Continuous learning and collaboration are crucial for teachers to improve their practice and achieve better student outcomes.
Teachers need support and resources to develop their instructional expertise and effectively apply evidence-based instructional strategies across all subject areas.
Deep dives
Importance of Continuous Learning and Collaboration in Teaching
Continuous learning and collaboration with colleagues and mentors are crucial in the field of education. It is important for teachers to embrace opportunities that offer the possibility of continuous learning and collaboration in order to improve their practice and achieve better student outcomes.
The Complexity of Effective Teaching
Effective teaching is a complex process that involves a deep understanding of content, deliberate instructional design, and skillful delivery. Teachers must possess the knowledge and skills needed to provide systematic and explicit instruction, as well as the ability to effectively manage the learning environment. Ongoing professional development and support are essential for teachers to continually refine their instructional practice.
The Need for Structured Language Teaching
Structured language teaching is essential, especially for students who are struggling with language or literacy. It involves explicit instruction in the different aspects of language, such as phonemes, morphemes, and sentence structure. By providing explicit instruction in language, teachers can effectively support students' reading and writing development.
The Importance of Applying the Science of Teaching
While the science of reading is important, it is equally important to focus on the science of teaching. A strong emphasis should be placed on professional teacher training, ongoing professional development, and collaborative learning communities. Teachers need support and resources to develop their instructional expertise and to effectively apply evidence-based instructional strategies across all subject areas, not just reading.
The “science of reading” refers to a vast body of multidisciplinary research providing a rationale for what must be taught to ensure almost all students can learn to read. Our podcast guests have championed this movement and supported organizations such as the International Dyslexia Association®, The Reading League, Decoding Dyslexia, The National Council on Teacher Quality, and The American Federation of Teachers who are advancing awareness of reading science.
But is this movement enough to develop more effective literacy instruction? Join us as our guests discuss why it may not be, unless teaching practices themselves receive more attention.
The “what” or content of reading instruction is often characterized with reference to the “five pillars” or “five components” that were each addressed by The National Reading Panel Report of 2000. Most state standards and policy guidelines name these essential components of instruction: phoneme awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and reading comprehension. Often added to the list are oral language, spelling, and writing. The content-related issue now being debated concerns the interrelationships of these components, their relative emphasis—for whom and at what point in reading development—and what level of content mastery to expect. We know the impact of curriculum content is diluted without systematic, explicit, cumulative teaching of the lessons.
Our experts will discuss:
How policy and practice guidelines about the science of reading often mention the importance of “systematic, explicit” instruction. Yet, the “how” of teaching seems to be getting short shrift in comparison to the emphasis on the “what.”
Why the right reading content must be married to best teaching practices of the “direct instruction” variety
The importance of structured language teaching, especially for students who are struggling, with an emphasis on language
Why developing expertise in lesson delivery and evaluation is a long-term but very rewarding undertaking which will transform the “science of reading” into “success for all”
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
