Dr. David Kilpatrick is pictured speaking at the LoGuidice Educational Center to a standing-room-only crowd of educators from throughout the region as part of the Science of Reading Symposium. The Instructional Support and Development team presents the monthly series of guest speakers thanks to a RECOVS Learning Loss grant secured by the Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES Grants Service. Submitted photo

Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES educators and component district teachers from throughout the region recently learned from reading expert Dr. David Kilpatrick, who led an insightful workshop focused on the Science of Reading.

Dr. Kilpatrick, author of the acclaimed book Essentials of Assessing, Preventing, and Overcoming Reading Difficulties, shared his expertise on phonological awareness, phonics, and orthographic mapping, emphasizing the importance of understanding how these skills support skilled reading. He highlighted the role educators play in leveraging knowledge to support students effectively.

“It’s actually not only the awareness that drives the reading process; it’s what’s called phoneme proficiency,” Dr. Kilpatrick explained, emphasizing the need for students to develop automaticity in accessing and manipulating the sounds of language. He further elaborated on the challenges of English orthography, stating, “English is the most difficult of all the alphabetic writing systems…we have more irregularities than other languages.”

The workshop gave educators in attendance a deeper understanding of the cognitive processes involved in reading and offered practical strategies for enhancing instruction. Kilpatrick stressed the importance of moving beyond traditional approaches and embracing a comprehensive understanding of how reading works.

“Knowing about how reading works … gives us more accuracy in judgment about picking a strategy,” he noted. “It can help us choose things to craft instruction and make better on-the-fly decisions when kids get stuck.”

This professional development opportunity made possible through the RECOVS Learning Loss grant, was part of E2CCB’s ongoing commitment to the Science of Reading, a statewide initiative. This initiative also includes the creation of two Instructional Coaching positions and yearlong Science of Reading Teacher Liaison meetings, offering a collaborative forum for educators across districts to share insights, learn from experts, and discuss best practices.

According to Jennifer L. Clark-Saboda, Ph.D., E2CCB Director of Professional Learning & Curriculum Development, “The Science of Reading represents a fundamental shift in how we approach literacy instruction. Through these meetings, we’re equipping teachers with tools that not only improve student outcomes but also build a strong foundation for lifelong learning.”

For more information, visit e2ccb.org.