Leading Literacy Change: Real Conversations and Classroom Shifts That Drive Student Growth

Making a shift in literacy instruction, from balanced literacy to structured, research-based practices, isn’t just a matter of swapping out materials. It involves unlearning, re-learning, and reimagining what instruction looks like at every level.

This powerful podcast episode explores what it really takes to drive change. This conversation offers both practical strategies and profound inspiration for ELA educators leading the charge in their districts.

“From Workshop Model to Reading Science in Pentucket”

When a district shifts from balanced literacy to structured literacy, the change is more than just new materials—it’s a mindset transformation. In this episode, Brent Conway and Jen Hogan of Pentucket Regional School District share how they guided educators through the transition to reading science-informed instruction. 

With a focus on professional learning, clarity of purpose, and data-informed coaching, the team helped teachers understand why the shift was necessary and how to let go of legacy practices that no longer served students. Now, using Wit & Wisdom®, Geodes®, and a foundational skills program, Pentucket offers a model for navigating deep, purposeful instructional changes.

Learn how one district moved beyond balanced literacy and embraced structured literacy, without carrying over outdated practices.

• How can coaching and data be used not just to monitor progress but also to build understanding and trust during times of change?
• What structures are in place in your school or district to help unpack why materials have changed, not just what has changed?
• How are you supporting fellow educators in fully embracing structured literacy rather than retrofitting it to old approaches?

Pentucket’s use of Wit & Wisdom and Geodes plays a central role in supporting their shift to structured literacy. Wit & Wisdom offers a knowledge-building approach to ELA instruction, ensuring students engage deeply with rich, grade-level texts while developing reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. Geodes, a collection of decodable texts aligned with the Science of Reading, helps build foundational skills while reinforcing content knowledge. Together, these resources provide the structure and content alignment needed to make lasting instructional change possible.

Navigating the Shift: Real Stories of Literacy Change in Action

Change can be messy, uncomfortable, and complex, but as we see every day in our classrooms, it’s also where growth happens. Whether you’re a classroom teacher adjusting to new materials, a coach supporting colleagues, or an administrator leading the change at a school or district level, these episodes remind us that meaningful transformation is possible when we anchor it in purpose and community. Listen, reflect, and consider the next step you can take toward better literacy outcomes for all students.