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Connecting to Your Core: Aligning Routines for Small Groups Within Foundational Skills Instruction (Part 1)
Tuesday, May 13, 2025 @ 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm EDT
Presented by John Bennetts, National Literacy Consultant, Bennetts Educational Consulting; and Nicole Nelson, National Curriculum Consultant, 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.
As foundational reading instruction in whole-class settings becomes more consistent and evidence based, many educators are encountering new challenges in providing aligned and effective support for students in small groups. In this first edWebinar in a three-part series facilitated by national literacy consultant John Bennetts, you:
- Learn about the research on the importance of aligning instruction across core and small groups
- Gain an understanding of the pitfalls in small groups when using disconnected literacy resources
- Discover a practical framework for leveraging your whole-group instruction to develop cohesive and aligned small-group instruction
After the session, you’ll take the framework with you for your own use and leave with a stronger understanding of how to adjust small-group reading routines to create greater instructional alignment for all your students. This recorded edWebinar is of interest to PreK-5 teachers, school leaders, district leaders, and education technology leaders.
Register for part 2: Connecting to Your Core: Planning Small-Group Foundational Skills Instruction
Register for part 3: Connecting to Your Core: Creating Coherence Across Your Literacy Block
About the Presenters
John Bennetts is a national literacy consultant specializing in the implementation and practices to sustain effective literacy instruction. With extensive experience training educators and collaborating with system leaders, John supports schools and districts nationwide in implementing instructional practices and systems aligned with what we currently know about best practices that support all readers, regardless of age and ability. He works closely with system leaders to help schools and school districts evaluate and change current practices to better align with best practices, ensuring sustainable improvements in literacy outcomes.
Before founding his consulting business, John served as a teacher and administrator at both elementary and secondary levels, worked at the Rhode Island Department of Education, and managed the development of an online, adaptive reading program for secondary students. These experiences have given him a comprehensive perspective on the educational landscape. Beyond his professional role, John is the Vice Chair of the Board for Reach Out and Read Rhode Island. This nonprofit partners with pediatric practices statewide to provide books to children ages birth to five during pediatric visits, while empowering parents with strategies to foster literacy at home.
Nicole Nelson served 15 years as an elementary teacher and literacy coach in her local school district and was named TN PreK-4 Teacher of the Year for 2008. Nicole has also served as an Account Executive with Pearson, Renaissance, and Learning A-Z. While at Pearson, she also served as a Literacy Solutions Specialist and Curriculum Specialist. Nicole is currently a National Curriculum Consultant with Learning A-Z, where she supports districts across the nation in achieving their literacy goals. Nicole has shared her expertise through national, regional, and state conferences over the last 27 years.
Join the Teaching Reading and Writing 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.
Learning A-Z delivers Science of Reading-aligned preK-6 classroom essentials that inspire curiosity, ensure comprehension, and instill the joy of learning in elementary students. From reading and writing to vocabulary and science, our award-winning digital solutions, including Foundations A-Z, Raz-Plus, and Writing A-Z, are used by over 12 million students across 170+ countries.
Our flexible, research-based supplemental solutions complement any elementary R/ELA curriculum, empowering teachers to tailor instruction and engaging students with effective practice opportunities in their dedicated Student Portal. With ready-made lesson plans and vast digital libraries covering diverse genres and topics, our solutions cater to individual needs and interests, building background knowledge and strengthening foundational literacy skills. Complement your core curriculum with more of the resources that teachers need and students love.
