Navigating the complex and often controversial world of reading instruction can feel overwhelming — but understanding the science behind how students learn to read and write is essential for effective teaching. In this course, you will explore current research and evidence-based practices that support literacy development, using two powerful texts: Visible Learning for Literacy, Grades K-12 by Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey, and John Hattie, and Beyond the Science of Reading by Natalie Wexler.
Through these texts, you’ll examine high-impact instructional strategies, the importance of building students’ knowledge and vocabulary, and the role of writing in strengthening literacy. You’ll also dive into the intersection of cognitive science and equity, exploring how informed teaching practices can help close achievement gaps and support all learners.
By the end of this course, you’ll leave with a clear understanding of when and how to use specific approaches, which routines have the greatest impact, and how to integrate science-based literacy instruction into thoughtful curriculum planning. Most importantly, you’ll gain practical strategies you can implement right away to help your students become more confident, capable, and joyful readers and writers.
For K-12 Teachers
This class is offered for 3 Quarter Credits
Required Textbooks:
Visible Learning for Literacy: Implementing the Practices That Work Best to Accelerate Student Learning Grades K - 12 by Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey, and John Hattie, Corwin Literacy, 2016
Shifting the Balance: 6 Ways to Bring the Science of Reading into the Balanced Literacy Classroom K-2 by Jan Burkins and Kari Yates
Register Anytime! You can start your course TODAY!
1. Click "Registration" below. Our site will redirect you to an SPU registration page where you will pay both the TINT and SPU fee with a credit card.
2. You will receive an email from SPU with your receipt and a link to the coursework.
3. You have a year to complete the work at your own pace. Your grade will be posted on your transcript within a few weeks (and often sooner) of you finishing!
Fees:
Option 1: Non-Credit/Audit (30 PDUs) TINT Tuition Fee: $535
Option 2: 3 Quarter Credit (60 PDUs) = TINT Tuition Fee: $535
+ $165 SPU Credit Fee (Click here for SPU Info) = $700
Student Testimonials:
I was excited for the opportunity to learn applicable best practice techniques to immediately build into the curriculum I am offering my teaching team and my students. I was not disappointed with a single chapter of the reading all along the way. Not only did I highlight and note important information, but I was able to have intriguing conversations with other teachers on my staff, and create meaningful work for my students that I am proud of. I am walking away from this course feeling more confident in my ability to teach literacy in the Visible Learning Classroom. The data I have collected at the end of this school year already shows an increased zone of desired effects for our 3rd grade students, not only in my class, but in the gradeband of students we share. This work is working and that is exciting!
—TINT Student
The most beneficial aspect of this course was the course text and structure of assignments. I learned a lot and was reminded of a lot within this course text. I was able to take away actionable items that I can immediately incorporate into my classroom. I also liked the way the assignments were structured. I liked using the various note-taking strategies to summarize our outline of what was presented in each chapter. That was an easier and more useful way to digest the information than simply writing one-pagers. I really enjoyed this course and the course text! I have already shared some of my new knowledge and ideas with my current team. I am excited to continue to implement new ideas which will only have positive effects on student learning.
—TINT Student
I love this class! It totally met my interest levels with the Science of Reading. I like the flexibility and also the ability to make the learning my own. I felt the freedom to read, reflect and share in ways that felt the most meaningful for me, so I am very grateful for that! This class exceeded my expectations in terms of flexibility and working full-time.
With so much data out there around the Science of Reading, I appreciate that this class was rooted in a text that seems very unbiased. It represents best practices that include foundational skills and whole language strategies together. This aspect was good for me. In order to raise a reader, I need to be intentional about my teaching moves, and that needs to include all parts of the Simple View of Reading (Word Recognition + Language Comprehension) or said differently both constrained and unconstrained skills.
—TINT Student