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Literacy Leadership

Everything we have made on literacy leadership, printables, articles and episodes, gathered in one place.

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K–5
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Everything on Literacy Leadership

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Article

Which Science of Reading Book Is Right for You? A Guide for Elementary Teachers

Find your entry point into the Shifting the Balance books, with guidance for choosing the volume that fits your students and your instructional questions.

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Article

3 Things That Can Make Interpreting Research Tricky

Consider three challenges in interpreting reading research: conflicting findings, confirmation bias, and the judgment needed to translate studies into classroom decisions.

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Article

What is the science of reading anyway?

Get an accessible introduction to the science of reading, what the term means, and why this body of research matters for classroom instruction.

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Article

Top 10 Reasons to Start a Book Study!

Consider ten reasons to study a professional book with colleagues and make shared reading a starting point for reflection, conversation, and instructional growth.

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Article

Overcoming Overwhelm by Finding Entry Points

When the work feels overwhelming, look for an entry point. Explore how a manageable starting place can help you move toward a larger instructional vision.

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Article

5 Keys to Creating a New Habit that Sticks

A summer of water skiing offers a lens for exploring five keys to building habits and making new practices part of everyday life.

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Download

Heart Word Success Classroom Tool Product Catalog

Everything about Heart Word Success: what is inside, how it fits your high-frequency word instruction, pricing, and purchase options.

Download free →
Download

Shifting the Balance Online Classes Product Catalog

Everything about the Shifting the Balance online classes for K–2 and grades 3–5: what each class covers, how it works, pricing, and group options.

Download free →
Download

Bricks & Mortar: Filling Literacy Gaps 3–5+ Online Class Product Catalog

Everything about the Bricks & Mortar online class for grades 3–5+: what it covers, how it works, pricing, and group options.

Download free →
Download

Blending Magic Classroom Tool Product Catalog

Everything about Blending Magic: what is inside each library, how it fits your phonics instruction, pricing, and purchase options.

Download free →
Article

Instructional Levers for Making Work Easier

Consider how high-leverage instructional routines can help you make more of the time and effort you already invest in teaching children to read.

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Article

Inside-Out Literacy

Examine the mental models behind familiar reading practices and consider how understanding the reading brain can help you see instruction from the inside out.

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Article

Avoiding Walls and Building Bridges

Reflect on five walls to avoid and five bridges to build as we work across differing perspectives to make reading instruction more effective.

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Article

Shifting the Balance: Answers to Some Important Questions

Read answers to questions about Shifting the Balance, including the intentions behind the book and its invitation to reconsider familiar literacy practices.

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Article

A Message to Literacy Educators from Jan and Kari

A message from Jan and Kari about the purpose of Shifting the Balance and its invitation to bring reading research into familiar classroom practices.

Read →
Download

The Six Commitments

Six commitments we crafted for ourselves as we stepped into the vulnerable work of reevaluating long-held beliefs and practices, shared in the hope you’ll find grace for yourself.

Download free →
Download

Ten Book Titles for Your Science of Reading Journey

Ten recommended books, with brief descriptions, to support your learning about reading science and its implications for instruction.

Download free →
Download

Dear Literacy Educator: A Message from Jan and Kari

Read a heartfelt message from Jan and Kari about Shifting the Balance. Download the PDF to explore its purpose and align your literacy journey.

Download free →
eBook

Making Sense of Scientific Research eBook

A teacher-friendly guide to making sense of research claims, recognizing confirmation bias, and using research to inform instructional decisions.

Get the guide →
Download

5 Walls and 5 Bridges

A one-page reflection tool identifying five barriers to productive conversations and five ways to build understanding and momentum.

Download free →
Download

Answers to Some Important Questions about Shifting the Balance

A printable Q&A addressing common questions about Shifting the Balance, including its approach, language, and intended audience.

Download free →
Partnerships That Move Literacy ForwardProfessional learning

Partnerships That Move Literacy Forward

Workshops and partnerships that help your team turn the research into daily practice.

Explore professional learning →
Article

Some Good News About “All This Foundational Skills Instruction” (And a Few Big Ol’ Red Flags)

Celebrate renewed attention to foundational skills while considering warning signs of overcorrection that can crowd meaning, language, and joy out of literacy instruction.

Read →
Article

Learning from the Science of Reading + Pitfalls on the Journey to Brain-friendly Instruction

Explore the science of reading and common pitfalls in putting it into practice, including confirmation bias, overcorrection, and assuming one approach fits every learner.

Read →
Article

“The GOOD” and “The BAD” of Curriculum Evaluation and Literacy Program Selection

Consider both the value and the limits of curriculum evaluation, with attention to how instructional materials and teachers’ decisions work together to support learning.

Read →
Article

Getting to Know the Shifting the Balance for the Upper Elementary Classroom: Q&A with the Authors – Part 2

Continue the conversation with the authors about Shifting the Balance 3–5 and the instructional shifts that support readers beyond the beginning stages.

Read →
Article

Getting to Know Shifting the Balance for the Upper Elementary Classroom: Q&A with the Authors – Part 1

Get to know Shifting the Balance 3–5 through a conversation with its authors about bringing reading research into the upper elementary classroom.

Read →
Article

Don’t be Fooled by a Fake! 12 Clues that a Copy of Shifting the Balance May be a Counterfeit

Learn twelve clues that can help you recognize a counterfeit copy of Shifting the Balance and check the book you’ve purchased.

Read →
Article

Book Study Guides for BOTH Shifting the Balance Books NOW Available to Support Your Learning Journey

Find study guides for both Shifting the Balance books, with support for reflecting on the reading and learning alongside colleagues.

Read →
Article

Now 12 Shifts (and 4 Pathways Through Them) to Transform Your Reading Instruction

Explore four pathways through the two Shifting the Balance books to find a starting point that fits your students’ needs and your professional learning goals.

Read →
Article

With a Teacher’s Head and a Mother’s Heart: A Shifting the Balance Upper Elementary Story (A Guest Blog Post by Dr. Katie Egan Cunningham)

Katie Egan Cunningham shares a personal perspective on Shifting the Balance 3–5, bringing her experiences as an educator and a mother to the work.

Read →
Article

The Six Shifts Podcast: Episodes about the SHIFTS in the NEW 3-5 book are now LIVE!

Listen to conversations about the six shifts in Shifting the Balance 3–5 and consider what they mean for instruction in upper elementary classrooms.

Read →
Article

Today, We Celebrate You

A message of appreciation for educators who keep learning, reconsidering familiar practices, and working to make classrooms better places for children.

Read →
Article

We’ve Got News to Share! 6 Ways to Bring the Science of Reading into the Upper Elementary Classroom is coming soon!

An introduction to Shifting the Balance 3–5, extending the conversation about reading research and practical instructional shifts into the upper elementary classroom.

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Article

What do Dark Chocolate, Coffee, and Literacy Instruction Have in Common?

Chocolate and coffee offer a familiar lens for examining confirmation bias and the challenge of looking beyond reading research that supports what we already believe.

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Article

METANOIA . . .

We’ve been thinking about a new word we learned: metanoia. Explore what it means to shift our thinking and reconsider familiar beliefs about reading instruction.

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Article

Structure vs. Choice? Urgency vs. Joy?

Reflect on the tensions between structure and choice, urgency and joy, and consider how to hold both as you make instructional decisions.

Read →
Article

How Do We Shift the Balance for 3–5 Students?

An early look at questions about bringing the science of reading into grades 3–5 and supporting students whose literacy needs extend beyond beginning reading.

Read →
Article

Hold the Vision. Trust the Process.

Keep the larger vision in view while building consistent daily practices, with reflections and tools for turning goals into manageable steps.

Read →
Article

If You Take a Speech-to-Print Approach

Explore a speech-to-print approach to reading instruction that begins with spoken language and connects the sounds in words to their written spellings.

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Article

The Power of Re-Work

Make room to revisit and refine familiar practices, using what you’re learning to take a fresh look at the work you already do.

Read →
Article

Learning on the Go – Six Shifts Podcast Series

Make space for professional learning on the go with the Six Shifts podcast series, offering another way to explore ideas from Shifting the Balance.

Read →
Article

Commitments to Ourselves and Each Other

Find six commitments for approaching vulnerable professional learning with honesty, curiosity, and grace for yourself and the colleagues learning alongside you.

Read →
Download

The Six Shifts Products & Services Catalog

Explore professional learning, leadership partnerships, online classes, and classroom tools for schools and districts, all in one Products & Services Catalog.

Download free →
Download

There Is No Greater Calling: Printable Quote

A printable quote celebrating educators’ role in awakening the potential within a child.

Download free →
Download

Six Notes for Your Future Self

Six sentence starters for writing notes to your future teaching self at the beginning of the school year.

Download free →
Download

Self-Love: Printable Quote

A printable quote about self-love to display or share with colleagues.

Download free →
Download

Courage: Printable Quote

A printable Mary Anne Radmacher quote about the quiet courage of trying again tomorrow.

Download free →
Download

A Summer for the Books

A summer resource for educators to unwind, reflect, and reconnect with joy after the school year.

Download free →
Download

A Moment of Self-Compassion Can Change Your Day: Printable Quote

A printable reminder to pause and offer yourself compassion during the school day.

Download free →
Download

A Gratitude Journal

A printable journal from Jan and Kari with space to reflect on the things, big and small, you’re grateful for.

Download free →
Download

Joy: Printable Quote

A printable quote about joy to hang in your classroom or share with colleagues.

Download free →
Download

The Six Commitments: Printable Color-Me Bookmarks

Printable color-me bookmarks featuring the Six Commitments, designed and shared by Kim Harkreader. Keep one nearby or share with colleagues as a reminder to give yourself grace.

Download free →

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Every printable, article and episode we have made, sorted by the part of teaching reading it belongs to.

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Literacy Leadership

Explore articles, free downloads, and practical instructional resources for coaches and leaders guiding literacy shifts across a school or district.

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Heart Word Success Classroom Tool Product Catalog
Download

Heart Word Success Classroom Tool Product Catalog

Everything about Heart Word Success: what is inside, how it fits your high-frequency word instruction, pricing, and purchase options.

Get the resource →
Blending Magic Classroom Tool Product Catalog
Download

Blending Magic Classroom Tool Product Catalog

Everything about Blending Magic: what is inside each library, how it fits your phonics instruction, pricing, and purchase options.

Get the resource →
Which Science of Reading Book Is Right for You? A Guide for Elementary Teachers
Article

Which Science of Reading Book Is Right for You? A Guide for Elementary Teachers

Find your entry point into the Shifting the Balance books, with guidance for choosing the volume that fits your students...

Read the article →
Partnerships That Move Literacy Forward
Professional learning

Partnerships That Move Literacy Forward

Workshops and partnerships that help your team turn the research into daily practice.

Explore professional learning →
Shifting the Balance: Beginning Readers
Online Class

Shifting the Balance: Beginning Readers

K–2 teachers, reading specialists, coaches, and teams supporting beginning readers.

Explore the online class →
Bricks & Mortar: Filling Literacy Gaps 3–5+ Online Class Product Catalog
Download

Bricks & Mortar: Filling Literacy Gaps 3–5+ Online Class Product Catalog

Everything about the Bricks & Mortar online class for grades 3–5+: what it covers, how it works, pricing, and group...

Get the resource →
Shifting the Balance Online Classes Product Catalog
Download

Shifting the Balance Online Classes Product Catalog

Everything about the Shifting the Balance online classes for K–2 and grades 3–5: what each class covers, how it works,...

Get the resource →
Some Good News About “All This Foundational Skills Instruction” (And a Few Big Ol’ Red Flags)
Article

Some Good News About “All This Foundational Skills Instruction” (And a Few Big Ol’ Red Flags)

Celebrate renewed attention to foundational skills while considering warning signs of overcorrection that can crowd meaning, language, and joy out...

Read the article →
The Six Shifts Products & Services Catalog
Download

The Six Shifts Products & Services Catalog

Explore professional learning, leadership partnerships, online classes, and classroom tools for schools and districts, all in one Products & Services...

Get the resource →
Six Notes for Your Future Self
Download

Six Notes for Your Future Self

Six sentence starters for writing notes to your future teaching self at the beginning of the school year.

Get the resource →
Learning from the Science of Reading + Pitfalls on the Journey to Brain-friendly Instruction
Article

Learning from the Science of Reading + Pitfalls on the Journey to Brain-friendly Instruction

Explore the science of reading and common pitfalls in putting it into practice, including confirmation bias, overcorrection, and assuming one...

Read the article →
Shifting the Balance: Developing Readers
Online Class

Shifting the Balance: Developing Readers

Grades 3–5 teachers, coaches, and teams strengthening upper-elementary reading.

Explore the online class →
There Is No Greater Calling: Printable Quote
Download

There Is No Greater Calling: Printable Quote

A printable quote celebrating educators’ role in awakening the potential within a child.

Get the resource →
Self-Love: Printable Quote
Download

Self-Love: Printable Quote

A printable quote about self-love to display or share with colleagues.

Get the resource →
“The GOOD” and “The BAD” of Curriculum Evaluation and Literacy Program Selection
Article

“The GOOD” and “The BAD” of Curriculum Evaluation and Literacy Program Selection

Consider both the value and the limits of curriculum evaluation, with attention to how instructional materials and teachers’ decisions work...

Read the article →
A Summer for the Books
Download

A Summer for the Books

A summer resource for educators to unwind, reflect, and reconnect with joy after the school year.

Get the resource →
Courage: Printable Quote
Download

Courage: Printable Quote

A printable Mary Anne Radmacher quote about the quiet courage of trying again tomorrow.

Get the resource →
Getting to Know the Shifting the Balance for the Upper Elementary Classroom: Q&A with the Authors – Part 2
Article

Getting to Know the Shifting the Balance for the Upper Elementary Classroom: Q&A with the Authors – Part 2

Continue the conversation with the authors about Shifting the Balance 3–5 and the instructional shifts that support readers beyond the...

Read the article →
Joy: Printable Quote
Download

Joy: Printable Quote

A printable quote about joy to hang in your classroom or share with colleagues.

Get the resource →
A Gratitude Journal
Download

A Gratitude Journal

A printable journal from Jan and Kari with space to reflect on the things, big and small, you’re grateful for.

Get the resource →
Getting to Know Shifting the Balance for the Upper Elementary Classroom: Q&A with the Authors – Part 1
Article

Getting to Know Shifting the Balance for the Upper Elementary Classroom: Q&A with the Authors – Part 1

Get to know Shifting the Balance 3–5 through a conversation with its authors about bringing reading research into the upper...

Read the article →
A Moment of Self-Compassion Can Change Your Day: Printable Quote
Download

A Moment of Self-Compassion Can Change Your Day: Printable Quote

A printable reminder to pause and offer yourself compassion during the school day.

Get the resource →
5 Walls and 5 Bridges
Download

5 Walls and 5 Bridges

A one-page reflection tool identifying five barriers to productive conversations and five ways to build understanding and momentum.

Get the resource →
Don’t be Fooled by a Fake! 12 Clues that a Copy of Shifting the Balance May be a Counterfeit
Article

Don’t be Fooled by a Fake! 12 Clues that a Copy of Shifting the Balance May be a Counterfeit

Learn twelve clues that can help you recognize a counterfeit copy of Shifting the Balance and check the book you’ve...

Read the article →
The Six Commitments
Download

The Six Commitments

Six commitments we crafted for ourselves as we stepped into the vulnerable work of reevaluating long-held beliefs and practices, shared...

Get the resource →
Ten Book Titles for Your Science of Reading Journey
Download

Ten Book Titles for Your Science of Reading Journey

Ten recommended books, with brief descriptions, to support your learning about reading science and its implications for instruction.

Get the resource →
Book Study Guides for BOTH Shifting the Balance Books NOW Available to Support Your Learning Journey
Article

Book Study Guides for BOTH Shifting the Balance Books NOW Available to Support Your Learning Journey

Find study guides for both Shifting the Balance books, with support for reflecting on the reading and learning alongside colleagues.

Read the article →
Making Sense of Scientific Research eBook
eBook

Making Sense of Scientific Research eBook

A teacher-friendly guide to making sense of research claims, recognizing confirmation bias, and using research to inform instructional decisions.

Get the eBook →
Dear Literacy Educator: A Message from Jan and Kari
Download

Dear Literacy Educator: A Message from Jan and Kari

Read a heartfelt message from Jan and Kari about Shifting the Balance. Download the PDF to explore its purpose and align your literacy journey.

Get the resource →
Now 12 Shifts (and 4 Pathways Through Them) to Transform Your Reading Instruction
Article

Now 12 Shifts (and 4 Pathways Through Them) to Transform Your Reading Instruction

Explore four pathways through the two Shifting the Balance books to find a starting point that fits your students’ needs...

Read the article →
Answers to Some Important Questions about Shifting the Balance
Download

Answers to Some Important Questions about Shifting the Balance

A printable Q&A addressing common questions about Shifting the Balance, including its approach, language, and intended audience.

Get the resource →
With a Teacher’s Head and a Mother’s Heart: A Shifting the Balance Upper Elementary Story (A Guest Blog Post by Dr. Katie Egan Cunningham)
Article

With a Teacher’s Head and a Mother’s Heart: A Shifting the Balance Upper Elementary Story (A Guest Blog Post by Dr. Katie Egan Cunningham)

Dr. Katie Egan Cunningham shares a personal perspective on Shifting the Balance 3–5, bringing her experiences as an educator and a...

Read the article →
The Six Shifts Podcast: Episodes about the SHIFTS in the NEW 3-5 book are now LIVE!
Article

The Six Shifts Podcast: Episodes about the SHIFTS in the NEW 3-5 book are now LIVE!

Listen to conversations about the six shifts in Shifting the Balance 3–5 and consider what they mean for instruction in...

Read the article →
Today, We Celebrate You
Article

Today, We Celebrate You

A message of appreciation for educators who keep learning, reconsidering familiar practices, and working to make classrooms better places for...

Read the article →