S9 E3: Know the non-negotiables in a program aligned to the Science of Reading, with Kari Kurto

Oct 2, 2024

Kari Kurto, National Science of Reading Project Director at The Reading League, shares insights from her extensive experience in curriculum evaluation. She discusses the importance of research-based practices in literacy instruction, especially for students with dyslexia. Kurto highlights essential non-negotiables for effective reading programs and the tools available to educators for informed curriculum choices. Her passion for improving literacy outcomes shines through as she advocates for continuous improvement and community collaboration in education.

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ANECDOTE

Kari's Journey to Reading League

Kari Kurto shares her unconventional path from television to teaching students with dyslexia.
This experience sparked her passion for explicit, systematic reading instruction aligned with research.

ADVICE

What If Curriculum Not Reviewed?

If your curriculum hasn't been reviewed, research it independently or urge your publisher to allow a review.
Publishers typically delay reviews for future versions, signaling they're paying attention to research alignment.

ADVICE

Use Evaluation as PD Tool

Use the curriculum evaluation guidelines tool in professional learning communities to build understanding.
It can serve as a syllabus outline for educator preparation programs to teach research-based literacy content.

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On this episode, Kari Kurto, National Science of Reading Project Director at The Reading League, discusses The Reading League’s curriculum evaluation tool, which assesses a curriculum’s research-based practices. Kurto's conversation with Susan Lambert touches on her background teaching students with dyslexia, the non-negotiables in curriculum aligned to the Science of Reading, and how educators can use information about an evaluated curriculum to inform instruction. While Kurto stresses that no program is perfect, she and her colleagues have worked to equip educators with a tool to more easily and objectively access information when making curriculum choices..

Show notes:

Quotes:
“Just because we have this report and we say, ‘All right, this curriculum has all the stuff,’ if you don't teach it, then you're a red flag of your own.” —Kari Kurto

“It's a movement of improvement, right? We're constantly striving to improve. And don't give up. Share your stories; share your success stories.” —Kari Kurto

“Thank you to those folks who have been listening. Thank you to the folks who are curious about learning more, those who have spent years implementing and tweaking and improving literacy outcomes for our country's next generation. I mean, that's huge.” —Kari Kurto

Episode timestamps*
02:00 Introduction: Who is Kari Kurto?
08:00 Teaching kids with dyslexia, what they need to learn to read
10:00 Reading league defining guide
11:00 Curriculum review tool
16:00 Determining which programs to review
20:00 Using the curriculum review tool as professional development
21:00 Non-negotiables in a science of reading curriculum
24:00 How to use the information from a program evaluation
30:00 Long-term plans of the navigation report tool
32:00 The reporting team
34:00 The Reading League compass
37:00 The Reading League journal
40:00 Final Advice
*Timestamps are approximate, rounded to nearest minute