How shorter assessments deliver reliable results for schools
How shorter assessments deliver reliable results for schools
October 26, 2026
For decades, a key debate in K–12 education has focused on testing time and whether shorter, more efficient tests like Renaissance’s Star Assessments deliver the reliable data that educators need. In this blog, I’ll share the latest developments [...]
Reading fluency strategies to improve student literacy
Reading fluency strategies to improve student literacy
October 20, 2026
When it comes to improving students’ reading comprehension, a crucial piece of the puzzle is fluency. There is a science to teaching reading called, well, the Science of Reading. The decades of research touting systematic, [...]
Why reading for pleasure is one of education’s greatest untapped opportunities
Why reading for pleasure is one of education’s greatest untapped opportunities
October 12, 2026
As a child, I learned an important lesson from my mother about the power of reading for pleasure. She always told me reading was important, but far more powerful was what she consistently did. She read. Whether it [...]
Future of dyslexia screening: 4 key takeaways for educators
Future of dyslexia screening: 4 key takeaways for educators
September 18, 2026
When you think about screening students for characteristics of dyslexia, what comes to mind? For many educators and leaders, the answer is likely state screening requirements, multiple reading assessments, and the challenge of making sense of the data to [...]
How AI should increase instructional alignment
How AI should increase instructional alignment
September 8, 2026
Alignment in education is a simple idea to describe yet often difficult to achieve. Alignment exists everywhere around us. Whether in nature, music, athletics, or leadership, success often depends upon multiple parts working together toward a common purpose.
Beyond engagement: Why literacy must be about more than test scores
Beyond engagement: Why literacy must be about more than test scores
August 25, 2026
Build vocabulary and comprehension skills by connecting literacy instruction to K12 students’ lives. A reading expert shows you how.
Authentic books for students: Celebrating 40 years of Accelerated Reader
Authentic books for students: Celebrating 40 years of Accelerated Reader
August 7, 2026
Over the last four decades, Accelerated Reader has become one of the most widely used reading programs in K–12 schools. Clearly, a lot has changed over the years—in education, in publishing, and in technology. Yet [...]
5 key points for educators about curriculum-based measurement
5 key points for educators about curriculum-based measurement
July 28, 2026
When we first began working with curriculum-based measurement, or CBM, decades ago as school psychologists, we were drawn to its practicality. CBM was originally developed by Stan Deno and colleagues in the 1970s to help educators answer a question [...]
The top proven reading comprehension strategies for educators
The top proven reading comprehension strategies for educators
July 23, 2026
As educators, we want our students to develop a lifelong love of reading. However, that is no small feat given the complexities of literacy development. From day one of school, we begin to focus on five key pillars: phonemic [...]
