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Sundays with Sarah:
Literacy, Leadership and Lessons from the Field
Sundays with Sarah: Literacy, Leadership and Lessons from the Field
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Oral Language: The Overlooked Foundation of Reading
A quick stop to St. Augustine after my graduation in May. My girls insisted I get a photo in front of the oldest schoolhouse! Recently,...

DocHolbrook
6 days ago4 min read
70 views
1 comment


Shifting Practice, Changing Outcomes: Lessons from a Year of Structured Literacy
This spring, I sat around a table with a group of teachers who piloted the CKLA reading program this year. These teachers didn’t just try...

DocHolbrook
Jun 13 min read
66 views
0 comments


More Than Just Words Per Minute: Understanding and Using Oral Reading Fluency Data
Welcome back to Sundays with Sarah —where we bridge research and classroom practice to make reading instruction more effective,...

DocHolbrook
May 253 min read
42 views
0 comments


Targeted, Timely, and Effective: A Deep Dive into MTSS and Progress Monitoring
Recently, a third-grade teacher asked me a thoughtful question about Tier 2 instruction for one of her students. Specifically, she wanted...

DocHolbrook
May 187 min read
112 views
0 comments


Honoring the Heart of Education: Celebrating Teachers Everywhere—Especially My Mom
My mom with one of her classes circa 1992 Last week, I graduated from the University of Florida with my doctorate. I returned to school...

DocHolbrook
May 113 min read
27 views
0 comments


How to Support Your Child’s Reading at Home Over the Summer
Summer is right around the corner, and one question I hear from many parents is: “How can I help my child with reading over the summer?”...

DocHolbrook
May 43 min read
87 views
0 comments


Bridging the Gap Between Research and Practice: Reflections from The Reading League Summit
"It takes a league." This past week, I had the opportunity to attend The Reading League Summit in Chicago. One of the major themes that...

DocHolbrook
Apr 273 min read
53 views
0 comments


How to Build Stronger Readers: Strategies That Actually Work
"As a school administrator I try to spend as much time as I can in the classrooms outside of the formal observation. It helps me build...

DocHolbrook
Apr 204 min read
89 views
0 comments


Say Dyslexia: Understanding, Supporting, and Shifting Our Approach
When I first started teaching, mentioning the word dyslexia was strictly prohibited. You couldn’t talk about it at meetings, and you...

DocHolbrook
Apr 135 min read
64 views
0 comments


The Role of Reading Fluency in Academic Achievement
When I started teaching, we didn’t focus on fluency. Sure, we administered running records and occasionally touched on prosody in our...

DocHolbrook
Apr 63 min read
110 views
0 comments


Helping High School Students Decode Multisyllabic Words: A Teacher's Guide
Teacher question : As a high school teacher, I often have kids who struggle with reading. Many of them are years behind in their reading...

DocHolbrook
Mar 304 min read
90 views
0 comments


Turning the Page: A District's Journey to Teaching Older Kids to Read
One of the most common questions I get is, “How do you teach reading to older students?” The answer is simple: the same way you teach it...

DocHolbrook
Mar 234 min read
129 views
0 comments


Every Teacher a Reading Teacher: Retraining and Reimagining Literacy Instruction Districtwide
One of the most striking observations in my journey to implement the science of reading across my district has been the deep loyalty...

DocHolbrook
Mar 165 min read
74 views
0 comments


Why is Shifting Away from Balanced Literacy Practices So Hard for Teachers?
Recently, I met with a teacher who wanted to discuss some student data and get suggestions for improving her students' literacy skills....

DocHolbrook
Mar 95 min read
416 views
0 comments


Balanced Literacy vs. Structured Literacy: Understanding the Key Differences
When it comes to teaching reading, two prominent approaches often come up for debate: balanced literacy and structured literacy. However,...

DocHolbrook
Mar 24 min read
110 views
0 comments
From Sounds to Words
Teacher Question: I’ve been working on phonics instruction with my students, but they just don’t seem to be getting it. Why is that? A:...

DocHolbrook
Feb 232 min read
46 views
0 comments


Phonics vs Phonemic Awareness: Why Both Matter
Research shows that one of the key factors in improving students’ reading achievement is the effectiveness of the teacher. Teachers who...

DocHolbrook
Feb 163 min read
107 views
0 comments


What About the Older Kids? How to Effectively Address Learning Loss in Middle School
As a parent of two middle school daughters, this issue is close to my heart. The science of reading has prompted a lot of changes in...

DocHolbrook
Feb 95 min read
49 views
0 comments


Ace the Test: Effective Strategies for Preparing for the ELA Exam
Preparing for ELA State Testing: A Balanced Approach As the new year begins, schools across the state are gearing up for the upcoming...

DocHolbrook
Feb 24 min read
128 views
0 comments


Why Multiple Measures Matter: The Key to Effective Reading Instruction
One of the most important parts of my role is helping teachers navigate questions about their students' reading development. I’ve found...

DocHolbrook
Jan 263 min read
78 views
0 comments
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