According to the NAEP National Reading Report Card, only 35% of 4th grade public school students can read at or above grade level. It’s important for educators to not only explore what might be behind this staggering percentage, but also identify what they can do to support and grow the foundational reading skills of their students. No matter how many books we surround children with, they will not master reading without instruction. 

During this self-paced course, participants will listen and reflect on American Public Media’s podcast "Sold a Story" and the existing body of research about how children learn to read. Then, participants will explore strategies from the book "Shifting the Balance: 6 Ways to Bring the Science of Reading into the Balanced Literacy Classroom" and plan how to implement those practices into their classrooms.