S9 E3: Know the non-negotiables in a Science of Reading program, with Kari Kurto

Science of Reading: The Podcast

On this episode, Kari Kurto, National Science of Reading Project Director at The Reading League, discusses her role in creating the Reading League’s curriculum evaluation tool. Seeing the term “Science of Reading” being misused as a marketing label, Kurto saw the need for a simple way for educators to cut through confusion and evaluate a given curriculum’s claims. Her conversation with Susan Lambert touches on her background teaching students with dyslexia, the non-negotiables in a Science of Reading curriculum, and how educators can use the information about a curriculum once it's been evaluated to inform instruction. While Kurto stresses that no program is perfect, she has made it her mission to equip educators with a tool to more easily and objectively access information when making curriculum choices.
Show notes:
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Quotes:
“Just because we have this report and we say, ‘All right, this curriculum has all the stuff,’ if you don't teach it, then you're a red flag of your own.” —Kari Kurto
“It's a movement of improvement, right? We're constantly striving to improve. And don't give up. Share your stories; share your success stories.” —Kari Kurto

“Thank you to those folks who have been listening. Thank you to the folks who are curious about learning more, those who have spent years implementing and tweaking and improving literacy outcomes for our country's next generation. I mean, that's huge.” —Kari Kurto
Episode timestamps*
02:00 Introduction: Who is Kari Kurto?
08:00 Teaching kids with dyslexia, what they need to learn to read
10:00 Reading league defining guide
11:00 Curriculum review tool
16:00 Determining which programs to review
20:00 Using the curriculum review tool as professional development
21:00 Non-negotiables in a science of reading curriculum
24:00 How to use the information from a program evaluation
30:00 Long-term plans of the navigation report tool
32:00 The reporting team
34:00 The Reading League compass
37:00 The Reading League journal
40:00 Final Advice
*Timestamps are approximate, rounded to nearest minute