The Search For Common Ground
Also: Join Us For a "WNY LIT" Meeting Tonight at 6pm in Buffalo!
I’ve recently had the honor of doing some work with Claude Goldenberg, the Nomellini & Olivier Professor of Education, Emeritus, Graduate School of Education at Stanford University, and it was through his recommendation that I came to be asked to participate in the EdWeek’s Big Ideas panel discussion “The Reading Wars: What Can We Learn From the Reading Debates? And How Can the Field Move Forward?”
This panel took place on October 12, 2023 and was moderated by EdWeek reporter Sarah Schwartz. Along with Claude Goldenberg, my co-panelists were Julie Cohen, the Charles S. Robb Associate Professor, University of Virginia's School of Education and Human Development, and Nathan Jones, Commissioner for the National Center for Special Education Research at the Institute of Education Sciences.
I was asked to present on the work around the WNY Literacy Initiative, the process of bringing different organizations together and collaborating to improve reading proficiency for the students in our region. Claude, perhaps the king of finding common ground, spoke to his work bridging divides in California, especially with English Language Learner groups, while Julie Cohen and Nathan Jones brought the perspective of finding common ground in the math world.
Such a pleasure to flip the narrative about “reading wars” with these other talented panelists! It made for a rich discussion. You can view it here by filling out this form and receiving the on-demand link. Sarah Schwartz also wrote about the panel discussion here.
Tonight: WNY LIT Meeting at Tapestry Charter in Buffalo!
Teachers:
Do you wish you could get together with other educators in WNY and learn what's working in their classrooms, when it comes to evidence-based reading instruction?
Do you wish you had a learning group that you could meet with, ask questions, and share best practices?
WNY LIT: Literacy Instructors Together is for you! We are meeting tonight - Wednesday 11/8 - at Tapestry Charter School from 6-8pm to hear from Literacy Interventionist Kathleen Lysek discuss small group instruction.
There will be giveaways, snacks, drinks - and easy parking! All instructors welcome. Please register here.
Calling All Student Leaders!
As part of the Education Equity Task Force, I’m on the planning committee for the Igniting Equity in Education Spring 2024 Conference. This conference is about centering the student experience and raising up the student voice. To that end, we are looking for student leaders - from all over Western New York! - to participate! If you know a student in high school who would be a good fit, please contact me at tarja@wnyeducationalliance.org or Miko at the email on the flyer below.
What We’re Reading
‘Science of Reading’ and English-Learner Advocates Reach Common Ground' - EdWeek
In a statement released in October, The Reading League, an organization that advocates for the science of reading, and the National Committee for Effective Literacy, a group that promotes research and policies to support literacy development for English learners, agreed on best practices for evidence-based reading instruction for EL and emergent bilingual students.
We Changed How Our NYC School Districts Teach Reading. It’s Working. - Chalkbeat New York
As New York City officials roll a new elementary school reading curriculum mandate, two local superintendents who oversee more than 80 city schools reflect on the challenges of overhauling teaching practice and the benefits they believe will come from it.
New Tool to Evaluate Reading Programs For ‘Knowledge-Building’ - EdWeek
The more children know about a subject, the easier they’ll find it to read and understand a passage about that topic. It’s a simple idea that’s backed up by research: Studies have shown that students who score higher on tests of general knowledge are also comprehend more of what they read.
Now, advocates of this knowledge-building approach have released a tool, designed for states, districts, and schools to evaluate how well curricula they’re planning to adopt meet this goal—or how their current selections stack up.
Thanks for reading and have a great week!
Tarja