Medford educators set to put reading certifications into practice

Medford Area Middle School’s special education teacher Kristine Brandner and reading interventionist Jennifer Buskerud have earned certifications in science of reading-based instruction from Lexia, a Cambium Learning Group brand. Brandner and Buskerud were among 118 elementary school educators throughout the country who won grants to participate in Lexia’s award-winning Lexia LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) program.

Research has shown that 95% of students can learn to read, but only about a third of fourth graders in the United States read proficiently. Lexia LETRS professional learning is a literacy-focused two-year course that provides teachers with deep knowledge to address that gap and become language and literacy experts in the science of reading. Developed by nationally-recognized author Dr. Louisa Moats and leaders in the field of literacy, Lexia LETRS is used by educators in 47 states and teaches the skills needed to master the foundation and fundamentals of reading and writing instruction.

During the first part of the course, Brandner and Buskerud worked on code-focused knowledge (e.g., phonology and phonemic awareness, orthography, morphology, and fluency) to support word recognition and spelling practices. The second part consisted of studying instructional delivery of meaning-focused knowledge (e.g., semantics or vocabulary; comprehension and subskills, background knowledge, text structures, syntax, writing and reading-writing connections).

“We have expanded our intervention offerings and training opportunities so that we can better meet the needs of our students,” said Brandner. “There is ‘no one size fits all’ in special education and intervention, and so we want to meet our students where they’re at and help them improve their reading.”

Brandner and Buskerud are using their new found expertise to create professional development events for the school. They started “Literacy and Lunch” professional learning meetings, which caught the attention of building leaders. “We invited our new vice principal who is a literacy specialist, and she likes to attend our meetings,” said Buskerud.

“In addition, we have started a couple of book studies,” said Brandner. “We’ve invited fellow staff to join us, along with administration, to further our skills and our knowledge and to open up dialogue into best practices.”

The two educators are also influencing instruction at the district level. “Our district has formed a committee looking at the curriculum for our literacy programs, not only for reading intervention, for special education, but also for our general education curriculums as well,” Buskerud explained. “We’re also thinking of offering some professional development talks, and discussions during our in-services within our district.”

Brandner and Buskerud are also taking their efforts to the regional level. After attending a Reading League conference, they both volunteered to help the board with a variety of tasks, including bringing literacy training to new regions of Wisconsin. “We typically have to travel to the southern part of the state to receive any training,” said Brandner. “We’re looking to expand that to the northern part as well.”

About Lexia Lexia, a Cambium Learning Group brand, is transforming literacy education, driving change in 1 of every 3 school districts across the United States. For more than 40 years, Lexia has been a thought leader in literacy education, delivering award-winning, research-based solutions grounded in the science of reading. With a full spectrum of offerings, including professional learning, curriculum, and embedded assessment tools, Lexia provides educators with Structured Literacy solutions that are proven effective and designed to drive meaningful literacy outcomes. By empowering educators with unparalleled ease of use and the knowledge and tools they need, Lexia helps more students unlock their potential to read, write, and speak with confidence. For more information, visit lexialearning.com.

About Cambium Learning Group Cambium Learning Group is the education essentials company, providing award-winning education technology and services for K-12 educators and students. With an intentional collection of respected global brands, Cambium serves as a leader, helping millions of educators and students feel more seen, valued, and supported every day. In everything it does, the company focuses on the elements that are most essential to the success of education, delivering simpler, more certain solutions that make a meaningful difference right now.

To learn more, visit www.cambiumlearning.com or follow Cambium on Facebook, LinkedIn, and X. The Cambium family of brands includes: Cambium Assessment, Lexia, Learning A-Z, ExploreLearning, and Time4Learning.