S9 E3: Know the non-negotiables in a program aligned to the Science of Reading, with Kari Kurto

Amplify Education

02 October 2024

On this episode, Kari Kurto, National Science of Reading Project Director at The Reading League, discusses The Reading League’s curriculum evaluation tool, which assesses a curriculum’s research-based practices. Kurto's conversation with Susan Lambert touches on her background teaching students with dyslexia, the non-negotiables in curriculum aligned to the Science of Reading, and how educators can use information about an evaluated curriculum to inform instruction. While Kurto stresses that no program is perfect, she and her colleagues have worked to equip educators with a tool to more easily and objectively access information when making curriculum choices..   Show notes: Submit your Science of Reading questions for a chance to win!Submit your literacy questions for a chance to win!eBook: Science of Reading: Defining Guide from The Reading LeagueThe Reading League’s Curriculum Evaluation GuidelinesReading League CompassSubscribe to The Reading League’s newsletter Quotes: “Just because we have this report and we say, ‘All right, this curriculum has all the stuff,’ if you don't teach it, then you're a red flag of your own.” —Kari Kurto “It's a movement of improvement, right? We're constantly striving to improve. And don't give up. Share your stories; share your success stories.” —Kari Kurto “Thank you to those folks who have been listening. Thank you to the folks who are curious about learning more, those who have spent years implementing and tweaking and improving literacy outcomes for our country's next generation. I mean, that's huge.” —Kari Kurto Episode timestamps* 02:00 Introduction: Who is Kari Kurto? 08:00 Teaching kids with dyslexia, what they need to learn to read 10:00 Reading league defining guide 11:00 Curriculum review tool 16:00 Determining which programs to review 20:00 Using the curriculum review tool as professional development 21:00 Non-negotiables in a science of reading curriculum 24:00 How to use the information from a program evaluation 30:00 Long-term plans of the navigation report tool 32:00 The reporting team 34:00 The Reading League compass 37:00 The Reading League journal 40:00 Final Advice *Timestamps are approximate, rounded to nearest minute