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…
Screening: What Principals Need to Know Webinar Recording
On the recommendation of the Ontario Human Rights Commission, Ontario will be starting early reading screening in Fall 2024. This webinar clarifies the important role principals play in screening: the who, what, when, why, and how of early reading screening – and, most importantly, how we can use these data to improve student outcomes.
Family Literacy Night Slides
This slide deck outlines some of the key changes to literacy instruction in Ontario, the purpose of early reading screening, and things parents and caregivers can do at home to support strong reading outcomes. The Google slide deck is set to “view only” – to edit it, make a copy to your own drive.
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…
Multi-Tiered Systems of Support for Young Children: Driving Change in Early Education
This evidence-based planning guide will help educators of young children (K/1) and those who lead them to use the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support framework to enhance student development and success in literacy, language and the social-emotional domain. Chapter topics include using data-based decision making, engaging families, dual-lanuage learners, children with disabilities, and specific chapters on…
Screening: What Principals Need to Know
On the recommendation of the Ontario Human Rights Commission, Ontario will be starting early reading screening in Fall 2024. This helpful handout clarifies the important role principals play in screening: the who, what, when, why, and how of early reading screening!
Embedded Mnemonics – Video Files
Embedded picture mnemonics are a research-based way to teach children about letters and the sounds they represent. They are letter cards with a picture of a key word embedded directly in a letter, such as the letter z made out of a zipper, or the letter r made out of a road. Research indicates that…
Important Canadians Read-Aloud Unit
Modeled after Core Knowledge Language Arts units, this language and social studies unit is designed for use in Canadian kindergarten and Grade 1 classrooms. The unit is comprised of 10 lessons, each about an Important Canadian, with a teacher read-aloud document and accompanying slideshow for student viewing during the lessons. Explicit vocabulary instruction and comprehension…
ONlit Embedded Picture Mnemonic Grids – UFLI-aligned
Embedded picture mnemonic grids allow students to practice isolating first sounds, while also developing alphabetic knowledge and letter/sound correspondences in playful ways. Grids align with the UFLI scope and sequence and allow students to practice new skills and review previously taught skills following a sequential and systematic format.
