The focus of the webcast is related to an exemplary journal article written by Dr. Spear-Swerling in Teaching Exceptional Children. The journal article features a research-to-practice perspective and provides information about structured literacy and typical literacy practices, related materials for classroom use, and current issues in special education teaching and learning. The title of the article: Structured Literacy and Typical Literacy Practices: Understanding Differences to Create Instructional Opportunities.
The article follows a fictional elementary-level special education teacher, Isabelle Rowe, who is beginning her second year of teaching. A third grader named Curtis has been assigned to her caseload after being identified with dyslexia at the end of second grade. Isabelle explores the differences in structured literacy versus typical literacy and how these differences may impact Curtis and as well as other students with reading challenges.
This article can be accessed on the Reading Rockets website at: www.readingrockets.org/content...
The International Dyslexia Association’s Structured Literacy Guide can be accessed at: app.box.com/s/mvuvhel6qaj8tgh...
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View other Leaders and Learning in Literacy webcasts at: • Leaders and Learning i...
Dr. Louise Spear-Swerling is Professor Emerita of Special Education at Southern Connecticut State University, in New Haven CT. Her primary research interests involve children’s literacy development across the K-to-12 grade span; common types of literacy difficulties, including dyslexia; and teachers’ knowledge base and preparation for teaching reading. Her latest book is The power of RTI and reading profiles: A blueprint for solving reading problems, published by Brookes. Currently she serves on the editorial boards of Reading Psychology, TEACHING Exceptional Children, and Annals of Dyslexia.
Dr. Spear-Swerling’s policy work has involved several key educational initiatives in Connecticut. These included drafting the state’s guidelines for multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), as well as its revision of guidelines on identification of learning disabilities. In addition, she served on the working group for the International Dyslexia Association that produced the Knowledge and Practice Standards for Teachers of Reading. Dr. Spear-Swerling has prepared both general and special educators to teach literacy as well as math for many years, and she consults regularly for Connecticut school districts, mostly on cases involving students with severe or persistent literacy difficulties.
Episode Credits: Host: Dr. Pam Kastner
Producer John Ragsdale
Technical Support Michael Esposito
PaTTAN Leadership Team Angela Kirby Chris Cherny Victor Rodriguez-Diaz
Thank You, Dr. Louise Spear-Swerling.
Special thank you to Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN), Pennsylvania Department of Education, and Bureau of Special Education
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