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Future Ready Literacy: How Leaders Can Implement Schoolwide Culture Change

Guest: Thomas C. Murray

Release Date: Wednesday, September 7, 2022

It’s no secret: School and district leaders set the tone for the culture within the organization. Although every employee is ultimately responsible for creating an environment where students want to be, school leaders must model the way. How can principals looking to implement change create an innovative, sustainable culture that consistently models future ready learning, relies upon a level of teaching and learning backed by science, and promotes a high level of literacy success for all students?

Join us as we talk with our guest, best-selling author Thomas C. Murray, a lifelong educator who is now the director of innovation for Future Ready Schools®. In his current role, Murray works with districts to create the types of learning experiences today’s modern learners need to thrive. As a previous secondary and elementary principal, he knows the importance of helping every child learn to read proficiently, and how to intervene when children don’t have the literacy skills needed by third to fifth grades. On a daily basis, he works with principals and superintendents on systems change, sustainability, and equity and resolving culture-change obstacles standing in the way of students achieving the level of literacy success that allows each one to truly be future ready.

Join us as we talk with our guest and explore: 

• What it means to be future ready for a student, teacher, administrator, and school
• Leveraging the The Future Ready Framework for sustainable change
• Why buying a great literacy program or intervention is not enough. If you don’t create a culture where people can learn it, believe it, and use it well, it can’t teach itself
• How do we make sure every child has the opportunity to learn? It goes well beyond technology
• The importance of community partnerships and relationships

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Upcoming!

The Power of Print: Inspiring Classroom Discussion and Motivation

Guest: Dr. Louisa Moats, author of LANGUAGE! Live and LETRS

Release Date: Wednesday, October 5, 2022

Coming Soon

Recent Podcasts

Meaningful Assessment—And Why It Is Critical for Reading Success

Guest: Dr. Ruth Kaminski

In this podcast, Dr. Ruth Kaminski, coauthor of Acadience® Learning K–6 and other respected assessments, will discuss the many aspects of assessment that make it a meaningful and essential tool for preventing reading disabilities and promoting reading success.

Join us as we talk with Dr. Kaminski about the reasons educators should rely upon assessment for curriculum alignment, progress monitoring, and classroom planning.

We’ll explore:

• The critical nature of assessment
• Who should be assessed, when, and how often?
• How assessment can help teachers align their reading instruction with the science of reading
• The various features of assessment that make it meaningful for teachers

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How Explicit Writing Instruction Can Compensate for Gaps in Background Knowledge

Guest: Natalie Wexler

Writing is potentially the most powerful lever we have for building knowledge and improving reading comprehension. It can uncover gaps in background knowledge that prevent students from accessing grade-level material. And, because writing helps new information stick, it can also boost students’ academic performance.

But writing is the most difficult thing we ask students to do. If inexperienced writers are asked to write at length, they can easily become overwhelmed as they juggle everything from spelling to word choice to organizing their thoughts. And if students are asked to write only about personal experience or topics in a separate writing curriculum, writing won’t help them acquire the knowledge they need to succeed in school.

Join this informative podcast as we talk with esteemed researcher and author Natalie Wexler. She will share ways to make writing less overwhelming by starting at the sentence level and how to include writing activities in the content of the core curriculum. This is an approach that shouldn’t be limited to English classes. It can have powerful effects in any subject—and at any grade level.

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Digital Divides, Opportunity Gaps, and Literacy Achievement

Guest: Matthew Hiefield

How can districts ensure all students have the same opportunities to the best education if all facets of learning are not equitable? The Digital Divide is not just about devices and the Internet, but it is also about pedagogy in our classrooms and opportunities for students. In this podcast, we will explore the different types of digital divides that occur in our schools with an award-winning equity expert, and we will also address the impact these divides have on literacy learning. Join us and see what you can learn from our guest as he shares the ways he and his district strive for absolute learning equity.

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Nurturing Teachers and Students: Creating a Safe Space for Teaching and Learning in Troubling Times

Guest: Judi Dodson

Today, more children are arriving at school with significant social and emotional vulnerabilities due to the chronic stress and trauma of the pandemic. Our students have experienced stress and trauma in the past, but this moment is unique because the experience is more universally shared. This period is also exceptional because our teachers have experienced the chronic stress, loss, and uncertainty of the pandemic as well as our students. Teachers are often given the role of superheroes in our society, but we cannot ask teachers to give of themselves what they do not have. While it is urgent we address our students’ social and emotional needs, it is equally urgent that we address the needs of our teachers, if they are going to help students.

This podcast will address hands-on activities and strategies for supporting teachers and students with care and connection. Language allows us to identify and express our emotions. Our use of language to assist in our efforts to connect with our students can transform traditional instruction into “trauma-informed” instruction. Language and connection have the power to heal. Connecting with students does not cost money and can create a climate and culture that can change a child’s life.

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We Know HOW to Teach Children to Read: Let's DO It!

Guest: Dr. Jan Hasbrouck

Too many students in our classrooms struggle with learning to read. This does not need to occur. Research has shown that approximately 95% of all students can be taught to read at grade level, including those with learning disabilities and dyslexia. How can we meet the needs of every student in today’s classrooms? We'll discuss the characteristics of students who become our struggling readers along with research-supported and classroom-proven approaches to successfully address these students' needs.

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Getting Reading Right: Why California Overhauled the Way Literacy Is Taught

Guest: Margaret Goldberg

In 2017, students, teachers, and activists filed a class action lawsuit (Ella T. vs. the State of California) arguing that state education officials knew there was a crisis of reading and writing in California public schools, but had failed to develop a plan to address it.

That lawsuit resulted in a $53 million settlement – money that didn’t go to the plaintiffs, but rather to 75 of the lowest performing schools in the state–an acknowledgement that the ten students who sued represent hundreds of thousands who have been failed by a broken educational system.

Last year, the schools engaged in professional development through the Sacramento County Office of Education and developed literacy action plans that intend to overhaul how they teach literacy. Educator Margaret Goldberg led sessions to help site leaders plan changes to their curricula, assessments, and teaching strategies. She now mentors the literacy coaches of these schools and works as an early literacy coach at one of the sites.

Listen as we talk to Goldberg, a full-time literacy coach, co-founder of The Right to Read Project, and an integral part of the solution in her state. Listeners of this podcast will be inspired as Goldberg shares the state’s new approach, process, exciting outcomes, and her experiences witnessing literacy outcomes improve.

In this podcast, Goldberg will discuss: 

• The difference between “then” and “now”—and how a new approach to teaching reading based on Structured Literacy and the science of reading will alter the trajectory for thousands of students
• The process used to deepen educators’ understanding of the research about reading and how they apply that to coaching 
• What implementation looks like now, and how it will evolve in coming years
• What school leaders and literacy teams at each of these schools are learning, and how they plan to change the way reading is taught
• Righttoread.com, and how you can get involved

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Maximizing Equity & ESSER III Funds: Smart Decision-Making for Districts to Accelerate Learning for ALL Students

Guests: Jon Hummell, Brittany Martin

As districts prepare for the remainder of this school year and the many needs ahead, educators must make crucial decisions for appropriate use of ESSER III funding. However, before purchasing priorities can be planned, there are important questions to ask and new funding parameters to explore that will help all educators make the best decisions to ensure educational equity for every student. Additionally, looking back at last year’s funding decisions can help inform the best use of new funds. Join Lexia® Learning’s Director of State Initiatives, Jon Hummell, and Education Department Relations Manager, Brittany Martin, for an illuminating podcast conversation about strategies and considerations for effectively leveraging relief funding. 

In this podcast, our funding experts will discuss: 

• Determining whether district purchases with previous funds were effective or not
• Lessons learned about the investments districts made so far
• What do these purchasing decisions mean going forward? 
• What are some of the best ways to use ESSER III funds?
• How can spending decisions improve and advance a district toward equity?
• And much more!

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How Handwriting Supports the Science of Reading

Guest: Laura Stewart

After taking a backseat in the education world for many years, handwriting is back. While assistive technology can help students with writing problems, it does not remove the importance of teaching explicit handwriting. Handwriting reinforces reading and spelling skills, and is linked to reading and spelling achievement. In this insightful podcast, you will learn how handwriting supports the science of reading and strategies educators can use immediately in the classroom to build handwriting into their daily lessons.

In this podcast, listeners will learn:

• The connection between handwriting, reading, and writing
• The evidence around two “great debates”
• Printing or cursive?
• Handwriting or keyboarding?
• Key recommendations for handwriting instruction

We hope you will join us.
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What Assessment Data Tells Us About the Equity Gap

Guest: Dr. Roland Good III

The Equity Gap, or differentials in race, ethnicity, income, language, and background, has become even more prominent during the pandemic. Minority students from low-income communities were among those most affected by the lockdown and the move to remote learning—where they faced social and economic stress in their families and communities. In this important podcast, assessment expert Dr. Roland Good explores the Equity Gap and how it affects assessment data. You will also learn about reporting tools educators can use to discover skill gaps and provide students with the support they need.

In this podcast, Dr. Good will discuss:

• How assessment data shows the skills most affected by gaps in equity
• How the pandemic affected the Equity Gap
• Reporting tools that can help educators disseminate student data
• How to use assessment data to provide differentiation, prepare for state testing, and close skill gaps
• Next steps to closing the Equity Gap

Please join us for this informative and engaging discussion with EDVIEW360 Podcast Host and Education Leader Pam Austin.
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Enid Public Schools: Transforming Teacher Knowledge Through Literacy Professional Learning

Guest: Kristen Jones, Curriculum Director, Enid Public Schools, Enid, Oklahoma

For our podcast, we talk with Kristen Jones, LETRS Literacy Champion and Curriculum Director at Enid Public Schools in Enid, Oklahoma. This inspiring educator will share how Enid Public Schools used literacy professional learning to transform teacher knowledge and raise student achievement.

Jones will discuss steps taken by Enid Public Schools as they implemented LETRS professional learning district-wide. She’ll also address how the training increased teacher knowledge of the science of reading and transformed the school district and community, leading to the school district becoming one of the winners of the first Dr. Louisa Moats Award for Excellence Implementing the Science of Reading.

Jones will also address:

• Why her district chose a program aligned with the science of reading
• How the district encouraged teacher buy-in
• Challenges faced in a district-wide implementation
• Tips for administrators to roll out a new literacy professional learning program

We hope you will join us.
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The Science of Reading: A Defining Movement

Guest: Dr. Maria Murray, Founder and President of The Reading League

The future depends on our children and one way to fully empower them is to recognize that literacy is a fundamental right in society.  Join Dr. Maria Murray—founder and president and CEO of The Reading League—for an innovative podcast episode as she explains why the science of reading is now regarded as a defining movement and addresses the need to protect the integrity of its findings so that the promise of successful reading outcomes for our students can be realized. 

In this podcast, Dr. Murray will discuss:

• Defining the Science of Reading
• Recognizing literacy as a human right
• What the Science of Reading is NOT
• ‘Science’ separates what the Science of Reading is
• What we have learned; What we still have to learn
• How to be good citizens for the Science of Reading
• Creating equity and much more!

You don’t want to miss this engaging conversation!
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Education Funding Series Part 2: Understanding ESSA and Other Funding Options

Guest: Victoria Akosile, SIIA
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is a hot topic. ESSA is intended to ensure that all students receive a high-quality education that prepares them for long-term success, and includes a repeal of the Adequate Yearly Progress report in favor of state accountability. With every state having their own plan for ESSA, it is hard to know how to get started. We’re here to help! In this podcast, you will learn how to find out the accountability requirements of your state, how to obtain funding for your school or district, and much more.

Additional topics include:

• How ESSER funding relates to COVID-Relief bills (CARES ACT, CARES Supplemental ACT, and the American Rescue Plan)
• The part Title 1 plays in ESSA
• Ways schools can use funds to address issues brought on by the pandemic
• Additional funding options
• Where to go if you have questions

We hope you will join us!
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Education Funding Series Part 1: The CARES Act

Guest: Jon Hummell
During uncertain times—and as schools recover from a year like no other—education funding is more important than ever. The CARES Act, which passed in April 2020, includes $13.2 billion for an Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) fund and $3 billion for a Governor's Emergency Education Relief (GEER) fund in order to help school districts overcome the unique challenges associated with the pandemic. Join us for the first podcast in our funding series and learn everything a school or district administrator needs to know about the CARES Act.

Topics include:

• How to get much-needed CARES Act funding to your school/school district
• What funding options are available through the CARES Act
• The best way to determine school/district needs
• How states and school districts are spending their CARES Act funds

We hope you will join us.
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Why ESSA-Rated Solutions are Needed to Address Equity Gaps

Guest: Pam Austin
Despite the efforts of the American education system to provide an equal education for all students, achievement gaps between disadvantaged and more advantaged students remain and often lead to negative outcomes.

The passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) represents an opportunity for districts to choose intervention solutions that bridge the gap and help all students receive an education that prepares them for future success. In this informative podcast, host Pam Austin will discuss why ESSA-rated solutions are so important in addressing equity gaps and offer strategies for educators to immediately use in the classroom.

During the podcast, we will discuss:

• What us ESSA?
• Why are ESSA-rated solutions so important?
• How can you use ESSA solutions to address equity in the classroom?
• What additional strategies can help close the achievement gap?
• And much more!

We hope you will join us.

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Look Ahead to Summer and Fall Success Using Spring Assessment Data

Guest: Dr. Kelly A. Powell-Smith
With vaccination efforts in full swing, September is likely to see a strong return to in-classroom instruction. How can educators prepare for summer school or a new school year after students have seen extended periods outside the classroom? In this important podcast, assessment expert Dr. Kelly Powell Smith—vice president and associate director of research and development at Acadience—shares the key indicators that educators should look for when reviewing spring literacy assessment scores, along with how to pinpoint where students are struggling so you can plan for summer or fall intervention and instruction.

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The Science of Reading: Why Didn’t We Learn What We Needed to Know in College?

Guest: Donna Hejtmanek
Research shows a gap between what teachers know about reading and whether or not they are prepared to teach it. Why are teachers graduating from college without the skills they need to teach reading? Join former educator Donna Hejtmanek as she discusses this topic and shares the story behind creating her incredibly popular Facebook group “Science of Reading—What I Should Have Learned in College.”

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How to Use Sound Walls to Transform Reading Instruction

Guests: Dr. Mary Dahlgren, Dr. Antonio Fierro
We now know sound walls should replace word walls in the classroom, but what are the best ways to integrate them into your daily lesson to educate and engage your students, including English language learners? In this informative podcast with literacy experts Dr. Mary Dahlgren and Dr. Antonio Fierro, our educators share tips about how to use your sound wall to transform reading instruction.

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The Importance of Explicit Reading Instruction

Guest: Dr. Anita Archer, explicit instruction expert and author
Explicit reading instruction is an approach to teaching reading that is based on research about the brain and how we learn, combined with structured and sequenced literacy instruction. Join explicit instruction expert Dr. Anita Archer for this informative podcast as she discusses the importance of explicit instruction and how it promotes achievement for students of all reading levels.

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New Year, New Name, Same Assessment: What Happened to DIBELS Next?

Guests: Guests: Alisa Dorman, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at Acadience^® Learning and Kristen Biadasz, Senior Product Marketing Manager of Assessment at Voyager Sopris Learning^®
Valid, reliable, and research-based assessment is crucial to helping educators predict early reading success and to identify students experiencing difficulty acquiring foundational literacy skills. Add in a novel virus and an abrupt switch to remote learning in the spring—followed by an uncertain fall where return to school was either in-person, remote, or a hybrid environment—and you have a school year like no other. Now, educators are left seeking meaningful assessment data they can trust to assist their students, regardless of the learning environment.

As 2020 began, the assessment you knew as DIBELS Next^® acquired a new name, Acadience^® Reading K–6. Do you know why the name changed and that Acadience Reading (and its product family) are the only assessments developed by authors Dr. Roland Good III and Dr. Ruth Kaminski, based on 30 years of research? Join us as we discuss how Acadience Learning assessments can be used to support data-driven instructional decisions and improve

If you used DIBELS Next in the past, and/or are thinking about how to use assessment to drive student instruction in your school or district, this is a can’t-miss podcast.

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Equitable Practices in Assessment, Grading, and Reporting in the Time of COVID

Guest: Dr. Thomas Guskey, Professor Emeritus in the College of Education, University of Kentucky
The past year has uncovered more equity issues in education than in years before. The struggle to provide equitable access to technology, learning tools, emotional support, and even meals is now at the forefront of educators’ minds as they struggle to keep learning going forward for their students. Join us for a timely discussion about equity in education, specifically around assessment, with assessment expert Dr. Thomas Guskey.

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The Impact of COVID Learning Loss on Reading Fluency

Guest: Dr. Tim Rasinski, Professor of Literacy Education, Kent State University
This school year, the importance of closing reading gaps and maintaining strong skills is more important than ever due to COVID learning loss and a shift to remote learning. Join us for a timely and insightful podcast with respected literacy expert and author Dr. Tim Rasinski, as he discusses the long-term impact of COVID learning loss on reading fluency and skills. Dr. Rasinski will share strategies educators can use to help students maintain strong reading skills, whether they are learning remotely or in the classroom.

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Our Journey from Dyslexia to Literacy

Guest: Lois Letchford, author of 'Reversed'
Lois Letchford was told by a teacher that her son, Nicholas, was “the worst child (she’s) ever seen in (her) 25 years of teaching.” Instead of giving up and giving in, Letchford became a passionate advocate for literacy and children who have been left behind by the educational system. Join us for an inspiring conversation as she shares how she helped her son beat the odds and overcome dyslexia, and how she discovered her own dyslexia.

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Preparing Educators for Remote Learning Success During an Uncertain Fall: A Conversation with Rick Ferdig

Guest: Dr. Rick Ferdig, Summit Professor of Learning Technologies and Professor of Educational Technology at Kent State University
Unlike Spring of 2020, this fall we have the opportunity to prepare for distance learning as students return to the classroom. But many questions still remain—will students return to the classroom or remote learning, or both? Will educators be ready? What can school leaders do to help educators prepare for blended or remote learning? Join our timely discussion with remote learning expert Dr. Rick Ferdig, an educator with over 20 years’ experience in blended-learning instruction, as he discusses how to help educators plan for a school year unlike any others we have experienced.

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Righting the Wrongs of the Elementary Education System: A Conversation with Education Journalist Natalie Wexler

Guest: Natalie Wexler, literacy expert and author of The Knowledge Gap
The American elementary education system continues to value so-called reading comprehension skills over knowledge, when in fact those skills are largely dependent on knowledge. Low-income students continue to struggle while children of educated parents with higher-income levels acquire more academic knowledge and vocabulary outside school, giving them an additional advantage over their more disadvantaged peers. In the past twenty years, a regime of high-stakes reading and math tests, intended to address educational inequity, has only exacerbated the problem. But there is much that schools can do to provide all students with access to the kind of knowledge that can boost outcomes on tests and in life.

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Retire Your Word Wall: How Sound Walls Support the Science of Reading

Guest: Mary Ellis Dahlgren, Ed.D., literacy expert and president of Tools 4 Reading
According to the science of reading, students need to master phonemic awareness skills before they match the sounds to print, and phonics instruction is needed before students begin decoding text. We know this information, yet A-Z alphabetical word walls are still used in many classrooms, requiring students to match print to speech instead of sound. In this podcast, literacy and sound wall expert Dr. Mary Dahlgren will share why it is so important to implement a sound wall in the classroom and how it benefits reading development.

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Running the Distance and Beating the Odds: Dyslexia Is a Superpower

Guest: Jared Blank, runner, dyslexia advocate/public speaker
At the age of 5, Jared Blank was diagnosed with Dyslexia and Sensory Processing Disorder. With the support of his family and community, he beat the odds. Once told he would never graduate from high school, Blank graduated from the University of Southern California and earned two Masters degrees. In 2018, he ran the World Marathon Challenge (seven marathons, on seven continents, in seven days) to raise awareness for the International Dyslexia Association^®.

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The Ties Between Social Emotional Learning and Language and Literacy Development

Guest: Dr. Brandi Kenner, Founder and CEO of Choice-filled Lives Network
Did you know language development is one of the most critical cognitive functions that supports social and emotional learning? During this podcast, educator and Reading League presenter Dr. Brandi Kenner takes an in-depth look at the ties between language and literacy development and SEL, including the role an educator plays in keeping learning brains activated and empowering student voices.

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Educator Accountability: Preparing for the Tough Literacy Challenges Faced by English Language Learners

Guest: Antonio Fierro, reading consultant, award-winning educator, and LETRS instructor
Schools are failing to support English language learners by not providing educators with the knowledge they need to teach reading effectively. With literacy leading as the main indicator of academic success, it is time for educators to accept responsibility for preparing ELLs for the tough challenges they face along the path to literacy, and learn ways to help these students reach literacy success.

In this podcast, Dr. Antonio Fierro shares his journey from English learner to award-winning educator. He talks about the knowledge he gained from working with educators across the country in the science of reading, including the crucial knowledge educators need to work effectively with ELLs.

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Blended Learning: The Importance of Technology in the Literacy Classroom

Guest: Carl Hooker, author, blogger, and innovator
In recent years, many school districts have implemented a blended-learning model of literacy instruction that incorporates teacher-taught curriculum with student-driven technology. This shift creates a more flexible classroom for the educator, and also offers more opportunities to tailor instruction to individual student needs, especially students who are struggling. In this podcast, Hooker discusses the future of blended learning, why it is so important in the classroom, and how it can help create new learning opportunities for students who are struggling. If you currently use a blended-literacy program in your classroom, or are considering using one, this podcast is for you.

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Visible Learning for Literacy: Maximizing Teacher Impact and Accelerating Student Learning

Guest: John Hattie, author and learning/teaching expert
If you agree with John Hattie’s statement, “every student deserves a great teacher, not by chance, but by design,” then this podcast is for you. Become a “change agent” in your district, school, or classroom as you learn from a respected expert about how you can implement the practices that accelerate student literacy.

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Dyslexia Screening: What You Need to Know

Guest: Dr. Roland Good, President, Acadience Learning
Dyslexia screening is crucial to verifying the presence of dyslexia and providing the diagnostic documentation required for eligibility in specially designed programs throughout a student’s educational career. Dyslexia screening results also provide educators with the intervention strategies they need to help students reach their full academic potential. Join this podcast to learn more about how to use data to pinpoint the signs of dyslexia and create a roadmap to student success.

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Implementing SEL in Your School/District: Why Student Success Depends Upon It

Guest: Andrea Samadi, author and program developer at Achieveit360
School districts and government agencies across the country are seeing the importance of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) in the classroom. SEL is an essential factor in providing students with the knowledge, attitude, and skills they need to succeed in school, careers, and life. In this podcast, Samadi discusses tools, resources, and ideas to implement proven strategies backed by the most current neuroscience research to help you achieve the long-term gains of implementing a SEL program in your school or district.

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American Schools Are Failing Students with Dyslexia: What Can We Do about It?

Guest: Emily Hanford, senior correspondent and producer, APM Reports
Across the country, public schools are failing to identify students with dyslexia and, therefore, unable to provide the intervention and treatment they need. In this special podcast for Dyslexia Awareness Month, Emily Hanford, APM Reports senior correspondent, discusses how American schools continue to shy away from the word “dyslexia” and teach students with reading approaches not backed by scientific evidence. How can we help these students? What kinds of instruction are the most helpful?

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