Teachers and their students deserve high-quality materials

Sharon Walpole is a well-known scholar in literacy and reading instruction who has spent many years researching how best to support children’s reading development and to promote effective teaching practices in schools. She has worked closely with teachers and school communities to develop evidence-based methods that connect research with everyday classroom practice.

Sharon recently led a workshop for teachers at the Open University at Reykjavik University, where her presentation was very well received. She emphasised the importance of systematic reading instruction, early intervention, and ensuring that teachers receive meaningful support to meet students' diverse needs.

I described current issues in American classrooms, and we made connections to recent Icelandic concerns about reading achievement. I presented a model of reading development and linked two evidence-based practices to it. The first was explicit decoding instruction. The second was scaffolded repeated readings. We also discussed assessment evidence that would indicate which of these practices would be most useful.

Says Sharon, adding that the participants were excellent, asking important questions and worked hard to apply the ideas to the Icelandic language.

They were genuinely curious about shifts they could make in their own instruction. I think we all left the session wishing for more time together.

Says Sharon, adding that teachers deserve real support in their work. She designs instruction and interventions that apply research concepts in real classroom settings. That work helps teachers focus on students rather than on finding resources.

Teaching should be a joyful career. Teachers and their students deserve high-quality materials.

She concludes.