Managing Reading Instruction Schoolwide
Many factors influence reading achievement, yet the National Reading Panel (NRP) Report from 2000—often cited as the foundation for the “science of reading”—only reviewed a limited scope of them. While the report was a meta-analysis of 432 studies on nine topics conducted between 1966 and 1998, it left out over 99,500 other relevant studies for various reasons, including time constraints.
Interestingly, the committee behind the report did not include any kindergarten or first grade teachers with experience teaching reading to groups of young children—raising concerns about the practical depth of their findings.
This is important to remember: while the NRP report has made a significant impact by highlighting some aspects of phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension, it provides an incomplete picture of reading achievement. As such, administrators and district leaders should be mindful that there are even more influences that foster student success beyond those highlighted in the report.
One of the most impactful tools reading teachers have is responsive teaching. This involves observing students closely and making in-the-moment decisions to meet students’ unique needs. For example:
Does this child love animals and need more engaging books about them?
While reading aloud, do they need help with the CVC rule or vowel combinations?
Do they seem stressed and need a moment to express frustration, worry, or sadness?
Might more playtime help them process the morning’s lessons?
These split-second decisions happen constantly and shape the learning experience for every child.
Just as teachers are encouraged to respond to the needs of their students, administrators can support their teachers with the same individualized attention. To prevent burnout and promote success, teachers may benefit from help with:
Building a safe and inclusive classroom and schoolwide community
Teaching students higher-order thinking skills and metacognition using think-alouds and other strategies
Engaging students in meaningful ways
Using AI to simplify planning and administrative tasks
Aligning instruction to standards
Teachers often know exactly what kind of support they need. By working together, we can strengthen their capacity and, in turn, improve outcomes for all students.
To schedule a consultation and see some of the creative ways teachers can use Life in the Everglades: A Young Naturalist’s Manual and Field Guide in the classroom, please visit www.mindydickman.com.
