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. 

(click image to enlarge, or see below for printable PDF)

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!

PDF Version
(high quality for printing)

​Download Nancy's "Ladder of Reading" in .PDF format, including a helpful primer on"What is structured literacy"

**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.**

Supporting Statistics

​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
     

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 purple buttons below to access Nancy's publicly available presentation handouts. These handouts list specific articles cited in her presentations as well as additional resources supporting the messages delivered in her presentation. Depending on the presentation topic, Nancy may provide additional teaching materials. NOTE: Some presentation handouts 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.**

2019

2020

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

Click above to find out about Nancy's upcoming presentations, conference appearances and online webinars!