North Billerica, MA, February 10, 2023
Curriculum Associates is offering a free webinar series next month to help educators effectively implement new instructional strategies based on the Science of Reading. Led by literacy experts Dr. D. Ray Reutzel, Dr. Parker C. Fawson, and Dr. Heidi Anne Mesmer, The Science of Reading: Putting Research into Action series will help attendees move from understanding what the research is to how to implement it in practice to transform their instruction.
A 2011 study found that teachers who attended Science of Reading training or seminars and had additional coaching made greater shifts to their instruction than teachers who did not receive coaching or support.
“Helping students master foundational phonics, fluency development, vocabulary, and comprehension is an important—yet challenging—task for teachers, reading specialists, and literacy coaches alike,” said Elizabeth Bassford, vice president of content and implementation at Curriculum Associates. “During the upcoming webinars, Dr. Reutzel, Dr. Fawson, and Dr. Mesmer will address definitions, key research findings, curricular progression, and assessment related to the Science of Reading. Most importantly, they will provide practical and actionable instructional strategies to help propel educators’ practices and support them in this ongoing work.”
The webinars include:
All webinars will be held at 4 p.m. ET, 1 p.m. PT, and last for one hour.
D. Ray Reutzel, Ph.D. is the dean of the College of Education at the University of Wyoming and president of the Reading Hall of Fame. He is the author of more than 225 published research reports, articles, books, book chapters, and monographs in reading, early literacy, and early childhood education. He also served as authors and research advisor to i-Ready®, Magnetic Reading™ Foundations, and Magnetic Reading.
Parker C. Fawson, Ed.D. directs the Center for the School of the Future at Utah State University. He taught Grades K–6 early in his career and later served as a faculty member, department chair, and dean.
Heidi Anne Mesmer, Ph.D., is a professor of literacy in the School of Education at Virginia Tech. A former classroom teacher, Dr. Mesmer works extensively with teachers, schools, and young readers, directing school-based initiatives to improve reading instruction. She studies beginning reading instruction and text difficulty and her work has been published in Reading Research Quarterly, The Educational Researcher, Elementary School Journal, Early Childhood Research Quarterly, and other outlets. Her recent books include, Letter Lessons and First Words: Phonics Foundations that Work (Heinemann, 2019) and Alphabetics for Emerging Learners: Building Strong Reading Foundations in PreK (Routledge, 2021).
To learn more and register for the upcoming webinars, visit CurriculumAssociates.com/Science-of-Reading-Webinars.
About Curriculum Associates
Founded in 1969, Curriculum Associates, LLC designs research-based print and online instructional materials, screens and assessments, and data management tools. The company’s products and outstanding customer service provide teachers and administrators with the resources necessary for teaching diverse student populations and fostering learning for all students.
Media contact: press@cainc.com
