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Literacy

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Educators

Literacy services provide professional learning and coaching of instructional approaches in reading, writing, speaking, and listening for K-12 students. These efforts are designed to build a school learning community engaged in studying and promoting growth and student achievement in literacy.

Literacy Contacts

Consultant Districts Served
Melanie Andersen Boyer Valley, Heartland Christian, ISD, Lewis Central, Logan-Magnolia, Missouri Valley, St. Albert, Underwood, West Harrison, Woodbine
Lori Helgevold Diagonal, East Union, Lamoni, Mormon Trail, Mt. Ayr, Murray, Southwest Valley
Karen Hesse Bedford, Central Decatur, Clarinda, Clarinda Luthern, Shenandoah, South Page, Stanton
Jenna Hucka AHSTW, Griswold, Harlan, IKM-Manning, Riverside,  Shelby County Catholic, Treynor, Tri-Center
Jennifer Johnson East Mills, Essex, Fremont Mills, Glenwood, Griswold, Hamburg, ISD, Lewis Central, Red Oak,  St. Albert, Shenandoah, Sidney, Treynor
Sally Johnston Atlantic, Bedford, CAM, Clarinda, Clarinda Luthern, Clarke, Creston, Nodaway Valley, South Page, Stanton, Southwest Valley
Lynn Killpack  AHSTW, Boyer Valley, Clarke, Harlan, Heartland Christian, IKM-Manning, Logan-Magnolia, Missouri Valley, Riverside, Shelby County Catholic, Tri-Center, Underwood, West Harrison, Woodbine
Kelsie Kralik Atlantic, CAM, Clarke, Creston, Lenox, Nodaway Valley, Orient-Macksburg
Emily Lampe Central Decatur, Diagonal, East Union, Lamoni, Lenox, Mount Ayr, Murray, Mormon Trail, Orient-Macksburg, St. Malachy
Kari Olson East Mills, Essex, Fremont Mills, Glenwood, Hamburg, Lewis Central,  Red Oak, Sidney

Department of Education Information

Early Literacy Guidance, July 9, 2020

Approved Literacy Assessments, 2019-2020

Reviewed Interventions, March 2016

Iowa Early Literacy Blueprint, August 2018

Iowa Academic Standards (Iowa Core Standards)

FASTBridge Benchmarks

2021-2022 FAST Testing Windows
Fall August 30 – September 30, 2021
Winter January 3 – February 4, 2022
Spring April 25 – May 27, 2022

Decision Making

FASTBridge

FASTbridge benchmarks

Fun Facts about FASTBridge

I’ve Screened, Now What?

Literacy Sorts

Classwide Guidance

aReading Score Interpretation Guide

Literacy Status Chart for Iowa

Analyzing Learner Progress

How Do I Match Students to Interventions?

Phonological Awareness Diagnostic Assessments 

 Phonics Diagnostic Assessments

Spelling Diagnostic Assessments

Miscellaneous Tools

Learning Opportunities

Websites

Webinars

Podcasts

Emily Hanford: Hard to Read, Hard Words, At a Loss for Words

Books

An asterisk (*) indicates the book is available for check-out from GHAEA Media Center

  • Language at the Speed of Sight by Mark Seidenberg
  • The Writing Revolution by Natalie Wexler
  • Equipped for Reading Success by David Kilpatrick *
  • Essentials of Assessing, Preventing, and Overcoming Reading Difficulties by David Kilpatrick with Book Study Guide *
  • A Fresh Look at Phonics by Wiley Blevins
  • Reader Come Home by Maryann Wolf
  • Essentials of Dyslexia Assessment and Intervention by Nancy Mather and Barbara Wendling *
  • Explicit Instruction:  Effective and Efficient Teaching by Anita Archer and Charles Hughes *
  • Conquering Dyslexia: A Guide to Early Detection and Intervention for Teachers and Parents by Jan Hasbrouck *

Blogs

Instruction

Phonological Awareness

The ability to recognize and manipulate the sound properties of spoken words, such as syllables, initial sounds, rhyming parts, and phonemes – David Kilpatrick (Equipped for Reading Success)

Phonological Awareness Resources:

Phonics 

Phonics instruction is a way of teaching reading that stresses the acquisition of letter-sound correspondences and their use in reading and spelling. – Reading Rockets

Phonics Resources:

Fluency

“Fluency is defined as the ability to read with speed, accuracy, and proper expression. In order to understand what they read, children must be able to read fluently whether they are reading aloud or silently. When reading aloud, fluent readers read in phrases and add intonation appropriately. Their reading is smooth and has expression.” — Reading Rockets

Fluency Resources:

Vocabulary

Vocabulary is the knowledge of words and word meanings. As Steven Stahl (2005) puts it, “Vocabulary knowledge is knowledge; the knowledge of a word not only implies a definition, but also implies how that word fits into the world.” — Reading Rockets

Vocabulary Resources:

Comprehension

“Reading comprehension is the act of understanding what you are reading. While the definition can be simply stated the act is not simple to teach, learn or practice. Reading comprehension is an intentional, active, interactive process that occurs before, during and after a person reads a particular piece of writing.” — K12 Reader

Comprehension Resources:

Writing

“Writing today is not a frill for the privileged few, but an essential skill for the many.” – Handbook of Language and Literacy

Writing Resources:

Additional Resources for Instruction:

Quick Reference Guides:

Free Online Resources

Storytelling & Online Books

Phonological Awareness Activities

Phonics

Comprehension

Writing

  • ReadWriteThink.  Check out parent and after-school resources by grade level, including writing. 
  • A-Z Writing: Writing A-Z delivers online writing lessons, resources, and tools to meet the needs of every student, at every learning level.
  • Handwriting Without Tears:

Additional Resources

Important contacts

Staff Directory
Image thumbnail for Karen Wessel Hesse

Karen Wessel Hesse

School Psychologist

712-366-0503 ext. 3628 Email Karen Wessel Hesse
Image thumbnail for Lynn Killpack

Lynn Killpack

Consultant, Literacy

712-366-0503 ext. 3105 Email Lynn Killpack