top of page
Sundays with Sarah
Literacy, Leadership, and Lessons from the Field
All Posts


New Year, New Practices: Navigating the Transition to the Science of Reading
Doc Holbrok presenting to English teachers at Superintendent Conference Day. The start of the school year can always feel overwhelming....

DocHolbrook
Aug 31, 20253 min read


Find Your George: Why Every New Teacher Needs a Mentor
Because the lessons that shape us aren’t found in textbooks— they’re passed down from those who’ve been there before. Doc Holbrook 20...

DocHolbrook
Aug 24, 20255 min read


Raising the Bar: Scaffolding Students into Complex Texts
Doc Holbrook at the warehouse with the new knowledge building program. As many schools shift to the science of reading, they’re adopting...

DocHolbrook
Aug 17, 20256 min read


Reimagining the "Sunday Scaries"
Doc Holbrook and her daughters enjoying an LBI sunrise. Turning "Sunday Scaries" into Monday Momentum If you work in education, you’re...

DocHolbrook
Aug 10, 20254 min read


More than Just Summer School: How a Village Helped Struggling Readers Rise
When Schools Unite Around Literacy: A Summer of Growth Doc Holbrook with SUNY New Paltz literacy candidates and KCSD teacher Lauren...

DocHolbrook
Aug 3, 20256 min read


Building Better Readers: Turning Information into Transformation
Are we tracking progress—or just collecting data? Many schools invest heavily in diagnostic tools, but real reading growth happens through high-quality instruction and teacher expertise. Discover why building educator knowledge—especially in the science of reading—matters more than dashboards. #LiteracyMatters #ScienceOfReading #EducationReform #ReadingInstruction #EdLeadership

DocHolbrook
Jul 27, 20253 min read


From Left Behind to Catching Up: Reclaiming Readers Through Science Based Teaching
Rising 9 Literacy Academy: Midpoint Update & Progress Monitoring Insights We are halfway through our Rising 9 Literacy Academy, and with...

DocHolbrook
Jul 20, 20255 min read


Bridging the Gap: A Summer Academy Rooted in Urgency, Equity, and Expertise
When high school students can't read at grade level, the solution isn't just remediation—it's reinvention. KCSD teachers and SUNY New...

DocHolbrook
Jul 13, 20254 min read


Freedom Isn't Free if You Can't Read
The Right to Read is the Right to Be Fee KCSD administrators in Montgomery, Alabama—visiting the Legacy Museum and reflecting deeply on...

DocHolbrook
Jul 6, 20254 min read


A Quiet Crisis in the Midst of Loud Applause
Doc Holbrook and her KCSD team at high school graduation—celebrating our students’ achievements while reflecting on the deeper promise of...

DocHolbrook
Jun 29, 20254 min read


What About Our English Language Learners?
Supporting English learners in learning to read is both a challenge and a powerful opportunity. These dedicated educators are leaning...

DocHolbrook
Jun 22, 20255 min read


The Stories We Know: How Content Knowledge Fuels Learning
(Published in honor of Father's Day) Growing up, I didn’t realize I was receiving a history education before I ever walked into a...

DocHolbrook
Jun 15, 20253 min read


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
Jun 8, 20254 min read


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 1, 20253 min read


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 25, 20253 min read


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 18, 20257 min read


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 11, 20253 min read


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 4, 20253 min read


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 27, 20253 min read


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 20, 20254 min read
bottom of page





