Dr. Emily Binks-Cantrell

Professor, Texas A&M University

The Critical Foundation for Effective Reading Instruction: Teacher Preparation 

Decades of research in literacy tell us that students with and at-risk for reading difficulties and dyslexia learn best from direct, explicit, and systematic literacy instruction that is multi-sensory in nature and based upon the structure of the language. Yet, what this looks like in practice has often been miscommunicated, confusing, inconsistent, or not communicated at all in teacher preparation programs. This presentation will provide an overview of in-service and preservice teachers' knowledge of concepts related to effective reading instruction, reasons for teachers’ poor preparation to teach literacy effectively, and how this situation might be improved.

Emily Binks-Cantrell, PhD., is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Teaching, Learning, and Culture at Texas A&M University, where she teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in literacy, is the Program Area Co-Chair of the Advanced Literacy Studies Program, and serves as Co-Director of the Texas A&M Reading Clinic. She also serves on the Board for the Center for Effective Reading Instruction, as Associate Editor for The Reading League Journal, and on the Editorial Board of Annals of Dyslexia. Through her experiences as both a teacher and a researcher, Emily is a firm believer that teachers are the most powerful tool in the education system and is passionate about increasing the quality of preparation and support teachers receive to meet the literacy needs of their students.

Track: Serving Students with Dyslexia

Audience: Specialists

Level: Beginner