A Minnesota-based edtech company has released a free professional development resource for teachers in response to the data released earlier this month indicating that math and reading levels have dropped in K-12 students.
Winsor Learning – the nation’s leading expert and provider of science-based reading instruction and teacher training – announced the new 90-minute science of reading webinar is available for download at no cost to “teachers, administrators, tutors, and other teachers of reading,” according to a press release.
“Responding to Learning Loss in Reading: 5 Strategies for Teachers” was created in the wake of the National Association of Education Progress (NAEP) data that showed performance levels of 9-year-olds in math and reading stooping to levels not seen in more than two decades.
“In September, we learned the terrible news that the pandemic has erased decades of progress for our students in reading. NAEP scores indicate a devastating impact on young students — especially our most vulnerable,” the Winsor Learning website said. “We cannot afford to lose a generation of proficient readers.”
The declines from the data included nearly all races and income levels but are the steepest for at-risk and already lower-performing students.
The free, short professional development webinar is designed to help teachers address learning loss and catch students up fast.
“We cannot afford to lose a generation of proficient readers. As a company, we are working to do all we can to support teachers, parents, and schools as the nation seeks to recover from the devastating impacts of the COVID crisis,” President and CEO of Winsor Learning, Amanda Burnette said.
The company has previously provided free resources and opportunities for teachers to enrich their classrooms. They have had more than 10,000 educators participating in past trainings, with educators from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Canada.
“Reading is the gateway to all else, and our mission — first and foremost — is to make sure every student becomes a successful reader. As we surveyed the landscape and assessed the resources we could deliver to support our nation’s educators, we knew our world-class training could make a difference,” Burnette said.
