The CSAS Blog
Written by educators. For educators.
Science of reading, MTSS, leadership, and special education insights from Dr. Chandra Williams and the CSAS team: the same thinking our partner schools get, published for everyone. Learn, grow, and take your system to the next level.
Why Fluency Is the Most Misunderstood Skill in Reading (And the Easiest to Fix Wrong)
Fast isn't the goal. Accurate, expressive, and meaningful is Every reading benchmark report has a line for fluency, usually expressed as 'words correct per minute.' Every coaching conversation eventually circles back to it. And almost every school in America is...
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From Pinterest to Proficient: Why Cute Centers Don’t Equal Real Results
Your classroom looks amazing. But are your students actually learning to read? Pinterest-worthy classrooms can be misleading. Research shows the most effective reading classrooms...
The Truth About Reading Instruction: What Every Teacher Deserves to Know
You’ve been told to “differentiate,” “follow the curriculum,” “just keep going.” But what if everything you were taught about reading is missing the most important piece? The Science...
From “I Can’t Read” to “I Got This”: How Teachers Can Be the Turning Point
“I hate reading.” “I’m dumb.” “I can’t do this.” You’ve heard these words. But you have the power to change them. Every day, you show up for the students who’ve been told they’ll...
Why “Learning Styles” Are Out—and Structured Literacy Is In
Remember when we were told some kids were “auditory learners” and others were “visual learners”? Yeah… about that. Brain science tells us that reading requires the same neurological...
What TikTok Teachers Aren’t Telling You About Reading Science
Let’s be honest. Social media makes reading instruction look easy. But teaching real kids to read takes more than cute centers and cursive anchor charts. The Science of Reading isn’t...
The Top 5 Mistakes That Are Keeping Your Students from Reading on Grade Level
You’re working hard. You’re doing what you were taught. So why aren’t your students catching up? It might not be you, it might be the system you were trained in. Here are 5 common...
Why “Good Readers Just Get It” Is the Biggest Lie in Education
If you’ve ever been told some kids are just “naturally good readers” you’ve been lied to. The truth? Reading is not a natural process. Every child must be taught how to read...
Structuring Intervention in Middle School: A Guide for Tier 2 and Tier 3 Literacy Support
In grades 6–8, it can be hard to know how to provide effective Tier 2 and Tier 3 reading interventions, especially when time and staffing are tight. But with the right systems and...
Fixing Fluency in Grades 6–8: Strategies That Actually Work
Fluency isn’t just about speed, it’s about reading with accuracy, expression, and understanding. But for many students in grades 6–8, fluency is still a major barrier to success. Why...
The Power of Morphology in Grades 6–8: Boost Vocabulary, Comprehension, and Writing
In grades 6–8, vocabulary gaps can make or break comprehension, especially when students encounter academic language across content areas. The fix? Teach morphology. What Is...
Beyond Comprehension: Teaching Word Recognition and Decoding in Grades 6–8
Reading comprehension starts with recognizing words quickly and accurately. But many students in grades 6–8 still lack automatic word recognition. The solution? Go back to decoding....
It’s Not Too Late: How to Support Struggling Readers in Grades 6–8
If you’re teaching grades 6–8, chances are you have students reading far below grade level. The good news? With targeted, evidence-based instruction, these students can still make...
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