Kathy Denious, M.Ed., C-SLCT

Founder of The Elle Center

[The Center for Literacy & Learning @cll_teach]

Increasing dedicated instructional time is linked to improved student achievement. Even 30 extra minutes of focused instruction each day can lead to meaningful academic gains over the course of a school year. 💙#FactFriday #Education #StudentSuccess #LiteracyMatters #laed

[Project Read @ProjectReadAI]

Two weeks ago we launched Spelling Mode in the Project Read Tutor, and the response from classrooms has been incredible.

Spelling Mode is the first digital tool to analyze student spelling via touchscreen down to the letter-sound correspondence, built in collaboration with the @UFLiteracy team and aligned to the UFLI scope and sequence.

Encoding has a symbiotic relationship with decoding, and is where so many students struggle.

We think this is a fundamentally shift in how digital tools can support emerging readers and spellers.

Demo here:
https://t.co/Kw1maNY63I

[The Reading League @reading_league]

There’s still time to join TRL Chapter Network’s 3rd Annual Summer Book Study!

📚 “Reading Isn’t Optional: Fulfilling the Promise of Literacy for Secondary Students”
🗓️ Kickoff: June 16 at 7 p.m. ET

Learn more about this free learning opportunity: https://t.co/fXdkMm2NcQ

[Education Week @educationweek]

How Family Reading Time Can Help Older Students Thrive https://t.co/SCt4Cb18wN

[Read On Arizona @ReadOnArizona]

Today's reading outcomes are tomorrow's workforce outcomes. Only 36% of AZ 3rd-graders read proficiently. Business leaders Sharon Harper (@PlazaCompanies) & John Graham back the $2M investment in literacy coaching as one that pays dividends for decades https://t.co/HcL24J6nuS

[Iowa Reading Research Center @IAReading]

Learning the alphabet is not just about learning the names and shapes of letters. It’s also important for children to learn letter-sounds! To access free resources to support children’s early literacy skills, visit the Spark Early Literacy Hub: https://t.co/TQhI6jdFxQ

[Kathy Denious, M.Ed., C-SLCT @kathydenious]

Every day I see students make progress when given the right instruction and high expectations. Children are remarkably resilient and capable; it’s often the system around them that needs fixing. If schools, communities, and policymakers embrace the kind of bold, evidence-based changes outlined in this article, I am confident we will not only regain the lost decade of progress but set new milestones of achievement.

[The Atlantic @TheAtlantic]

American students are falling behind, and the most common explanations overlook the main problem, @imkahloon argues. https://t.co/qVcadOa4Wc

[Kathy Denious, M.Ed., C-SLCT @kathydenious]

I’m still processing this quiet encounter and conversation with Anita Archer. Such a powerhouse in literacy and explicit instruction. So much insight in so little time. I’m grateful and honestly a bit speechless #TRLCONF2025
Until next year 🫶🏻

[Kathy Denious, M.Ed., C-SLCT @kathydenious]

This episode echoes exactly what we see every day, Grateful for this conversation that so clearly aligns with our mission.

https://t.co/dzMfuyY7Qc

[Kathy Denious, M.Ed., C-SLCT @kathydenious]

Current research supports the efficacy of embedded mnemonics - letters paired with meaningful visual imagery - in facilitating children's acquisition of letter-sound correspondences. Mnemonic pictures significantly decrease the repetitions required for mastery, reduce learner confusion, enhance long-term retention, and improve the transferability of letter-sound knowledge to reading and spelling tasks.

Art Credit: Cat MacInnes

[Dr. Cindy Nebel @PsyDocCindy]

Retrieval practice without quizzes, grading, or wasting time. @MrZachG

[Emily Hanford @ehanford]

The Outlier
Sold a Story Episode 11: There’s a school district in eastern Ohio where virtually all the students become good readers by the time they finish third grade. How did they do it?

[Iowa Reading Research Center @IAReading]

What is the difference between universal screeners, diagnostic assessments, progress monitoring, and summative assessments? Learn more in our free "Understanding Your Student's Literacy Data" eLearning module, out now on our Caregivers Resource Hub. https://t.co/y7RfDKn4WW

[Jan Hasbrouck, Ph.D. @janhasbrouck]

I just published a blog on reading fluency. Defining, assessing and teaching. Looking forward to comments!
https://t.co/S5hmB2PTVQ

[Kathy Denious, M.Ed., C-SLCT @kathydenious]

@janhasbrouck Your work continues to be invaluable in helping educators and interventionists ensure fluency instruction is meaningful and effective. Thank you!

[Kathy Denious, M.Ed., C-SLCT @kathydenious]

Research demonstrates that explicitly teaching handwriting can significantly improve spelling and word recognition—both crucial elements of early literacy.
#handwriting
#handwritingpractice
#dyslexia
#dysgraphia
#theellecenter
#evidencebased

[Stephanie Stollar @sstollar6]

The job of first reading instruction (Tier 1) is to reduce the number of students who need intervention.
We need to stop expecting students to fit into rigid, whole group, core programs and start building the educational systems students need and deserve.

[Timothy Shanahan @ReadingShanahan]

Is Print Awareness Part of the Science of Reading?
https://t.co/VVQR9JXk5V