This blog was written to unpack the development of fluency, particularly among struggling readers and those with Rapid Automatized Naming weaknesses. I will highlight recent research that implies fluency results when students simultaneously activate multiple aspects of word knowledge. That means as fluent students encounter words, they initially retrieve information about letters and corresponding sounds, but nearly instantaneously also activate additional aspects of word knowledge like vocabulary, parts of speech, grammar, and morphological information.

The 2020 Aspiring Teacher Scholarship was sponsored by LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling), Voyager Sopris Learning’s landmark professional learning series on the science of reading. Mississippi uses LETRS as a key part of its statewide literacy initiative to teach educators the science of reading and give them the skills to teach language and literacy to every student, even those with reading challenges like dyslexia.

The 2020 Aspiring Teacher Scholarship was sponsored by LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling), Voyager Sopris Learning’s landmark professional learning series on the science of reading. Alabama uses LETRS as a key part of its statewide literacy initiative to teach educators the science of reading and give them the skills to teach language and literacy to every student, even those with reading challenges like dyslexia.

Much has been published about bringing students and teachers back to school this fall. Educators must consider the health and safety of students and school personnel as well as academics, including gathering information about student learning to inform classroom instruction and curriculum programs. Our senior assessment staff has surveyed various sources for information to help guide school and district decision-making.

Our LETRS Literacy Champion contest asks: “What makes a literacy champion and who is your literacy champion?” The contest also shares the insights of some true literacy champions, like Dr. Louisa Moats, educator Dr. Ebony Lee, Dr. Carol Tolman, Dr. Lucy Hart Paulson, and others. We’re looking for your nominations to add to our hall of fame.

The downside of asking students to solve challenging math problems is that if the teacher doesn’t do a good job introducing the problem and then scaffolding when appropriate, students can end up more discouraged about their learning than empowered as problem solvers. Failure only reinforces what students already think about themselves and the subject matter.