Learn how a rural, high-poverty, school with a large minority population implemented systematic reading instruction and increased engagement during a global pandemic. While teaching students from low socioeconomic status, English Language Learners, and students with disabilities, I saw firsthand the barriers that these students faced to building foundational literacy skills. Building these crucial reading skills in class was already challenging, but the global pandemic added many new obstacles. The inequities between households became more apparent, and increasing student and parent engagement was more important than ever in a remote environment. Hear my journey in navigating these challenges while implementing a multi-sensory phonics approach that is explicit, systematic, highly engaging, and research-based. I will share sample lessons and data that show how the lessons learned during the pandemic can continue to improve reading instruction and engagement in a post-pandemic world.
For seven years, Caitlin has taught in early childhood classrooms and has provided school-wide professional development on improving early literacy outcomes. After moving districts from North Carolina to South Carolina, she saw the inequities that students from diverse backgrounds face, especially when it came to reading difficulties. These experiences compelled her to become an advocate for her students and to reject the idea that their circumstances or ethnicity meant that they could not be successful. In 2018, Caitlin was named District Teacher of the Year for Saluda County Schools. She has found a way for her students to be successful in early literacy and wants to share her experience with other educators.