Core Reading Webinar

A few weeks ago, I participated in a webinar that I thought was really interesting based on this book about using core reading programs. We were able to view a power point presentation and listen to the voice of the presenter as he talked about his research on the effectiveness of core reading programs and how they should be implemented for the best results.

I received an email the other day that the presentation was available for download and I wanted to share it because I thought that it contained some good information.

You can download the presentation materials here (right side underneath photo of book cover) or you can view it through my scribd account.

Core Reading Webinar

I also wanted to point out these articles relating to fidelity:

•  McGill-Franzen et al. (2006)
• Dewitz, Jones, and Leahy (2009)
• Brenner and Heibert (2010)
• Piasta, Connor et al. (2009)

At some point I want to look these up because I am really interested in the research behind implementing with fidelity since often districts insist it should be done....


Also, I really liked the 10 points about using core programs well:

1. Create a literate environment
2. Read extensively outside the basal (yes!!)
3. Differentiate instruction
4. Modify the scope and sequence as needed
5. Use children's literature for read alouds (wahoo!!)
6. Develop more prior knowledge than the program suggests (especially for students from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds with value placed on hearing their ideas and not looking for prescribed answers from the book!)
7. Select vocabulary carefully
8. Be more explicit than the program suggests (includes teaching students the strategies, when to use them, how to use them, and why they are important)
9. Developing guided reading lessons
10. Use core assessments selectively (amen!-- it was discussed during the webinar that IRI's are a great source of information about reading skills, therefore it is a good idea to choose assessment materials carefully and based on what truly helps to inform your instruction)

I really recommend that you take a look at this information because it really helped me to gain a better sense of what elements from core reading programs are really important and which ones are better off left out. 

From the other Kindergarten teachers I will be working with next year, I found out that we use Fast Track Phonics more than Treasures which is the program my district has adopted. I am happy about that and I hope to utilize some of the points listed above to create a solid overall program that gets kids excited about learning to read and proficient in their beginning skills.