“Some of my kindergarteners still can’t quite master the difference between /b/ and /p/. But right next to them, I’ve got kids who are ready to tackle whole sentences. I feel like I’m running two different classrooms at once.” If this sounds familiar, then you already know why targeted reading practice matters.
It can be challenging for early elementary teachers to meet students where they are. You’re juggling foundational skills, fluency, comprehension, and engagement, all inside the same literacy block. And you’re only one person!
When instruction zeroes in on exactly what each student needs, it can transform the classroom from a scramble to a steady rhythm. But how do you grow an extra set of eyes and ears, providing each student with exactly what they need in a classroom of more than twenty? At NWEA, we care what it feels like inside a real classroom. As we dig into what “practical” really looks like, we have two new resources we think you’ll find useful and maybe even realistically refreshing.
Goodbye, theoretical professional development
In a surprising twist, teachers might learn best by watching others teach. That’s why we’ve got two new classroom demo videos featuring Tiffany Peltier, director of Professional Learning at NWEA and Literacy Ultra-Nerd™. Her research focuses on the science of reading, and in these short clips, she makes it concrete, demonstrating routines with real students in our Learning Lab.
- In “Simple spelling routine: Say, stretch, chop, dash,” Tiffany models a scaffolded phonics-based spelling routine—first explaining the research, then showing how it works with a real (and very cute) kindergartener.
- In “Beginning letter-sounds and blendable phonemes,” Tiffany explains the science behind the concepts of practicing letter sounds, learning blendable phonemes, and making the print-to-speech connection. Then, she’s joined by two students, and together they model an alphabetic phonemic exercise. She concludes by pointing to a free companion resource: embedded mnemonic letter cards.
The best part? These aren’t staged, as evidenced by the very real teacher moments Tiffany shares with five-year-old Georgia. They’re authentic, practical routines for targeted reading practice you can picture using with your own students. And being able to picture success is the surest way to start working toward it.
Too often, teachers are told what they should do—“Focus on phonics!” “Target early literacy skills!”— without ever being shown how to do it in real time with real kids. These videos close that gap. By pairing the science behind the practice with a clear demonstration of the practice itself, they provide the kind of professional learning teachers repeatedly say they value most: concrete, clear, and connected to their daily reality.
Go deeper with our new guide
The videos are just the start. Our new guide, Why (and how) to provide targeted practice for every reader, digs deeper into why targeted reading practice matters—and how to make it manageable. Inside, you’ll find:
- A framework for why targeted reading practice accelerates growth. Many teachers sense that “extra practice” helps, but not all practice is created equal. The guide demystifies the brain science behind memory and explains why practice is the only antidote to forgetting.
- (Printable!) examples across grade levels. Targeted practice looks different for a kindergartener learning letter sounds than for a fourth-grader working on multisyllabic words. The guide provides age-appropriate examples that help you visualize how these strategies evolve as students move along the reading continuum.
- Insights on connecting assessment to instruction. Knowing what to practice depends on knowing where a student is. The guide illustrates how to use interim or formative assessment data to identify skill gaps and turn them into actionable next steps, so instructional time goes where it matters most.
- Practical strategies that fit into the day. We know you don’t have time for elaborate systems that require new curricula or endless prep. The guide highlights routines and activities that can be slotted into existing literacy blocks—including some time-honored favorites—keeping them doable, flexible, and sustainable.
- A roadmap for equity. Perhaps most importantly, the guide emphasizes that targeted reading practice ensures all readers, regardless of background or starting point, have access to instruction that moves them forward. Children who are high-fliers deserve targeted practice just as much as those who may be behind. This guide helps you reach the margins.
Maximize your instructional energy
Targeted reading practice isn’t just another initiative to add to your plate. It’s a way to make the time you already have more effective by focusing each child’s effort (and your instructional energy) exactly where it will pay off.
When professional learning combines the science of reading with visible, practical demonstrations, it not only clarifies what to do, but it also gives teachers a concrete model to emulate. And that confidence translates directly to students, who sense when their teacher knows the path forward.
Every reader deserves targeted reading practice that meets them where they are—and every teacher deserves resources that make that possible.
