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Hello,
Happy Fall...and Happy Thanksgiving. My apologies for not getting this out a couple of days ago...technology is great until it doesn't work and we had a few glitches up here! My apologies if you had tried to take the assessments for our required initial training, tried to register for our Shanahan PD, or tried to access any of our issues of this newsletter! However, we seem to be all up and running now and I am THANKFUL for that, but more importantly- I am thankful for you and the work that you do.
You will find several ideas for promising practice, registration opportunities and even the new definition of dyslexia that was adopted at the recent annual meeting of the International Dyslexia Association in this issue. One of the links that was down for a few days were those that support our School Improvement Model. If you are looking for the KSDE visions, observation tools, high quality instructional material selection and implementation tools or other supports, you will find those by searching Kansas High Quality Instruction and our link should pop up...and here it is so you can "bookmark" it! KSDE Resources for Quality Instruction All are up and running now!
Please share this newsletter widely and let me know if you have questions or need additional support. If you know of someone who would like to receive this newsletter each month, please let them know they can do that by emailing a request to ELitDyslexia@ksde.gov.
Yours in education
Laurie
Dr. Laurie Curtis
KSDE Early Literacy/ Dyslexia Program Manager
Important Updates from KSDE
The Updated Definition for Dyslexia: The International Dyslexia Association
October was Dyslexia Month- and at their annual conference recently, the International Dyslexia Association met and adopted a new, updated definition for dyslexia (see the link above). Currently the previous definition is the Kansas adopted definition that appears in our state Kansas Dyslexia Handbook. I will share the new, updated definition at a future Kansas State Board of Education meeting for consideration, and if adopted, it will replace the earlier definition. The link above shares not only the process, but the changes that were made. While the draft was out for public comment, there were over 2,000 individuals who made comments in addition to all the experts who were invited to work on the multiple drafts over a period of time. I was able to provide comments- and perhaps you did too! The final version is in the link above!
Additional information will be provided when the Kansas State Board of Education is provided this information and takes action on this item.
UPDATE on changes to Lexia® LETRS® assessments:
KSDE continues to meet with Lexia on the behalf of Kansas educators to navigate concerns regarding assessment changes within the summative assessment program.
I will make sure to keep educators in Kansas updated by our listservs and KSDE Weekly as any new information is provided. Please know that your Kansas literacy team, as well as all KSDE leadership, is working to advocate for a positive outcome- and we are hoping that will come soon!
Kansas Reads to Preschoolers
This is an annual event promoting reading to all Kansas children from birth through age five in the month of November. Through this statewide program, parents, librarians and caregivers are encouraged to read a chosen title.
This year's book is entitled Little Nita's Big Idea and was written by Anna Bardaus. It is a contemporary, urban take on "Stone Soup" as a young girl makes the world's largest fruit salad. It celebrates community, sharing what you have with others, and gives a nod toward fresh, healthy foods.
The State Library of Kansas provides a webpage containing resources and activities to accompany this event. More information (even about purchasing the book) can be found at the State Library of Kansas website!
This would be a great classroom activity while we move into a time of thanksgiving!
KS Reads to Preschoolers - Librarians - Website at State Library of Kansas
How can we help?
Complete this form to request KSDE Program Manager assistance when you have a need for professional learning provided by KSDE. In addition to the assistance from my team (Early Literacy/ Dyslexia Team), there is also assistance provided by the ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies, Art, Counseling/Heal/PE and Computer Science Teams. To make a request, you can use the form below- recognizing that we would want to plan adequately to meet the needs of your system...so we can't come tomorrow! However, we are happy to provide support through our collaborative service center work, virtual consulting or when schedules allow- in person presentations and support!
Professional Learning Opportunities
What does it look like to use what you learned in LETRS training to implement your own curriculum?
KSDE, in partnership with TNTP, invites you to join the Supporting Quality Literacy Instruction Through Materials professional learning series, where we will focus on key practices from the science of reading and apply them within district-selected materials to strengthen literacy instruction. We have had three sessions completed, but we welcome those who are new. Sessions are designed for instructional leaders (including coaches, curriculum leaders, and lead teachers) who support teachers with effectively using instructional materials and bridging the gap between structured literacy knowledge and classroom practice. Sessions will take place via Zoom on the first and third Tuesday of each month from 4:00-5:15 pm. For the first five sessions- See additional details and registration links here. Registration for Session 1 will close on Friday, October 3rd. We look forward to learning with you!
Taylor Fegan (KSDE FE/ Blue Valley) and Rachael Anderson (Greenbush) provide professional learning for educators on "Cracking the Code"
STRUCTURED LITERACY PROFESSIONAL LEARNING
Each session of this FREE PD includes a day of professional learning for educators and provides a free half-unit of graduate credit (and lunch)- but please only register if you know you can attend! We want as many people as possible to be there! There needs to be a minimum of ten participants for the sessions to be held- so bring your friends and colleagues for a great day of professional learning. Below you will see the offerings specific to structured literacy- but many of the ELA sessions are also based on the principles and elements of structured literacy. For ALL offerings, including the ELA options. see THIS LINK.
Empowering Educators: Effective Strategies for Differentiated Phonics Instruction
In this interactive professional learning session, educators will explore proven strategies to differentiate phonics instruction effectively, meeting students at their individual levels and fostering a supportive learning environment. Through examples, hands-on activities, and collaborative discussions, attendees will leave with a toolkit of adaptable strategies, designed to support diverse learning needs. Join us to transform your approach to phonics and make small group instruction more impactful and manageable.
Dates, Location and Registration:
December 17, 2025 Greenbush (Lawrence) Register HERE
Fluency Matters: Enhancing Educator Expertise in Instruction and Assessment
Join us for an engaging workshop focused on enhancing your expertise in fluency instruction and assessment! Participants will explore evidence-based practices for assessing fluency, share successful teaching methods, and collaborate with peers to develop actionable plans for the classroom. Whether you’re a seasoned educator or new to the field, this workshop will deepen your understanding and empower you to support your students’ fluency development. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your instructional skills and make a lasting impact on your students’ literacy journeys!
Dates, Location and Registration:
December 9, 2025 Smoky Hill (Salina) Register HERE
December 10, 2025 Greenbush (Girard) Register HERE
January 6, 2026 Greenbush (Lawrence) Register HERE
Word Power: Proven Routines to Strengthen Vocabulary Schoolwide
Unlock the secrets to building a robust vocabulary across your entire school! In this hands-on session, educators will explore evidence-based routines designed to expand students’ word knowledge for students in grades K-5. From daily practices to schoolwide strategies, you'll walk away with practical tools to integrate vocabulary-building activities into your classroom culture—empowering students with the words they need to succeed!
Dates, Location and Registration:
November 18, 2025 Orion (Clearwater) Register HERE
November 18, 2025 ESSDACK (Hutchinson) Register HERE
January 9, 2025 Greenbush (Girard) Register HERE
January 13, 2026 Greenbush (Lawrence) Register HERE
January 27, 2026 Smoky Hill (Salina) Register HERE
Understanding and Addressing Developmental Language Disorder (DLD): Prevalence and Effective Instructional Strategies for Educators
This session will provide educators with a comprehensive understanding of Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), which affects language acquisition in approximately 7% of children in grades PreK-12. Participants will learn about the prevalence and impact of DLD on academic and social development, along with the importance of early identification. The session will explore practical, research-based instructional strategies designed to support students with DLD in the classroom, promote language development and reading comprehension, and foster language-enriched learning environments.
Dates, Location and Registration:
December 9, 2025 Orion (Clearwater) Register HERE
December 12, 2025 Southwest Plains (Sublette) Register HERE
January 16, 2026 Greenbush (Lawrence) Register HERE
January 20, 2026 Greenbush (Girard) Register HERE
January 20, 2026 ESSDACK (Hutchinson) Register HERE
If your system is using FastBridge- make sure you are aware of these free training opportunities offered by Renaissance!
Sessions held prior to December are at no charge to the system. Dates and registration links can be found at the link below:
Registration is OPEN...Come join us!
With the launch of Tim Shanahan's new book, Leveled Reading, Leveled Lives, our KSDE Structured Literacy and ELA teams will be collaborating to offer a text-based learning opportunity starting in January of 2026 to discuss and navigate the chapters together.
What: Virtual (Zoom) Text-Based PD, Leveled Reading, Leveled Lives- educators will provide their own books
When? January 26-March 9, from 5:00 - 6:00 PM, have book in advance to prepare for January 26!
Why? To help students learn how to navigate and tackle complex text anda you can earn PDC points for time you are able to actively participate with us!
How? Click on the REGISTRATION LINK. Registration will be open until January 9th.
Information for Promising Practice
Hands on Practice: Fifty Fun Morphology Activities
If you are looking for some extra practice for working with suffixes, prefixes, roots and Greek and Latin word parts- take a look at this free resource. Included at the link are fun and game-like opportunities for practice that can actively engage learners in bringing automaticity when working with word. This is not curriculum that will explicitly teach morphology- but practice you would do with students to reinforce and solidify their understanding in a fun and engaging way! These activities are for practice, after explicit instruction has taken place.
Teaching Multisyllabic Words
Would you, or someone you work with, like some great guidance in teaching multi-syllabic words? This detailed resource at Reading Universe can help. It includes an overview and specific information for teaching multisyllabic words well, provides a video so you can a teacher model the instruction and provides other resources you can use to continue to build knowledge for teaching that well. See all the information provided on the topic listed at the right and use the link below to access the information most helpful for you!
The Reading League Compass: Pediatricians
While designed for pediatricians, this link provides a great resource for parents and educators who may be asked by parents for resources that are available. Educators might find helpful information to share in newsletters or at parent teacher conferences if looking for literacy support for children. Share if you know of physicians in your community, as it provides a flyer that doctors can display in their office. It includes resources and information on topics such as:
Language and Read-Alouds
Word Recognition
The Importance of Early Literacy Intervention
Dyslexia and Developmental Language Disorder
Developmental Language and Literacy Milestones and Family Resources
Language and Literacy Development: What to Look for
Is Your Child's Reading Instruction Evidence-Aligned?
Research on how Low Literacy Impacts Menal Health and Other Domains
ROAR at Home- for parents and pediatricians
AND... other resources!
Dyslexia Office Hours for School Psychologists (Virtual Forum)
Greenbush offers a monthly, one-hour virtual forum specifically for school psychologists, practicum students, and interns who are working through comprehensive evaluations for suspected dyslexia. Each session uses Kansas’ eligibility indicators and current best practices, and invites participants to bring real cases and questions for collaborative, confidential discussion with peers and facilitators
As part of these office hours, conversations around a case study are facilitated using a framework that is based on Kansas' current definition of dyslexia. This framework breaks the definition into the essential pieces evaluators should consider when answering the referral question of dyslexia. Segmenting the definition in this way makes the process less overwhelming and provides a clear visual of which components of the evaluation are present and which still need to be collected, helping teams determine eligibility for Prong 1 with greater confidence. This office hour also provides a great opportunity for general questions and discussions regarding the identification of dyslexia within the school setting.
See dates and registration links below:
For questions, please contact Mandy Cundy at mandy.cundy@usd262.net
What do the most effective schools do? TNTP was involved in research on over a thousand schools, some of the schools rose to the top by committing to doing three core things well. What were those three things?
They create a culture of belonging
They deliver consistent grade-level instruction
They build a coherent instructional program
To read more about how they did the amazing things they did, read this article:
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
Every child in Kansas under five years old, can receive free, age-appropriate books! Share this link and encourage your school families with young children to sign up!
English Learner Support
Best Practices for Improving Language and Literacy Outcomes for English Learners, the National Center on Improving Literacy provides information on evidence-based practices related to academic vocabulary, content-area instruction, structured writing instructionand how you can leverage EL's home language and prior knowledge to support classroom instruction. There is a free resource called "The Educator's Science of Reading Toolbox that can be easily downloaded at the link above that expands on the topics above to support all students.
National Center on Improving Literacy. (2022). Best Practices for Improving Language and Literacy Outcomes for English Learners. https://www.improvingliteracy.org/resource/best-practices-for-improving-language-and-literacy-outcomes-for-english-learners
Reasons to Celebrate!
Lively Literacy Learning...thanks to Tanner Helton in USD 475
Tanner is taking LETRS right now in USD 475. Jennifer Hansen, one of our Teacher Leaders Consultant who works as a LETRS facilitator in USD 475, asked him to answer a couple of questions to get his opinion on his early career as a teacher and the professional learning work he has been doing...
How long have you been teaching?
This is my 4th year teaching elementary physical education. Over the years, I’ve learned that PE is about much more than movement. It's also a powerful place for language, connection, and character development.
How has LETRS changed the way you think about instruction in your PE classroom?
LETRS has really opened my eyes to how language and vocabulary are connected to every subject, including PE. I now see my gym as a literacy-rich environment where I can help students build word knowledge while they move. For example, I intentionally use and revisit tiered vocabulary like accuracy, control, cooperation, resilience, etc… We use “word talk” before, during, and after activities. Students hear the words, say them, see them in visuals, and apply them while having fun.
Any other thoughts you want to add?
My goal this year is to target illiteracy by giving every student more opportunities to engage with language in active and meaningful ways. Movement gives students context for understanding vocabulary, so they aren’t just hearing the words. I’ve found that when students talk about their actions, reflect on how they felt, and use specific vocabulary to describe it, it strengthens both their communication skills and their confidence.
We have LOTS to CELEBRATE!
LETRS Facilitators have recently been trained by national Lexia trainers and can now train other educators in their systems! If YOU were one of those trained- THANK YOU! Well done, you are supporting the work to improved literacy across the entire state!
Volume 1
25 new facilitators came together in Salina for 4 days of training this past September!
25 new facilitators came together in Topeka for 4 days of training the end of October!
Volume 2
21 facilitators came together in Clearwater the end of October to finalize their final 4 days of training!
Early Childhood
14 facilitators came together in to complete their training
We have nearly 300 LETRS LCFs that can spread this knowledge throughout the state!
Literacy Lifeline Questions/ Answers
Literacy Lifeline is up and available to answer your questions!
If you have a question about literacy professional practice, or anything else related to improving student literacy learning - the KSDE Early Literacy/ Dyslexia team is here to help! You can ask a question using the linked form below and request it be answered via a Zoom virtual conference/ consulting session, an email, or suggest it as a possible article in this newsletter.
"Give who you are. The world will be a better place for it." Annie F. Downs
If you know someone who would like to receive this newsletter, please ask them to contact me at ELitDyslexia@ksde.gov to request being added to the Early Literacy/ Dyslexia listserv, or visit the KSDE Dyslexia page and select the purple HERE button and select Newsletter to see the current and past issues.
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