Data-Based Decision Making

Turning to Systematic Improvements to Boost Middle School Literacy Achievement

By:

Deborah K. Reed, Ph.D.

Posted on: October 23, 2018

Grant Wood AEA prepares school teams to facilitate literacy achievement for adolescents with training and assistance from the Iowa Reading Research Center.

Students and teachers in small-group reading lesson

Why the 13 Disability Categories Matter When Planning Reading Interventions

By:

Deborah K. Reed, Ph.D.

Posted on: October 9, 2018

Gain a better understanding of the needs students with different disabilities have and the evidence-based literacy interventions that can help.

Defining Fidelity Categories When Implementing Reading Interventions

By:

Jessica Sidler Folsom, Ph.D.

Sandy A. Schmitz, Ph.D.

Deborah K. Reed, Ph.D.

Posted on: July 31, 2018

When tracking teachers’ fidelity during implementation of a literacy intervention, both use of the intervention components and quality of intervention delivery should be measured, keeping an eye out for both global and lesson-specific components.

Example Fidelity Rubric

An example of a fidelity rubric that addresses both structural and procedural fidelity at the global and lesson-specific levels. Note that this example rubric is not intended to be used as an actual fidelity rubric because it does not correspond with a specific intervention.

Example Fidelity Rubric

Linguistic Context Questionnaire

A supplemental resource from the Early Literacy Blueprint Initiative, teachers can use this questionnaire to plan appropriate instruction for English learners by gathering information about the student's linguistic background, the language(s) used in the home, and the literacy practices of the family.

Linguistic Context Questionnaire

Using Data, Professional Development, and Community Connections to Design a Successful Summer Reading Program

By:

Iowa Reading Research Center

Posted on: July 10, 2018

The Council Bluffs Community School District uses assessments and fidelity of implementation to design the best summer reading program, says Director Carly Gates in our Q&A.

Multi-Tiered System of Supports for Reading: The Intersection With Special Education

By:

Deborah K. Reed, Ph.D.

Lennie Troughton, M.A.

Posted on: November 28, 2017

Learn how these supports of increasing intensity work for literacy education and why they are relevant to special education.

Maintain Focus and Commitment with an Improvement Plan: The PROPeL Initiative

By:

Leah Zimmermann, M.Ed.

Sandy A. Schmitz, Ph.D.

Deborah K. Reed, Ph.D.

Posted on: November 14, 2017

Create an improvement plan and follow it to student success when implementing a literacy initiative.

Setting Goals, Facilitating Professional Development, and Measuring Success Toward Small-Group, Skills-Based Literacy Instruction Implementation

By:

Iowa Reading Research Center

Posted on: October 3, 2017

Small-group, skills-based literacy instruction is at the forefront of goal setting, feedback given to teachers, professional development, and measuring of success for the Sioux City Community School District as described in our second of a two-part blog post series.

Critical Elements of Implementing Small-Group, Skills-Based Instruction

By:

Iowa Reading Research Center

Posted on: September 19, 2017

The addition of quality teaching materials and support from the Iowa Reading Research Center led to common beneficial practices used by teachers across schools during implementation of small-group, skills-based literacy instruction at Sioux City Community School District.