Research & Links

Recommended books and articles supporting Nancy's evidence-based approach to the teaching of reading, spelling and writing, along with Nancy's "Ladder of Reading" infographic. 

Would you like to use Nancy's Ladder of Reading in a presentation, on a website, in course materials or in a publication? Please contact Nancy first. Thanks!

​Download Nancy's helpful primer on
"What is structured literacy?":

​Download the statistics underpinning Nancy Young’s infographic. This chart was originally published in the eXaminer, Volume 7, Issue 3 (July 2018), copyright by the International Dyslexia Association, Inc. (DyslexiaIDA.org). Used with permission.

• The need to teach structured literacy in all K to 3 classrooms:
   

  • Dykstra, S. (2013) The Impact of Scientifically-based Reading Instruction on Different Groups and Different Levels of Performance
     

  • Read About It: Scientific Evidence for Effective Teaching of Reading (2016)
     

• The instructional needs of students with dyslexia:
   

  • "This approach not only helps students with dyslexia, but there is substantial evidence that it is more effective for all readers.” 
    IDA Fact Sheet on Structured Literacy – Effective Reading Instruction for Students with Dyslexia.
     

• A "Made in Canada" evidence-based toolkit:
   

  • Foundations for Literacy: An Evidence-based Toolkit for the Reading and Writing Teacher

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• The need to include more movement in the classroom (grounding why we need to weave movement into reading/spelling mastery):
   

  • Nancy’s presentation for PaTTAN can now be viewed on YouTube
     

  • This MUST READ article explains why weaving skill-based movement into instruction and practice can be so valuable!
    
    "A Narrative Review of School-Based Physical Activity for Enhancing Cognition and Learning: The Importance of Relevancy and Integration"
     

  • ADHD and Exercise
     

  • Classroom-based high-intensity interval activity improves off-task behaviour in primary school students
     

  • Exercise and children’s intelligence, cognition, and academic achievement
     

  • How seeing and using gestures make ideas more memorable
     

  • Effects of a classroom-based program on physical activity and on-task behavior
     

  • Physical activity and sedentary time in relation to academic achievement in children
     

  • The Canadian Pediatric Society physical activity guidelines
     

  • Using actions to enhance memory: effects of enactment, gestures, and exercise on human memory
     

• The need for teachers to learn more about the English code and how to teach it:
   

  • First Grade Teachers’ Knowledge of Phonological Awareness and Code Concepts: Examining gains from an intensive form of professional development and corresponding teacher attitudes
     

  • Short-changed: Preparation to teach reading in initial teacher education
     

  • Teachers’ Knowledge About Beginning Reading Development and Instruction
     

  • The Massive Impact of Literacy on the Brain and its Consequences for Education
     

• Canadian research in which movement was incorporated into lessons which directly taught the English alphabetic code ('lively/"playful" active learning'):
   

  • Preventative Reading Interventions Teaching Direct Mapping of Graphemes in Texts and Set-for-Variability Aid At-Risk Learners
     

• Teaching Writing in Kindergarten​
   

  • Click here for articles curated by Nancy on the topic of teaching writing in Kindergarten
     

Click HERE for more reviews!

RECENTLY RECOMMENDED BY NANCY (June 2020)

Finn, Chester & Wright, Brandon (2015). Failing Our Brightest Kids: The Global Challenge of Educating High-Ability Students. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Education Press. (Amazon.ca) (Amazon.com)

Hasbrouck, Jan (2020). Conquering Dyslexia A Guide to Early Detection and Intervention for Teachers and Parents. New Rochelle, NY: Benchmark Education. (BenchmarkEducation.com)

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PREVIOUS RECOMMENDATIONS

Berninger, V., Wolf, B. (2009). Teaching Students with Dyslexia and Dysgraphia: Lessons from Teaching and Science. Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brooks Publishing. (Amazon.ca) (Amazon.com)

Borkowsky, Faith (2018) Failing Students or Failing Schools?: A Parent's Guide to Reading Instruction and Intervention.  (Amazon.ca) (Amazon.com)

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Dehaene, S. (2020). How We Learn: Why Brains Learn Better Than Any Machine...For Now. NY, NY: Viking. (Amazon.ca) (Amazon.com)

Dehaene, S. (2009). Reading in the Brain: The Science and Evolution of a Human Invention. New York, NY: Viking. (Amazon.ca) (Amazon.com)

Henry, M. (2010). Unlocking Literacy: Effective Decoding and Spelling Instruction (2nd ed). Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brooks Publishing. (Amazon.ca) (Amazon.com)

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Hochman, J. C., & Wexler, N. (2017). The Writing Revolution: A Guide to Advancing Thinking Through Writing in All Subjects and Grades. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. (Amazon.ca) (Amazon.com)

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Kaufman, S. B. (2018). Twice exceptional: supporting and educating bright and creative students with learning difficulties. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. (Amazon.ca) (Amazon.com)

Kilpatrick, D. (2015). Essentials of Assessing, Preventing and Overcoming Reading Difficulties. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons Inc. (Amazon.ca) (Amazon.com)

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Mather, M. & Wendling, B. (2012). Essentials of Dyslexia Assessment and Intervention. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons Inc. (Amazon.ca) (Amazon.com)

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Moats, L. (2010). Speech to Print: Language Essentials for Teachers (2nd ed). Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brooks Publishing. (Amazon.ca) (Amazon.com)

Murphy, James & Dianne (2018). Thinking Reading: What Every Secondary Teacher Needs to Know about Reading. Woodbridge, UK: John Catt Educational Ltd. (Amazon.ca) (Amazon.com)

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Quigley, Alex (2018). Closing the Vocabulary Gap. New York, NY: Routledge. (Amazon.ca)

(Amazon.com)

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Seidenberg, M. (2017). Language at the Speed of Sight: How We Read, Why So Many Can’t, and What Can Be Done About It. New York, NY: Basic Books. (Amazon.ca) (Amazon.com)

Shaywitz, S. (2003). Overcoming Dyslexia: A New and Complete Science-based Program for Overcoming Reading Problems at any Level. New York, NY: Random House.  (Amazon.ca) (Amazon.com)

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Siegel, L. (2016). Not Stupid, Not Lazy: Understanding Dyslexia and Other Learning Disabilities. Baltimore, MD: International Dyslexia Association. (International Dyslexia Association)

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Wexler, N. (2019). The knowledge gap: the hidden cause of Americas broken education system--and how to fix it. New York: Avery. (Amazon.ca) (Amazon.com)

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Wolf, M. (2007). Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain. New York, NY: Harper Collins. (Amazon.ca) (Amazon.com)

National Reading Panel
 

Double Jeopardy: How Third Grade Reading Skills and Poverty Influence High School Graduation
 

The Three-Cueing System in Reading: Will It Ever Go Away?
 

How Spelling Supports Reading and Why It Is More Regular and Predictable Than You May Think

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The International Dyslexia Association

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National Association for Gifted Children
 

The Reading League

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Five From Five

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Click the yellow button below to access Nancy's handouts listing presentation references (some also listing additional helpful resources). Depending on the presentation topic, Nancy may provide additional materials. NOTE: Generally, Nancy’s slides are only available to registrants via the hosting organization.

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**ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: Would you like to use materials Nancy has created in a presentation, on a website, in course materials or in a publication? Please contact Nancy first.**

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Nancy’s current presentations and workshops are all being provided in a virtual format.

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