Videos: Webinars

Much of science of reading training is designed for early grades. Should those same practices guide instruction in secondary classrooms?

Taking a developmental perspective is key to examining the relation of oral language to reading and reading difficulties, as embodied by the Reading Rope. Dr. Scarborough reflects on dyslexia and reading research and warns of the potential risks of not taking “when” into account.

Comprehension depends on skills, knowledge, and processes (e.g., language comprehension, inference, monitoring) that support constructing a mental model. Dr. Cain shares instructional insights, including early support and integrating decoding and understanding.

Support students in using richer, more detailed language with these quick tips and examples.

Multiple Meaning Maps visually demonstrate how a single word can have several distinct meanings. A comprehensive, step-by-step guide on how to use this graphic organizer to help students explore the breadth and nuance of word usage by organizing word meanings in a structured, connected way.

Semantic gradients are an instructional strategy to help students explore the subtle differences in word meanings. A comprehensive, step-by-step guide on how to use semantic gradients to support student vocabulary development by promoting more precise and sophisticated word choices in speaking and writing, while also enhancing comprehension through a more refined understanding of related terms.

Vocabulary knowledge exists on a spectrum. We know the meanings of some words, along with their connotations, well. We use these words readily and easily in speech and writing. We recognize other words, but with only a vague understanding of their meanings (It has something to do with computers, I think), or not at all (I've heard that word before, but I don't know what it means). Because of this variability, when we consider vocabulary knowledge, we should account for both vocabulary breadth (how many words one is familiar with) and depth (how well some of those words are known).

English learners bring rich cultural and linguistic diversity, yet few teachers have the training to fully support them. The Power of Five Shifts shares simple, evidence-based strategies to strengthen ELs’ language, literacy, and success through inclusive instruction.

Parent involvement is essential for building children’s language and literacy beyond the classroom. Dr. Megan Gierka and Nicole Ormandy explore how families can support oral language through conversation and shared activities within the Strive-for-Five framework.

Read-alouds are an opportunity to build oral language. Dr. Megan Gierka and Nicole Ormandy share practical ways to build vocabulary and background knowledge and model formal language structures and verbal reasoning within the Strive-for-Five framework.