Literacy Learning and News
Great Prairie AEA - March 2024
Welcome to the GPAEA Literacy Team Newsletter!
It is definitely starting to feel like spring with these warmer temperatures. Yet, it can be expected that there will be 70 degree days and potential snow all in the same week. This is Iowa!
Following the news nationally and in the state of Iowa, we continue to learn more about best practices in literacy instruction based on the ever evolving body of research called the Science of Reading. Many educators are participating in LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) either through the AEA or the Department of Education. Continuous learning is an essential part of an educator's role in teaching students the skills necessary to becoming skilled readers.
Want to heear from colleagues in the field? They are sharing what they have learned about the Science of Reading, including the impacts that learning has had on their classroom practices and for their students!
Please be sure to check out the upcoming learning opportunities that are linked below. Registration is open for the "Digging into the Science of Reading and Dyslexia" course being offered in both Burlington and Ottumwa!
The literacy team will continue to share all learning opportunities as well as nuggets of information with each newsletter. As always, we are here to support you and your students. Please feel free to reach out at anytime.
The GPAEA Literacy Team
DIGGING INTO THE SCIENCE OF READING
Hearing from colleagues:
"The Science of Reading class has helped me so much in my Social Studies classroom, in particular with language comprehension and vocabulary. Having a better understanding of how our brain develops language comprehension, and sharing that process with my students, has deepened our understanding of the vocabulary learning process and in turn better understanding of the vocabulary words themselves."
Sam Hellberg, Middle School Social Studies teacher, Wapello CSD
"As I dug into the Science of Reading, I was able to evaluate the materials that I was using to teach struggling learners. Using the lens of SOR helped me discard games and teacher resources that didn’t follow best practices. Not only did I analyze my resources, but I also examined my instructional moves. I shifted to routine partner reading with decodable text. I also value the time I spend on explicit instruction and keep track of the opportunities I give for deliberate practice. I have seen success in struggling readers through the changes I have implemented in my classroom. While not always easy, these changes are impactful and have proved their worth!"
Amber Claypool, 1st Grade, West Burlington
"This class [Digging into the Science of Reading and Dyslexia] has helped me to understand Scarborough's Rope and the Simple View of Reading. The Reading rope emphasizes the need for a comprehensive, deliberate approach to reading instruction. It recognizes that reading is not a singular skill, but rather a set of interwoven processes. By understanding these strands, targeted instruction can be provided to helps students succeed in reading."
Shannon Salazar, Instructional Coach, Wapello CSD
"The Science of Reading has helped our district stay focused when reviewing and selecting a new reading curriculum and moving forward with it. The Science of Reading supported our district in determining our Guaranteed and Viable Curriculum and by ensuring what we do aligns with the science."
Instructional Coach, Region 2
Utilizing materials & instructional practices aligned to SoR:
See the results!
Cardinal Kindergarten Teachers are fully implementing UFLI materials this year:
Fall FAST scores: 33% at risk / 67% not at risk
Winter FAST scores: 25% at risk / 75% not at risk
Cardinal Title 1 Teachers using 95% Group materials for all interventions:
Kindergarten students - 49% increased to benchmark
2nd grade students - 50% increased to benchmark
Washington Elementary (Fairfield) Kindergarten Teachers implementing CKLA this year:
Fall FAST scores: 66% at risk / 34% not at risk
Winter FAST scores: 49% at risk / 51% not at risk
Be sure to mark this page: https://educate.iowa.gov/pk-12/standards/instruction/literacy! You will find links to information regarding the Science of Reading, LETRS, the DE literacy newsletter, and much more.
Click here to register for the Burlington course:
- #318757 Burlington AEA Apr 11 2024 (Use this link to register)
Click here to register for the Ottumwa course:
- #318758 Ottumwa AEA Apr 11 2024 (Use this link to register)
REMINDER
Iowa’s deadline for completion of the IRRC Dyslexia Overview Module by July 1, 2024 is quickly approaching. The requirement applies to all preK-3rd grade, Title, special education, EL teachers and others. Newly hired teachers with certain licenses and endorsements will need to complete it within one year of employment.
Our best recommendation is make it a district requirement and have ALL staff complete the module. Follow-up support from GPAEA literacy consultants is available.
Note: Teachers will have to set up an FREE account with the Iowa Reading Research Center (IRRC) to access the module. See link below.
Contact Kara Veach, GPAEA Dyslexia Specialist at kara.veach@gpaea.org with any questions.