Blog Hero Image

Welcome to Our Blog

Standardized Test

Rethinking Reading Proficiency

May 28, 2025 Wendy Vaulton, Associate Director for Reading Recovery & Early Interventions

As educators, our understanding of proficiency shapes the way we teach, assess, and support learners. If we define proficiency narrowly, we risk overlooking not only important aspects of literacy, but the larger purpose of education itself. We seek not only to prepare students to perform well on tests, but to help them build the skills to engage critically with the world around them.

Navigating Standardized Assessment: Approaching Testing as a Genre

November 14, 2024 Linda Murphy, Associate Director of Literacy Programs

Standardized testing is a reality in our students’ lives. Are you wondering how you can support your students in demonstrating all they know on the test but not stop the rich, ongoing literacy instruction months before the test?

Tags: Teaching

Upcoming Professional Development

May 21, 2026

Start with the Readers: Small Group Instruction That Makes a Difference (Complimentary Webinar)

Start with what readers need next. In this 45-minute webinar, learn how to identify specific reading needs and use focus groups to design targeted small group instruction with a clear instructional purpose.

Complimentary Webinar
April 30, 2026

Bringing Variety and Choice to Writing About Reading (Complimentary Webinar)

Join our complimentary 45-minute webinar to discover diverse writing genres and formats that help students deepen their understanding, clarify their thinking, and express their ideas in more meaningful ways when they write about reading.

Complimentary Webinar
June 4, 2026

Energizing Student Writing Through Vision, Purpose, and Voice (Complimentary Webinar)

Do your students’ writing pieces often look similar or lack variety in structure and organization? In this complimentary 45-minute webinar, we will explore the importance of supporting students during the planning process so they can clearly communicate their message and make purposeful decisions about their writing.

Complimentary Webinar

Join our community!
It's FREE!

Enhance your literacy expertise by becoming a member of the Center's literacy community. By joining you will receive our newsletters and other email communications that will allow you to stay up to date on the latest resources, articles and upcoming professional learning opportunities.