Literacy Leadership Blog

News and reflections from experts and practitioners on the latest literacy research, events and daily practice


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Best Literacy Blogs of 2022 to Broaden Your Horizons

Categories: Early Literacy, Education & Teaching, Educators, Reading Strategies for K-12, Teacher Best Practices, The Digital Age, Whole Child Literacy

Educators sitting in a row listening and attentive The shift has begun, and we believe 2023 will be a watershed year for literacy. Are you ready? Center stage is early childhood literacy where effective reading development must occur in PreK-3 to reduce the number of children falling through the cracks and widening the equity gap. 

In early childhood, research tells us teachers must deliver both foundational skills with phonics at the helm, as well as interactive, language-rich literacy experiences, so children will enjoy reading, while building essential vocabulary and background knowledge for full comprehension – the gateway to all learning. Until all children learn to read proficiently, educators, scholars, legislators, parents, and researchers like Dr. Maryanne Wolf, an expert in brain-based learning, and reports like NAEP, will continue to encourage us to broaden our horizons. 

So too, is the urgency for more professional learning in literacy, and communities of practice. Learning Ally addresses these needs by helping educators build on their knowledge of the science of reading, and whole child literacy, two initiatives close to the heartbeat of our organization. In case you missed any of these informative articles, here are the most-read literacy blogs of 2022 by experts eager to share their knowledge and experiences with you. 

What the Experts Say

Dr. Molly Ness, Learning Ally’s V.P. of Academic Content, describes the science of reading as an interdisciplinary body of knowledge about five decades in the making that shows how the brain learns to read. In her words, “To be proficient readers, children need to be able to lift the words up off the page through decoding, and have the necessary language skills to understand them.” 

Read: “The Science of Reading Supports a Comprehensive Approach to Early Literacy Instruction... An Overview with Dr. Molly Ness

 

Dr. Sherril English, Clinical Associate Professor at Southern Methodist University, examines the concept of “belonging,” and the foundational importance of literacy in achieving equity in disadvantaged populations. 

Read: “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion --’Belonging’ in Literacy Education

 

Dr. Kenneth Kunz, Founder of For the Love of Literacy, and V.P. of the International Literacy Association, describes his work to coach schools on literacy and language arts, and how to bridge research and practice. 

Read: “Prioritizing SEL in Elementary/Middle School Language Arts Classrooms

 

Linda Diamond, Founder of the Consortium on Reaching Excellence in Education, describes findings from studies by the Wallace Foundation, “How Principals Affect Students and Schools: A Systematic Synthesis of Two Decades of Research” (2021). 

Read: “Principals’ Impact on Changing Practices is Immeasurable

 

Brent Conway, Assistant Superintendent of Pentucket Regional School District, West Newbury, MA, shares learnings to improve literacy at a school or district based on the science of reading and transforming Tier 1 systems.

Read: “Early Literacy Systems for School & District Implementation”

 

Dr. Almitra Berry, nationally recognized expert on culturally and linguistically diverse learners, raises thought-provoking questions about equity and access, and how to address the critical mass of students who are underperforming in reading in K12 education.  

Read: “Keys to Bridging the Achievement Gap: Race, Income and Education”

 

Drs. Antony Smith and Allison Hintz, Associate Professors of Mathematics Education at the University of Washington Bothell, recommend how to make connections between essential early reading skills and mathematical concepts. 

Read: “Mathematizing Children’s Literature To Spark Connections, Joy, and Wonder, Through Read-Alouds and Discussion”

 

Making Literacy-For-All Learners Happen


Let’s make 2023 the year of literacy! Learning ‘how to read’ in order to ‘read to learn’ is the essence for academic success. Administrators and teachers are eager to implement sustainable literacy solutions that will improve reading outcomes at all levels. Learning Ally is here to help you broaden your knowledge and literacy leadership skills to make reading mastery a reality for all children.


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