Learning with Dr. Chase Young
Professional Development
My mind is full of fresh ideas and confirmed thinking around the Science of Reading because I got to spend a day with Dr. Chase Young co-author of Artfully Teaching the Science of Reading here in Central Ohio. The Literacy Connection is a nonprofit group of teachers that believes in gathering teachers from area school districts to do a book study each year. They also firmly believe in anchoring their work around meeting with the authors in person. Dr. Young didn’t disappoint and took our learning beyond what we read in the text. We all left excited and inspired.
Ten things I took away to guide my work in teaching word study.
Read aloud like you mean it! The only way to teach rhapsody is by modeling it.
When you have a great lesson you can’t wait to teach it!
Study and know the Active View of Reading.
It’s easy to do school; we need motivation and engagement.
When we talk about fluency speed does matter and let’s rephrase that with pace or rate.
Time is an enemy - integration gives us more time.
Move beyond analytic phonics and synthetic phonics to synergistic phonics.
Reader’s Theatre takes 5 minutes a day with the sweet spot being just 3-6 kids in the same short script and they choose the one they want to be part of each week.
It takes ten weeks doing fluency work consistently either through Reader’s Theatre or Poetry Slams for the size effect to grow; alternate these activities.
Make and write words every day through word ladders, word chains, making words activities.
To increase fluency we need to increase vocabulary through repetition, repeated exposure, explicit instruction around greek and latin roots. Pivotal growth needs 7-8 new words a day and not just on school days.
Okay, I snuck in 11 ideas I’m excited to think more about and engage with in my classroom and ponder this summer for next year. These are some big ideas and Dr. Young shared more practical hands on ideas which I can’t wait to play around with and share in this space.
The biggest take away I had Saturday was to yes directly teach a word study skill and then integrate it into content and/or context. Have you ever thought about comparing how oi and oy are voiced; what they sound and look like? Then do a word sort which will guide students back to the concepts of open and closed syllables? Then write an ABAB poem alternating words with oi and oy? This poem then becomes a shared reading and with repeated practice becomes fluency work and could be shared with another class.
Professional development has changed in Central Ohio with many districts offering options in house. Technology has created opportunities to learn virtually which I appreciate. However, this weekend reminded me that learning in person increases my engagement and fosters connections I need to stay alert, curious, and finding joy in the work I do.