Leading the Shift to Science of Reading: A District Case Study

Leading the Shift to Science of Reading: A District Case Study

Sunday, June 29, 2025 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM · 1 hr. (America/Chicago)
Interactive Session
Instructional Leadership

Information

As districts across the country shift towards Science of Reading, there is little guidance on HOW to make that shift. Learn from one school district on how they brought a whole district along. You’ll learn key leadership moves to create "buy-in,” align curriculum, and shift instructional practices.
Outline
The content for the session will include: 1. A case study: the history of Literacy in Bedford Central School District and how we made the change 2. Latest research on Science of Reading and expert advice on how to make the shifts in practice 3. A research process for analyzing literacy curriculum to match your District's priorities 4. An action plan template on how to create the change in your district (3-5 year plan). 5. A professional development plan to build consistency, coherence, and common language. Time: 1. Presentation: Case Study & Current Research (30 minutes) 2. Panel Discussion: Reflection on case study (15 minutes) 3. Guided Practice/Working Session: Action planning for your own district in making the shift to Science of Reading (15 minutes) Throughout the presentation, participants will have opportunities to process the information in table groups, discuss ideas and reflections in partnerships, and begin creating their own action plans for their Districts.
Supporting research
Building Knowledge Can Help Build Reading Success, International Dyslexia Foundation (https://dyslexiaida.org/building-knowledge-can-help-build-comprehension-success/) Building Phonemic Awareness: Know What Matters, International Dyslexia Foundation (https://dyslexiaida.org/building-phoneme-awareness-know-what-matters/) Embracing Reading for Understanding: Expanding our Vision of Science of Reading, Literacy Today, September/October 2020, p. 26-28 (https://publuu.com/flip-book/24429/91003/page/28) Teaching Reading Is Rocket Science, Louisa Moats, American Educator, Summer 2020 (https://www.aft.org/ae/summer2020/moats) The Science of Reading Comprehension, by Joan Sedita, Keys to Literacy, October 2021 (https://keystoliteracy.com/blog/the-science-of-reading-comprehension/) The Science of Reading Comprehension Instruction, by Nell Duke, Alessandra E. Ward, P. David Pearson, International Literacy Association, The Reading Teacher, Volume 74, No. 6, p.663-672, 2021 (https://ila.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/trtr.1993) What Every Parent and Educator Should Know About Reading Instruction, by Joan Sedita, Reading Rocket (https://www.readingrockets.org/topics/curriculum-and-instruction/articles/what-every-educator-and-parent-should-know-about-reading) What Constitutes a Science of Reading Instruction by Timothy Shanahan, International Literacy Association, Reading Research Quarterly 55 (S1), 2020 (https://ila.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/rrq.349) How the Science of Reading Informs 21st‐Century Education by Petscher et al., International Literacy Association, September 2020 (https://ila.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/rrq.352) Guidance for Educators Using Balanced Literacy Program, Student Achievement Partners, Achieve the Core (https://achievethecore.org/content/upload/Guidance%20for%20Educators%20Using%20a%20Balanced%20Literacy%20Program.pdf) Tier 1 Instructional Strategies to Improve K-4 Reading Comprehension, James S. Kim & Zhongyu Wei, EdResearch for Recovery Brief No. 25, Harvard University, June 2022 (https://annenberg.brown.edu/sites/default/files/EdResearch_for_Recovery_Brief_25.pdf) The Science of Learning to Read Words A Case for Systematic Phonics Instruction by Linnea Ehri, International Literacy Association, August 2020 (https://ila.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/rrq.334) A Meta-Analytic Review of the Relations Between Motivation and Reading Achievement for K–12 Students by Toste et al. , Sage Journals (https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.3102/0034654320919352) English Language Learners: Reading Wars, Reading Science, and English Learners by Claude Goldenberg, ILA, September 2020 (https://ila.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/rrq.340) A Call to Action: The State of Early Literacy in New York / NYSED Science of Reading Literacy Briefs, January 2024 (https://newyork.edtrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ETNY-Literacy-Report.pdf) Colorin Colorado: A bilingual site for educators and families of English Language Learners (https://www.colorincolorado.org/) Mass Literacy: Components of Core Literacy Block, Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (https://www.doe.mass.edu/massliteracy/literacy-block/default.html) The Reading League: Joint Statement on the Science of Reading and English Learners/Emergent Bilinguals (https://www.thereadingleague.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Joint-Statement-on-the-Science-of-Reading-and-English-Learners_Emergent-Bilinguals-24.pdf) Recognized Experts critical to our evaluation process: 1. Dr. Molly Ness, Literacy Researcher, Author, Professor (https://drmollyness.com/) 2. Angela Lalor, Educational Consultant (https://adlalorconsulting.com/) 3. Haskins Global Literacy Hub (https://haskinsglobal.org/) 4. Mario Palma, Bilingual, biliteracy expert (https://palmamledsolutions.com/)
Attendee Accounts
None - We will be sharing a Google slides presentation
Content Community
ASCD Annual
Subject Area
Elementary/Multiple SubjectsLanguage Arts
Grade Level
PK-5
Audience
Curriculum Designer/DirectorDistrict Level LeadershipSchool Level Leadership
Session Delivery
In Person
Sample Schedule
Leaders/CAO
Transformative Learning Principles
Elevate ReflectionIgnite Agency
Skill Level
Intermediate
Registration Required
No
Attendee Devices
Devices useful
Attendee Device Specification
Laptop: ChromebookLaptop: MacLaptop: PCSmartphone: AndroidSmartphone: iOSSmartphone: WindowsTablet: AndroidTablet: iOSTablet: Windows
Spotlight on Solutions
No
Additional Fee
No

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