Dear First name / educator, HAPPY NEW YEAR! As we close out 2025 and look ahead to the new year, this season offers a natural moment to pause, reflect, and reset. In this issue, we’re sharing resources and spotlights designed to help you sustain momentum, celebrate progress, and carry what’s working into the months ahead. As you prepare for the new year, we hope these ideas support a thoughtful reset—one grounded in clarity, connection, and continued growth. |
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Whether you’re wrapping up mid-year benchmarking from December or getting ready for it in January, now is the ideal moment to make adjustments that can significantly impact student outcomes. Dr. Stephanie Stollar from the Reading Science Academy shares six thoughtful questions to help guide your data team conversations and turn insights into meaningful action. - What percentage of students in each grade are at-risk? <20% → Analyze and improve the Tier 2 and Tier 3 system. >20% → Analyze and improve the Tier 1 system.
- Have scores increased or decreased since the beginning of the year? Discuss the reasons.
- How can Tier 1 be improved to reduce risk by the end of the year? Consider increasing time, skill-based groups, flexible delivery, etc.
- How can Tier 2 and Tier 3 interventions be improved to reduce risk by the end of the year? Consider increasing time (30-45 minutes of instruction 3-5 days/week), not missing Tier 1 for intervention, instructional alignment to Tier 1, frequent progress monitoring, etc.
- Who needs more? Who needs less? Which interventions are catching students up to the goals? Adjust your support and instructional intensification accordingly.
- What's the plan? Set a goal for reducing the percentage of struggling students by the end of the year.
As Stollar reminds us, Tier 1 is prevention, Tier 2 is precision, and Tier 3 is intensity. The goal isn’t to sort students—it’s to serve them. Data guides the work; instruction does the work. |
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Compelling post from Chad Adelman. If a child is behind in the early grades, the odds that they will catch up decline every single year. Do. Not. Wait. Note the following: - Among kindergartners who started the 2021-22 school year off track, 49% were on track at the end of third grade last year. That’s basically a coin toss.
- Among first graders who started the 2022-23 school year behind, just 29% ended third grade on track.
- Among second graders who started the 2023-24 school year off track, only 18% completed third grade on track.
- Among third graders who started the 2024-25 behind, just 5% were on track by the end of the year.
Click here to read the full post. |
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Explore this month’s curated resources for insight, inspiration, and practical application—highlighting what’s possible when strong instruction, literacy systems, and evidence-based practices come together to support every learner. - A new analysis from The 74 Million highlights more than 2,000 schools beating the odds—helping students succeed in reading despite high-poverty challenges. As educators, can’t control every challenge our students face—but we can control instruction, build strong literacy systems, and create the support they deserve. These schools are proving what’s possible when we focus on those factors. Explore the data and see which schools are making it happen. → The 74Million.org
- Curious how strong writing instruction—and its connection to the science of reading—impacts student comprehension? This episode of Science of Reading Essentials breaks down what every educator needs to know to build powerful writing skills that deepen understanding. → Literacy Essentials, Episode 1
- Check out this must-watch conversation with Emily Hanford, Reid Lyon, and Margaret Goldberg—three leading voices in the science of reading. They explore how our brains really learn to read, what classrooms are getting right (and wrong), and how we can shift toward instruction that truly supports every learner. If you care about evidence-based literacy, this one’s for you. → Eyes on Reading
- Designed for intermediate and secondary classrooms, this guide outlines explicit morphology instruction as a powerful way to strengthen vocabulary, decoding, and comprehension through intentional teaching of word structure. → Intensive Intervention Practice Guide: Explicit Morphology Instruction to Improve Overall Literacy Skills in Secondary Students
- This curated UFLI Padlet, developed by Side-by-Side consultant Tanya Peshovich, brings together practical tools, planning supports, and instructional examples to help educators implement UFLI routines with clarity and consistency. -→ UFLI Padlet
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“The literacy landscape is evolving. Are leaders keeping up?” As the literacy landscape continues to evolve, so does the role of educational leaders. This article explores why it’s essential for leaders to understand the Science of Reading—not just as a concept, but as a foundation for instructional decision-making, professional learning, and coherent systemwide support. If you’re thinking about how leadership, clarity, and evidence-based practice intersect, this piece offers timely perspective and practical urgency. -→ Why Leaders Must Learn the Science of Reading from ASCD |
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We’re proud to share that Side-by-Side is an approved partner for literacy consultation and training across multiple states and initiatives. Our work continues to focus on building strong, evidence-based instruction grounded in the Science of Reading that empowers educators and ensures all students become proficient readers. Current Partnerships and Approvals Include: - Montana – Approved provider for Montana Reads Grant
- Iowa – Approved provider for Iowa CLSD Grant
- Colorado – Approved partner under the Colorado Early Literacy Grant
- Oregon – Approved PD provider for the Early Literacy Success Grant
- Idaho – Approved provider for Idaho Dyslexia PD
- Oklahoma – Approved PD provider under Oklahoma Strong Readers Act
Additional partnerships are underway, and we look forward to sharing more soon! |
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This month’s featured Quick Tip is here! Remember, we release new Quick Tips every week on Side-by-Side’s Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube—follow us to stay updated with the latest insights! |
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That’s all for this month! We hope this edition has offered valuable insights and inspiration for your educational journey. We’re excited to share more resources and ideas in our next edition. Until then, take good care of yourselves. We need educators like you in this world! |
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