When it comes to building strong readers, fluency goes beyond speed—it includes expression, rhythm, and how naturally a student reads aloud. That’s why LevelUp Reader partnered with fluency expert Dr. Tim Rasinski to develop the Multidimensional Fluency Scale. This easy-to-use four-point rubric evaluates students in four key areas: rhythm and phrasing, expression and volume, automaticity, … Continued
It was a beautiful, sunny day in October as I boarded the plane for my first-ever business trip with Rosen Publishing. I had recently joined Rosen as their curriculum and instruction specialist after 20 years as an elementary teacher and literacy coach. Our decodable series, The Decodables, had recently been added to The Reading League’s … Continued
In this webinar with LevelUp Reader, Dr. Tim Rasinski highlights a critical finding from the National Assessment of Educational Progress: a strong and consistent link between oral reading fluency and reading comprehension. Fluency, often overlooked in classrooms, consists of two key components—automaticity in word recognition and prosody. Automatic word recognition frees up mental energy, allowing … Continued
In a recent webinar with LevelUp Reader, Dr. Tim Rasinski emphasized the importance of orthographic mapping — the process of helping students “burn” words into their memory by connecting sounds and letters. As Dr. Rasinski explained, “what we want to do is get kids to orthographically map words into their brains… this is the central … Continued
Commonly referred to as a “summer slide,” research shows that students may experience learning loss if they are not actively engaged in academic activities during the summer months. Summer reading programs and access to engaging and authentic children’s literature are ways to avoid this slide. Incorporating reading into summer break is a valuable opportunity to … Continued
On April 8, 2024, millions of people across the United States, Mexico, and Canada will have the opportunity to view a total solar eclipse. This eclipse will be extremely rare as the moon will be closer to Earth than usual, causing a longer period of total darkness that won’t be matched until 2150! Integrating nonfiction … Continued
National Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Week, plus International SEL Day on March 8, are celebrated to promote the benefits of Social and Emotional Learning. The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) defines social and emotional learning as “the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, … Continued
As we embrace Black History Month, it’s essential to acknowledge the diverse ways in which we can educate and inspire our younger generation about the rich history and culture of African Americans. One of the most effective and engaging methods is through children’s literature. Books have the power to open windows to new worlds, allowing … Continued