Thinking About Comprehension
In this brief video, Nancy Hennessy shares insights into the elements of comprehension and how educators can facilitate comprehension for students through Structured Literacy instruction.
Early Reading Screening and Comprehension
While Ministry-approved early reading screening tools may not measure comprehension directly, we learn a lot about students’ comprehension with the Oral Reading Fluency subtest. Learn more in this brief video!
Reading Road Trip S3 E10: The Science of Learning with Dr. Amanda VanDerHeyden
Season 3 of Reading Road Trip wraps up with a jam-packed episode featuring Dr. Amanda VanDerHeyden. Kate and Amanda have a wide-ranging conversation about the science of learning and human behaviour – how do children learn new things? From the instructional hierarchy to incremental rehearsal, don’t miss this fabulous episode!
The Instructional Hierarchy
The Instructional Hierarchy is a model of skill acquisition. The hierarchy has been researched for decades – when we learn something new, we move through a series of predictable stages. Educators need to be aware of the instructional hierarchy since we are most effective when our instruction matches the student’s current level of proficiency. Learn…
Next STEPS Summer Book Study – Recordings and References
Keen to learn more about using assessment to drive structured literacy in your classroom? Catch up with our Next STEPS Summer Book Study. Resources related to this ONlit event series, hosted by Jordan Sloan, can be found here. Each session in the series tackles a foundational reading skill, unpacking what it is, why it’s necessary for…
Writing and Reading Connections: Bridging Research and Practice
The chapters in this anthology, by a range of expert authors, delve into the relationship between writing and reading (as well as oral language), offering both extensive research and ideas for practice. While the research can be a bit heavy at times (this is not a “quick tips to use tomorrow” kind of book), there…
Grammar on the Go
Grammar on the Go is a playlist of some foundational grammar concepts covered in the new Ontario Language Arts Curriculum (2003) for Grades 1-9. The video series focuses on nouns (common, proper, singular, plural), verbs (past, present, future, progressive, perfect tenses), pronouns (first person, second person, third person), gerunds, adjectives (common, proper, comparative, superlative, pronoun…
Structured Journal Template
This structured journal template, based on the work of David Liben and Meredith Liben, can be used to introduce students to the use of structured journals in their close reading of texts. While this work can be started orally with younger students, this template will be best-suited for Grades 3 and up. Before using this…
Scaffolding Vocabulary and Complex Texts
Vocabulary knowledge must be intentionally nurtured to ensure that students are ready for the greater vocabulary demands of reading complex texts and writing multi-paragraph essays, but we need to pay attention to cracks in the foundation and scaffold our lessons accordingly, or it all falls apart. This workshop equips participants to consider the role of…
Data Informed Systems
In this series of videos, Dr. Andrea Fraser highlights key considerations for school boards and districts as they move to evidence-based assessment and data-based decision-making.
Repurposing Levelled Literacy Intervention (LLI) – Content Library
With shifts to literacy instruction and intervention and the revised 2023 Language curriculum, many schools have unused Levelled Literacy Intervention books in their book rooms. While LLI isn’t an evidence-based literacy intervention and doesn’t meet the needs of struggling readers, the individual texts can be repurposed to support structured literacy instruction. Developed by Catherine Shawana…
Syntax Party Recording
Missed the ONlit Syntax Party with Dr. Margie Gillis? Catch up with the recordings – learn about why syntax is necessary for skilled reading and writing, and how to best teach this important language domain.
