Science of Reading Book Study: Shifting the Balance 3-5  

by Jan Burkins & Kari Yates

 

Sonequa Reeves, M.Ed
sreevesids@gmail.com
216-359-1044

Course Description: This class will focus on the book: Shifting the Balance and provide for opportunities to learn from current articles, podcasts and videos. This class will change the way you see your students as readers. Educators will walk away with concrete ways to make your reading instruction more effective.

Learning Outcomes: 

• Explore and become familiar with how your brain works to read. 
• Explore and become familiar with shifts you can make in reading instruction to reach your students effectively.
• Build background knowledge about effective instructional strategies for teaching reading to all students. 
• Learned strategies to turn struggling readers into effective readers.

Learning Experiences: 

Completion of all specified assignments is required for issuance of credit.

Materials Needed: 

• Book:  Shifting the Balance 3-5   by Burkins and Yates
  • Amazon: 
  • Barnes & Noble: 
• Computer with internet access
• Personal Gmail account:  Not affiliated with K-12 school district. Not affiliated with Higher learning institution outside of Notre Dame College 

Module 1: 

• Social Emotional Check In 
• Assignment #1: Personal Introduction
• Assignment #2:  Read book introduction 
  • Complete written activity 

Module 2: 

• Social Emotional Check In 
• Assignment #3: Shift 1: Reconsidering How Knowledge Impacts Comprehension
  • Complete written activity 
• Assignment #4: Shift 2:  Rethinking the Role of Strategy Instruction in Learning to Comprehend 
• Complete written activity 

Module 3: 

• Social Emotional Check In 
• Assignment #5:  Shift 3: Recommitting to Vocabulary Instruction 
  • Complete Written activity 
• Assignment #6: Shift 4: Reclaiming Word Reading Instruction in Intermediate Grades
• Complete Written Activity 

Module 4: 

• Social Emotional Check In 
• Assignment #7: Shift 5: Revisiting Fluency Instruction 
  • Complete Written Assignment 
• Assignment #8: Shift 6: Reimagining Independent Practice in the Literacy Classroom
• Complete Written Assignment 
• Assignment #9: In a 2-3 page reflection paper analyzing your strengths & areas of growth as a teacher when reflecting on all you have learned during the book study. Focus on things you are currently doing as a teacher that supports ALL the learners in your classroom or education environment as well as areas that you want to improve on or implement. 

Module 5: 

• Social Emotional Check In 
• Course Evaluation