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Response to Cummins: The OHRC Right to Read Report Will Move Ontario into the 21st Century

In this article, Dr. Perry Klein responds to Dr. Jim Cummins’ criticisms of the Right to Read Report, highlighting several recommendations and positions that Cummins attributes to the report but that it does not actually contain. Dr. Klein also identifies five ways in which this report will bring Ontario’s special education policy into the 21st…

Distinguishing Between Difference, Disorder, and Disadvantage: Cultural Considerations for Diverse Readers

In this PaTTAN Literacy Symposium webinar, Dr. Lakeisha Johnson examines the differences between African-American English and mainstream American English and the relationship between oral language skills and African-American students. She discusses assessment and treatment practices that are culturally responsive. Dr. Johnson outlines the issues with confusing a linguistic difference with a linguistic disorder and provides…

Intensifying Literacy Instruction: Essential Practices

This document summarizes five key priorities in intensifying literacy practices for students who struggle: knowledge and use of a learning progression, designing and using an evidence-based intervention platform, ongoing data-based decision-making, adapting to increase the intensity of intervention, and infrastructures (systems) to support students with severe and persistent literacy needs.

Literacy for All: Instructional Considerations for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities

Literacy is a set of skills that opens a world of possibilities for all students, including students with significant cognitive exceptionalities.  This PaTTAN webinar begins the discussion about what literacy instruction looks like for this group of students by discussing the definition of literacy, examining the research literature, and providing questions to help guide the…

Knowledge and Practice: The Real Keys to Critical Thinking

In this Knowledge Matters Campaign article, Daniel Willingham explores the factors that lead to critical thinking skills, noting that background, or domain knowledge, plays a key factor. Willingham notes, “background knowledge is absolutely integral to effectively deploying important cognitive processes,” suggesting that facts that are taught need to be meaningful, can be learned incidentally and…