More Than A Test

In this episode of the More Than a Test podcast, Kari Kurto talks about the science of learning and how she developed a passion for education. Kari is the National Science of Reading Project Director at The Reading League, a nonprofit organization that aims to advance the awareness, understanding, and use of evidence-aligned reading instruction.

Listen in to learn how to build knowledge around the science of reading as an educator and then impact students beyond the classroom. You will also learn how to build a reading foundation for kids to decode and encode letters for them to self-teach without guessing.

What You Will Discover:

· 00:00 Episode Begins

· 00:21 Kari’s role as the National Science of Reading Project Director at the Reading League.

· 01:05 The importance of creating awareness and understanding around the science of reading.

· 04:21 The commitment that has helped Reading League become an authentic voice and leader.

· 05:57 How to build knowledge around the science of reading and become a critical consumer.

· 08:13 The science of reading misconception and how to determine red flags in a curriculum.

· 10:09 How to start building your science of reading knowledge as an educator.

· 11:39 How to use a systematic sequence to teach kids text decoding without looking at pictures.

· 17:00 How to build a reading foundation for kids to self-teach without guessing.

· 19:50 Kari talks about some of the future projects she’s leading at the Reading League.

· 24:11 She discusses her past career as a casting director and how she pivoted into education.

· 31:29 Ensure your curriculum materials have a comprehensive approach founded in research.

· 34:15 She describes her experience teaching and working on other projects in Rhode Island.

· 39:20 Tips on how to create the science of reading impact beyond your class as an educator.

· 43:50 Some rapid-fire questions with Kari!

Connect with Kari:

· Website: https://www.thereadingleague.org/

· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kari-kurto-b88a798/

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About More Than a Test

Our goal is to take a hard look at the shortcomings in literacy education and tech while still finding a sense of hope in what's possible in education through learning and technology.

Our guests include non-profit leaders, tech CEOs, state and district leadership, research leaders from top institutions, and a few teachers with stories that might bring you to tears.

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0JWhVG2nXZfC3FxOviFoR0 

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/more-than-a-test/id1685012543 

Listen on Other Platforms: https://more-than-a-test.captivate.fm/ 

About Amira Learning

Amira is the world’s first intelligent reading assistant that provides personalized tutoring to students at school, after school, or at home. Students working with Amira experience significant improvements in their reading fluency.

About your Host, Laura Glaab

Laura Glaab is a VP of Strategy at Amira Learning. She is a lifetime educator following behind educator parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents.

She's worked as a teacher and leader in public, private, and charter schools in places as far as India and as close to home as Boulder, Colorado. She holds degrees from Stanford, the University of Wyoming, and Kellogg School of Management.

She thinks everyone should read Saint Joan by George Bernard Shaw and the entire Piggie and Elephant Collection by Mo Willems.

Connect with Laura

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-glaab/ 

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Visit Amira Learning: https://www.amiralearning.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/amira-learning

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@amira-learning

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amira_learning/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Amira-Learning-App-100064672554061/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmiraLearning 

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