Research
-
Bite-Sized PD for Secondary ELA
My department is tiny. There are only ten of us for grades 6-12. We meet pretty regularly though and I love it. Every time that we meet, we do a little bite-sized PD organized by one of us. This month is my turn to present and I’m really excited about. I’m leading a quick 15–20 Continue reading
-
What the Science of Reading Looks Like in a Secondary Classroom
When most people hear “Science of Reading,” they picture phonics charts, decodable readers, and first graders sounding out c-a-t and d-o-g. And while those things are absolutely part of reading development, they don’t reflect the full picture, especially for educators working with older students. Here’s the truth:The Science of Reading isn’t just for elementary. And Continue reading
-
Why ‘Learning to Read’ Ends in 3rd Grade Is a Myth That Hurts Secondary Students
For decades, educators have heard a phrase very similar to this one:In K–3, students learn to read. In 4th grade and beyond, they read to learn. On the surface, it sounds logical. Foundational reading skills are introduced in the early years, and as students progress, texts get more complex and content-rich. But here’s the problem: Continue reading
-
Rethinking Tier 1 Instruction in Secondary Classrooms with the Science of Reading
I might be in the minority BUT I feel like my teacher education program didn’t prepare me to teach reading. In fact, I’m pretty sure I was taught that Tier 1 instruction at the secondary level should only ever prioritize whole text tasks like literary analysis, thematic discussion, and essay writing. I know I’m not Continue reading
-
Teaching Sentence-Level Decoding in the Context of Texts: Engaging Activities for Middle and High School Teachers
When teaching middle and high school students, one of the most crucial skills for reading comprehension… but one that gets eliminated or skimmed over waaaaaaay toooooooo often, is sentence-level decoding. Usually, when we hear the word decoding, we automatically think of decoding words and assume that it is an elementary level skill that we don’t Continue reading
-
10 Engaging Vocabulary Activities for Stronger Word Knowledge in Secondary ELA
Building strong word knowledge is essential for students’ reading comprehension, writing skills, and overall language development. It is the most foundational part of reading but, often, our students come to us behind. There are absolutely times when interventions are necessary. I have another blog post on what those might look like for your secondary students, Continue reading
-
It seems too good to be true.
Or maybe it’s just too overwhelming. And I understand both of those sentiments. Just because something is on sale doesn’t mean it’s worth your time, your money, or your lesson plans. I also know that it is pretty much impossible to really preview what you’re getting when you are deciding which one to purchase. I’ve Continue reading
-
Grade-Level Grammar Lessons Based on Common Core ELA Standards
Grammar instruction is SOOOO important in middle and high school English Language Arts education! I cannot speak for anyone but myself BUT I do feel like grammar is the thing that many teachers leave for last or teach in complete isolation. I know that I did and we cannot do that! But how do we Continue reading
-
Ditch the Strategies: What Secondary ELA Teachers Should Be Teaching Instead
Let’s be honest, most of us were not trained to teach kids how to read. We know all of the reading strategies, though. And you’ve probably taught your students to use them: make predictions, visualize, ask questions, and summarize. I still hang anchor charts with sentence starters for inferences or text-to-self connections. And doing all Continue reading
-
Effective Word-Level Interventions for the Secondary Setting
Decoding skills are foundational for reading proficiency, but many secondary students still struggle in this area. These students don’t just struggle academically. They often exhibit behavior problems, as well, as a way to mask their inability to read. Their difficulty with decoding makes it impossible to engage with and comprehend grade-level texts across all subjects. Continue reading
