Advancing Literacy at Teachers College

Vocabulary doesn’t stick by accident. It takes explicit teaching, repeated exposure, attention to word parts, and connections to what students already know.

These are the kinds of research-based strategies our staff developers bring directly into classrooms, whether through demonstration teaching, coaching, or study groups built around your team’s goals.

If you’re planning ahead for the school year, now is the time to start the conversation. We partner with schools and districts to design professional development around your curriculum, your context, and your students’ needs.
Ready to talk about a school year partnership?

Reach out at [email protected] or visit the link in our bio to schedule a free consultation.

Got questions about our online Focused Topic Courses?
We’ve got answers.

Swipe through for what these courses actually cover, who they’re for, and how schools and individual teachers alike are using them to grow as literacy educators, all without leaving your building.
Full course list and topics at the link in bio.

📚 New on the blog: From Panels to Practice, Supporting Graphic Novel Readers Beyond the Classroom

Have you ever seen a kid finishes a graphic novel in one sitting and immediately asks for the next one in the series? Researchers who study how readers process comics have found that the brain treats sequential panels much like language, drawing on many of the same networks used to process prose. Interpreting images alongside text adds cognitive work of its own: inferring what happens in the gutters between panels, reading facial expressions as story information, and tracking how text and image tell different parts of the same story.

In this NEW post, we cover:
✏️ Why “genre” and “form” are different things, and why a graphic novel can satisfy that historical fiction or nonfiction assignment
✏️ 4 strategies to share with families to support their graphic novel readers
✏️ Specific phrases caregivers can use during read-alouds
✏️ Free printables: a caregiver guide and a graphic novel glossary

Link in bio 🔗

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Research- Based. Practitioner- Led. Student- Centered.

As you start to plan your new year, 2026-2027, look at all the ways that we can support the literacy work you do!

https://advancingliteracy.tc.columbia.edu/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=24058302478&gbraid=0AAAABCmAWr6xK_G3h6HgQLsQN54vBYa9z&gclid=CjwKCAjwsrbTBhAvEiwA0Bpp4dmaGm7725lK-qQxNswUD1RW0P5_jyeewH8v5we2TwDC-CQaZCwejxoCMyIQAvD_BwE

Today’s the day!
Episode 7 of Advancing Literacy: Beyond the Classroom is officially live!

Join Amanda Hartman, Molly Picardi, & Emily Smith from Teachers College, Columbia University, as they explore:

Graphic Novels are Great for Readers: Build Volume, Knowledge, and a Love for Reading and Writing

This episode is designed for families and caregivers who want to nurture joyful, engaged readers and writers while learning more about the power of graphic novels.

✨ Discover how graphic novels help build reading stamina and volume
✨ Learn how graphic novels support comprehension, vocabulary, and knowledge building
✨ Explore ways graphic novels inspire writing, creativity, and storytelling
✨ Hear practical tips for helping children choose and enjoy graphic novels at home

🎁 Bonus Resource: We’ve included a FREE printable guide in the show notes with ideas you can try today!

👉 Listen now: https://advancinglit.transistor.fm/?fbclid=IwRlRTSATXBnxwZG9mAWZkaWQWULdo3m2sk7Iqi4xid-8fZhNNKT1U0WV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR63QWpMUqUaY6ZJghHhCMkrNjcMbaayYB4nIE9fVoXpNZcEw75OdmkdEGkAiw_aem_zZnx1vlleHzbdD6wrKmv4A

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Join us in for our last institute of the season: Phonics to Support Spelling, Decoding, and Fluency Institute

Dates: August 4-5, 2026
Times: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM EST
Location: Teachers College

This institute empowers K-5 teachers and instructional leaders to build engaging, research based practices that “stick.” We will explore the vital connection between decoding and encoding and provide strategies to bridge the gap between sounding out words and achieving fluent, expressive reading. Participants will design collaborative learning opportunities that move phonics skills from the lesson into students’ independent reading and writing and develop a toolkit of classroom habits, structures and materials designed to foster orthographic mapping and student engagement.





https://advancingliteracy.tc.columbia.edu/events/phonics-to-support-spelling-decoding-and-fluency-institute

Heading to NYC to learn with us this summer? A few reminders to get the most out of your experience:

✨ Let go of “doing it right.” Try new things, even if it feels messy.
💬 Chat with someone new.
🏙️ Step outside. NYC is part of the experience!
📝 Jot 2-3 things to try in September.
🤝 Trade contact info with fellow participants.
❓ Ask lots of questions. Your presenters want to hear them.

See you this summer at Teachers College, Columbia University 💙Don’t want to miss the fun? We still have a few spots available, apply today at the link in our bio! 

ProfessionalDevelopment

When students say “I’m going to teach you about...” and actually do teach about a given topic, they’re engaging in meaningful comprehension work. 🙌

When students explain their topic, talk through the parts, elaborate on their thinking, and field questions from peers, they’re doing the hard cognitive work that helps move knowledge from short-term to long-term memory.

Want more strategies like this in your toolkit? Join us July 23–24 at Teachers College in New York for the Knowledge Building to Strengthen and Deepen Comprehension Institute ✨ Scholarships available!
Find out more and apply today: https://advancingliteracy.tc.columbia.edu/events/knowledge-building-to-strengthen-and-deepen-comprehension-institute

When a beginning writer writes “frnd” for “friend,” it helps to envision this as phonological thinking in action rather than an error to fix.

Helping caregivers understand the difference is one of the most effective things educators can do to extend literacy learning beyond the school day.

Our newest blog post breaks down four research-backed strategies to share with families to support spelling and grammar at home, including why approximated spelling is productive, how writing a grocery list together builds grammatical awareness, and what kinds of feedback keep kids writing.

https://advancingliteracy.tc.columbia.edu/blog/practical-and-positive-support-for-grammar-and-spelling-beyond-the-classroom-ideas-for-supporting-families-and-caregivers

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