on the learning sciences, design and technology, teacher learning and instructional design. Ayn Keneman, Ed.D., is an associate professor in the National College of Education faculty, early childhood education, at National Louis University, Chicago, where she teaches courses in early childhood education, literacy instruction, human development and technology. She is president of a special interest group of the International Literacy Association, Organization of Teacher Educators of Literacy. Keneman's research on struggling readers led to the publication of her book Literacy Leadership to Support Reading Improvement.

In honor of Halloween everyday in the month of October I will be reading Halloween themed stories. I will be releasing a new chapter everyday of this 26-chapter book Hoodoo by Ronald L. Smith. This story is about a boy name Hoodoo who has inherited something interesting from his dead father. About Ronald L. Smith - @ronsmithwriter Ronald L. Smith is an award-winning writer of children's literature including the novels, Black Panther: The Young Prince, The Mesmerist, The Owls Have Come To Take Us Away and Gloomtown, a Junior Library Guild Selection. His first novel, Hoodoo, earned him the 2016 Coretta Scott King/ John Steptoe New Talent Author Award and the ILA Award for Intermediate Fiction from The International Literacy Association. Before he became a full-time writer, he worked in advertising and wrote TV commercials for big corporations. He is much happier writing books for young people. (written on Amazon) https://www.amazon.com/Hoodoo-Ronald-L-Smith-2015-09-01/dp/B01FJ1FM5C/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3JFEANH6FOAHG&dchild=1&keywords=hoodoo+by+ronald+l.+smith&qid=1633047902&sprefix=Hoodoo+by%2Caps%2C178&sr=8-2

In honor of Halloween everyday in the month of October I will be reading Halloween themed stories. I will be releasing a new chapter everyday of this 26-chapter book Hoodoo by Ronald L. Smith. This story is about a boy name Hoodoo who has inherited something interesting from his dead father. About Ronald L. Smith - @ronsmithwriter Ronald L. Smith is an award-winning writer of children's literature including the novels, Black Panther: The Young Prince, The Mesmerist, The Owls Have Come To Take Us Away and Gloomtown, a Junior Library Guild Selection. His first novel, Hoodoo, earned him the 2016 Coretta Scott King/ John Steptoe New Talent Author Award and the ILA Award for Intermediate Fiction from The International Literacy Association. Before he became a full-time writer, he worked in advertising and wrote TV commercials for big corporations. He is much happier writing books for young people. (written on Amazon) https://www.amazon.com/Hoodoo-Ronald-L-Smith-2015-09-01/dp/B01FJ1FM5C/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3JFEANH6FOAHG&dchild=1&keywords=hoodoo+by+ronald+l.+smith&qid=1633047902&sprefix=Hoodoo+by%2Caps%2C178&sr=8-2

In honor of Halloween everyday in the month of October I will be reading Halloween themed stories. I will be releasing a new chapter everyday of this 26-chapter book Hoodoo by Ronald L. Smith. This story is about a boy name Hoodoo who has inherited something interesting from his dead father. About Ronald L. Smith - @ronsmithwriter Ronald L. Smith is an award-winning writer of children's literature including the novels, Black Panther: The Young Prince, The Mesmerist, The Owls Have Come To Take Us Away and Gloomtown, a Junior Library Guild Selection. His first novel, Hoodoo, earned him the 2016 Coretta Scott King/ John Steptoe New Talent Author Award and the ILA Award for Intermediate Fiction from The International Literacy Association. Before he became a full-time writer, he worked in advertising and wrote TV commercials for big corporations. He is much happier writing books for young people. (written on Amazon) https://www.amazon.com/Hoodoo-Ronald-L-Smith-2015-09-01/dp/B01FJ1FM5C/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3JFEANH6FOAHG&dchild=1&keywords=hoodoo+by+ronald+l.+smith&qid=1633047902&sprefix=Hoodoo+by%2Caps%2C178&sr=8-2

In honor of Halloween everyday in the month of October I will be reading Halloween themed stories. I will be releasing a new chapter everyday of this 26-chapter book Hoodoo by Ronald L. Smith. This story is about a boy name Hoodoo who has inherited something interesting from his dead father. About Ronald L. Smith - @ronsmithwriter Ronald L. Smith is an award-winning writer of children's literature including the novels, Black Panther: The Young Prince, The Mesmerist, The Owls Have Come To Take Us Away and Gloomtown, a Junior Library Guild Selection. His first novel, Hoodoo, earned him the 2016 Coretta Scott King/ John Steptoe New Talent Author Award and the ILA Award for Intermediate Fiction from The International Literacy Association. Before he became a full-time writer, he worked in advertising and wrote TV commercials for big corporations. He is much happier writing books for young people. (written on Amazon) https://www.amazon.com/Hoodoo-Ronald-L-Smith-2015-09-01/dp/B01FJ1FM5C/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3JFEANH6FOAHG&dchild=1&keywords=hoodoo+by+ronald+l.+smith&qid=1633047902&sprefix=Hoodoo+by%2Caps%2C178&sr=8-2

In honor of Halloween everyday in the month of October I will be reading Halloween themed stories. I will be releasing a new chapter everyday of this 26-chapter book Hoodoo by Ronald L. Smith. This story is about a boy name Hoodoo who has inherited something interesting from his dead father. About Ronald L. Smith - @ronsmithwriter Ronald L. Smith is an award-winning writer of children's literature including the novels, Black Panther: The Young Prince, The Mesmerist, The Owls Have Come To Take Us Away and Gloomtown, a Junior Library Guild Selection. His first novel, Hoodoo, earned him the 2016 Coretta Scott King/ John Steptoe New Talent Author Award and the ILA Award for Intermediate Fiction from The International Literacy Association. Before he became a full-time writer, he worked in advertising and wrote TV commercials for big corporations. He is much happier writing books for young people. (written on Amazon) https://www.amazon.com/Hoodoo-Ronald-L-Smith-2015-09-01/dp/B01FJ1FM5C/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3JFEANH6FOAHG&dchild=1&keywords=hoodoo+by+ronald+l.+smith&qid=1633047902&sprefix=Hoodoo+by%2Caps%2C178&sr=8-2

In honor of Halloween everyday in the month of October I will be reading Halloween themed stories. I will be releasing a new chapter everyday of this 26-chapter book Hoodoo by Ronald L. Smith. This story is about a boy name Hoodoo who has inherited something interesting from his dead father. About Ronald L. Smith - @ronsmithwriter Ronald L. Smith is an award-winning writer of children's literature including the novels, Black Panther: The Young Prince, The Mesmerist, The Owls Have Come To Take Us Away and Gloomtown, a Junior Library Guild Selection. His first novel, Hoodoo, earned him the 2016 Coretta Scott King/ John Steptoe New Talent Author Award and the ILA Award for Intermediate Fiction from The International Literacy Association. Before he became a full-time writer, he worked in advertising and wrote TV commercials for big corporations. He is much happier writing books for young people. (written on Amazon) https://www.amazon.com/Hoodoo-Ronald-L-Smith-2015-09-01/dp/B01FJ1FM5C/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3JFEANH6FOAHG&dchild=1&keywords=hoodoo+by+ronald+l.+smith&qid=1633047902&sprefix=Hoodoo+by%2Caps%2C178&sr=8-2

In honor of Halloween everyday in the month of October I will be reading Halloween themed stories. I will be releasing a new chapter everyday of this 26-chapter book Hoodoo by Ronald L. Smith. This story is about a boy name Hoodoo who has inherited something interesting from his dead father. About Ronald L. Smith - @ronsmithwriter Ronald L. Smith is an award-winning writer of children's literature including the novels, Black Panther: The Young Prince, The Mesmerist, The Owls Have Come To Take Us Away and Gloomtown, a Junior Library Guild Selection. His first novel, Hoodoo, earned him the 2016 Coretta Scott King/ John Steptoe New Talent Author Award and the ILA Award for Intermediate Fiction from The International Literacy Association. Before he became a full-time writer, he worked in advertising and wrote TV commercials for big corporations. He is much happier writing books for young people. (written on Amazon) https://www.amazon.com/Hoodoo-Ronald-L-Smith-2015-09-01/dp/B01FJ1FM5C/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3JFEANH6FOAHG&dchild=1&keywords=hoodoo+by+ronald+l.+smith&qid=1633047902&sprefix=Hoodoo+by%2Caps%2C178&sr=8-2

In honor of Halloween everyday in the month of October I will be reading Halloween themed stories. I will be releasing a new chapter everyday of this 26-chapter book Hoodoo by Ronald L. Smith. This story is about a boy name Hoodoo who has inherited something interesting from his dead father. About Ronald L. Smith - @ronsmithwriter Ronald L. Smith is an award-winning writer of children's literature including the novels, Black Panther: The Young Prince, The Mesmerist, The Owls Have Come To Take Us Away and Gloomtown, a Junior Library Guild Selection. His first novel, Hoodoo, earned him the 2016 Coretta Scott King/ John Steptoe New Talent Author Award and the ILA Award for Intermediate Fiction from The International Literacy Association. Before he became a full-time writer, he worked in advertising and wrote TV commercials for big corporations. He is much happier writing books for young people. (written on Amazon) https://www.amazon.com/Hoodoo-Ronald-L-Smith-2015-09-01/dp/B01FJ1FM5C/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3JFEANH6FOAHG&dchild=1&keywords=hoodoo+by+ronald+l.+smith&qid=1633047902&sprefix=Hoodoo+by%2Caps%2C178&sr=8-2

In honor of Halloween everyday in the month of October I will be reading Halloween themed stories. I will be releasing a new chapter everyday of this 26-chapter book Hoodoo by Ronald L. Smith. This story is about a boy name Hoodoo who has inherited something interesting from his dead father. About Ronald L. Smith - @ronsmithwriter Ronald L. Smith is an award-winning writer of children's literature including the novels, Black Panther: The Young Prince, The Mesmerist, The Owls Have Come To Take Us Away and Gloomtown, a Junior Library Guild Selection. His first novel, Hoodoo, earned him the 2016 Coretta Scott King/ John Steptoe New Talent Author Award and the ILA Award for Intermediate Fiction from The International Literacy Association. Before he became a full-time writer, he worked in advertising and wrote TV commercials for big corporations. He is much happier writing books for young people. (written on Amazon) https://www.amazon.com/Hoodoo-Ronald-L-Smith-2015-09-01/dp/B01FJ1FM5C/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3JFEANH6FOAHG&dchild=1&keywords=hoodoo+by+ronald+l.+smith&qid=1633047902&sprefix=Hoodoo+by%2Caps%2C178&sr=8-2

In honor of Halloween everyday in the month of October I will be reading Halloween themed stories. I will be releasing a new chapter everyday of this 26-chapter book Hoodoo by Ronald L. Smith. This story is about a boy name Hoodoo who has inherited something interesting from his dead father. About Ronald L. Smith - @ronsmithwriter Ronald L. Smith is an award-winning writer of children's literature including the novels, Black Panther: The Young Prince, The Mesmerist, The Owls Have Come To Take Us Away and Gloomtown, a Junior Library Guild Selection. His first novel, Hoodoo, earned him the 2016 Coretta Scott King/ John Steptoe New Talent Author Award and the ILA Award for Intermediate Fiction from The International Literacy Association. Before he became a full-time writer, he worked in advertising and wrote TV commercials for big corporations. He is much happier writing books for young people. (written on Amazon) https://www.amazon.com/Hoodoo-Ronald-L-Smith-2015-09-01/dp/B01FJ1FM5C/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3JFEANH6FOAHG&dchild=1&keywords=hoodoo+by+ronald+l.+smith&qid=1633047902&sprefix=Hoodoo+by%2Caps%2C178&sr=8-2

In honor of Halloween everyday in the month of October I will be reading Halloween themed stories. I will be releasing a new chapter everyday of this 26-chapter book Hoodoo by Ronald L. Smith. This story is about a boy name Hoodoo who has inherited something interesting from his dead father. About Ronald L. Smith - @ronsmithwriter Ronald L. Smith is an award-winning writer of children's literature including the novels, Black Panther: The Young Prince, The Mesmerist, The Owls Have Come To Take Us Away and Gloomtown, a Junior Library Guild Selection. His first novel, Hoodoo, earned him the 2016 Coretta Scott King/ John Steptoe New Talent Author Award and the ILA Award for Intermediate Fiction from The International Literacy Association. Before he became a full-time writer, he worked in advertising and wrote TV commercials for big corporations. He is much happier writing books for young people. (written on Amazon) https://www.amazon.com/Hoodoo-Ronald-L-Smith-2015-09-01/dp/B01FJ1FM5C/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3JFEANH6FOAHG&dchild=1&keywords=hoodoo+by+ronald+l.+smith&qid=1633047902&sprefix=Hoodoo+by%2Caps%2C178&sr=8-2

In honor of Halloween everyday in the month of October I will be reading Halloween themed stories. I will be releasing a new chapter everyday of this 26-chapter book Hoodoo by Ronald L. Smith. This story is about a boy name Hoodoo who has inherited something interesting from his dead father. About Ronald L. Smith - @ronsmithwriter Ronald L. Smith is an award-winning writer of children's literature including the novels, Black Panther: The Young Prince, The Mesmerist, The Owls Have Come To Take Us Away and Gloomtown, a Junior Library Guild Selection. His first novel, Hoodoo, earned him the 2016 Coretta Scott King/ John Steptoe New Talent Author Award and the ILA Award for Intermediate Fiction from The International Literacy Association. Before he became a full-time writer, he worked in advertising and wrote TV commercials for big corporations. He is much happier writing books for young people. (written on Amazon) https://www.amazon.com/Hoodoo-Ronald-L-Smith-2015-09-01/dp/B01FJ1FM5C/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3JFEANH6FOAHG&dchild=1&keywords=hoodoo+by+ronald+l.+smith&qid=1633047902&sprefix=Hoodoo+by%2Caps%2C178&sr=8-2

In honor of Halloween everyday in the month of October I will be reading Halloween themed stories. I will be releasing a new chapter everyday of this 26-chapter book Hoodoo by Ronald L. Smith. This story is about a boy name Hoodoo who has inherited something interesting from his dead father. About Ronald L. Smith - @ronsmithwriter Ronald L. Smith is an award-winning writer of children's literature including the novels, Black Panther: The Young Prince, The Mesmerist, The Owls Have Come To Take Us Away and Gloomtown, a Junior Library Guild Selection. His first novel, Hoodoo, earned him the 2016 Coretta Scott King/ John Steptoe New Talent Author Award and the ILA Award for Intermediate Fiction from The International Literacy Association. Before he became a full-time writer, he worked in advertising and wrote TV commercials for big corporations. He is much happier writing books for young people. (written on Amazon) https://www.amazon.com/Hoodoo-Ronald-L-Smith-2015-09-01/dp/B01FJ1FM5C/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3JFEANH6FOAHG&dchild=1&keywords=hoodoo+by+ronald+l.+smith&qid=1633047902&sprefix=Hoodoo+by%2Caps%2C178&sr=8-2

In honor of Halloween everyday in the month of October I will be reading Halloween themed stories. I will be releasing a new chapter everyday of this 26-chapter book Hoodoo by Ronald L. Smith. This story is about a boy name Hoodoo who has inherited something interesting from his dead father. About Ronald L. Smith - @ronsmithwriter Ronald L. Smith is an award-winning writer of children's literature including the novels, Black Panther: The Young Prince, The Mesmerist, The Owls Have Come To Take Us Away and Gloomtown, a Junior Library Guild Selection. His first novel, Hoodoo, earned him the 2016 Coretta Scott King/ John Steptoe New Talent Author Award and the ILA Award for Intermediate Fiction from The International Literacy Association. Before he became a full-time writer, he worked in advertising and wrote TV commercials for big corporations. He is much happier writing books for young people. (written on Amazon) https://www.amazon.com/Hoodoo-Ronald-L-Smith-2015-09-01/dp/B01FJ1FM5C/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3JFEANH6FOAHG&dchild=1&keywords=hoodoo+by+ronald+l.+smith&qid=1633047902&sprefix=Hoodoo+by%2Caps%2C178&sr=8-2

In honor of Halloween everyday in the month of October I will be reading Halloween themed stories. I will be releasing a new chapter everyday of this 26-chapter book Hoodoo by Ronald L. Smith. This story is about a boy name Hoodoo who has inherited something interesting from his dead father. About Ronald L. Smith - @ronsmithwriter Ronald L. Smith is an award-winning writer of children's literature including the novels, Black Panther: The Young Prince, The Mesmerist, The Owls Have Come To Take Us Away and Gloomtown, a Junior Library Guild Selection. His first novel, Hoodoo, earned him the 2016 Coretta Scott King/ John Steptoe New Talent Author Award and the ILA Award for Intermediate Fiction from The International Literacy Association. Before he became a full-time writer, he worked in advertising and wrote TV commercials for big corporations. He is much happier writing books for young people. (written on Amazon) https://www.amazon.com/Hoodoo-Ronald-L-Smith-2015-09-01/dp/B01FJ1FM5C/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3JFEANH6FOAHG&dchild=1&keywords=hoodoo+by+ronald+l.+smith&qid=1633047902&sprefix=Hoodoo+by%2Caps%2C178&sr=8-2

In honor of Halloween everyday in the month of October I will be reading Halloween themed stories. I will be releasing a new chapter everyday of this 26-chapter book Hoodoo by Ronald L. Smith. This story is about a boy name Hoodoo who has inherited something interesting from his dead father. About Ronald L. Smith - @ronsmithwriter Ronald L. Smith is an award-winning writer of children's literature including the novels, Black Panther: The Young Prince, The Mesmerist, The Owls Have Come To Take Us Away and Gloomtown, a Junior Library Guild Selection. His first novel, Hoodoo, earned him the 2016 Coretta Scott King/ John Steptoe New Talent Author Award and the ILA Award for Intermediate Fiction from The International Literacy Association. Before he became a full-time writer, he worked in advertising and wrote TV commercials for big corporations. He is much happier writing books for young people. (written on Amazon) https://www.amazon.com/Hoodoo-Ronald-L-Smith-2015-09-01/dp/B01FJ1FM5C/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3JFEANH6FOAHG&dchild=1&keywords=hoodoo+by+ronald+l.+smith&qid=1633047902&sprefix=Hoodoo+by%2Caps%2C178&sr=8-2

In honor of Halloween everyday in the month of October I will be reading Halloween themed stories. I will be releasing a new chapter everyday of this 26-chapter book Hoodoo by Ronald L. Smith. This story is about a boy name Hoodoo who has inherited something interesting from his dead father. About Ronald L. Smith - @ronsmithwriter Ronald L. Smith is an award-winning writer of children's literature including the novels, Black Panther: The Young Prince, The Mesmerist, The Owls Have Come To Take Us Away and Gloomtown, a Junior Library Guild Selection. His first novel, Hoodoo, earned him the 2016 Coretta Scott King/ John Steptoe New Talent Author Award and the ILA Award for Intermediate Fiction from The International Literacy Association. Before he became a full-time writer, he worked in advertising and wrote TV commercials for big corporations. He is much happier writing books for young people. (written on Amazon) https://www.amazon.com/Hoodoo-Ronald-L-Smith-2015-09-01/dp/B01FJ1FM5C/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3JFEANH6FOAHG&dchild=1&keywords=hoodoo+by+ronald+l.+smith&qid=1633047902&sprefix=Hoodoo+by%2Caps%2C178&sr=8-2

In honor of Halloween everyday in the month of October I will be reading Halloween themed stories. I will be releasing a new chapter everyday of this 26-chapter book Hoodoo by Ronald L. Smith. This story is about a boy name Hoodoo who has inherited something interesting from his dead father. About Ronald L. Smith - @ronsmithwriter Ronald L. Smith is an award-winning writer of children's literature including the novels, Black Panther: The Young Prince, The Mesmerist, The Owls Have Come To Take Us Away and Gloomtown, a Junior Library Guild Selection. His first novel, Hoodoo, earned him the 2016 Coretta Scott King/ John Steptoe New Talent Author Award and the ILA Award for Intermediate Fiction from The International Literacy Association. Before he became a full-time writer, he worked in advertising and wrote TV commercials for big corporations. He is much happier writing books for young people. (written on Amazon) https://www.amazon.com/Hoodoo-Ronald-L-Smith-2015-09-01/dp/B01FJ1FM5C/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3JFEANH6FOAHG&dchild=1&keywords=hoodoo+by+ronald+l.+smith&qid=1633047902&sprefix=Hoodoo+by%2Caps%2C178&sr=8-2

In honor of Halloween everyday in the month of October I will be reading Halloween themed stories. I will be releasing a new chapter everyday of this 26-chapter book Hoodoo by Ronald L. Smith. This story is about a boy name Hoodoo who has inherited something interesting from his dead father. About Ronald L. Smith - @ronsmithwriter Ronald L. Smith is an award-winning writer of children's literature including the novels, Black Panther: The Young Prince, The Mesmerist, The Owls Have Come To Take Us Away and Gloomtown, a Junior Library Guild Selection. His first novel, Hoodoo, earned him the 2016 Coretta Scott King/ John Steptoe New Talent Author Award and the ILA Award for Intermediate Fiction from The International Literacy Association. Before he became a full-time writer, he worked in advertising and wrote TV commercials for big corporations. He is much happier writing books for young people. (written on Amazon) https://www.amazon.com/Hoodoo-Ronald-L-Smith-2015-09-01/dp/B01FJ1FM5C/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3JFEANH6FOAHG&dchild=1&keywords=hoodoo+by+ronald+l.+smith&qid=1633047902&sprefix=Hoodoo+by%2Caps%2C178&sr=8-2

In honor of Halloween everyday in the month of October I will be reading Halloween themed stories. I will be releasing a new chapter everyday of this 26-chapter book Hoodoo by Ronald L. Smith. This story is about a boy name Hoodoo who has inherited something interesting from his dead father. About Ronald L. Smith - @ronsmithwriter Ronald L. Smith is an award-winning writer of children's literature including the novels, Black Panther: The Young Prince, The Mesmerist, The Owls Have Come To Take Us Away and Gloomtown, a Junior Library Guild Selection. His first novel, Hoodoo, earned him the 2016 Coretta Scott King/ John Steptoe New Talent Author Award and the ILA Award for Intermediate Fiction from The International Literacy Association. Before he became a full-time writer, he worked in advertising and wrote TV commercials for big corporations. He is much happier writing books for young people. (written on Amazon) https://www.amazon.com/Hoodoo-Ronald-L-Smith-2015-09-01/dp/B01FJ1FM5C/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3JFEANH6FOAHG&dchild=1&keywords=hoodoo+by+ronald+l.+smith&qid=1633047902&sprefix=Hoodoo+by%2Caps%2C178&sr=8-2

In honor of Halloween everyday in the month of October I will be reading Halloween themed stories. I will be releasing a new chapter everyday of this 26-chapter book Hoodoo by Ronald L. Smith. This story is about a boy name Hoodoo who has inherited something interesting from his dead father. About Ronald L. Smith - @ronsmithwriter Ronald L. Smith is an award-winning writer of children's literature including the novels, Black Panther: The Young Prince, The Mesmerist, The Owls Have Come To Take Us Away and Gloomtown, a Junior Library Guild Selection. His first novel, Hoodoo, earned him the 2016 Coretta Scott King/ John Steptoe New Talent Author Award and the ILA Award for Intermediate Fiction from The International Literacy Association. Before he became a full-time writer, he worked in advertising and wrote TV commercials for big corporations. He is much happier writing books for young people. (written on Amazon) https://www.amazon.com/Hoodoo-Ronald-L-Smith-2015-09-01/dp/B01FJ1FM5C/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3JFEANH6FOAHG&dchild=1&keywords=hoodoo+by+ronald+l.+smith&qid=1633047902&sprefix=Hoodoo+by%2Caps%2C178&sr=8-2

In honor of Halloween everyday in the month of October I will be reading Halloween themed stories. I will be releasing a new chapter everyday of this 26-chapter book Hoodoo by Ronald L. Smith. This story is about a boy name Hoodoo who has inherited something interesting from his dead father. About Ronald L. Smith - @ronsmithwriter Ronald L. Smith is an award-winning writer of children's literature including the novels, Black Panther: The Young Prince, The Mesmerist, The Owls Have Come To Take Us Away and Gloomtown, a Junior Library Guild Selection. His first novel, Hoodoo, earned him the 2016 Coretta Scott King/ John Steptoe New Talent Author Award and the ILA Award for Intermediate Fiction from The International Literacy Association. Before he became a full-time writer, he worked in advertising and wrote TV commercials for big corporations. He is much happier writing books for young people. (written on Amazon) https://www.amazon.com/Hoodoo-Ronald-L-Smith-2015-09-01/dp/B01FJ1FM5C/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3JFEANH6FOAHG&dchild=1&keywords=hoodoo+by+ronald+l.+smith&qid=1633047902&sprefix=Hoodoo+by%2Caps%2C178&sr=8-2

In honor of Halloween everyday in the month of October I will be reading Halloween themed stories. I will be releasing a new chapter everyday of this 26-chapter book Hoodoo by Ronald L. Smith. This story is about a boy name Hoodoo who has inherited something interesting from his dead father. About Ronald L. Smith - @ronsmithwriter Ronald L. Smith is an award-winning writer of children's literature including the novels, Black Panther: The Young Prince, The Mesmerist, The Owls Have Come To Take Us Away and Gloomtown, a Junior Library Guild Selection. His first novel, Hoodoo, earned him the 2016 Coretta Scott King/ John Steptoe New Talent Author Award and the ILA Award for Intermediate Fiction from The International Literacy Association. Before he became a full-time writer, he worked in advertising and wrote TV commercials for big corporations. He is much happier writing books for young people. (written on Amazon) https://www.amazon.com/Hoodoo-Ronald-L-Smith-2015-09-01/dp/B01FJ1FM5C/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3JFEANH6FOAHG&dchild=1&keywords=hoodoo+by+ronald+l.+smith&qid=1633047902&sprefix=Hoodoo+by%2Caps%2C178&sr=8-2

In honor of Halloween everyday in the month of October I will be reading Halloween themed stories. I will be releasing a new chapter everyday of this 26-chapter book Hoodoo by Ronald L. Smith. This story is about a boy name Hoodoo who has inherited something interesting from his dead father. About Ronald L. Smith - @ronsmithwriter Ronald L. Smith is an award-winning writer of children's literature including the novels, Black Panther: The Young Prince, The Mesmerist, The Owls Have Come To Take Us Away and Gloomtown, a Junior Library Guild Selection. His first novel, Hoodoo, earned him the 2016 Coretta Scott King/ John Steptoe New Talent Author Award and the ILA Award for Intermediate Fiction from The International Literacy Association. Before he became a full-time writer, he worked in advertising and wrote TV commercials for big corporations. He is much happier writing books for young people. (written on Amazon) https://www.amazon.com/Hoodoo-Ronald-L-Smith-2015-09-01/dp/B01FJ1FM5C/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3JFEANH6FOAHG&dchild=1&keywords=hoodoo+by+ronald+l.+smith&qid=1633047902&sprefix=Hoodoo+by%2Caps%2C178&sr=8-2

In honor of Halloween everyday in the month of October I will be reading Halloween themed stories. I will be releasing a new chapter everyday of this 26-chapter book Hoodoo by Ronald L. Smith. This story is about a boy name Hoodoo who has inherited something interesting from his dead father. About Ronald L. Smith - @ronsmithwriter Ronald L. Smith is an award-winning writer of children's literature including the novels, Black Panther: The Young Prince, The Mesmerist, The Owls Have Come To Take Us Away and Gloomtown, a Junior Library Guild Selection. His first novel, Hoodoo, earned him the 2016 Coretta Scott King/ John Steptoe New Talent Author Award and the ILA Award for Intermediate Fiction from The International Literacy Association. Before he became a full-time writer, he worked in advertising and wrote TV commercials for big corporations. He is much happier writing books for young people. (written on Amazon) https://www.amazon.com/Hoodoo-Ronald-L-Smith-2015-09-01/dp/B01FJ1FM5C/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3JFEANH6FOAHG&dchild=1&keywords=hoodoo+by+ronald+l.+smith&qid=1633047902&sprefix=Hoodoo+by%2Caps%2C178&sr=8-2

In honor of Halloween everyday in the month of October I will be reading Halloween themed stories. I will be releasing a new chapter everyday of this 26-chapter book Hoodoo by Ronald L. Smith. This story is about a boy name Hoodoo who has inherited something interesting from his dead father. About Ronald L. Smith - @ronsmithwriter Ronald L. Smith is an award-winning writer of children's literature including the novels, Black Panther: The Young Prince, The Mesmerist, The Owls Have Come To Take Us Away and Gloomtown, a Junior Library Guild Selection. His first novel, Hoodoo, earned him the 2016 Coretta Scott King/ John Steptoe New Talent Author Award and the ILA Award for Intermediate Fiction from The International Literacy Association. Before he became a full-time writer, he worked in advertising and wrote TV commercials for big corporations. He is much happier writing books for young people. (written on Amazon) https://www.amazon.com/Hoodoo-Ronald-L-Smith-2015-09-01/dp/B01FJ1FM5C/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3JFEANH6FOAHG&dchild=1&keywords=hoodoo+by+ronald+l.+smith&qid=1633047902&sprefix=Hoodoo+by%2Caps%2C178&sr=8-2

This week, I have invited Lois Letchford, a returning guest here in Dyslexia Explored, to talk about her recently published research paper through the International Literacy Association titled “Moving beyond Decoding: Teaching Pronoun Resolution to Develop Reading Comprehension”. In her paper, Lois Letchford and her co-author, Timothy Rasinski, identified that less proficient readers like people with dyslexia often are not as proficient in resolving pronouns. It is another comprehension task that teachers often dismiss as the student being lazy or dumb. Lois shared with us how pronouns such as; he, she, they, it, etc., confuse people with dyslexia. They often find it difficult to remember which noun was the pronoun replacing. She also offered strategies on how we, as parents and teachers, can help our students overcome this challenge. Listen to her story now. Links you might want to check: International Literacy Association: https://www.literacyworldwide.org/ Website: https://www.loisletchford.com/ Reversed: A Memoir : https://amzn.to/3xB9Opd Twitter: @LoisLetchford YouTube:https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCW-eC1bd7uZBizY-rzWhrQQ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loisletchford/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeachingStudentsWithDyslexia Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/loisletchfordauthor Bulletmap Academy Page: https://bulletmapacademy.com BulletMap Academy Workshop: https://bulletmapacademy.com/workshop/ BulletMap Academy Blogs: https://bulletmapacademy.com/blogs/ Enroll in BulletMap Academy: https://bulletmapacademy.com/sales-page/ Show notes: https://bulletmapacademy.com/115/ Interested in being a guest? Email us at info@bulletmapacademy.com

Dylan Teut connects with host Carla Marie Manly, Phd, to discuss his work studying and promoting literacy.   ABOUT DYLAN: Dylan Teut currently serves as the executive director of the Plum Creek Literacy Festival, and has served as an instructor for literacy courses for undergraduate students at Concordia University, Seward, Nebraska. Dylan is a former first grade teacher, recognized by the state of IL as the K-5 Reading Teacher of the Year in 2014. He was named to the International Literacy Association's inaugural "30 Under 30" list in 2015. He was recognized by Read Aloud Nebraska with a Reading Spotlight award in 2020 for his advocacy in helping educators and families stay connected to high-quality literacy during the pandemic. He is currently a PhD Candidate studying at Walden University. Since his time in Seward, he has grown the Plum Creek Festival in numerous ways. Dylan serves on the National Board of Supervisors for the Mazza Museum of Children's Book Art, a part of the University of Findlay in Findlay, OH, and also on the National Mathical Book Award committee. He is a frequent conference presenter and has chaired panels and workshops for the International Literacy Association Annual Conference as well as the National Council of Teachers of English Annual Conference. He is a member of the International Literacy Association and the National Council of Teachers of English. He has also served on the Read Aloud Nebraska board. Dylan is an active member of Christ Lincoln: A Lutheran Ministry in Lincoln, NE where he leads the GriefShare ministry and serves as an organist and a worship elder. In his free time, you can find him buried in a pile of books, playing piano and organ, or enjoying the outdoors. Follow him on Twitter @dylanteut

Jasmyn Wright, a globally-recognized educator, author, and speaker received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Spelman College and her Master's in education from Christian Brothers University. A Teach for America and Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms alumna, she is the CEO & Founder of The Push Through Organization – a non-profit that uses innovative practices to equip, inspire, educate, and empower individuals to overcome adversity and become change agents. An elementary educator of over 10 years, Jasmyn's empowering and "out of the box" teaching style has been featured in a global GAP Kids back to school campaign, as well as various national and international media outlets, including The Today Show, NPR News, FOX, NBC, Good Morning America, The International Literacy Association, The Huffington Post, etc. Her push through philosophies have been adapted into adult and K-12 classroom settings across 20 U.S. states and 29 countries. Published by Simon & Schuster, Jasmyn's affirmational and empowering children's book, I'm Gonna Push Through!, encourages children to access their power within and use it to overcome challenges. Jasmyn has had the opportunity to deliver two TEDx talks, as well as travel the world, leading keynotes and serving as a consultant to various educational organizations. To find out more about Jasmyn and her work, please visit her website at www.wepushthrough.org and/or www.jasmynwright.com.

Welcome to the Fullstack Educator Podcast!Dr. Marshaé Newkirk is a career educator with over 20 years of experience serving public school students and families in New York and New Jersey. Her work as a teacher in the South Bronx, NY served as a springboard for a career in educational leadership and advocacy for children in historically marginalized and under-appreciated communities. She is the lead founder of an independent charter school in Newark, NJ, where she served as the School/Executive Director for 8 years. Marshaé provides leadership coaching and training for new and aspiring leaders through her work at New Leaders. In addition, she is an independent consultant offering leadership coaching with a focus on reimagining “best-practices” in schools in order to disrupt the status quo. Marshaé has earned Masters Degrees in Elementary Education and Administration and Supervision from Lehman College and Fordham University respectively, and holds a doctorate in Educational and Organizational Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania.Dr. Sarah Boulos Fye has served public school students in South Florida as a teacher and literacy specialist for over ten years and is currently supporting Somerset Academy, Inc., a charter school network based in Florida with over 75 schools in the US. Dr. Fye holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the Florida State University, a Master of Science in Reading and Literacy Education from Florida International University and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania. With experience ranging from classroom teacher to virtual school teacher to reading coach to literacy specialist to network strategic planning, Dr. Fye has led review teams working with schools and staff desiring improvement by observing faculty and administrators, mentoring educators, and creating plans of action for school improvement by working with site and district administrators through research-based data collection and analysis practices. Dr. Fye is a member of the International Literacy Association, a facilitator of coursework for the Penn Literacy Network at the University of Pennsylvania, and a RILE Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education. She is the co-host of the Big Ideas in Education podcast and focuses her research and life’s work on relationships and teacher retention.Here are links to the resources mentioned in our conversation with Dr. Marshaé Newkirk and Dr. Sarah Fye about charter schools.Connect with Dr. Marshaé Newkirk on LinkedIn, Instagram, and her forthcoming website.Connect with Dr. Sarah Fye on Instagram and Twitter.Book: Promoting Racial Literacy in Schools: Differences That Make a Difference by Dr. Howard Stevenson.Book: How to Be An Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi.Sarah’s Podcast: The Big Ideas in Education Podcast.Podcast: Better Leaders Better SchoolsBook: White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngeloBook: We Want to Do More Than Survive: Abolitionist Teaching and the Pursuit of Educational Freedom by Bettina LoveYou can connect with Matt McGee and Michael Lomuscio on LinkedIn.You can follow Fullstack Educator on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.If you enjoyed this podcast please subscribe, rate it, leave a review, and share it with a friend!Episodes of this podcast are released bi-weekly.

In this episode, we connect essential and established instructional best practices to the challenges of remote learning. Follow on Twitter: @ISTE @mrhooker @elkorda @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork @KenemanAyn #ISTE20 #ISTEturns40 #edchat #edtech #edtechchat Angela Elkordy, Ph.D., is chair and assistant professor, learning sciences, and program director for learning technologies at National Louis University in the Chicago area. Her writing has appeared in numerous platforms and publications, including books such as Foundation of Digital Badges and Micro-Credentials and Gamify Literacy. Her research focuses on the learning sciences, design and technology, teacher learning and instructional design. Ayn Keneman, Ed.D., is an associate professor in the National College of Education faculty, early childhood education, at National Louis University, Chicago, where she teaches courses in early childhood education, literacy instruction, human development and technology. She is president of a special interest group of the International Literacy Association, Organization of Teacher Educators of Literacy. Keneman’s research on struggling readers led to the publication of her book Literacy Leadership to Support Reading Improvement.

The children's publishing industry has long neglected the stories and voices of Black, brown, indigneous, Muslim, Jewish, disabled, transgender and queer peoples - and so many more groups. In this episode, Laura Gruppo, a mom of two, librarian-in-training, and founder of the Instagram account, Laura's Little Bookshelf, shares what she's learned about diversity in children's literature, why books should serve as both “mirrors” and “windows,” and what to do about offensive books. She also shares some of her favorite books and resources. For more recommendations, follow her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/lauraslittlebookshelf/ (@LaurasLittleBookshelf). About Laura GruppoLaura Gruppo was born and raised in New York City and now lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and their two young daughters. She received her bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania, and is currently a graduate student in the online Master of Library and Information Science degree program at San José State University. She hopes to work in youth services librarianship after obtaining her degree. She is a passionate advocate for family literacy, early childhood education, book access, and diversity in children's literature. She also runs the growing Instagram account https://www.instagram.com/lauraslittlebookshelf/ (@lauraslittlebookshelf), which is dedicated to showcasing high-quality, diverse picture books and promoting youth literacy. Feminist Crusheshttps://www.marleydias.com/ (Marly Dias, the founder of #1000BlackGirlBooks and her new Netflix show Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices) Emily's Wonder Lab on Netflix, read about it https://www.scarymommy.com/emilys-wonder-lab-netflix-kids-science-stem/ (here) Mentions:https://www.gofundme.com/f/justice-for-daniel-prude (GoFundMe Account for Daniel Prude) or Venmo @BLMRoc Antiracism Daily Instagram Account (https://www.instagram.com/antiracismdaily/ (@AntiracismDaily)) https://scenicregional.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Mirrors-Windows-and-Sliding-Glass-Doors.pdf (Windows, Mirrors and Sliding Glass Doors by Rudine Sims Bishop). See also, https://www.weareteachers.com/mirrors-and-windows/#:~:text=The%20phrase%20%E2%80%9Cmirrors%20and%20windows,view%20into%20someone%20else's%20experience. (What are Mirrors and Windows?) https://www.corinneduyvis.net/ownvoices/ (#OwnVoices, coined by Corinne Duyvis) Resources:https://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/ (Cooperative Children's Book Center at University of Wisconsin-Madison) https://firstbook.org/ (First Book) https://reachoutandread.org/ (Reach out and Read) https://www.rif.org/ (Reading is Fundamental) http://www.ala.org/alsc/ (Association for Library Service to Children) https://www.slj.com/ (School Library Journal) https://www.literacyworldwide.org/ (International Literacy Association) https://www.naeyc.org/ (National Association for the Education of Young Children) https://www.zerotothree.org/ (Zero to Three) https://www.readbrightly.com/how-to-talk-to-kids-about-race-books-and-resources-that-can-help/ (Read Brightly) https://diversebooks.org/ (We Need Diverse Books) https://blog.leeandlow.com/ (Lee and Low Publishers blog) https://www.theconsciouskid.org/ (The Conscious Kid blog) http://hereweeread.com/ (Here Wee Read) https://diversebookfinder.org/ (Diverse Book Finder) Children's Lit World Instagram Account (https://www.instagram.com/childrenslitworld/ (@childrenslitworld)) and the #ReconsiderLit series Book recommendationshttps://www.mahoganybooks.com/9781534425361 (Sulwe by Lupita Nyong'o ) https://jesslove.format.com/julian-is-a-mermaid (Julián is a Mermaid by Jessica Love) https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2019/12/recommended-birdsong-by-julie-flett.html (Birdsong by Julie Flett) http://mattdelapena.com/books/carmela-full-of-wishes/ (Carmel Full of Wishes by Matt de la Pena) http://mattdelapena.com/books/last-stop-on-market-street/ (Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de

Susanne Gervay OAMSusanne Gervay accidentally fell into teaching and found her passion for education and young people. After ten years she wanted a change where she used those skills to become a writer, speaker and anti-bullying and social justice advocate. Awarded the Lifetime Social Justice Literature Award by the International Literacy Association, Order of Australia, nominee for Australia for Lindgren Memorial Award, Susanne Gervay is now recognized for her writing on social justice. Her award winning stories are published in literary journals and anthologies including the cross Sub-Continent- Australian anthology 'Fear Factor, Terror Incognito' on terrorism alongside the works of Sir Salman Rushdie and Thomas Keneally. She represented Australia in ‘Peace Story’ an IBBY, UNICEF anthology where 22 authors, 22 illustrators from 22 countries wrote for peace. She writes from picture books to young adult novels. Butterflies is recognised as Outstanding Youth Literature on Disability. Her award winning I Am Jack children’s books which have become rite-of-passage on school bullying adapted into an acclaimed play by Monkey Baa Theatre has toured theaters across Australia and USA. Her books are endorsed by The Cancer Council, Room to Read, bringing literacy to the children of the developing world, Children’s Hospital Westmead Sydney, Books in Homes reaching indigenous and disadvantaged schools, Life Education, many anti bullying and literacy organizations.An acclaimed national and international speaker, Susanne Gervay is head of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators SCBWI Australia East and New Zealand, Ambassador for many literacy, reading and equity campaigns. www.sgervay.com Social MediaFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/sgervayTwitter- https://twitter.com/sgervayInstagram - https://instagram.com/susanne_gervay/Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/user/sgervayLinked in - https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanne-gervay

Are we ready for the sensitive, complex discussions about race and social justice that will be coming to our schools next term? Black lives matter, policing, social justice, equitable education are the big themes, and the prevailing sentiment is no. Join us as we take the first step toward getting ready to manage the challenging road ahead. Follow on Twitter: @gustafsonbrad @benjamingilpin @MisterMinor @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork Cornelius Minor is a Brooklyn-based educator. He works with teachers, school leaders, and leaders of community-based organizations to support equitable literacy reform in cities (and sometimes villages) across the globe. His latest book, We Got This, explores how the work of creating more equitable school spaces is embedded in our everyday choices -- specifically in the choice to really listen to kids. He has been featured in Education Week, Brooklyn Magazine, and Teaching Tolerance Magazine. He has partnered with The Teachers College Reading and Writing Project, The New York City Department of Education, The International Literacy Association, Scholastic, and Lesley University’s Center for Reading Recovery and Literacy Collaborative.

Are we ready for the sensitive, complex discussions about race and social justice that will be coming to our schools next term? Black lives matter, policing, social justice, equitable education are the big themes, and the prevailing sentiment is no. Join us as we take the first step toward getting ready to manage the challenging road ahead. Follow on Twitter: @gustafsonbrad @benjamingilpin @MisterMinor @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork Cornelius Minor is a Brooklyn-based educator. He works with teachers, school leaders, and leaders of community-based organizations to support equitable literacy reform in cities (and sometimes villages) across the globe. His latest book, We Got This, explores how the work of creating more equitable school spaces is embedded in our everyday choices -- specifically in the choice to really listen to kids. He has been featured in Education Week, Brooklyn Magazine, and Teaching Tolerance Magazine. He has partnered with The Teachers College Reading and Writing Project, The New York City Department of Education, The International Literacy Association, Scholastic, and Lesley University’s Center for Reading Recovery and Literacy Collaborative.

Register for Kelly's Reading & Writing webinars!  Reading webinar series: http://erlc.ca/programs/details.php?id=8530 Writing webinar series: http://erlc.ca/programs/details.php?id=8531 Kelly Gallagher teaches English Language Arts at Magnolia High School in Anaheim, California, where he has worked for nearly 35 years. He is the former co-director of the South Basin Writing Project at California State University, Long Beach, and the former president of the Secondary Reading Group for the International Literacy Association. Kelly is the author of several books on adolescent literacy, most notably Readicide: How Schools Are Killing Reading and What You Can Do About It and Write Like This. Kelly's latest book, co-written with Penny Kittle, is 180 Days: Two Teachers and the Quest to Engage and Empower Adolescents. Follow Kelly on Twitter @KellyGToGo, & visit him at www.kellygallagher.org.

In this episode, Mary and Alicia discuss the top 5 educational topics affecting literacy in 2020, according to the International Literacy Association's survey results.

Surya Karki is one of the most inspirational people you will ever come across. He was born and brought up in poverty by a single mother in a village where education was a rare sight and schooling was a 2.5 hours walk to-and-from the school. He left his family and his village at 8 years old to study in the capital of Nepal and went on to study at the United World College of Venezuela, finished his undergraduate from the College of the Atlantic in Maine and his Masters Degree as a Schwarzman Scholar in China. Recognizing the opportunity he had, he dedicated his life to educating those with a similar background to him--building over 34 schools and educating over 5200 vulnerable children in Nepal, through his organization, United World Schools in Nepal. In this episode of Millennial Musings, Anurag chats with Surya about his incredible journey, and tries to understand the mentality, dedication, and perseverance of one of the most impactful young leaders in the world today. They further discuss some of their experiences as Schwarzman Scholars in Beijing, a year that bonded them for life. While Surya does not like to discuss his awards and recognition, Anurag has no problem revealing it. For his work in education and sustainable development, in 2014, he was awarded the Prince of Wales and UNILEVER Sustainable Living Young Entrepreneurs Award; in 2016, he was recognized as one of 30 under 30 International Literacy Association leaders; and in 2017, he was listed in the Forbes 30 under 30 Asia. Follow Surya and his work: United World Schools Nepal Website Follow Anurag on: Instagram: @anuragrc and @millennialmusings_podcast Title music Ikson-Alive is obtained from the artist's website, and used with due credit given. Support Ikson's music on https://soundcloud.com/ikson

In this episode, a dream came true and I was able to dialogue with another great hero: Dr. Timothy Shanahan. To quote the biography on his website, “Shanahanoliteracy.com,” Timothy Shanahan is Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois at Chi­cago where he was Founding Di­rector of the UIC Center for Literacy. Previously, he was director of reading for the Chicago Public Schools. He is author/editor of more than 200 publications on literacy education. His research emphasizes the connections between reading and writing, literacy in the disciplines, and improvement of reading achievement. Tim is past president of the International Literacy Association. He served as a member of the Advisory Board of the National Institute for Literacy under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, and he helped lead the National Reading Panel, convened at the request of Congress to evaluate research on the teaching reading. and helped write the Common Core State Standards. He was inducted to the Reading Hall of Fame in 2007, and is a former first-grade teacher. Years ago, Tim’s work and leadership transformed the way I taught reading, text analysis, and radically disrupted my notions about how to work with students who struggle to read, write, and engage in authentic literacies. On a personal level, it is because of his wisdom that I did far better for my students and he helped me foster vast reading and writing gains. More importantly, I saw a drastic increase in my students’ eagerness to work hard. I watched their levels of self-efficacy shoot up. And, they reported a sense that what they did each day felt valuable and just made sense. I try to avoid gushing during these interviews, but he truly made a difference in my life and in the lives of groups of young people who will navigate this world with far greater agency. This episode contains all the wisdom that changed my life as a teacher and much, much more. It is a distinct honor to share with you a conversation I will never forget! And with that, I bring you Dr. Tim Shanahan! Mentioned Resources: Dr. Shananah’s Website: https://shanahanonliteracy.com/ Dr. Shananah’s Blog: https://shanahanonliteracy.com/blog (Please Subscribe!) The “Hard Words” Article: (Click Here)

For this episode you need to have read through chapter twelve of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's/Philosopher's Stone! Grab an extra butterbeer for this one because we go over things from Harry's family to Hermione to the establishing of the "Golden Trio". You can find the Pottercast episode on JK Rowling's recent twitter actions here: http://pottercast.mischiefmedia.com Thank you so much to (instagram handles): karissamarston, shanycelora, nox.hpr, _heimatfieber_, nladez, kevtedd, bunderlilys, katcavestudio, muggleinkhakis, regal716, ladysugarquill, anthonyraus, the_introverted_witch, unpensieveable for voting and earning house points! Check out KatCaveStudio's shop on Etsy here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/KatCaveStudio NOTE: It came to our notice that I said, "or would you go get a teacher like I did" instead of "I would" xD Let's just blame the magic for being too real. I wasn't there at Hogwarts during this incident and did not go get a teacher to save Hermione xD. Find us at @FirstYearsPod on Twitter and Instagram! Or email us at firstyearspodcast @ gmail . com https://authorsarahjonesdittmeier.info/firstyearspodcast SOURCES: Benedikz, B. S. “Basic Themes in Icelandic Folklore.” Folklore, Vol. 84, No. 1 (Spring 1973), pp. 1-26. Taylor & Francis, Ltd. on behalf of Folklore Enterprises, Ltd. https://www.jstor.org/stable/1260433 Blasingame, James and Nancy Farmer. “Interview with Nancy Farmer.” Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, Vol. 48, No. 1 (Sep., 2004), pp. 78-79. International Literacy Association and Wiley. https://www.jstor.org/stable/40012293 Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Cerberus.” Encyclopaedia Britannica. Febuary, 28, 2019. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Cerberus Editors of Encylopaedia Britannica. “Troll.” Encyclopaedia Britannica. August 17, 2017. https://www.britannica.com/topic/troll Jakobsson, Armann. “Vampires and Watchmen: Categorizing the Mediaeval Icelandic Undead.” The Journal of English and Germanic Philology, Vol. 110, No. 3 (July 2011), pp. 281-300. University of Illinois Press. https://jstor.org/stable/10.5406/jenglgermphil.110.3.0281 Kaplan, Merrill. “Out-Thoring Thor in the Longest Saga of Olafr Tryggvason: Akkerisfrakki, Rauor inn rami, and Hit Rauda Skegg.” The Journal of English and Germanic Philology, Vol. 107, No. 4 (October 2008) pp. 472-489. University of Illinois Press. https://www.jstor.org/stable/20722663. Puhvel, Martin .”The Mighty She-Troll of Icelandic Saga and Folktale.” Folklore, Vol. 98, No. 2 (1987), pp. 175-179. Taylor & Francis, Ltd. on behalf of Folklore Enterprises, Ltd. https://www.jstor.org/stable/1259977 “Troll.” https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/troll

In this episode, Jimmy Bowens converses with Dr. Jennifer Williams, a professor of education at St. Leo University in Florida and author of Teach Boldly Using Edtech for Social Good. Jennifer is a self-confessed education activist and is an influential proponent of effective literacy strategies. Listeners, you are encouraged to pledge your support for the Children’s Rights to Read initiative co-authored by Jennifer on the International Literacy Association’s website and you are welcome to download the free Global Goals book which was co-edited by Jennifer. Twitter: @JenWilliamsEdu

Presented and produced by Seán Delaney On this week's podcast I speak to Professor Nell Duke from the University of Michigan School of Education about literacy education and project-based instruction. Professor Duke was a keynote speaker at the 43rd Annual Conference of the Literacy Association of Ireland. Among the wide range of topics we discuss on the podcast and the resources mentioned are the following:   The role of project-based literacy in promoting reading and writing development The importance of purpose and audience for children’s writing Sources of project ideas: Edutopia, PBL works, Nell’s website Identifying sources of project in local communities Incorporating student voice and choice into projects Teacher preparation to design the flow of a project work with students Nell’s website – Inside Information Downloadables The importance of audience beyond teachers, parents and grandparents Working alone versus working in groups on projects At what age can children begin to work on project-based literacy? The ideal duration of a project The balance of literacy goals and cross-curricular goals in project-based literacy instruction Educating children from an early age about trustworthy sources. The use of the mnemonic WWWDOT (Who? Why? When? Does it meet my needs? Organisation of site/text? To Do List for future) Molly of Denali Helping students move beyond bland responses to peers’ work Various templates mentioned available here. Why reading is so hard for many students to master The DRIVE model of reading (Deploying Reading in Varied Environments) The value of teaching sound-letter relationships; deliberately teaching phonics, morphology and text structure Gaps between research on reading instruction and the practice of reading instruction Reliable sources of research evidence for teachers: Institute of Education Sciences What Works Clearinghouse; Practice guides. Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators General Education Leadership Network Early Literacy Task Force and Literacy Essentials. International Literacy Association. Literacy Association of Ireland. Responding to differences among students in a literacy classroom: small group literacy instruction Why it’s important to teach reading and writing together. See work by Gram and Hebert (2010). What parents can do in the home to promote literacy achievement What a typical working day is like for her and how she manages her time Knowing what not to do in teaching Not this but that book series. What schools are for She loves reading: Reading Research Quarterly (Journal of the International Literacy Association), Scientific Studies of Reading, Review of Educational Research. In her keynote address Nell referred to the following websites, which were not mentioned in the podcast. I'm listing them here because they may be of help to some listeners. High Quality Project Based Learning Pow+Tree Writing Strategy She also referred to this article which was a meta-analysis of process writing.  

This #TeacherFeature with Nicole Mancini (a.k.a.- Miss Nikki), My Messy Muse's official Educator Collaborator, discusses book clubs in the classroom! What is a book club? How to organize a book club? How to get the kids excited to do book clubs? Lots of great tips in this #TeacherFeature!  Book clubs are another great way to build relationships between authors and educators. Miss Nikki teaches fifth grade English Language Arts at Bedminster Township School District. She graduated from Washington College in 2002 as a triple major in English, education, and gender studies. She earned a Masters of Science in Education from Monmouth University and has a Reading Specialist certification. Nicole has served as a member of Bedminster Township School's Gifted & Talented Advisory Council, Technology Committee, Teacher of the Year Committee, and English & Language Arts Literacy Curriculum Committee; she also led the faculty's professional book club.  Nicole has presented various workshops both in and out of New Jersey on technology, building students' passion for reading, motivating reluctant readers, battling mental health stigmas through books, and engagement. She has been an advocate for using diverse and neurodiverse books in the classroom for several years and has worked with authors from around the country to help educators learn more about this topic. In addition, Nicole is a freelance writer, a member of the International Literacy Association, National Council of Teachers of English, and New Jersey Council of Teachers of English, and an ambassador for Flipgrid. Nicole was most recently named the Ambassador of Special Projects and Professional Development for the New Jersey Literacy Association. She has been published on the Nerdy Book Club blog and Teaching Channel, appeared on the Books Between Podcast and My Disney Class Podcast, and was featured on the Educator Spotlight column for MG Book Village. Nicole also organizes and appears on author panels for both children and adults in local bookstores. Resource referenced- Breathing New Life Into Book Clubs, by Sonja Cherry-Paul and Dana Johansen. Check out our prior #TeacherFeature- Episode 11! You can connect with Nikki on Twitter at @MissNikkiIn5th. Be sure to join the My Messy Muse community on Facebook at www.facebook.com/groups/mymessymuse If you are interested in a school visit with host Michele McAvoy, please visit her website at www.michelemcavoy.com/workwithme  Follow host Michele McAvoy Twitter: @michele_mcavoy Instagram: @michelemcavoy

Mary discusses a brief that has been put out by the International Literacy Association that shares information about how phonics instruction must be systematic and explicit as part of an overall efficient, effective, and timely reading curriculum. Resource Links:Education Week July 18, 2019 Influential Reading Group Makes it Clear: Students Need Systematic, Explicit PhonicsBrief from ILA Meeting the Challenges of Early Phonics InstructionHard Words Why Aren't Kids Being Taught to Read (APM report by Emily Hanford)our Episode about reading terms: Phoneme and Graphemeour Episode about Phonological and Phonemic AwarenessCOME JOIN THE CONVERSATION!Our WebsiteFacebookInstagramShannon's TpT Store

Technology tools, like the online learning portal from Dallas-based iStation, are not only helping students in elementary school, but they are aiding early literacy efforts for kids just coming into Kindergarten. In this episode of the EdTech Podcast, host Tyler Kern sat down with Dr. Jane Moore , Strategic Professional Development Specialist, and Dr. Georgia Thompson, Trainer and Implementation Specialist at IStation, to discuss why early literacy is important for its very youngest students. While sophisticated, 1:1-empowering, and device-driven EdTech might be considered a relatively new development in instruction, IStation’s adaptive online reading curriculum for elementary school students has roots in a Clinton-era initiative called the National Reading Panel. The panel helped establish the five essential pillars for literacy learning, upon which IStation’s curriculum is based. The pillars include phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary development, reading fluency, and reading comprehension. Teaching these scientifically-based reading pillars is helping close the gap for incoming Kindergarten students, whose literacy often varies widely from English as a second language to fluent readers. “Studies have shown how simultaneous advantage of using print, sound, and animation is really speeding along those acquisition skills we want our children to have,” Dr. Moore said. In addition, the International Literacy Association found that meaningful use of digital resources can substantially diminish the literacy difference between the low-economic student and their more affluent peers. But if you think IStation’s online learning portal is removing teachers from the equation, Georgia assures that’s not the case. “We never want to replace the teacher,” Dr. Thompson said. “It does not supplant, it just supplements.”

Join us for a discussion on what it means to nurture students who are literacy strong. Our guest provides a strategy for engaging students and layering deeper learning across the seasons for literacy. Valerie Ellery has dedicated 30 years to the field of education in various roles as a National Board Certified Teacher, curriculum specialist, mentor, reading coach, international educational consultant, and author. Her latest book, Literacy Strong All Year Long: Powerful Lessons for Grades 3–5, is a joint publication of ASCD and International Literacy Association. Abbie Eklund, Principal of Lincoln Elementary School, 2016 ASCD Emerging Leader.

Classroom 2.0 LIVE webinar ““Creating the Perfect BLT: Balanced Literacy and Technology” with special guest presenter, Brandee Ramirez. June 2, 2018. This week's webinar will be another exciting exploration of the importance of technology in balanced literacy with our special guest presenter, the always informative, inspiring Brandee Ramirez. Ramp up your knowledge, skills, and tools as you learn more about balanced literacy. Webinar Description: This session will clear up any confusion when it comes to integrating literacy and technology. We will provide attendees with ways to incorporate technology into daily balanced literacy routines. Participants will explore multiple iPad apps and web-based tools that can be used effectively within Reader's Workshop or your balanced literacy classroom while incorporating the 4C’s. This conversation will cover ways to incorporate technology, student choice, and rigorous standards into daily balanced literacy routines. We will share student samples and explore the use of apps while focusing on SAMR and TPACK model regarding technology education. Attendees will leave this session full of ingredients to make their own BLT! Brandee Ramirez, Ed.D., has been teaching for eighteen years and is currently an Instructional Coach for Tustin Unified School District. Her main role is to support teachers and students on finding their passion in learning and how to incorporate technology into their daily classroom routines. She is a UCI Writing Project Fellow and Teacher of the Year 2013. She has created numerous professional development workshops for: iPads 101, Writing and Devices, ABC Mouse Classroom Integration, and presented at National and NAPA CUE 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 as well as the Elearning Symposium, National HEAD Start Association, iPadpalooza, FETC 2016, International Literacy Association 2017, and ISTE 2016 and 2017. Brandee is on the Board of Directors for OCCue. She holds a Doctorate in Education from the University of Southern California. She enjoys spending time with her four children, running, paddle boarding and yoga. She has a passion for technology and education, but most importantly she has a passion for children and the love of learning. Twitter: https://twitter.com/bramireztusd Blog/website: https://educators.coop/ http://blog.flocabulary.com/8-components-of-a-strong-balanced-literacy-program/

LITERACY AS A PATHWAY TO EQUITY...with  Board President Dr. Douglas Fisher of The International Literacy Association is my guest...and a look at their new event, ILA West

David Abel talks with Dr. Timothy Shanahan about the state of literacy in US schools, and what the research is telling us to do differently. Dr. Timothy Shanahan is Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and former director of reading for the Chicago Public Schools. He is author/editor of more than 200 publications, and served on the author team of the Common Core State Standards. Professor Shanahan is past president of the International Literacy Association. He was inducted to the Reading Hall of Fame in 2007, and is a former first-grade teacher. For more information, visit his blog: www.shanahanonliteracy.com

This month, we are pleased to have with us Dr. Charles Temple. Charlie Temple is Kinghorn Professor of Global Education at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, New York, where he teaches courses in literacy education, children's literature, storytelling, comparative education, and writing for children. He is a co-founder of the Open Society Institute's Reading and Writing for Critical Thinking project, that promotes pedagogy for active learning and critical thinking in primary and secondary schools and universities in forty countries on five continents.  With the Canadian international literacy organization CODE, Temple works on teams that produce children's books in Tanzania, Liberia, and Sierra Leone and trains teachers to use the books to encourage thoughtful discussions.  In the US, Temple is active in the International Literacy Association, the Comparative and International Education Society, and the National Storytelling Network. He has authored textbooks in literacy education and children's literature, and also books for children.  Temple has a B.A. in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Ph.D. in literacy education from the University of Virginia.  Join us for what will be an enlightening conversation on Wednesday, March 29 at 2pm EDT.

THE INTERNATIONAL LITERACY ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE . The old "IRA" has their conference in July in Boston.We'll preview it for you with ILA's Marcie Craig-Post and #NYEdChat co-moderator and ELA consultant Carol Varsalona,Wonder Lead Ambassador for Wonderopolis.

Sixteen-year-old Katie Eder, founder of Kids Tales—and one of the International Literacy Association's inaugural 30 Under 30 Literacy Champions—shared her organization's origin story with NWP Radio and her goals for expansion until "every kid is a published writer."

MSM 311:  Plotting 8 Strategies . . .   Jokes You Can Use: Eileen Award: Facebook: Laura Inkala Miller Middle School Science Minute by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or davidbydlowski@mac.com) Outstanding Trade Books I was recently reading the March, 2015 issue of "Science Scope," a magazine written for middle school science teachers, published by the National Science Teachers Association. In this issue, I read the article, "Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12." In the article, NSTA and the International Literacy Association compiled a list of award-winning books. Titles include: * Beetle Busters: A Rogue Insect and the People Who Track It * The Griffin and the Dinosaur: How Adrienne Mayor Discovered a Fascinating Link Between Myth and Science * Handle with Care: An Unusual Butterfly Journey * Secrets of the Sky Caves: Danger and Discovery on Nepal's Mustang Cliffs * The Next Wave: The Quest to Harness the Power of the Oceans http://k12science.net/Podcast/Podcast/Entries/2015/7/1_Middle_School_Science_Minute-Outstanding_Trade_Books.html From the Twitterverse: #mschat every Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time. And as Troy says, “The Twitter never stops!” Strategies: 8 Strategies Robert Marzano & John Hattie Agree On http://linkis.com/org.au/YC35M Resources: WebNotes Shutting down on November 1st. http://www.webnotes.net/TransitionGuide/ Misplaced Modifiers Cute video on misplaced modifiers. http://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-misused-modifiers-can-hurt-your-writing-emma-bryce#watch Web Spotlight: Student Recorded Exchange http://onenonly21.tumblr.com/post/125167651562/buttamilkbiskitz-faroutjessica-rinthewin Selfie Pedagogy: The Digital Humanities and Selfie Culture http://dmlcentral.net/digital-humanities-and-selfie-culture-part-1/ Random Thoughts . . . Personal Web Site

ILA Executive Director Marcie Craig Post is our guest today with news on the name change, the 2015 conference, etc Presented by MyON Reader  www.myon.com  @myonreade