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Reading Comprehension Success = Strategy + Knowledge (Part 1)
Wednesday, November 5, 2025 @ 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm EST
Presented by Dr. Molly Ness, Literacy Specialist; and Heather Blankenship, M.Ed., Manager of Education Partnerships and State Initiatives, Learning A-Z
Sponsored by Learning A-Z
Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features.
In the conversations about reading comprehension in the field of education, too often, background knowledge and strategy instruction are pitted against each other. Join us for a dynamic edWebinar to explore how effective comprehension instruction should take a both/and approach.
In part one of this two-part series, author, reading researcher, and former classroom teacher Dr. Molly Ness leads us in diving into how activating background knowledge and teaching purposeful strategies can work in harmony to elevate student understanding. This session illuminates the complexity of comprehension and demonstrate how knowledge and strategy instruction can—and should—work together.
All K-6 educators and administrators are invited to view and leave with:
- A clear framework for integrating background knowledge and strategies to boost reading comprehension
- Practical insights into activating and building prior knowledge in meaningful ways
- Actionable techniques for applying strategy instruction intentionally in the classroom
- An understanding of the role and importance of metacognition in the process
Don’t miss this opportunity to transform your approach to comprehension and empower all your students to become confident, capable readers. This recorded edWebinar is of interest to K-6 teachers, librarians, school leaders, district leaders, and education technology leaders.
Register for Making Meaning: High-Leverage Comprehension Strategies (Part 2)
About the Presenters
Dr. Molly Ness is a former classroom teacher, a reading researcher, and a teacher educator. She spent 16 years as an Associate Professor at Fordham University in New York City. The author of six books, Dr. Ness served on the Board of Directors for the International Literacy Association and on the New York State Dyslexia Task Force. Dr. Ness has extensive experience in reading clinics, consulting with school districts, leading professional development, and advising school systems on research-based reading instruction. She provided literacy leadership for nationally recognized literacy non-profits, as well as major educational publishers.
A frequent speaker and presenter, her happy place is translating the Science of Reading to schools and teachers. As a tireless literacy advocate, Dr. Ness created the End Book Deserts podcast, which brings awareness to the 32 million American children who lack access to books. In 2024, she founded Dirigo Literacy (deer-ǐ-gō), a literacy consulting firm supporting schools, districts, and states to align with and implement the Science of Reading. When she is not reading and writing about reading and writing, Dr. Ness is driving her ice-hockey-obsessed teenage daughter to the rink, learning how to fly-fish, or hiking with her poorly behaved goldendoodle.
Heather Blankenship, M.Ed., brings over 20 years of experience in education to her role as Manager of Education Partnerships and State Initiatives at Learning A-Z. Her journey began in the classroom, where she spent 11 years as a passionate elementary educator before moving into campus and district leadership roles focused on curriculum and instruction.
When she’s not supporting and collaborating with others, you’ll find her powering through kettlebell workouts, off-roading in a side-by-side, or spending time with family and friends.
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.
Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features.
At Learning A-Z, we equip elementary educators with practical, research-based literacy solutions that spark joyful learning experiences. Our solutions support teacher-led instruction and provide engaging online practice for students—blending the best of classroom learning with flexible, standards-aligned content. Every resource we offer is developmentally appropriate, easy to implement, and designed to improve outcomes for all learners.
