Building ELA Skills for Every Student: Designing for Learner Variability in Middle School (Part 1)

This edWeb podcast is sponsored by Digital Promise.

The webinar recording can be accessed here.

The middle school years are critical for developing the literacy skills students will use for the rest of their lives. For some learners, the challenge isn’t just decoding words but negotiating the intense cognitive demand of managing new vocabulary and constructing meaning. By designing for learner variability—considering a whole-child framework of factors that includes learner background, social and emotional learning, cognition, and literacy—educators can ensure that all learners can unlock their true potential.

Join learner variability expert Dr. Stefani Pautz Stephenson and literacy expert Dacia Toll for an insightful edWeb podcast on how to bridge the gap between the high-quality instructional materials that districts have adopted and the diversity of student needs that exist in classrooms.

In part one of this three-part series, you learn:

• How to identify learner variability factors connected to building literacy skills and apply research-backed strategies to help middle school ELA learners thrive
• Strategies to foster high-level inferencing skills by providing each student with targeted, Socratic, one-on-one, and small-group support

This edWeb podcast is designed for grades 6-8 educators, instructional coaches, and leaders committed to creating equitable pathways for every unique learner.

Part two: Unmasking the Math Mindset: Designing for Learner Variability in Middle School
Part three: Leveling Up SEL Through Play and Games: Designing for Learner Variability in Middle School

Digital Promise
Digital Promise's mission is to accelerate innovation in education to improve opportunities to learn

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