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Bring the Science of Reading to Life Through Student Discussions
Wednesday, December 10, 2025 @ 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm EST
Presented by Dr. Mitchell Brookins, Former Teacher, Current Educational Consultant, Brookins Consulting; Lisa Pagano, Director of Advanced Studies, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (NC); and Teri Laliberte, Former Teacher, Current Assistant Director of Professional Learning, Great Books Foundation
Sponsored by The Great Books Foundation
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This edWebinar is for educators and school leaders who believe that true literacy growth happens not only through decoding and fluency, but also through the power of purposeful conversation. Together, we explore how structured, academically rigorous discussions deepen comprehension, build vocabulary, and bring the Science of Reading to life in every classroom.
We begin with the metaphor of the teacher as conductor—a powerful way to reimagine classroom dialogue. Instead of “letting discussion happen,” teachers orchestrate it: guiding, supporting, and amplifying student voices in harmony. You learn how to design and facilitate rich discussions that strengthen foundational skills and engage all learners, including those who are struggling readers.
Next, we connect discussion practices to Science-of-Reading-aligned routines, including active listening, vocabulary development, fluency work, and structured annotation. You see how these elements work together to create confident, thoughtful readers who understand deeply and speak with evidence.
Finally, we turn from classroom practice to schoolwide transformation. You learn how discourse can become a cultural pillar—elevating academic talk across grade levels, uniting teachers around shared methods, and sustaining literacy growth over time.
Viewers leave with:
- A clear vision of the teacher as conductor—how to intentionally orchestrate discussion for deeper comprehension
- Practical strategies for connecting reading science to authentic student discourse
- Tools for using annotation, fluency practice, and evidence-based questioning to strengthen engagement and understanding
- Leadership insights for scaling rich discourse across classrooms and schools
Join us to experience how the power of Shared Inquiry—when paired with the Science of Reading—can create vibrant classrooms where every student has a voice and every text comes alive. This recorded edWebinar is of interest to K–12 teachers, literacy coaches, school leaders, and anyone eager to bridge the Science of Reading with the art of Shared Inquiry.
About the Presenters
Dr. Mitchell Brookins is a nationally recognized educational consultant with 20+ years in K–12 as a teacher, coach, administrator, district leader, and thought leader. As a school administrator, he led instructional efforts that yielded measurable gains—raising DIBELS scores from 43% to 72%, increasing LEAP state assessment results by 16 points, and improving school letter grades from “D” to “C” within one year at both ReNEW Cultural Arts Academy and Dwight D. Eisenhower Academy.
He has presented at Amplify’s Symposium, PaTTAN Literacy Symposium, Keys to Literacy, The Reading League Summit, the Black Men in Education Convening, the Black Literacy Matters Conference, and the Dyslexia Alliance for Black Children Conference. He also leads a citywide literacy fellowship in partnership with New Schools for New Orleans, supporting over 40 literacy leaders across the city. As Managing Director at Leading Educators, he supports system-level change in Jackson Public Schools, Baltimore City Schools, and Omaha Public Schools, and serves on the Board of Directors for The Reading League. He holds a B.A. in elementary education, an M.A. in teacher leadership, and a Ph.D. in educational administration.
Lisa Pagano is the Director of Advanced Studies for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she leads districtwide initiatives supporting gifted education and specialized academic programming, including Cambridge, Montessori, and International Baccalaureate (IB). With a strong background in instructional leadership and program design, she works to ensure equitable access to rigorous learning opportunities for all students. Lisa’s career reflects a deep commitment to identifying and nurturing advanced learners while creating systems that make complex educational processes more effective and practical for educators. She is also a co-host and co-producer of They’ll Be Fine, the North Carolina Association for Gifted & Talented’s (NCAGT) podcast that highlights voices and ideas shaping gifted education today.
Teri Laliberte, Assistant Director of Professional Learning, started with the Great Books Foundation 20 years ago upon returning to the United States after teaching English, developing teacher education programs, and promoting critical-thinking skills in Turkey and Poland. She left the Foundation to work in higher education and professional associations focused on adult learning. Since returning to the Foundation, she has enjoyed helping teachers implement Shared Inquiry across the curriculum.
Join the Science of Reading community to network with educators, participate in online discussions, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates.
The Great Books Foundation is a nonprofit educational organization best known for having created Junior Great Books® programs that use the Shared Inquiry™ method of teaching and learning. Junior Great Books programs comprise carefully curated anthologies of outstanding fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama that help boost students’ critical thinking, fluency, vocabulary, and listening and speaking skills. Junior Great Books literature is unmatched for sparking student engagement and enabling students to discover a love for reading. Our professional learning courses help educators learn, practice, and continuously improve their use of Shared Inquiry. This unique method provides teachers with a framework focused on a collaborative process of thinking and reading in which teachers and students work together to understand a text. Teachers use this inquiry-based approach across the curriculum, opening classrooms to new ideas and more engaged students.
