by Jan and Kari | May 5, 2023 | Blog, Literacy Leadership
Friends, When we wrote our little book, Shifting the Balance: 6 Ways to Bring the Science of Reading into the Balanced Literacy Classroom, we wanted it to be an invitation for balanced literacy educators to take an honest second look at some current practices. Turns...
by Jan and Kari | Apr 28, 2023 | Blog, Decodable Texts, Phonemic Awareness, Phonics, Prompting & Feedback, Word Reading Instruction
We love it when educators ask for something to simplify their busy lives, and we can find a way to make it happen! Since our Fall 2022 blog series highlighting our structured (but flexible) Phonics Lesson Template, we’ve had a number of people ask if we could offer an...
by Jan and Kari | Apr 14, 2023 | Blog, Decodable Texts, Literacy Leadership, Phonics, Prompting & Feedback, Word Reading Instruction
In this Decodable Text Series, we’ve been exploring questions about the place, the purpose, and the practicality of using decodable texts with beginning readers. You can catch up here if you’ve missed our previous posts. Today’s question: What are some other...
by Jan and Kari | Apr 7, 2023 | Blog, Decodable Texts, Phonics, Word Reading Instruction
Tax-free. Gluten-free. Free sample. Free time. Free shipping. Free parking. Who doesn’t love a freebie? We know we do! And, if you love free stuff, then Part 5 of our “Decodable Texts: Question and Answer Series” is for you! Here we begin to...
by Jan and Kari | Mar 30, 2023 | Blog, Decodable Texts, Knowledge Building, Language Comprehension, Literacy Leadership, Vocabulary, Word Reading Instruction
We love finding a Netflix or Prime series that we can count on – one that gives us something to think about after watching as well as something to look forward to in the next episode. In the same way, we hope that you find this “Decodable Text: Questions and...
by Jan and Kari | Mar 20, 2023 | Blog, Decodable Texts, High-Frequency Words, Literacy Leadership, Word Reading Instruction
In the last couple of blogs, we’ve unpacked these three questions about decodable texts: Who really needs decodable texts, anyway? What is a decodable text, really? How many decodable texts do I need? If you missed those posts, you can catch up here and here. As...
by Jan and Kari | Feb 24, 2023 | Blog, Decodable Texts, Literacy Leadership, Word Reading Instruction
Last week we launched a series focused on questions and answers about the very hot topic of decodable texts. We explored what decodable texts are, why they are important, and who really needs them. You can revisit that post here. This week we are thinking about your...
by Jan and Kari | Feb 17, 2023 | Blog, Decodable Texts, Literacy Leadership, Meaningful Independent Practices, Word Reading Instruction
Decodable texts! Conversations about them seem to be popping up everywhere these days!If we’re honest, we have to admit that we both started this journey with a whole bunch of baggage that left us feeling more than a little bit leery of decodable texts. But more and...
by Jan and Kari | Feb 10, 2023 | Blog, Literacy Leadership, Video
It’s tempting to look for research to prove an opinion we already hold and feel deeply committed to. Kari loves dark chocolate. And she knows there’s research that shows it has many sweet benefits. Jan loves coffee.And she’s relieved to know there’s research to show...
by Jan and Kari | Jan 27, 2023 | Blog, Decodable Texts, Fluency, High-Frequency Words, Knowledge Building, Language Comprehension, Literacy Leadership, Phonemic Awareness, Phonics, Prompting & Feedback, Strategy Instruction, Vocabulary, Word Reading Instruction
Last week, we shared 5 adjustments that can help you bring small-group instruction for early decoders more in line with your other shifts to early literacy instruction. If you missed it, you can find that post here. We hope that you have taken some time this week to...
