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«Back to all edWebinarsWhen K-3 Reading Takes Off: Moving Students Towards Reading to Learn
Tuesday, June 24, 2025 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm EDT
Presented by Danielle Gaither, Former Literacy Interventionist, Current Success Lead – Southeast, Great Minds; Jeniqua Moran, Former Educator and Literacy Coach, Current Success Lead – New England, Great Minds; and Lori Sappington, Former Educator, Current Lead Curriculum Developer, Great Minds
Sponsored by Great Minds
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This edWebinar will explore research-based practices that can help educators guide students toward reading proficiency. Every teacher has experienced the phenomenon when students move from decoding word by word to more skilled, confident reading, but what does it take for a student to truly take off in reading? And what instructional shifts can help accelerate students’ reading growth?
Discussion topics include:
- How “sounding out” a word turns into reading it with automaticity
- How to build students’ reading fluency through intentional practice
- The crucial role that knowledge plays so students not only learn to read but also read to learn
This edWebinar will provide helpful insights for K–3 teachers, reading coaches and specialists, and school and district leaders.
About the Presenters
Danielle Gaither is a Success Lead at Great Minds, where she partners with districts across the Southeast to ensure the successful implementation of high-quality, knowledge-building curricula. Drawing on over two decades of experience as a literacy interventionist in North Carolina, Danielle brings a deep understanding of instructional design, school leadership, and educator support. In her role, she leads professional development, facilitates leadership coaching, and guides strategic planning to align district goals with Great Minds’ vision for rigorous, equitable instruction. Known for her thoughtful collaboration and commitment to continuous improvement, Danielle is dedicated to helping educators and students thrive through transformative curriculum experiences.
Jeniqua Moran is a Success Lead at Great Minds. Prior to joining Great Minds, Jeniqua spent 13 years as an elementary general and special educator as well as a literacy coach in Baltimore City Public Schools. Jeniqua is particularly passionate about foundational literacy skills instruction and served as a National LETRS Facilitator. Jeniqua received her bachelor’s degree in history from Morgan State University and her master’s degree in special education from Notre Dame of Maryland University.
Lori Sappington is a former elementary and high school teacher and district coach. She co-hosts the popular, highly praised podcast Melissa & Lori Love Literacy with Melissa Loftus. Together, they authored The Literacy 50—A Q&A Handbook for Teachers: Real-World Answers to Questions About Reading That Keep You Up at Night in Scholastic’s Science of Reading in Practice series. Lori is the Lead Curriculum Developer at Great Minds.
Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features.
Join the Be a Literacy Hero community to network with educators, participate in online discussions, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates.
Great Minds PBC is a public benefit corporation and subsidiary of Great Minds, a nonprofit organization. In literacy, Great Minds has developed Arts & Letters and Wit & Wisdom, core English language arts programs anchored by award-winning books and other authentic texts that build knowledge on engaging topics in grades K–8. Great Minds also has developed Geodes books for emerging and developing readers in grades K–3. Geodes are published by Great Minds PBC and can be used with any reading foundations program. Geodes was originally created in association with Wilson Language Training.
