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.
The Real Reason Your PD Doesn’t Stick (It Has Nothing to Do With Your Teachers)
Drive-by training is a leadership choice. Here's what to do instead Every August, school leaders open the year with two days of professional development that they hope will transform instruction. Every September, they walk into classrooms and discover that almost...
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Structured Literacy in Action: What It Looks Like in K–5 Classrooms
“Structured literacy” isn’t just a buzzword, it’s a blueprint for ensuring all students, including those with dyslexia, become proficient readers. But what does it actually look like...
Beyond Decoding: Building Reading Fluency in K–5 Classrooms
Once students can decode, they must learn to read with accuracy, automaticity, and expression. That’s fluency and without it, comprehension stalls. The good news? Fluency can be...
Why Phonemic Awareness Must Come First
Phonemic awareness is often misunderstood, underestimated—or worse, skipped. Yet research shows that without a strong grasp of phonemes, students struggle to decode words, spell...
Inside the Literacy Block: How to Plan for Phonemic Awareness, Phonics, and Fluency
A well-structured literacy block doesn’t just cover content, it delivers results. When you design your block with explicit instruction and intentional practice, you make every minute...
5 Signs Your Tier 1 Instruction Isn’t Working (and What to Do About It)
If your Tier 2 caseload is growing and your Tier 1 data isn’t budging, it’s time to take a hard look at your core instruction. Warning Signs 🚩 Many students are still not meeting...
Decodable Texts Demystified: How and Why to Use Them
Let’s set the record straight decodable texts are not boring. In fact, they’re one of the most powerful tools for early readers to practice phonics skills with confidence. What Are...
Foundational Skills First: Building Strong Readers from the Start
The most effective way to close the reading gap? Start with a strong foundation. When students master the building blocks of reading in grades K–2, they’re set up for lifelong...
Mastering MTSS: A Roadmap for K–5 Teachers
What if you could meet the needs of every student, every day? That’s the promise of a well-implemented Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) and it starts with your classroom. What...
Unlocking the Science of Reading in Your K–5 Classroom
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by buzzwords and shifting mandates, you’re not alone. But here’s the truth: the Science of Reading isn’t a trend, it’s a transformative approach backed...
Intervention That Works: How to Close Foundational Reading Gaps in K–5
In every K–5 classroom, there are students who need more modeling, more time, and more intensity. But not all interventions are created equal. To move students from well...
Cracking the Code: How to Implement a Science of Reading Aligned Literacy Block
Ready to transform your literacy instruction? Building a Science of Reading-aligned literacy block isn’t about starting over, it’s about structuring your day to make every minute...
Beyond the Basics: Mastering Small Group Reading Instruction in K–5
Your whole group lesson sets the stage but it’s what happens in small group instruction that truly closes gaps. For K–5 teachers, knowing how to differentiate using structured...
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