Check out this dynamic 3-part series.

Attend one, two, or all three!

We're pleased to feature three esteemed scholars, Kelly B. Cartwright, Ph.D., Rachael Gabriel, Ph.D., and Julia Lindsey, Ph.D. They will explore the latest research and evidence in literacy instruction, offering valuable insights to educators and anyone interested in advancing literacy practices. These events promise to be a valuable source of knowledge and collaboration, supporting literacy instruction in Vermont.

Title: Why Can’t My Best Word Readers Understand Text? Science-Based Instructional Strategies for Supporting Active Comprehension



Intended audience: Classroom teachers, grades K-6

Date: October 30, 2023

Location: Hampton Inn, Colchester, VT

Time: 8:30-3:30 pm

Excellent decoders are not always excellent comprehenders. Many times, our students seem to have all of the necessary skills they need to be good readers (things like phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension strategies, to name a few). However, somehow, they still struggle with putting all these things together to comprehend texts. In this session, we will dig deeper than the familiar skills listed above to explore essential thinking skills, called executive skills, that form the foundation for successful reading comprehension.

TOPIC: Navigating and Applying Reading Research to Classroom Practices

Date: January 25, 2024

Location: TBD

Time: 8:30-3:30 pm

Description of Workshop: Forthcoming

Bio: Rachael Gabriel, Ph.D is an Assistant Professor of Literacy Education at the University of Connecticut's Neag School of Education. Rachael began her career in education as a middle school teacher in Washington, DC. Since then, she has worked as a literacy specialist, new teacher advisor, and intervention provider. She earned a Ph.D. in Literacy Studies from the University of Tennessee. Rachael’s teaching and research focus on: teacher preparation, development, and evaluation, as well as literacy instruction, interventions, and related policies. 

Topic: Putting Research into Practice in Early Reading

Date: April 11, 2024

Location: TBD

Time: 8:30-3:30

Dr. Lindsey will present three sessions on this one day.

Keynote: What’s the Deal with Decoding? Why is decoding such a hot topic these days? And what should you do about it?

Morning Session: How to Make Phonics Work: In this phonics workshop, Dr. Lindsey will help you understand and implement 3 critical swaps to ensure phonics lessons lead to word readers.

Afternoon Session: Decoding Decodables: In this workshop on decodable texts, Dr. Lindsey will help you cut through all the noise around decodable texts to understand the what, when, who, and how.

Partnerships for Literacy and Learning | Website: pllvt.org | contact: info@pllvt.org