Learning to Read or Reading to Learn
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Learning to Read or Reading to Learn

In the world of early literacy education, there has long been a prevailing myth that young readers should start by learning to read and later transition to reading to learn. For decades, theories of children’s phases of reading acquisition oversimplified the process. So, the “learning to read” then “reading to learn” made sense. However, the…

A Straw Man Argument about the Science of Reading
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A Straw Man Argument about the Science of Reading

Reading Wars With decades of research, experience, and intelligent conversations, how are we still “at war” when it comes to reading? First I will say that I operate under the assumption that ALL teachers go into education to help students learn. Educators go to school to learn pedagogy, instructional practices, and the current research to…

The Key to Unlocking Comprehension
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The Key to Unlocking Comprehension

Addressing the Knowledge Gap: I hope this blog post finds you all well and full of enthusiasm for another exciting year of teaching! Today, I am thrilled to introduce you to an enlightening new podcast called “Knowledge Matters” by Natalie Wexler, where she emphasizes the importance of building students’ knowledge in reading comprehension. As the…

Language at the Speed of Sight
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Language at the Speed of Sight

Mark Seidenberg’s 2017 book, Language at the Speed of Light explains how human brains learn to read and how educational instructional practices can support this complex process. By highlighting the decades of the science of reading, Seidenberg explains the gap between the science and current educational practices.  He also offers suggestions for how teachers can…

Think Like a Scientist

Think Like a Scientist

The Science of Reading: A Few Considerations There are too many “wars” happening right now.  Political wars, reading wars, vaccine wars, and actual wars.  We are divided into groups with whom we agree on topics that are important and relevant to us.  But how many of us act like a scientist and actually read the…

I Love Being Wrong
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I Love Being Wrong

For some people, saying the words, “I am wrong,” might be incredibly difficult. But for me, saying or thinking the words excite me. I am energized by learning something that contradicts what I previously thought.  Is that odd to admit? As organizational psychologist, Adam Grant said in his podcast and in his new book, Think…

What is Orton Gillingham?
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What is Orton Gillingham?

Orton Gillingham is not a program. It is an approach to teaching literacy in a direct, explicit, multisensory, structured, sequential, diagnostic, and prescriptive manner. Educators most often use this approach to support students who struggle with reading and spelling. WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF ORTON GILLINGHAM?: The name “Orton Gillingham” comes from two pioneers of…