Grades 4 and 5 are critical years to continue laying a solid foundation for lifelong literacy. Research is clear that learning foundational skills does not end in third grade; instead, it’s imperative that we expand the foundation with more sophisticated tools to move our students into the complex text demands they will meet in school and beyond.
In this on-demand webinar, we examine the use of replicable routines to teach students how to fearlessly attack multisyllabic words while building morphological understandings to accelerate vocabulary growth when reading grade-level texts.
Chief Academic Officer Laura Stewart and Lia Ferro, Director of Product Management, were joined by school partners Brian Cromer, EdD, Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, Megan Hoffman, Fourth Grade Teacher, and Jennifer Beard, Fifth Grade Teacher, all with South Western School District, Hanover, PA, who shared their transformative journey.
Webinar highlights include:
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Laura Stewart, Chief Academic Officer, 95 Percent Group
As Chief Academic Officer for 95 Percent Group, Laura Stewart drives our leadership position and is our primary Reading Science advocate. Her journey began as a classroom teacher and a school district administrator, igniting her lifelong passion for empowering educators to impact ALL students positively and ultimately change the course of literacy achievement in this country. Before joining 95 Percent Group, Laura served as the Chief Innovation Officer for The Reading League and was the Chief Academic Officer for Professional Development with the Highlights Education Group.
Lia Ferro, Director of Product Management, 95 Percent Group
Lia Ferro is a product leader and early education evangelist. She has proudly spent the last decade singularly focused on developing curriculum and solutions that help to make educators’ lives easier and improve outcomes for students. Having spent time as a tutor, a teacher, a coach, and a trainer, Lia brings her deep respect for educators to everything she does as Director of Product Management for 95 Percent Group.
Brian Cromer, EdD, Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, South Western School District, Hanover, PA
Before taking on his current position, Dr. Comer spent sixteen years as a K-5 elementary principal, culminating in two years as both the elementary supervisor and building principal. Over the past three years, the team of elementary administrators and teachers in this district have diligently focused on ELA Scope and Sequence development. This leadership group designed and built a literacy framework, utilized the UbD Design Process for curriculum development, and identified core resources to support the written curriculum. Additionally, Brian collaborates closely with a team of ten elementary reading specialists who cover four of the district's elementary schools.
Jennifer Beard, Fifth Grade Teacher, South Western School District, Hanover, PA
Jennifer is a seasoned educator, boasting 17 years of experience as a classroom teacher. She's navigated grades 2 through 5 and currently thrives in her fifth year at West Manheim Elementary, part of the South Western School District. Equipped with a Master's in Reading, Jennifer's passion for literacy ignites the flames of learning in her students. Beyond the classroom, Jennifer actively contributes to the district's successby serving on the ELA Committee, where she shapes the vision and curriculum for future generations of learners.
Megan Hoffman, Fourth Grade Teacher, South Western School District, Hanover, PA
With a passion for literacy that spans her 20 years as a 4th-grade teacher at Baresville Elementary, Megan has dedicated her entire career to the South Western School District. Megan's devotion lies in fostering a love for reading and writing, evident in her classroom's vibrant atmosphere and student engagement. She has been a key member of the district's ELA Committee since its inception, actively shaping the curriculum and philosophy to ensure every student's diverse reading and writing needs are met.