Phonemic awareness is an essential foundational skill for unlocking the alphabetic principle to read words. It follows that weak phonemic awareness negatively impacts a student’s ability to readily blend words, leading to weak comprehension; we cannot understand what we cannot read.

You can’t keep your brain from counting the days until you have to return to work. You are wondering what you will be asked to do upon your return. This leads us to the next steps in our summer essential learning.

Everyone wants to feel fulfilled and happy with their work, to believe they make a difference. This is more than a good feeling or earning a high salary. This is efficacy and it is critical for teachers’ success. When an entire school faculty has efficacy, it is called Collective Teacher Efficacy (CTE), which is “the collective belief of teachers in their ability to positively affect students” (Hattie, J. Visible Learning Plus).

It's not too late to bring the expertise of this year's Literacy Symposium into your school or classroom! This year's speakers covered a wide range of relevant topics, including dyslexia laws, common core state standards, English language learners (ELL), teaching writing, LETRS literacy professional development, and so much more. Sign up now to have access to this content for the rest of the school year.

The need has never been greater for well-designed mathematics instruction that promotes confidence in teachers and guides students to success.

Last week, I was happy to be part of an Education Week webinar with Dr. Louisa Moats. With my assistant superintendent, Kim Bennett, we shared the story of how we achieved significant K–3 literacy results in the Rapides Parish School District.