A graphic of a cartoon brain wearing a helmet and climbing gear, standing in front of a camper van and a mountain range.

Looping Back to Cursive Handwriting

Tuesday, October 29, 2024
While more research is needed on cursive handwriting instruction, here is what we know about when to teach cursive and what components can make cursive instruction particularly effective.
A teacher walks in between rows of students at their desks.

Reading Assessments and Their Purposes

Tuesday, September 24, 2024
Throughout the school year, your child’s teacher may use universal screeners, diagnostic assessments, progress monitoring, and more to gain a deeper understanding of how to best support your child’s literacy development.
A girl sitting at a desk in a classroom

Research Article of the Month: September 2024

Thursday, September 12, 2024
We summarize the findings of January & Klingbeil (2020)—a study that examines the validity of early reading CBMs in identifying at-risk students in Grades K–2.
A group of teachers sitting discussing something together

How to Make the Most of Teacher Professional Development

Monday, August 26, 2024
Dr. Lisa Didion is an assistant professor of special education who studies data literacy and teacher professional development. In this Q&A, Didion provides research-based tips for planning professional development that is beneficial for teachers.
Teachers sitting in a conference room watching a presentation

Research Article of the Month: August 2024

Tuesday, August 13, 2024
In their meta-analysis, Didion et al. (2019) find that teacher PD generally has a positive effect on student reading achievement in Grades K–8.
Girl writes by hand with help from an adult

Handwriting: Beneficial to Reading and Often Misunderstood

Tuesday, July 2, 2024
Handwriting can support early reading skills. This post explains why and describes several techniques teachers can use to help their students acquire handwriting.
A girl traces and writes letters by hand

Research Article of the Month: June 2024

Tuesday, June 25, 2024
Through this breakdown of Ray et al. (2021), we explore the benefits of handwriting intervention on foundational reading skills.
A teacher in front of a board teaching grammar

Research Article of the Month: May 2024

Tuesday, May 28, 2024
We explore the findings of Silverman et al. (2020) as they examine the effects of explicit language comprehension on various language and literacy outcomes.
A small group of students discuss a book with their teacher

Strategies for Effective Tier 1 Grouping and Differentiation

Tuesday, May 21, 2024
When teachers use data to guide instructional grouping, students can receive targeted, differentiated instruction that meets their needs.
A woman sitting on a couch listening to headphones

Speaking of Podcasts: Four SLP and Literacy-Based Podcasts Worth a Listen

Tuesday, May 7, 2024
The IRRC’s assistive technology coordinators discuss some of their favorite podcasts on the intersection of speech, language, and literacy.
A teacher smiling at a student

Research Article of the Month: April 2024

Monday, April 29, 2024
Training in self-regulation has been shown to improve strategy use and reading comprehension outcomes. Denton et al. (2021) examine the feasibility of a reading intervention with a strong self-regulation component.
A teacher helping two students with writing

Intensification of Instruction to Maximize Instructional Time and Practice Opportunities

Monday, April 15, 2024
Efficient use of tiered instruction is essential to maximize intervention time and give students the additional practice opportunities they need to reach mastery.
Students in a classroom take notes at their desk.

Accommodating Note-Taking

Tuesday, April 9, 2024
Four examples of note-taking accommodations that can benefit students with language-based learning disabilities.
A teacher and four students sit around a table

Rethinking How We Teach Literacy in Tier 1: Targeted, Small-Group Instruction

Friday, April 5, 2024
Targeted, small-group instruction supports all students, including struggling readers and students who have already met or exceeded expectations.
Student taking notes in a notebook while reading a book

Research Article of the Month: March 2024

Monday, March 25, 2024
In this blog post, we delve into the findings of Kim et al. (2018), a study on the interrelationships between reading and writing development.