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Igniting Reading Development in the Upper-Elementary Grades: Phonics, Fluency, and More
Thursday, February 26, 2026 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm EST
Presented by Kara Arnold, Staff Developer, The Reading & Writing Project at Mossflower
Sponsored by The Reading & Writing Project at Mossflower
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Upper-elementary readers are often still developing—and they benefit from instruction that is explicit, engaging, and responsive. In this edWebinar, Kara Arnold explores what effective reading instruction looks like in grades 3–5 and beyond, offering practical approaches to support readers at a wide range of developmental levels.
Viewers examine how phonics, high-frequency words, and fluency continue to play an essential role in upper-elementary classrooms, and how these skills can be integrated seamlessly alongside rich reading and authentic literacy experiences. Kara also highlights the importance of cultivating strong reading habits, including stamina, independence, and positive reading identities as key drivers of long-term growth.
Educators leave with concrete strategies they can implement right away, including ways to embed word work into daily instruction, support readers who need continued foundational skill development, and strengthen habits that promote volume and engagement. This recorded edWebinar is of interest to upper-elementary teachers, school leaders, and district leaders.
About the Presenter
Kara Arnold is a Staff Developer with The Reading & Writing Project at Mossflower. Kara is best known for her ground-breaking work with upper-grade spelling and phonics. She has authored a phonics and morphology curriculum, as well as a spelling curriculum that includes a pathway of 100+ lessons to help upper-grade kids who need explicit lessons in the patterns and rules that inform how spelling works in the English language. Teachers who work with Kara are thrilled with her ability to make language arts education accessible and joyful for all students. She supports teachers as they address the essentials of foundational reading and writing with their students and strives to make learning engaging and exciting.
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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.
The Reading & Writing Project at Mossflower was created out of the pioneering work that Lucy Calkins began over 40 years ago. Inspired by her research, she developed innovative curricula and methods that transformed the way children learned to write. For decades since, she has worked with educators to help students become what she always knew them to be: proficient and enthusiastic writers, readers, and thinkers.
Today, RWP-M remains deeply rooted in this experience, while also holding true to this a spirit of innovation and continuous learning. Lucy Calkins and her team author the Units of Study in Reading, Writing, and Phonics and several series of engaging decodable texts. More than authors of curricula, at its core, RWP-M is a community of practice, a think tank, and a professional development organization dedicated to transforming the way students learn to read, write, and think.
