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We’re excited to welcome you and your student to Benchmark Advance and/or Adelante for the new school year. The program is aligned to your state’s standards, the science of reading research base, and provides engaging learning opportunities for students to grow and thrive.

We’ve put together this webpage to provide you with some key information about the program and help you support your student throughout the year.

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STAR Early Literacy Growth with Benchmark Advance 2022

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STAR Early Literacy Growth with Benchmark Advance 2022

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Vocabulary Instruction in Benchmark Advance

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Vocabulary Instruction in Benchmark Advance

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Benchmark Advance ©2022  is all GREEN on EdReports - eval tool 1.5

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Benchmark Advance ©2022  is all GREEN on EdReports - eval tool 1.5

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Click here to view the whole report
Source: EdReports' Grades K-2 Report Overview

Source: EdReports' Grades 3-5 Report Overview

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Celebrating Diversity within Benchmark Advance

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Celebrating Diversity within Benchmark Advance

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Wiley Blevins: [00:00:00] So let's talk about the Science of Reading. Hi, I'm Wiley Blevins, author of the recent phonics brief by the International Literacy Association and books such as A Fresh Look at Phonics, Phonics From A to Z and Building Fluency. Recently, there's been a national conversation about how we best teach young learners to read. This conversation has been couched under the umbrella, the Science of Reading. We certainly have a large body of information about how to teach children to read. This information has come from educational researchers. Cognitive scientists who do brain research, linguists, school practitioners like yourself and so on. So all of these sciences have come together to show us how best to get children to the fastest and smartest start to learning how to read. During this conversation, a lot of districts around the country have been looking at the materials they use to teach children to read. To see if they are aligned to the science Science of Reading. I'd like to talk a little bit about what we mean by the Science of Reading and how we know whether or not the materials we are using are actually aligned to this body of knowledge. There are a lot of terms you're going to hear in this conversation. For example, you might be hearing about Scarborough's Reading Rope, which plays an important role in our conversation today. He says that skilled Reading requires decoding, plus language comprehension. When we look at the decoding piece, we're really talking about foundational skills like phonological awareness, phonemic awareness, concepts of print and phonics.

Wiley Blevins: [00:01:35] When we talk about language comprehension, we're really talking about the role that vocabulary and content or background knowledge plays. We're going to explore both. Today, I'd like to start with the area of decoding and how you can tell whether or not your instructional materials, where you're teaching these foundational skills, we're teaching children how to decode or sound out. Words are actually aligned to the Science of Reading. And there are really four guideposts that we use. The first guide post is related to scope and sequence. We know that in order to effectively teach phonics, we need a clearly defined scope and sequence. This is a scope and sequence that goes from easier to more complex skills. Confusing letters and sounds are separated and so on. This scope and sequence really provides the spine on which all of the instruction rests. It is really a roadmap for you as teachers. What to teach? When to teach. How much focus to give each of these skills. Having a defined scope and sequence really allows you to determine whether or not children are where they need to be in terms of building their phonics knowledge. But having a scope and sequence isn't enough because what can happen if you have a scope and sequence as you can just treat it as a way of marching through skills, exposing children to skill after skill after skill. And that's not going to be effective. A really smart, effective, impactful scope and sequence has a built in review and repetition cycle.

Wiley Blevins: [00:03:06] Once we introduce a new skill for most of our students, it takes a significant amount of time to get to mastery and we have to get to mastery so that they can then transfer those skills to all reading and writing situations. So for me, when I introduce a phonics skill, I want to make sure in the instruction for the next at least four to six weeks, there's consistent review and repetition activities. So in the blending work that I'm doing in dictation and the stories, the decodable texts that children are reading, all of that is absolutely essential. So when you look at the Benchmark materials and you look at their scope and sequence, you will see a sensible progression of skills through each grade from easier to more complex. You will also see a built in review and repetition cycles so that that learning is extended long enough to get all our students to mastery. When you flip through the lessons of the program, you see specific points where those review and repetition opportunities are highlighted. So that aligns to what we know about the Science of Reading, teaching those skills and a clearly defined sequence and making sure that students get enough exposure and application to the skills to get to mastery.

Wiley Blevins: [00:04:17] What isn't aligned to the Science of Reading is a random approach to how you teach the phonics skills. So for example, if you are basing your phonics on the books that students are reading, you might hit a skill one week and not address it for many weeks to come, or the books that children read might not have enough exposures of that skill to get them to mastery. And so this is in opposition to what the sciences of reading tell us.

Wiley Blevins: [00:04:45] The second aspect or the second guidepost is that the instruction needs to be systematic and explicit. We hear these terms all the time. Certainly systematic is related to having a scope and sequence. We. Teach those skills as a system. We go from easier to more complex, but teaching it as a system means that we have really rich, impactful conversations with our students about how that system works. So great phonics instruction is engaging. It's thought provoking children and making observations about words and thinking and talking about how words work. They're engaged in activities like worldbuilding, with their playing with letters and sounds and developing and deepening their understanding of how English words work. If we're doing word sorts, they're talking about what they what they notice, what they observe about these words that will help them when they read and write.

Wiley Blevins: [00:05:36] When we talk about explicit, we're really talking about the initial introduction of these phonics skills. We explicitly state the sound/spelling connection. We explicitly state that the S sound, for example, is represented by the letter S.. That is what is aligned to the Science of Reading. This is an opposition to a discovery method where we might give children a bunch of words, have them observe those words, have them talk about what they notice about those those words, and they slowly over time discover this sound-letter connection. The reason this is an effective is that some children don't have the prerequisite skills to make those connections. They might still be developing their phonemic awareness skills, for example, so they won't be able to orally segment off those sounds that connect that to those letters. So the most impactful instruction is instruction that is systematic and explicit. When you look at the Benchmark materials, you're going to see an explicit introduction to the skill where a teacher is modeling how to sound out words with that skill. And then in giving children direct opportunities, guided practice opportunities to apply that skill in words. And also in connected text, when you look through the lessons, you'll also see opportunities for them to apply it in writing through dictation, which has guided spelling and through the reading of connected text, what you'd call decoded call, text or accountable text, where a high percentage of the words are decodsble based on the phonics skills students have learned.

Wiley Blevins: [00:07:04] And that gets to our third guideposts daily application to reading and writing. During the initial part of the phonics lesson, you absolutely lutely will be having children sound out words in isolation, but that needs to directly be followed up by having them sound out words in connected text Decodable text, like I said before, where a high percentage of the words can be sounded out based on the phonics skills that children have learned. These texts can also have some high frequency words like the word "The," the most common word in the English language. Having these high frequency words in there allows the text to be natural sounding and comprehensible. And this text might even have a few story words, some really interesting engaging words, so that the stories really excite children and stories that children want to read and reread to develop fluency. So, for example, if we are working on the phonics skill short u and we have a story about an animal getting stuck in the mud, we might choose to have the story about an elephant. It's a story where it's really interesting. Children love reading about elephants. It can make the story really funny. The elephant is stuck in the mud where it is stuck in mud. All decodable. A high percentage of decodable words, but the word that is a sight word, the most common word in English and the word elephant would be your story word.

Wiley Blevins: [00:08:26] Now, it's not enough just to read these stories. The most impactful instruction has students write about these stories as follow up. When we ask children to write about the decodable stories that we have them read, it requires them to use words with the new skill in writing. That's putting all their learning to the forefront and really forcing them to think about how to use that new phonics skills to communicate their ideas. So if it's fiction, we could be writing a retelling. If it's informational, maybe we're listing some facts that we've learned. But this kind of reading, writing, follow up practice, this application should be an enormous part of a phonics lesson. We teach the skill in isolation and we immediately go to application and that should be at least half of the lesson. When you look at the Benchmark materials, you're going to see daily reading and writing. So we might be reading new decodable stories or we might be rereading previous previously read the quotable stories to build fluency and always writing about those stories, having those opportunities. Writing gives us a really great insight into where children are in terms of their and their reading progress, because we know writing lags behind reading. So children are started to apply those skills to reading. Then we know that they can-or to writing, that we know that they can use those skills.

Wiley Blevins: [00:09:48] And in reading, the fourth guidepost is assessment. So assessment needs to inform instruction. We know that. When it comes to phonics, there's some very specific kinds of assessments that are required and some very specific ways to look at those assessments. The first thing I want to talk about is how we look at those assessments. Any phonics assessment that we do must be viewed through two lenses, the lens of accuracy and the lens of automaticity. Certainly, if we give children a list of words to read with the phonics skills that we have taught, we want them to accurately be able to read those words. But the automaticity, the speed, the fluency with which they can read those words is another key indicator. So, for example, I can have a children, read a list of 10 words and get them all right. I can have another children come over, read the same list of of 10 words and get them all right. If one student is able to read them in 10 seconds and the other student takes a minute, it gives me the type of information I need to know what to do next. instructionally. So looking at assess the assessment information through these two lenses lenses is critical . We also need two types of assessments. Comprehensive phonics assessment and cumulative phonics assessment.

Wiley Blevins: [00:11:08] Let me talk about each of those. A comprehensive phonics assessment is really a survey of all the skills that you would learn in a phonics continuum, starting with just identifying letter sounds, going to reading short vowel words. Long vowel words, complex words, multi-syllabic words and so on. Giving a comprehensive phonics assessment is absolutely essential at the beginning of a school year. It's great to give mid-year and at the end of the year because you can then determine which students know the skills from the previously taught grade or grades. That really helps you in terms of determining the types of instruction some of your students might need during small group time that allows you to make sure that you're plugging in any holes, any skill deficits that your students might have so that you build the strongest foundation possible. So if you look at the Benchmark materials, you'll notice that they have an assessment called QPA and that assessments that assesses students phonics ability across this continuum and they're also assessments available for their phonemic awareness abilities.

Wiley Blevins: [00:12:13] The second kind of assessment is even more critical, and it's a cumulative assessment. It's the kind of assessment that's missing from most instruction, but is so critical for phonics, instructional success. The cumulative assessment is an assessment that looks at the target skills and previously taught skills. I like to go back at least five or six weeks.

Wiley Blevins: [00:12:34] So every week I'm pulling a few students and having them read a list of words with the skill from this particularly week and the previous five to six weeks. Over time, I'm revisiting the these assessments and these students. So I will have an assessment from one week, maybe a couple of weeks later I'll assess these students again. And those skills are still on the assessment and a few weeks later and so on. Why is this so critical? It helps me determine whether or not students get to mastery of skills. So if they have some checks for accuracy on week one, when I assess and then week three, those checks for accuracy start to not be there. That tells me that the learning is beginning to decay. Decayed learning is one the most critical issues in phonics instruction. If we don't hold on to a skill long enough, often that learning begins to decay or slip away. These quick assessments every few weeks with with my students really alerts me to these issues so that I can fix them before they become serious reading problems. The same thing with mastery is if all of a sudden these checks. Appear more and the checks for US automaticity appear more. I know children have mastered them. They can transfer those skills and so on. But these two assessments really aren't enough. There are other pieces of information you can gather from your students.

Wiley Blevins: [00:13:57] So listening to them read, certainly that alert you to the kinds of words that students might be struggling with. And you can jot down those words and see if there's a pattern to the kinds of of phonics skills in those words that students might be struggling with and looking at student writing. I talked about that already. But student writing is such a great assessment tool. Whenever I have whenever I introduce a new phonics skill to students, I like to keep a checklist in the back of their writer's notebook. And when I introduce a skill, I just put a A-check beside that skill. So as I'm looking at student writing over time and I start seeing consistent use of that skill in their writing, I circle the skill because that tells me that students are using that skill effectively. Periodically I glance through those charts to see are there skills that I've taught that students aren't consistently applying in their writing? And that helps me very quickly make some modifications to my instruction. I can do more work during dictation. I can do more work during any kinds of writing, spelling, reading activities to to focus more attention, more practice, more application of those skills. These kinds of assessments are aligned to the Science of Reading. Unfortunately, what I often see is that very little phonics assessment occurs. So maybe students are assessed only a couple of times a year and the assessment tool you're using doesn't give you the granular types of information you need to make some instructional choices.

Wiley Blevins: [00:15:25] So in a comprehensive phonics survey, for example, the skills are organized around skill categories short of our words, long Broward's complex vowel words so I can see what cluster of skills children need more work with. If you don't have that type of granular information, then those assessments need to be there. You aren't getting the information. You need to impact instruction. The other thing is I often see children only get a reading level score as they move throughout the year and from grade to grade. And what happens is, yes, they might get a grade level score that seems to indicate they're on grade level. Let's say they go to second grade in that grade levels score shows that they are about grade level, but the students start struggling. And when I give them a comprehensive phonics survey, I sometimes discover that there are many holes or many deaf deficits in that phonics foundation. So if you want to be aligned to the sciences of reading, you need these multiple assessments to be in place and you need the kind of granular information that can impact what you're doing. instructionally so that you can make these really important course corrections before they become bigger issues. So when we look at the decoding piece of the reading rope, we know that we need a clearly defined scope and sequence.

Wiley Blevins: [00:16:42] We need to have instruction that is systematic and explicit. We need daily application to reading and writing because it's in the application where the learning sticks and we need both comprehensive and cumulative assessments. And we need to also look beyond those assessments. Data from student reading and writing to inform our instruction, both whole group and small group.

Wiley Blevins: [00:17:07] Now let's look at the language comprehension piece of the reading rope. This is where we're talking about vocabulary and content or background knowledge. Certainly in order for us to comprehend what we read, we need to know the meanings of the majority of the words in the text that we are reading. We also better comprehend text when we have a lot of content knowledge about the topic we're reading about and this conversation about the Science of Reading. You'll probably hear a lot about the baseball study. There was a study where they had the participants read an article about baseball. The participants who came to that text with a lot of background knowledge comprehended it better, more deeply, had a more nuanced understanding. Those who didn't have that content knowledge didn't do as well. It would be no different than if I gave you and your your doctor an article from the medical journal. You both would get something from that article. But your doctor would get a more nuanced understanding, a deeper understanding would notice connections among ideas and so on that you would not.

Wiley Blevins: [00:18:17] What this means for us and what we're teaching beginning learners is that we need to spend equal amounts of time on decoding and language comprehension, vocabulary building and background knowledge. We can do that through, for example, the read aloud that we provide children. So while they're reading these very simple decodable stories every day, we should be reading aloud to them. Maybe read fiction in the morning, informational texts in the afternoon. And lots of texts around the same topic so that children have exposures to the same words and the same ideas and slightly different way, so it deepens their understanding of these words. This has to be an essential and critical part of early reading instruction. When you look at the Benchmark materials, you'll notice that they are organized around three week strands social studies, science and literary strands. So students are reading multiple texts around the same topic, the same idea. So they're getting multiple exposures to key vocabulary around that that topic. They're reading multiple pieces. So it's deepening their understanding of that topic. You can accentuate that with the read aloud as you do during that time. This is building that deep knowledge core so that when children progressed to the grades and encounter more complex texts, they will have the decoding foundation as well as the vocabulary and the content knowledge to handle those more complex text. And that's what we need to do as educators.

[00:19:48] So this whole conversation about the Science of Reading is really important to us, not only our knowledge about how we teach children to read, but our evaluation of the materials we use to teach those children. And it's not that these materials are all bad and no child has ever learned using them or these materials are all good and all children learn reading them. The conversation really is about what materials and what practices meet the needs of them. The majority of students, as many students as possible and is as efficient and as effective as possible. We have a very short timeframe in order to build that foundation. We want to do it rapidly and we want to do it well.

Wiley Blevins: [00:20:32] I always say that teaching reading is one of the best guests we can give a child. It's a gift that once is given. It can never be taken away and it will forever transform that child's life. I consider an honor to be able to do that every year, to teach children to read. But I also think it's an enormous responsibility to do it right and to do it well. And I thank you all for the conversations you're having now around the science of the science Science of Reading do it right and to do it well. Thank you.

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Wiley Blevins discusses The Science of Reading

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Wiley Blevins: [00:00:00] So let's talk about the Science of Reading. Hi, I'm Wiley Blevins, author of the recent phonics brief by the International Literacy Association and books such as A Fresh Look at Phonics, Phonics From A to Z and Building Fluency.

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Maximizing the Use of Decodables with Wiley Blevins

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Maximizing the Use of Decodables with Wiley Blevins

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In this live and recorded webinar, participants will explore how to maximize the use of decodables to build decoding fluency and effective early reading behaviors and to incorporate vocabulary, writing, syntax, and comprehension into daily instruction. Literacy expert Wiley Blevins, Ed.D., will guide participants in choosing decodables and recognizing when students are ready to transition to less controlled text. The session will feature Dynamite Decodables, a new series of trade-book-quality decodables.

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PD Webinar Maximizing the Use of Decodables

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Explore strategies for using decodables to build early reading fluency with Wiley Blevins, Ed.D., and learn how to integrate vocabulary, writing, and comprehension skills.

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Listen to authenic stories that reflect the voice and vision of all children.

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Authentic Stories and Illustrations
Reflecting the Voice and Vision of Children

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How our district moved the needle on early literacy (and you can too)

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How our district moved the needle on early literacy (and you can too)

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COMMENTARY: How our district moved the needle on early literacy (and you can too)

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Without big spending or complicated new programs, Palo Alto Unified school district has seen a dramatic improvement in reading scores for its highest need students. It’s a model any district can adopt.

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New to users list:

NYS/ CT users:

NYS:

Coxsackie Athens CSD

Burnt Hills Ballston Lake CSD

Catskill CSD

Lockport CSD

BT BOCES Virtual Academy

Chautauqua Lake

CT:

Waterbury City Schools

Southington PS

RSD 1

Canton Public Schools

Newington PS

LEARN

Mansfield PS

West Haven PS

Current Pilots:

Milford PS, CT

Fayetteville Manlius CSD, NY

Lancaster CSD, NY

Depew CSD, NY

Sodus CSD, NY

East Greenbush CSD, NY

Yonkers Public Schools

Simbury PS

Currently Reviewing: (no pilot)

Avon PS, CT

Berlin PS, CT

Niskyuna CSD, NY

Tarrytown UFSD

Dunkirk CSD

Hoosick Valley CSD

Penn Yan CSD

Marcellus CSD

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This webinar shares proven strategies for making language instruction dynamic, rewarding, and effective. It focuses on well-designed instructional sequences for language development, including systematic scaffolding and motivation based on student agency and personalized learning. Viewers will understand and be able to recognize the non-negotiables of a successful language learning environment and will receive a clear explanation of ‘how language learning works’ in context. Specific attention is given to customizing instruction for Language Learners and Newcomers and to the types of feedback and differentiated lesson support that promote student achievement. Silvia Dorta-Duque de Reyes M.A. provides a thorough overview of the way that language development works to create a pathway for students to access grade-level content while learning English through research-based strategies.

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Silvia Dorta-Duque de Reyes, M.A., shares strategies for dynamic language instruction. Discover how to scaffold learning, motivate students, and tailor lessons for Language Learners.

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Decodables - Using Decodables - The Creation of Skilled Readers

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Decodables - Using Decodables - The Creation of Skilled Readers

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Developing skillful readers means addressing both sides of Scarborough’s Reading Rope during instruction. Learn how to maximize the use of decodable readers with an explicit lesson routine that provides the opportunity for students to apply and practice phonics skills in connected text that supports the skills strand but also includes vocabulary and knowledge building that supports the knowledge strand and comprehension to develop skillful readers.

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Maximize decodable readers to develop skillful readers by addressing both sides of Scarborough’s Reading Rope. Learn how to apply phonics skills in connected text for comprehension in this webinar.

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Empowering Growth Mind Sets Through Home-School Connections

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Empowering Growth Mind Sets Through Home-School Connections

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Empowering Growth Mindsets Through Home-School Connections

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Since so much of our society promotes a fixed mindset, educating caregivers about a growth mindset and helping them see how their language can impact their children’s understanding of themselves is key to supporting educator and student success in the classroom.

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Explicit Phonics Instruction Moves the Needle - Kennett Consolidated SD's Jouney of Growth Toward Proficiency of  English Learners

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Explicit Phonics Instruction Moves the Needle - Kennett Consolidated SD's Jouney of Growth Toward Proficiency of  English Learners

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Achieving Equity by Scaffolding Strengths of Striving Readers

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Achieving Equity by Scaffolding Strengths of Striving Readers

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Teaching effectively often comes down to one thing that works for all students: active reading practice supported by a teacher who has an asset-based lens. Having an asset based lens means that you see the strengths in each student's unique background. You lean in and support a student by focusing on what each child needs as a next step in his or her growth as a reader. You teach to each, not teach to most. By providing the right scaffold for each student to become a strong and independent reader, you can achieve equity in reading. All students will be strong readers.

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Achieving Equity by Scaffolding Strengths of Striving Readers Webinar

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Achieve equity in reading with asset-based instruction, scaffolding each student’s strengths to foster independent, strong readers.

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A 360 View of Literacy: The Urgent Issue of Usability  - Kareem Weaver and Dr. David Liben

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A 360 View of Literacy: The Urgent Issue of Usability  - Kareem Weaver and Dr. David Liben

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Kareem Weaver and David Liben tackle the pressing but not often prioritized issue of instructional materials’ usability—clarifying what’s needed and establishing a mandate for publishers and selection committees to create and choose resources that work for diverse learners and educators.

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Addressing the critical need for usable instructional materials that support diverse learners and educators effectively.

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Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy Empowering Responsive and Reflective Educator

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Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy Empowering Responsive and Reflective Educator

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Explore ways to create school and classroom environments that build on diverse students’ strengths and increase access to effective learning experiences. Equity and inclusion expert Maria Campanario explains how educators can build positive relationships and support classroom conversations that encourage analysis of different perspectives, experiences, and cultures.

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Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy - Maria Campanario - On Demand

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Explore Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy with Maria Campanario. Learn to create inclusive classrooms, build positive relationships, and use diverse resources to enhance critical thinking and equity.

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Dual Language Learning - Spanish and English Literacy Connections 

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Dual Language Learning - Spanish and English Literacy Connections 

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Discover innovative ways to help students develop foundational skills and vocabulary in the language they know, and then apply their knowledge to the new language they are learning. Cross-linguistic transfer expert Silvia Dorta-Duque de Reyes, working with literacy consultant Shauna Williams, demonstrate in English and Spanish how you can combine explicit instruction with engaging activities that build biliteracy and proficiency.

This research-based webinar will help you teach literacy and language skills efficiently, work effectively with diverse students, and provide meaningful practice, either online or in the classroom.

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Dual Language Learning- Spanish and English Literacy Connections - On Demand Webinar

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Learn innovative strategies for building biliteracy with cross-linguistic transfer expert Silvia Dorta-Duque de Reyes and literacy consultant Shauna Williams. Enhance Spanish and English literacy through engaging, research-based activities.

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Webinar - Closing the Gap -How the Fluency Development Lesson Scaffolds Students Toward Grade Level Texts 

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Webinar - Closing the Gap -How the Fluency Development Lesson Scaffolds Students Toward Grade Level Texts 

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Every minute counts. How can you select the right texts and activities that are equitable, develop fluency, and grow students as readers? Poetry is the perfect genre for delightful, joyful, and knowledge building instruction, and makes lessons shine! Learn more about the art + science of The Fluency Development Lesson with authors, experts, and practitioners Lynne Kulich, Ph.D., Tim Rasinski, Ph.D., and David L. Harrison, D.Litt.

Focusing on fluency will help build a lifelong love of literacy for every student!

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Explore how the Fluency Development Lesson uses poetry to build fluency, foster equity, and guide students to grade-level texts with insights from leading experts.

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Assessments - Driving with Data - Your Back -to-School Roadmap

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Assessments - Driving with Data - Your Back -to-School Roadmap

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Unpack the digital assessments available to you within Benchmark Advance and learn the quick clicks to preview and assign assessments. From here, you’ll test drive the student test-taking experience in Benchmark Universe, Benchmark Education’s assessment, teaching and learning portal. Your destination? Data-driven instruction at its best, using the Benchmark Advance eAssessment reporting suite.

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Back to School - Assessments - on demand

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Unpack digital assessments in Benchmark Advance, preview and assign them, and explore student test-taking in Benchmark Universe. Achieve data-driven instruction with the eAssessment reporting suite.

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A 360 View of Literacy: The Pillars of Effective Writing Instruction with Diana Leddy

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A 360 View of Literacy: The Pillars of Effective Writing Instruction with Diana Leddy

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For decades Diana Leddy has been developing a writing approach that begins with Backward Design and emphasizes understanding to build background knowledge. This approach has proven to increase writing achievement. Through explicit instruction and plenty of practice time, students gain the skills to write well year after year.

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The Pillars of Effective Writing Instruction

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Diana Leddy shares her proven writing approach, emphasizing Backward Design, explicit instruction, and practice to boost student writing success.

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Making Phonics Instruction More Meaningful and Effective

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Making Phonics Instruction More Meaningful and Effective

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Learn new ways to engage students in developing and applying phonics skills throughout the school day and across the curriculum. Phonics expert Wiley Blevins explains how to combine systematic instruction, based on the Science of Reading, with purposeful reading and writing that increase knowledge and extend students’ literacy learning through practice and application.

This research-based webinar will include suggestions for responding to learning gaps and will identify strategies that teachers can use to accelerate diverse students’ progress.

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Making Phonics Instruction More Meaningful and Effective Webinar - On-Demand

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Explore effective phonics instruction with Wiley Blevins. Learn to blend systematic teaching with engaging activities, address learning gaps, and enhance students’ literacy skills across subjects.

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Effective and Fun: 5 Idea to Engage Students in and Out of the Classroom  - Dr. Nancy Young 

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Effective and Fun: 5 Idea to Engage Students in and Out of the Classroom  - Dr. Nancy Young 

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Effective and Fun: 5 Ideas to Engage Students In and Out of the Classroom

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Every student should be provided effective and fun classroom instruction that is differentiated for their intellectual ability and academic readiness. Learn 5 ways this can be accomplished in and out of the classroom while addressing the critical skills that underpin fluent reading and writing.

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BEC Celebrates Department of Defense Schools' Success

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BEC Celebrates Department of Defense Schools' Success

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A 360 View of Literacy: Power Tools for Growing Knowledge, Vocabulary, and Reading Comprehension with Dr. David Liben

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A 360 View of Literacy: Power Tools for Growing Knowledge, Vocabulary, and Reading Comprehension with Dr. David Liben

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Educator, school leader, and literacy curriculum expert David Liben explains the effectiveness of knowledge-building as a core part of literacy learning, the research behind it, and how creating and implementing a general knowledge curriculum can get results at even the lowest-performing schools.

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Power Tools for Growing Knowledge, Vocabulary, and Reading Comprehension | The Teachers Talk Shop Podcast

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Educator, school leader, and literacy curriculum expert David Liben explains the effectiveness of knowledge-building as a core part of literacy learning, the research behind it, and how creating and implementing a general knowledge curriculum can get results at even the lowest-performing schools. Season 2, Episode 4.

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360 View of Literacy: Professional Learning that Works Kareem Weaver and Dr. David Liben

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360 View of Literacy: Professional Learning that Works Kareem Weaver and Dr. David Liben

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In this call for relevant, doable professional development for all stakeholders—parent to superintendent—Kareem Weaver and David Liben stress the need for unity among competing interest groups, recognizing that students are priority one and at the center of it all.

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Podbean Podcast App & PlayerThe best podcast app / podcast player and audio livestream app to search, download, and listen to your favorite podcast, live stream, FM, radio and audiobook anywhere, anytime. Listening to over 50 million episodes of podcasts worldwide on iPhone/iPad. The Podbean podcast app enhance your podcast listening experience with intelligent speed, volume boost, customizable playlist, and all the best features: — DISCOVERY / RECOMMENDATION —
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• Call-in to share your thoughts and ask questions Podbean Podcast app now supports English, German, Portuguese, Swedish, Chinese, French, Spanish and Japanese. Listen to the best podcasts on Podbean - Podcast App & Podcast Player, including This American Life, Serial, The Joe Rogan Experience, S Town, Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History, Radiolab, My Favorite Murder, True crime, Criminal, Joel Osteen, The Dave Ramsey Show, ESPN Radio, The Moth, The Tim Ferriss Show, Freakonomics Radio, Startup, Stuff You Should Know, How Stuff Works, Bloomberg, Revision3, Relay FM, PodcastOne, The New Yorker, Showtime, Slate, TEDTalks, NPR podcasts, WNYC, 5by5, KCRW, NASA, CBS Radio, CNET, CNN, CBC, BBC and Bill O’Reilly etc. Podbean podcast app & player is ad-supported. User can choose to purchase Podbean VIP Subscription to remove ads, and get advanced features including: customize homepage, unlimited playlist and priority support. Current price for Podbean VIP Subscription is $9.99 USD per year, and may vary from country to country. Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal. Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user’s Account Settings after purchase. Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable. Podbean podcast app & player’s terms of use: https://www.podbean.com/podbean-terms

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Authentic Voices - Knowledge-based text sets in Benchmark Advance ©2022 - 2022 Winner of Best Diversity and Inclusive Solution! 

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Authentic Voices - Knowledge-based text sets in Benchmark Advance ©2022 - 2022 Winner of Best Diversity and Inclusive Solution! 

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View Virtual Sampler

Print + Digital | English & Spanish

What Educators
Are Saying

Hear what teachers, assistant principals, and principals have to say about the impact of Benchmark Advance in their classrooms.

Significant Growth in Palo Alto, CA

Read how the Palo Alto Unified School District experienced impressive growth in all targeted student groups following the implementation of Benchmark Advance/Adelante. Read Now

About the Programs

Aligned with Science of Reading research, Benchmark Advance and Adelante are core language arts programs that provide a cohesive structure for the development of literacy skills and content knowledge.

Third-Party Endorsements. Prestigious Awards. Proven Results.

Benchmark Advance supports high expectations and achievement for every learner. Validated by research and independent reviewers and used by students and teachers across the United States, the program provides the tools to nurture success.

EdReports All-Green Rating

Using their newest version 1.5 Review Tools, independent, nonprofit curriculum reviewer EdReports rated Benchmark Advance ©2022 K-5 "green" in all three Gateways: Text Quality, Building Knowledge, and Usability.

Tech & Learning Award

Benchmark Advance and Benchmark Adelante were both Primary Education Award winners in Tech & Learning Best of 2022.

Excellence in Equity Award

Authentic Voices Library-the knowledge-building text sets in Benchmark Advance -was recognized by the American Consortium for Equity in Education as the Best Diversity and Inclusion Solution.

Nationwide, Students Using Benchmark Advance Showed 2.5x Growth in Proficiency

Sustained Gains Across Demographics, Including English Learners and Disadvantaged Students

4% 3% 2% 1% 0% 3.53% 1.39% ALL STUDENTS

4% 3% 2% 1% 0% 2.15% 0.87% ENGLISH LEARNERS

5% 4% 3% 2% 1% 0% 4.19% 2.34% ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS

-0.22% 4% 3% 2% 1% 0% 3.92% 1.56% 0.26% 2.38% 0.33% 0.26% 3.74 % 0.75% 3.64% 0.11% SIZE OF DISTRICT 3.03% 2.24% 3.76% 2.42% Students Per District 1 to 599 600 to 1,199 1,200 to 2,499 2,500 to 4,999 5,000 to 9,999 10,000 to 24,999 25,000 Plus

SIZE OF DISTRICT

1 to 599 600 to 1,199 1,200 to 2,499 2,500 to 4,999 5,000 to 9,999 10,000 to 24,999 25,000 Plus Students Per District 3.92% 0.26% 1.56% -0.22% 2.38% 0.33% 3.64% 0.11% 3.74% 0.75% 3.03% 2.24% 3.76% 2.42% 4% 3% 2% 1% 0% -1 %

Benchmark Education
Company (BEC) Districts

Grades 3-6 student results in California, Colorado, Michigan, and Minnesota Districts: Growth in percent of students reaching proficiency using Benchmark Advance vs. students using other instructional materials

Develop Strong Foundational Skills

Develop strong foundations for success through explicit, systematic, spiraled instruction linked to contextualized practice.

Purposeful Scope & Sequence

A clearly defined K-6 progression facilitates efficient mastery and transfer.

Build Knowledge, Vocabulary & Perspectives

Build knowledge over time through vertically and standardsaligned units informed by the latest research into the Science of Reading, and that require learners to engage deeply with a topic. Knowledge-based social studies, science, and literary topics expand both general and academic vocabulary in support of reading, writing, and constructive conversation.

Read Engaging, Diverse Text Sets

Develop comprehension and critical thinking skills for analyzing complex texts.

Teach to Reach Each Learner

Ensure language and literacy development of English Learners through language objectives, differentiated point-of-use scaffolding, and high expectations. Intervention lessons provide targeted instruction around discrete skills. Formative and summative assessments provide valuable data for instructional next steps.

The bulk of the time in any given phonics lesson should be devoted to applying the skill to real reading and writing situations.

Aligned with the Science of Reading

The framework of Benchmark Advance reflects a comprehensive view of current and confirmed research into how children learn to read: the Science of Reading 360°. Scientific evidence from a spectrum of academic disciplines has informed the foundation of Benchmark Advance, as has the priority we place on integrated instruction and success for all learners.

Author &
Consultant Team

Benchmark Advance and Adelante authors and consultants are pedagogical leaders, instructional innovators, and teaching veterans. Their expertise is grounded in real-world classroom practice and channeled into the fabric of the program.

Learn More

Benchmark Advance encourages students to be active learners and collaborators. Students spiral through comprehension skills and strategies to prepare for high-stakes testing and lifelong learning.

Biliteracy

Benchmark Advance and Adelante are parallel, cohesive, and equitable ELA and SLA programs. They share the same program architecture and framework, features, and components, supporting any dual language model.
Biliteracy & Bilingualism * Academic Achievement * Sociocultural Competence

Dual Language Implementation

Craft the perfect program for your classroom, with models based on best practices.

Biliteracy guides, instructional support, and customized professional development help educators confidently and effectively teach Spanish and English.

Proven Effectiveness

Students in districts using Benchmark Advance alone or with Adelante show significant growth in proficiency over districts not using the program(s).

4% 3% 2% 1% 0% 3.53% 2.95% 1.39% 3.72% Year-Over-Year Growth in Proficiency Based on State Test Administrations Growth in Percent of Students Reaching Proficiency

Both Benchmark Advance and Adelante

Benchmark Education has taken the lead on the development of quality, standards-based, authentically written Spanish Language Arts materials. They have delivered in a very big way!

Reviewer Resources

Learn how Benchmark Advance and Adelante programs are purposefully structured and effectively implemented to help every student succeed.

Program Guidance

Benchmark Advance Program Overview

Explore the Benchmark Advance curriculum, components, and authors.

Benchmark Advance Phonics Brochure

See the program's explicit, systematic phonics and word study instruction, designed with Wiley Blevins.

Benchmark Adelante Program Guide

Learn about Benchmark Adelante curriculum, components, authors, and language and resource allocation.

Professional Development Brochure

Explore the powerful training and support from Benchmark Education's expert team.

Benchmark Advance Writing Brochure

Understand how writing connects to reading as students engage in writing to texts and self-selected writing across text types.

Benchmark Advance Assessment Guide

View the comprehensive assessments and reports that help monitor progress and inform instruction.

eAssessment Reports

Transform your teaching with data that monitors progress, identifies growth opportunities, and informs instruction.

Research

Research Foundations

Unravel the research behind the Benchmark Advance and Adelante programs to understand the expected outcomes of effective implementation.

Efficacy Report

See how the growth in proficiency for students using Benchmark Advance and Adelante is two and a half times as large as the growth in proficiency for students in districts using other programs.

ESSA Evidence

View Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Evidence Levels, plus details and comments, on eight studies where Benchmark Advance and Adelante programs were used.

Structured Literacy

Explore how Benchmark Advance aligns to the key tenets of structured literacy, including criteria from the IDA (International Dyslexia Association).

Award-Winning
Digital Platform

All print components, plus exclusive digital-only components, are accessible through the Benchmark Universe™ Digital Platform.

LTI Advantage Certified * Integrates with Your LMS Rostering Through ClassLink, Clever, Microsoft, and More * Google Single Sign-On * Google Classroom Integration

Benefit from Engaging
Professional Development

Join our community of dynamic authors, educators, and experts!

The quality of PD consultants used by Benchmark Education is unsurpassed. They are knowledgeable about best practices and product, yet they adapt to the individual needs of the district as well as the schools within the district.

Implementation I

Overview of resources

Comprehensive program training

On-Demand program training modules available 24/7

Implementation II

Follow-up review to enhance program understanding

On-Demand program training modules available 24/7

Transformative ideas from education's thought leaders are captured in stimulating multimedia courses, novice through advanced. Class topics cover critical subject matter-the Science of Reading, use of assessment to drive instruction, writing process, close reading, and teaching agency and independence, to name just a few, with trending topics receiving special ongoing attention.

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Benchmark Advance & Adelante - Core Literacy Programs

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Benchmark Advance and Adelante are comprehensive core literacy programs for today's culturally diverse classrooms, available in English and Spanish for K-6.

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Meaningful Phonics and the Science of Reading 

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Meaningful Phonics and the Science of Reading 

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Phonics instruction has always been about making meaning. Success means embracing the belief that systematic, explicit phonics instruction is always purposefully included in children’s reading and writing.

In this 1-hour PD webinar, well-known phonics expert Wiley Blevins will introduce the foundation of strong, core phonics instruction and how it is informed by the Science of Reading within the literacy classroom. Participants will explore the latest neuro-scientific research and what it proves about “the reading brain,” and discover how systematic phonics instruction can be engaging, active, and thought-provoking. Wiley will share research-proven tips to support empowering your teachers for impactful teaching.

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Explore the science of reading with Wiley Blevins, and learn how systematic, explicit phonics instruction can be meaningful, engaging, and research-based.

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Benchmark Universe Shake Hands with Benchmark Universe, Digital Partner to Benchmark Advance

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Benchmark Universe Shake Hands with Benchmark Universe, Digital Partner to Benchmark Advance

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How do I access my digital resources for Benchmark Advance? How do I know if my students are rostered? How do I make assignments? How do my students access Benchmark Universe? You have great questions! Come to this session to get essential answers you and your students need to get started with Benchmark Universe, your partner in learning for assessment, instruction and student practice.

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Back to School - Benchmark Universe - on demand

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Get essential answers on accessing digital resources, rostering students, making assignments, and more with Benchmark Universe, your partner in learning and assessment.

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Here is the link to watch the video.

Writing 3-5

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Here is the link to view this video:

Phonics K-2

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TTS - Family Engagement: Bridging Classroom Curriuum and At-Home Learning

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TTS - Family Engagement: Bridging Classroom Curriuum and At-Home Learning

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Family Engagement: Bridging Classroom Curriculum and At Home Learning

Expert educator, experienced administrator, and advocate for equitable learning opportunities, Megan Lorio delves into the vital role of family engagement. Drawing from her work with the Family Engagement Lab, Lorio shares high-impact practices that help to cultivate trusting and authentic relationships, ultimately bridging the information gap to ensure all students achieve academic success.

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Family Engagement: Bridging Classroom Curriculum and At Home Learning | The Teachers Talk Shop Podcast

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Expert educator, experienced administrator, and advocate for equitable learning opportunities, Megan Lorio delves into the vital role of family engagement. Drawing from her work with the Family Engagement Lab, Lorio shares high impact practices that help to cultivate trusting and authentic relationships, ultimately bridging the information gap to ensure all students achieve academic success.
Learn more at TeachersTalkShop.com

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Updated Research - Benchmark Advance 2022 and Adelante 2023

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Updated Research - Benchmark Advance 2022 and Adelante 2023

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Metacognition in Action: Classroom Environments and Practices That Promote Self-Regulation and Comprehension of Complext Text

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Metacognition in Action: Classroom Environments and Practices That Promote Self-Regulation and Comprehension of Complext Text

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This webinar provides an informative and highly understandable review of metacognition—why it is an essential skill, and how to teach it to students so that they can develop as independent and successful readers. Reading-related tasks become more challenging for students as text complexity increases. In response, the research is clear: metacognition is the key to meeting the twin goals of comprehending increasingly complex text and successfully self-regulating reading. Metacognition provides continual feedback to students on how their reading is progressing, and encourages question-asking and reflection, all in the service of comprehending text. This webinar will discuss concrete ways to put metacognition to work in your classroom.

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Explore how to teach metacognition in this webinar, focusing on self-regulation and comprehension of complex texts. Learn practical strategies to help students become independent readers.

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The Reading League Curriculum  Evaluation Guidelines Rubric response for Benchmark Advance 2022

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The Reading League Curriculum  Evaluation Guidelines Rubric response for Benchmark Advance 2022

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Phonics Intervention Site and Virtual Samples

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Phonics Intervention Site and Virtual Samples

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Teacher Guides

Explicit, systematic, multi-modal instruction in daily 20-30 minute lessons

3-Part lesson structure: Warm-Up: Students reread the previously read decodable text, review sound-spelling and high-frequency words or engage in phonological awareness training

Multimodal Mini-lesson: e.g., blending, word building, dictation, and vocabulary and content knowledge development through the Read Aloud Cards.

Application to Reading and Writing: Students read a new decodable text and write about it.

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Explicit, systematic, multi-modal instruction in daily 20-30 minute lessons 3-Part lesson structure: Warm-Up: Students reread the previously read decodable text, review sound-spelling and high-frequency words or engage in phonological awareness training Multimodal Mini-lesson: e.g., blending, word building, dictation, and vocabulary and content knowledge development through the Read Aloud Cards.

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English knowledging building text sets

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Dual Language Biliteracy I'm bilingual! What's Your Superpower? 

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Dual Language Biliteracy I'm bilingual! What's Your Superpower? 

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Learn how the Biliteracy Instructional Guide and Planners are resources that facilitate informed decision-making around planning and implementing Dual Language and Bilingual instruction using Benchmark Adelante and Advance. Understand the set of tools to facilitate instructional planning and language allocation to enhance your students’ Superpower of being bilingual. Use cross-linguistic transfer teaching and learning opportunities with the curriculum components. Get engaged with suggestions for maintaining instructional integrity in each language while avoiding redundancy and provide students with cross-linguistic strategies and routines.

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Back to School - Dual Language Biliteracy - on demand

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Learn how to empower students with bilingual superpowers through Dual Language Biliteracy Instruction. Utilize resources and tools for effective planning and implementation.

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Building Biliteracy Implications and Applications of the Science of Reading for Biliteracy Instruction 

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Building Biliteracy Implications and Applications of the Science of Reading for Biliteracy Instruction 

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Transfer is important in all learning, but it is especially important in language learning contexts. When learning a new language, cross-linguistic transfer is most evident and critical, as those seeking to learn a new language apply what they already know in their first language to support their pursuit of developing high levels of oral language and literacy in the new language.

Silvia Dorta-Duque de Reyes presents practical research-based strategies that address universal literacy skills common to both the English and Spanish languages as well as language specific skills unique to each language. Contrastive analysis of skills will also be addressed and include caveats for less effective practices.

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Explore the Science of Reading’s impact on biliteracy instruction with Silvia Dorta-Duque de Reyes. Learn practical strategies for cross-linguistic transfer and universal literacy skills in English and Spanish.

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Here is the link to watch the video:

Writing K-2

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Here is the link to watch the video:

Word Study 3-5

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6 Essentials to Minimize Unfinished Learning by Marcus Newsome, Ed.D.

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6 Essentials to Minimize Unfinished Learning by Marcus Newsome, Ed.D.

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We delve into the critical strategies and leadership required to address educational gaps caused by extended disruptions. Drawing from his experience as superintendent during the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic, Newsome highlights the importance of preparedness and proactive measures. He recounts how Chesterfield County Public Schools successfully navigated these crises through technology integration, professional development, and a commitment to continuous improvement, ensuring minimal disruption to student learning.

The article emphasizes six essential approaches to mitigate unfinished learning: strong leadership, equitable resource allocation, high-quality instructional materials, evidence-based interventions, professional learning, and community engagement. By implementing these strategies, educators and policymakers can better support students, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, in overcoming educational inequities and preparing for future uncertainties. Newsome's insights provide a roadmap for creating resilient educational systems that prioritize student success and adaptability in the face of unforeseen challenges.

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Whitepaper- 6 Essentials to Minimize Unfinished Learning

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Discover strategies to address unfinished learning with insights from Marcus Newsome, Ed.D., drawing from experiences in Chesterfield County Public Schools during significant educational disruptions.

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Here is the link to watch the video:

Reading K-5-6

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Video Actions

Embed & Share

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Spanish knowledging building text sets

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Benchmark Advance ©2022  is all GREEN on EdReports - eval tool 1.5

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Benchmark Advance ©2022  is all GREEN on EdReports - eval tool 1.5

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Click here to view the whole report
Source: EdReports' Grades K-2 Report Overview

Source: EdReports' Grades 3-5 Report Overview

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We've Got Wiley - Phonics Expert, Wiley Blevins, is a member of the Benchark Education Team! 

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We've Got Wiley - Phonics Expert, Wiley Blevins, is a member of the Benchark Education Team! 

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Building Biliteracy Implications and Applications of the Science of Reading for Biliteracy Instruction 

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Building Biliteracy Implications and Applications of the Science of Reading for Biliteracy Instruction 

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Transfer is important in all learning, but it is especially important in language learning contexts. When learning a new language, cross-linguistic transfer is most evident and critical, as those seeking to learn a new language apply what they already know in their first language to support their pursuit of developing high levels of oral language and literacy in the new language.

Silvia Dorta-Duque de Reyes presents practical research-based strategies that address universal literacy skills common to both the English and Spanish languages as well as language specific skills unique to each language. Contrastive analysis of skills will also be addressed and include caveats for less effective practices.

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Explore the Science of Reading’s impact on biliteracy instruction with Silvia Dorta-Duque de Reyes. Learn practical strategies for cross-linguistic transfer and universal literacy skills in English and Spanish.

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Video Actions

Embed & Share

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Author and Consultant Team for Benchmark Advance

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Author and Consultant Team for Benchmark Advance

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Steps To Advance Literacy Solutions - Program Guide

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Steps To Advance Literacy Solutions - Program Guide

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Reycraft Books - Excellence in Equity 2022 Nominee of Best Diversity and Inclusive Solution!

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Reycraft Books - Excellence in Equity 2022 Nominee of Best Diversity and Inclusive Solution!

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Webinar - It's All About Differentiation: Instructional Implications to Support Students Climbing the Ladder of Reading and Writing

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Webinar - It's All About Differentiation: Instructional Implications to Support Students Climbing the Ladder of Reading and Writing

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All students deserve appropriate instruction differentiated to their unique needs. In this live and recorded webinar, Nancy Young, Ed.D., and Jan Hasbrouck, Ph.D., unpack the popular Ladder of Reading & Writing infographic as a visual tool for the range of student reading abilities. To support students on their literacy journey, participants will examine key terminology, instructional content, and needs-based methods while they explore new findings from the ever-evolving science of reading. This webinar will discuss effective and joyful ways to deliver differentiated instruction for all students on the reading continuum.

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Climbing the Ladder of Reading and Writing Webinar

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Learn how to differentiate instruction for diverse reading abilities with insights from Nancy Young, Ed.D., and Jan Hasbrouck, Ph.D., using the Ladder of Reading & Writing.

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International Literacy Association - Position paper on Phonics - Meeting the Challenges of Early Literacy Phonics Instruction by Wiley Blevins

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International Literacy Association - Position paper on Phonics - Meeting the Challenges of Early Literacy Phonics Instruction by Wiley Blevins

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Professional Learning - Demo Lessons and Coaching 

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Professional Learning - Demo Lessons and Coaching 

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Holding Space for Humanity: SEL for the Teacher and Student

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Holding Space for Humanity: SEL for the Teacher and Student

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This is one of the videos from our Facebook page. It demonstrates one of the ways our page supports teachers.

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Holding Space for Humanity: SEL for Teachers and Students

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Phonics FAQ: Reflecting on the Science of Reading

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Phonics FAQ: Reflecting on the Science of Reading

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In alignment with science of reading research, learn more about the foundational blocks of systematic and explicit phonics instruction. Literacy expert Wiley Blevins, Ed.D., shares key phonics FAQ while digging deeper into effective foundational skills. This live and recorded webinar will share research-based ways to develop K-5 readers and writers who can meet grade-level standards, so it will be of interest to literacy, language arts, and special education directors and specialists, as well as elementary principals, instructional coaches, classroom teachers, and other educators involved in literacy development.

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Explore phonics instruction with Wiley Blevins, Ed.D., in this webinar on the science of reading. Discover research-based strategies to support K-5 literacy development for educators.

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Steps To Advance Literacy Solutions - Program Guide

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Steps To Advance Literacy Solutions - Program Guide

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Addressing the Social-Emotional, Academic, and Lingustic Needs of Newcomers

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Addressing the Social-Emotional, Academic, and Lingustic Needs of Newcomers

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Schools play an essential role in helping newcomers adapt and contribute as they integrate into our communities and society at large. By understanding the socio-emotional, linguistic, and academic needs of newcomers and by learning how to create a welcoming, asset-oriented environment, educators can enhance learning for not only the newcomer student, but also for the entire learning community.

This webinar explores research-based practices and teaching strategies for engaging students and creating a classroom climate that promotes connectedness, a strong sense of belonging, and mutual respect.

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Addressing the Needs of Newcomers - Silvia de Reyes - On Demand

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Learn strategies for supporting newcomers’ social-emotional, academic, and linguistic needs in this webinar. Discover practices to foster engagement, build vocabulary, and create a welcoming classroom environment.

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The Essential Role of Metacognition in the Sciences of Reading by Dr. Peter Afflerbach

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The Essential Role of Metacognition in the Sciences of Reading by Dr. Peter Afflerbach

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The Science of Reading research speaks to best practices necessary to support successful readers; however, today’s discourse around the “Science of Reading” often limits the scope of reading instruction needed to support all learners. In this brief Q&A, Dr. Peter Afflerbach explains why the “Sciences of Reading” provides a more comprehensive framework of the factors necessary for reading achievement, and the crucial role that metacognition plays in providing lasting reading competencies that ensure life-long reading success.

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The Essential Role of Metacognition in the Sciences of Reading White Paper

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Dr. Peter Afflerbach discusses how metacognition, motivation, and engagement enhance the Science of Reading. Learn why the ‘Sciences of Reading’ offers a comprehensive approach to lasting reading success.

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A 360 View of Literacy : Differentiating Instruction for Advanced Learners Dr. Nancy Young

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A 360 View of Literacy : Differentiating Instruction for Advanced Learners Dr. Nancy Young

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From the perspective of educator and parent, author and educational consultant Nancy Young discusses the distinctive needs of gifted and advanced learners, as well as their unique opportunities. Dr. Young also explains ‘The Ladder of Reading & Writing,’ the popular infographic that she developed to support the needs of all students.

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Differentiating Instruction for Advanced Readers | The Teachers Talk Shop Podcast

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Author and educational consultant Dr. Nancy Young discusses—from both an educator and parental perspective—the unique needs and opportunities for gifted and advanced learners, and explains the Ladder of Reading and Writing, an infographic she developed to help support all students.
Learn more at TeachersTalkShop.com.
A 360º View of Literacy: Differentiating Instruction for Advanced Readers

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Benchmark Advance Walk Through Classrooms with Confidence

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Benchmark Advance Walk Through Classrooms with Confidence

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hat should you see when implementing Benchmark Advance? Take a tour of our Walk Through and Look-For Documents set up to provide administrators and literacy professionals with a guide to key components leading to robust implementation. Understand how to use these documents to focus observations while informing professional development and celebrating what is working well! These non-evaluative resources will provide you with key indicators to look for within the literacy block which will promote the integrity of Benchmark implementation

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Back to School - Benchmark Advance - on demand

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Gain confidence in implementing Benchmark Advance with our Walk Through and Look-For Documents. Enhance observations, inform professional development, and celebrate successes in literacy education.

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Explicit Phonics Instruction Moves the Needle  One Distrit's Journey of Growth Toward Proficiency for English Learners

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Explicit Phonics Instruction Moves the Needle  One Distrit's Journey of Growth Toward Proficiency for English Learners

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Kennett Consolidated School District (KCSD) celebrates multilingualism and is proud of its multicultural community. When 93% of English Learners in grades 1-5 were not on track to proficiency, however, the district knew some changes were needed. In response, KCSD developed a multi-phased plan that included a strong focus on teaching explicit phonics, using Benchmark Phonics and Phonics Intervention. This District Partnership Success Story recounts how the Kennett Consolidated School District moved the needle, growing the percentage of English Learners on track to proficiency from 7 to 55%.

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Explicit Phonics Instruction Moves the Needle - Success Story

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Discover how Kennett Consolidated School District boosted English Learner proficiency from 7% to 55% with explicit phonics instruction. Read the full success story of this district’s journey to academic growth and multilingual celebration.

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A 360 View of Literacy: Putting the Sciences of Reading into Action 

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A 360 View of Literacy: Putting the Sciences of Reading into Action 

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Every educator knows the importance of foundational skills, and of building student engagement and ownership while teaching these skills. First-grade teacher Cameron Carter discusses how this can be achieved, reflecting on the use of technology and mini books, and on buddy games, respectful conversations, and the sharing part of learning. Carter addresses the Science of Reading movement and its embrace of all components of literacy—comprehension, fluency, background knowledge, and vocabulary—not solely phonics.

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Putting the Sciences of Reading into Action | The Teachers Talk Shop Podcast

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Every educator knows the importance of foundational skills, and of building student engagement and ownership while teaching these skills. First-grade teacher Cameron Carter discusses how this can be achieved, and reflects on navigating both through and beyond the pandemic as the Science of Reading movement gains momentum. Learn more at TeachersTalkShop.com.
A 360º View of Literacy: Putting the Sciences of Reading into Action