Better Teaching: Only Stuff That Works Building Confident Readers with Laura Patranella
Aug 20, 2025
In this discussion, Laura Patranella, a reading specialist and teacher with extensive experience in dyslexia instruction, shares her insights on the Science of Reading. She discusses her journey from classroom teacher to interventionist, outlining effective dyslexia programs and structured curriculum methods. Laura emphasizes the importance of blending decoding with comprehension to elevate student literacy while building teacher confidence. She also offers practical advice for supporting teacher retention and highlights key indicators that administrators should observe in classrooms.
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Trial-By-Fire Early Teaching
- Laura's first year was a sixth-grade campus loaded with special education and many English learners.
- She then moved to eighth grade and later asked to concentrate intervention into one teacher role, splitting dyslexia and tier-two groups.
Using An OG-Aligned Dyslexia Program
- Laura used a dyslexia-specific, OG-aligned program similar to Wilson and Texas service-center materials.
- The program was scripted and targeted middle-school students two to four years behind grade level.
COVID-Era Grade Shifts
- Laura transferred to teach fifth grade during COVID and taught all subjects before departmentalizing back to ELA.
- She then taught remotely for third grade math and science in another district during the pandemic.
