Professional Learning Resources
Videos
Achieve the Core: The Teaching the Core Video Library
Search this database of bell-to-bell lessons with annotations to highlight moments of exemplary, standards-aligned instruction.
Select “ELA” from the topics dropdown menu to view more than 400 videos.
Search free professional learning resources for teaching guides, videos, and podcasts that focus on the application of content related to the standards in the classroom.
Blogs
Read about topics that range from teaching grammar to discussing the school-to-prison pipeline to how teachers take care of themselves within a rigorous profession and everything in between.
Provides timely blog posts that are informative and responsive to questions from the field.
The Science of Reading: Growing Proficient Readers
TextProject president and CEO Elfrieda (Freddy) H. Hiebert discusses what we know from science of reading research – and what we need to know.
Podcasts
Amplify: The Science of Reading Podcast
Science of Reading: The Podcast delivers the latest insights from researchers and practitioners in early reading. Each episode takes a conversational approach and explores a timely topic related to the science of reading.
Glean’s Research to Practice Podcast
Glean’s Research to Practice Podcast features education experts talking about their latest research and asking them to translate their findings into classroom practice.
Reading Rockets’ Watch & Learn
Reading Rockets’ Watch & Learn podcast series goes inside the classroom to capture the best research-based techniques for teaching reading. The series features the country’s top reading experts, a look at different reading strategies, practical advice for parents to help support their children’s literacy development, as well as personal stories of children, families, and teachers.
Reading Rockets’ Meet the Experts
Reading Rockets’ Meet the Experts podcast series provides an opportunity to learn about educational topics directly from authorities in the field. Watch exclusive interviews with prominent professionals, like Drs. Maryanne Wolf and Louisa Moats. Topics include how to identify reading difficulties, the importance of developing reading skills early, and the role of phonics in reading instruction.
The Six Shifts, with Jan Burkins and Kari Yates, co-authors of Shifting the Balance. In this series, based on their new book, Jan and Kari, with Stenhouse’s Dan Tobin address some of the misconceptions and misunderstandings that have prevented educators from incorporating the science of reading into the balanced literacy classroom.
Understanding Structured Literacy
Structured literacy is an effective approach for students who experience reading difficulties or have reading disabilities including dyslexia. Research has indicated that students learn to read better with structured literacy teaching components and methods.
Science of Reading: Phonological Awareness & Phonics
Phonemic awareness has a direct and significant effect on learning to read and spell; it can and should be taught explicitly and systematically. Phonics instruction teaches students the predictable relationships between sounds and the spellings that represent those sounds in written language.
Science of Reading: Knowledge & Vocabulary
Instruction, using complex texts, provides students’ knowledge and vocabulary they need to become successful readers.
Science of Reading: Comprehension & Fluency
Research points to some effective instructional supports and scaffolds to help struggling readers access complex text without compromising rigor or content. Fluency instruction and practice supports student to make the transition from basic decoding skill to reading that sounds like speech, freeing up mental energy to focus on meaning.
Science of Reading: Analyzing & Responding to Data in Foundational Literacy
Use data to determine where you will need to take corrective action for individual students, and where you will need to target your formative assessments during whole group instruction.
This flier provides a list of frequently asked questions regarding the Nebraska Reading Improvement Act. The most up to date FAQ list can be found at https://www.education.ne.gov/nebraskareads/frequently-asked-questions/
Social Media Playbook July-Dec
This social media playbook is designed to leverage digital media channels with the focus on providing families with information and resources to extend literacy learning to the home. The toolkit includes social media best practices, month by month posts, and graphics to most effectively engage with families in Nebraska.
Parents likely know that reading is important for all children. The best way to engage parents as trusted partners in their child’s reading is to help them support reading at home. This resource shares some at-home reading tips that teachers can share with parents to ensure their children are successful.
Make reading fun with these downloadable bookmarks! Three designs include reading tips and encourage children to read each day.
Each postcard focuses on a different topic – from general tips and tricks about reading with a child, to information about the NebraskaREADS program, to summer reading.