WSU CLEAR

10/01/2026

October is Dyslexia Awareness Month!

Throughout October, CLEAR at Wichita State University will be sharing resources, research, and practical strategies to support individuals with dyslexia-as well as the educators and families who champion them every day.

Our goal is simple: increase understanding, strengthen support, and help every learner access the instruction and opportunities they need to thrive.

Follow along each week as we learn, share, and celebrate the strengths and potential of individuals with dyslexia.

Understand. Support. Empower. Celebrate.

08/20/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Kim who was just named co-editor of the Organization of Teacher Educators in Literacy (OTEL)-a special interest group of the International Literacy Association (ILA)-journal.

Literacy Practice & Research (LPR) is a peer-reviewed research journal that also provides teacher education insights and professional discussion.

08/17/2026

Oh hey!!!! 💛🖤💛🖤

Thinking about earning your Reading Specialist license? Now is the time!

Under the Blueprint for Literacy (HB 2485), elementary school buildings will be required to have a licensed Reading Specialist beginning in the 2029–30 school year.

Three Kansas universities are enrolling now in Reading Specialist programs, with scholarship funding available to support educators pursuing licensure.

Scholarships of $1,400 per semester for five semesters, with a maximum cumulative award of $7,000 per educator, are available at Newman University, Washburn University, and Wichita State University.

Learn more about Reading Specialist scholarships: https://kansasregents.gov/about/kansas-blueprint-for-literacy/reading-specialist-scholarships

08/08/2026

Today was one of those days that reminded me why I love this work. 💛🖤

After 22 years at Wichita State, I still feel incredibly grateful for opportunities to learn, collaborate, and help translate what we know from research into practices that can make a difference for students.

Today, our literacy team at Wichita State University, alongside an incredible team from Wichita Public Schools, had the opportunity to provide structured literacy professional learning to hundreds of WPS paraeducators.

And this wasn't just a one-day training.

Together, colleagues from WSU and WPS have developed the content and scope and sequence for a year-long series of professional development experiences designed specifically for paraeducators-equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and evidence-based practices grounded in the Science of Reading to better support diverse learners.

There was something pretty powerful about looking out at a room filled with hundreds of paraeducators who show up every day to support students and knowing that we are investing in their learning too.

This is what meaningful school–university partnership can look like: bringing research, expertise, and practice together so the adults closest to students have the tools they need to help them thrive.

So grateful for our Wichita Public Schools partners, my Wichita State colleagues, and especially the paraeducators who spent today learning alongside us.

This is how we build capacity.
This is how we strengthen systems.
And ultimately, this is how we improve outcomes for kids. 💛🖤

Wichita Public Schools
Wichita State University College of Education
Kansas Blueprint for Literacy

08/03/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Kim Moody and others from the KS Kansas Blueprint for Literacy and KBOR institutions for their publications in Cognitive Foundations of Reading!



https://www.igi-global.com/book/cognitive-foundations-reading/392496

07/29/2026

Join us to meet with trusted news organizations, learn about resources available to help improve your literacy skills, enjoy free food, and participate in drawings for free school supplies and bilingual children's books! 💙

Reúnase con organizaciones de noticias confiables, conozca los recursos disponibles para a mejorar sus habilidades de alfabetización, disfrute comida gratis y participe en rifas de útiles escolares gratuitos y libros infantiles bilingües. 💙

07/29/2026

Engaging in literacy activities at home can help develop your child’s reading ability, comprehension, and language skills.

06/26/2026

For the past four weeks, I've had the privilege of watching something extraordinary unfold.

What looked like a summer literacy program was actually seven months of planning, collaboration, and shared purpose coming to life.

Together, the Kansas Blueprint for Literacy, KSDE, Wichita Public Schools, and Wichita State University's College of Education created something much bigger than summer instruction. We built a community of practice.

Across three sites, kindergarten through second-grade students learned alongside teams of educators working in a unique triad model: a Wichita State faculty member, an outstanding Wichita Public Schools teacher, and teacher education candidates learning together in real classrooms with real children.

I watched data drive instruction—not because someone required it, but because every child mattered.

I watched in-service teachers model expert thinking, share instructional decisions aloud, and mentor the next generation of educators.

I watched our teacher candidates move beyond learning about structured literacy to actually implementing the Science of Reading with confidence, receiving real-time coaching and feedback that simply can't be replicated in a college classroom.

Most importantly, I watched children grow.

Children who proudly celebrated learning a new letter sound.

Children who high-fived after decoding a multisyllabic word.

Children who couldn't wait to show someone what they had learned.

The hugs, smiles, and excitement reminded us why this work matters.

And the data told the same story.

We saw measurable growth in phonological awareness, curriculum-based reading measures, and writing skills.

But perhaps the greatest growth wasn't found in a data chart—it was found in the confidence of children, the renewed passion of teachers, and the preparation of future educators.

This is what applied learning looks like.

This is what happens when research translates into practice.

This is what happens when universities, school districts, and state leaders work together around a shared vision.

The Science of Reading isn't just a body of research.

It's children finding their voices.
It's educators rediscovering their purpose.
It's communities changing one reader at a time.

I'm incredibly grateful to everyone who made this possible. The future of literacy is brighter because of partnerships like these.

06/18/2026

06/06/2026

This week I had the privilege of watching something truly special happen during our first week of the Summer Literacy Lab, a partnership between Wichita State University’s CLEAR (Center for Literacy Education, Advancement, and Research), KSDE, Wichita Public Schools, and KBOR.

And all I can say is… THIS is what happens when research, practice, and partnership come together. 💛🖤

I watched K–2 students actively engaged in evidence-based structured literacy instruction — building knowledge, strengthening language, and receiving individualized, high-dose tutoring.

I saw children:

*manipulating sounds through phonological and phonemic awareness
*cracking the code through explicit phonics instruction
*exploring word meaning through morphology and vocabulary
*building confidence through oral reading fluency practice

But more importantly, I saw HOW they were learning.

I saw explicit, systematic instruction.
I saw immediate feedback.
I saw learning that was active and engaged.
I saw repeated exposure and intentional practice opportunities.
I saw instruction driven by what each child needed next.

And then I looked around and realized… the learning wasn’t just happening for our children- I watched WSU teacher candidates experience structured literacy in a powerful triad model — learning alongside an exemplar Wichita Public Schools teacher and WSU literacy faculty.

I watched future teachers:

💛observe masterful instruction
🖤ask thoughtful questions
💛receive real-time coaching and feedback
🖤practice evidence-based strategies
💛build confidence applying the science of reading with children

This is what applied learning should look like.

I watched incredible Wichita Public Schools teachers model the art and science of effective reading instruction — making their thinking visible through think-alouds, demonstrating intentional instructional decisions, and engaging in professional dialogue with candidates and faculty.

And I watched our WSU literacy faculty do what makes this model so unique — we weren’t observing from a distance.

We were there.
Every day.
In classrooms.
Working with children.
Coaching candidates.
Collaborating with teachers.
Analyzing assessments.
Making data-informed decisions.

At the end of each day, the entire team came together for a data debrief — reviewing student progress and asking the most important question:
“What does this child need from us tomorrow?”

Because effective literacy instruction is not a program.

It’s not a checklist.

It is knowledgeable educators using evidence, data, and relationships to meet the needs of each learner.

This week was a beautiful example of what happens when universities, schools, and state partners work together around one shared goal:
Improving literacy outcomes for ALL children.

Week 1 reminded me why this work matters. I can’t wait for Week 2!

Wichita Public Schools
Kansas Blueprint for Literacy
Wichita Collective Impact