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Dr. Maureen Ruby has done it ALL! If your district is transitioning to evidence-based programs and practices, you need to listen! Maureen began her career as a dentist, but switched to teaching to help advocate for her son and other students like him struggling in school.
Read Dr. Ruby’s bio here:
Maureen F. Ruby, DMD, PhD, holds the Isabelle Farrington Endowed Chair in Social, Emotional, and Academic Leadership in the Farrington College of Education and Human Development at Sacred Heart University. An associate professor, Ruby is a dentist-turned-educator who represented the North Branford Public Schools as the 2000 Teacher of the Year and was a Connecticut State Teacher of the Year semifinalist. Maureen has worked at the elementary, middle, and secondary levels as a classroom teacher and reading consultant. She holds Connecticut certifications in elementary education, special education, remedial reading, literacy consultancy, and leadership. Upon receiving her PhD from the University of Connecticut in special education with a focus on literacy, Maureen served as program coordinator of the Graduate Reading Program at Eastern Connecticut State University (ECSU) Department of Education for the 102 and 097 reading certifications new window) is a 30-minute video that shares some of the important lessons learned during the CEPL project. Upon her return to K–12 education, Maureen served in the New London Public Schools as supervisor of Professional Learning and Staff Development and in the Norwalk Public Schools as literacy supervisor and interim Director of Pupil Services and Special Education, and for seven years as assistant superintendent of the Brookfield Public Schools, Maureen’s leadership responsibilities as assistant superintendent included curriculum, instruction, assessment, professional learning, human resources, and grant management. Her leadership has been recognized by both Sacred Heart University, where she was the Farrington College of Education Alumni Outstanding Administrator for 2018, and the University of Connecticut, where she was the Neag School of Education Outstanding Administrator for 2019 (opens in a new window). In addition to her current role at Sacred Heart University in Educational and Literacy Leadership, Maureen also serves as an adjunct at Fairfield University in the graduate program in reading. Her work has focused on reading, special education, English learners, assessment, curriculum, and social emotional learning. In addition to her doctorates in dental medicine and special education, she holds master's degrees in education (SCSU) and Materials Science (School of Engineering at UConn), and a bachelor's degree in biological sciences (UConn).
We will be discussing the article, “New York Is Forcing Schools to Change How They Teach
Children to Read.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/09/nyregion/reading-nyc-schools.html
Many principals are dissatisfied with the plan’s rollout.
Can the chancellor make this work without buy-in?
What does that do to trust and morale?
Find out about Faith Borkowsky’s books here:

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IS RESPONSE TO INTERVENTION (RTii) or the MULTI SYSTEM OF SUPPORT....
FAKE NEWS?
How do schools deal with students who are not making progress?
What happens in Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 interventions?
Why should parents and teachers know about this approach to teaching?
In 2004, Congress passed the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA). This is special education law. When students struggle with learning, they are “at risk.” With additional help or intervention, many can catch up.
In schools using RTI, teachers provide intervention as soon as students show signs of having difficulties. They do not wait for students to fail.
Intervention is a special instruction to help students close gaps in learning.
Faith Borkowsky, Judy Boksner, and Mary McCool Berry share their strong opinions in a boiling hot episode!

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The One About...
Multicomponent Literacy Instruction with Bruce Howlett
Article:
Our Choice: Rapidly Translate, Evaluate and Adopt Innovative Literacy Methods or Prolong the Reading Wars
Bruce Howlett with Caitlin S. Howlett, Ph.D.
September 6, 2023
(Opinions presented are those of the guest authors and not necessarily those of SPELL-Links |
Learning By Design. They are presented to generate new insights, critical thinking, and solutions for educators and learners.)
Excerpt:
“As we will see, scholars have questioned the major points of contention — explicit teaching versus implicit learning, and word recognition versus meaning – and found them to be false dichotomies; what the two camps see as opposing concepts are so interdependent as to be inseparable. From this fresh perspective these thought leaders have crafted a new path forward for developmental literacy instruction.
This refreshing perspective has been hiding in plain sight, with its transformative concepts and methods wholly absorbed into the preexisting beliefs and values of both camps. So too, has a solution to the other pressing literacy improvement issue, the lack of a process to rapidly translate and evaluate innovative research into activities that any teacher could successfully use with any student.
We have a choice – continue to debate illusionary conflicts, keep talking past each other and attempting to convert the opposition to our side, while pushing for more time-consuming training — or we can move forward, embracing concepts and methods that clearly supersede – but do not negate – our present beliefs, values and practices.” – Bruce and Caitlin Howlett, co-
authors of Sparking the Reading Shift
Link to the Article
https://learningbydesign.com/professional-development/spell-links-blogue/
Bio:
Bruce Howlett applies his long experience in biological research at Cornell University
when developing innovative instruction for his special education students. For over 30
years, Bruce has worked with literacy researchers, speech therapists, and reading
teachers to create innovative instruction for long-struggling readers.
Sparking the Reading Shift is his fifth project.
Bruce believes in the power of innovative methods as his own difficulties with reading
fluency, spelling and listening dissipated when, at the age of 40, he began working with a speech therapist on phonemic awareness lessons for their mutual students.
Bruce is currently working on Sparking the Fluency Shift which combines 15 rehearsal
activities that allow the student to practice challenging words and phrases before reading short stories that are arranged by Lexile Level.
Contact:
Facebook - www.facebook.com/bruce.howlett1
Twitter – Sparking the Reading Shift
[email protected]

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Dyslexia mom and former Balanced Literacy teacher, Missy Purcell, saw the Science of Reading light and now advocates for evidence-based literacy so that every child can learn to read.We asked Missy to speak with us and share thoughts about an infographic posted on the Reading Recovery website describing how Reading Recovery aligns to the Science of Reading (SoR) and Scarsborough’s Reading Rope. Missy’s youngest son, now eleven-years-old, was given the RR intervention in first grade, so she has a lot to say as a parent advocating for Structured Literacy.
Judy Boksner, a co-host on The Literacy View, has been in the education field for over 25 years. She is still very active in her field and in the trenches on a daily basis. Judy was trained in Reading Recovery back in 2013. She recognizes the inherent problems but also values certain aspects of her former training. She has devoted the last seven years diving deep into structured literacy and explicit instruction. Judy is trained in Orton Gillingham, Fundations, and additional structured literacy programs and interventions.
Faith Borkowsky taught first grade and has tutored Reading Recovery “graduates” who still needed intensive intervention.
The focus of tonight's episode is based on the infographic: https://readingrecovery.org/scarboroughs-rope-and-reading-recovery/
About Missy Purcell:
Missy Purcell is the co-founder of Gwinnett Advocates for Dyslexia, a grassroots organization that advocates for evidenced based instruction in Gwinnett County. Additionally, she serves as the Education Chair with Decoding Dyslexia Georgia, DDGA, which advocates for change at the state level. Missy holds a degree in middle school education with 10+ years of experience in the classroom, grades 3rd-8th. She had stayed current in education practices by tutoring K-5 students in reading and writing using evidenced based instruction. Missy is married to Mark,
the mother of three boys, Harrison, William, and Matthew and one furbaby, named Comet. When she’s not working or advocating, she can be found with coffee in hand at the tennis courts or the baseball fields cheering on her boys!

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Introducing Nicholas Giliberti, a dynamic individual with an unwavering dedication to nutrition, fitness, sports training, and physical therapy. With a Bachelor's of Science in Nutrition from Hunter College and certification as a Fitness Nutrition Specialist and Personal Trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine, Nicholas has touched the lives of thousands of patients and clients, empowering them to embrace healthier lifestyles. His passion for inclusivity and adaptability shines through his certifications in Adaptive Fitness for clients with special needs, demonstrating his belief in the mantra: "if you have a body, you are an athlete," inspired by the words of Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman. Nicholas's journey of excellence continues as a certified Olympic Trainer through the United States Olympic Committee. With his expertise, he has honed the skills to prepare elite athletes and fighters for the grandest stages of competition. However, Nicholas's pursuit of greatness doesn't stop there. He is on the verge of a momentous achievement, as he eagerly anticipates his upcoming graduation on September 12th, 2023, with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. This advanced degree amplifies his ability to treat, rehabilitate, and optimize physical performance. Outside the realm of academia and training, Nicholas finds solace and inspiration in the world of mixed martial arts. As a recreational martial artist, he not only hones his skills but also imparts his knowledge to numerous professional athletes and fighters, elevating their performance and well-being.
**Disclaimer: The content of this show is for informational or educational purposes only, and does not substitute professional medical advice or consultations with healthcare professionals.**

Instagram: @NicholasGiliberti

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The Literacy View is an engaging and inclusive platform encouraging respectful discussion and debate about current issues in education.