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| Join us for Shifting the Balance: A Science of Reading Professional Learning Series for K–5 Educators, a full-year learning experience led by Dr. Jan Burkins. This two-part series includes six virtual sessions in Fall 2025 - Understanding the Reading Science That Makes Learning to Read Easier for Kids - followed by a two-day, in-person institute in March 2026 - Bringing the Science to Life through High-Leverage Instructional Routines. Rooted in the bestselling Shifting the Balance books (K-2 and 3-5), this series is designed to help educators build shared understanding around the science of reading and bring it to life through practical, research-aligned instructional routines. This experience bridges the gap between research and practice. Whether you're just beginning or looking to deepen implementation, this is a clear, compassionate pathway forward. | |||||||||
| Led by Dr. Jan Burkins, these virtual and in-person sessions provide real-time support in learning both the why and the how that makes the most powerful understandings of the reading brain--all without abandoning joyful interactions with text. Engage in collaborative planning and opportunities to consider curricula and routines through the lens of reading science. Whether your school is just beginning its science of reading journey or working toward deeper consistency in implementation, this series offers a clear, compassionate, and research-aligned pathway forward. Participants will leave with stronger understandings, greater instructional confidence, and a renewed sense of purpose in helping all students become confident, capable readers. |
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| Learning Objectives: | |||||||||
| Science Sessions (Virtual): “Understanding the Reading Science That Makes Learning to Read Easier for Kids” October - November 2025 |
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| In Each Session, Participants will: | |||||||||
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| Agenda for Virtual Sessions. All Sessions are on Saturdays | |||||||||
| Session 1: 11th October 2025 Introduction: Building Bridges, Dismantling Walls, The Reading Brain, Language Development In this orienting session, we’ll explore the big picture as we explore why this learning matters. Participants will reflect on their current beliefs and practices while learning how the reading brain works and what it takes to rewire it for skilled reading. We’ll examine the developmental path of language-from listening and speaking to reading—and establish shared understandings about the reading science that will set the stage for all our future sessions. Session 2: 18th October 2025 Phonemic Awareness and Phonics Learn how the brain uses sound and symbol connections to crack the alphabetic code. This session dives into the science behind phonemic awareness and phonics—clarifying what they are, why they matter, and how they support reading development. We’ll examine research-based principles for instruction and discuss the hallmarks of explicit, systematic teaching that meets students where they are. Session 3: 25th October 2025 Word Reading and Fluency Word recognition is the gateway to reading with ease, and fluency is the bridge between decoding and understanding. In this session, we’ll explore how words are stored in memory, what impacts reading fluency, and how automaticity supports comprehension. We’ll also examine what the research says about fluency instruction—and what misconceptions we may need to leave behind. Session 4: 1st November 2025 Background Knowledge and Vocabulary Comprehension begins long before students can read independently. This session will explore the roles of background knowledge and vocabulary in understanding text. We’ll dig into the research behind knowledge building and discuss how vocabulary grows through a multi-faceted process—paving the way for deep and lasting comprehension processes. Session 5: 8th November 2025 Comprehension Strategies and Comprehension Instruction In this session, we’ll unpack what research says about comprehension strategies—what works, what doesn’t—and how to teach them in ways that support real understanding. The session will be anchored in the mental models paradigm, which supports reading comprehension as an ongoing and active process. Participants will consider the difference between performing strategies and applying them meaningfully, with a focus on how to build comprehension through thinking and talking. Session 6: 15th November 2025 Text Selection, Prompting, and Independent Practice This final session explores how we support students as they practice and grow--both alongside us and independently. We’ll consider the role of text selection in reinforcing decoding and comprehension, what effective prompting looks like across phases of reading, and how to make independent reading time both purposeful and productive. We’ll close by connecting all six shifts and preparing to bring this learning to life in classrooms |
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| DATES & TIMES: 11th, 18th, 25th October, 1st, 8th & 15th November 2025 Each Session is for 2 hours 11th, 18th, 25th October 2025 New York 5:00 am | London 10:00 am | Zurich 11:00 am | Dubai 1:00 pm | India 2:30 pm | Hong Kong 5:00 pm Melbourne 8:00 pm 1st November 2025 New York 5:00 am | London 9:00 am | Zurich 10:00 am | Dubai 1:00 pm | India 2:30 pm | Hong Kong 5:00 pm Melbourne 8:00 pm 8th & 15th November 2025 New York 5:00 am | London 10:00 am | Zurich 11:00 am | Dubai 2:00 pm | India 3:30 pm | Hong Kong 6:00 pm Melbourne 9:00 pm Please click here to check your time for the workshop |
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| In-Person Workshop | |||||||||
| Implementation Institute (In Person): “Bringing the Science to Life through High-Leverage Instructional Routines” March 2026 |
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| Description: | |||||||||
| This two-day, in-person learning experience is designed for K–5 educators who have participated in the virtual Science Sessions and are ready to take the next step: translating understanding into implementation. Grounded in Shifting the Balance: 6 Ways to Bring the Science of Reading into the Balanced Literacy Classroom (K-2 and 3-5 editions), this workshop brings the reading science to life through planning, modeling, collaboration, and instructional routines that work. On Both Days, Participants will:
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| Agenda: | |||||||||
| Day 1: Beginning Readers (in any grade) We’ll focus on instruction for students who are still developing foundational skills—regardless of their age. Participants will explore routines that support phonemic awareness, phonics, and high-frequency word learning, as well as early comprehension. With classroom-ready tools and time to examine their curriculum through a science-aligned lens, teachers will leave with practical routines they can use immediately. Day 2: Developing Readers (in any grade) The focus shifts to vocabulary, knowledge-building, fluency, and comprehension for students who are beginning to access more complex texts. Participants will be invited to bring a favorite read-aloud and a content area in mind as they explore how to use text sets and language-rich routines to support deeper reading and understanding. Instructional planning and real-world application will take center stage. Led by Dr. Jan Burkins, this experience is designed to help educators align instruction with the reading science, avoid overcorrection, and honor what’s already working. Participants will leave with greater clarity, stronger confidence, and concrete next steps for deepening their practice. |
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| Jan Burkins | |||||||||
| Jan has worked as a classroom teacher, an interventionist, a district literacy coordinator, a regional language arts consultant, a part-time assistant professor, and an independent literacy consultant. Jan is the author or co-author of five books on literacy, including Preventing Misguided Reading (Stenhouse, 2017) and Who’s Doing the Work? How to Say Less so Readers Can Do More (Stenhouse, 2016). Jan’s dissertation, A Meta-analysis of Phonemic Awareness Research (1999, University of Kansas) was a finalist for the International Reading Association’s Dissertation of the Year Award. Jan is passionate about helping educators navigate and understand the complex demands of teaching today while also honoring their inner teacher. | |||||||||
| In-Person Training Locations & Dates (Locations are to be confirmed) 14th & 15th March 2026: Hong Kong, Bangkok, or Incheon 21st & 22nd March 2026: Sofia or Dubai |
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| Important Note: | |||||||||
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| PARTICIPANTS NEED TO PURCHASE THE FOLLOWING BOOKS FOR THE WORKSHOP: | |||||||||
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| Upcoming Workshops | |||||||||
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