By Leigh Buettler, M.S.Ed.
Now that the school year has wrapped up, it feels like the perfect time to look back at some of the topics we’ve covered in our professional development newsletter. This year, we dug into how to sharpen literacy instruction using clear mastery criteria so students can build strong, automatic reading skills at just the right pace. We explored the five stages of learning that help students move from first learning a skill to confidently using it in real life, and talked about pacing lessons thoughtfully to balance new skills with review. Reflecting on student behaviors was another big focus, with handy tools to boost engagement and make instruction more effective. We also shared flexible, affordable professional development options to support teachers and teams wherever they are in their journey. And we wrapped up by looking at how skill-based Tier 2 instruction can be a game-changer for meeting students’ unique needs. All of these insights and resources are here for you to tap into as you keep growing your teaching practice and helping your students succeed. You can peruse the full list of this year’s newsletter topics below. I look forward to continuing this journey together next year!
Happy summer,
Leigh Buettler
Sometimes it’s hard to tell if literacy lessons are moving too fast, too slow, or at just the right pace. Using clear mastery criteria helps ensure students truly develop automatic and accurate reading skills before moving on. By closely tracking student progress and setting high (but realistic) standards for mastery, educators can design targeted, engaging lessons that reduce errors and support long-term success beyond intervention. For a deeper dive, be sure to read the full newsletter!
The 5 Stages of Learning Every Educator Should Know
Supporting students through acquisition, fluency, retention, endurance, and generalization helps ensure they truly master and use their skills, reducing the need for reteaching and promoting real-world success. Read more to explore each step and download a handy reference table to use while planning.
Are your literacy lessons moving too fast, too slow, or you just don’t know? Part II
Having clear, specific lesson goals and pacing lessons thoughtfully are key to helping students really master and apply skills. It works best to start by focusing closely on new skills, then gradually mix in review to avoid overwhelming students and help build automaticity. Making good progress means using real data to decide when to move ahead or slow down, and helps us keep our instruction flexible to meet each student’s unique needs. Read the full newsletter and download a set of syllable division cards to use in your instruction.
Reflecting on Student Behaviors to Elevate Teaching
Great teaching isn’t just about what we do when we’re teaching, it’s also about understanding how our students learn and behave. Recording your lessons and taking time to watch and reflect on the recording helps us understand more about ourselves, as well as our students. Want a handy tool to help track student engagement and behavior? Read more and download the Stern Center’s Student Behaviors Checklist, to help guide your lesson planning and reflection.
Is your Tier 2 instruction meeting every learner’s needs?
Effective Tier 2 instruction should be flexible, targeted, and based on students’ specific skill needs, not broad labels or grade levels. Research shows that small, skill-based groups with regular progress monitoring lead to better outcomes and more responsive teaching. Our Stern Center teams offer instructional services, professional development, and summer learning support to help schools build and sustain effective Tier 2 systems. Check out the full newsletter for all of the possibilities.
