Pioneer Valley Books offers free webinars designed to connect evidence-aligned literacy practices with practical classroom instruction. Led by literacy experts and experienced educators, each session explores research-informed approaches to teaching reading and writing, and provides practical strategies that educators can put into action.
Webinars are recorded and available to view afterward.
Previously Recorded Webinars
Foundations That Inspire: A Three-Part Webinar Series on Unlocking the Full Power of Decodable Books
August 20, September 24, and October 22, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. ET
Decodable books are an essential part of systematic, explicit phonics instruction, providing students with opportunities to apply taught phonics skills in connected text. In this three-part series, Emily Wayman, Allison Stull, and Karen Cangemi explore how intentional instruction with decodable texts can strengthen decoding and encoding while also supporting fluency, vocabulary, oral language, comprehension, and writing.
Whether you’re a classroom teacher, literacy coach, interventionist, or curriculum leader, you’ll leave with practical, evidence-aligned routines for making decodable reading purposeful, connected, and effective.
Session 1: Unlock the Code—Using Decodable Books to Strengthen Phonics Skills
Explore how decodable books support the application and transfer of explicitly taught phonics skills to connected text. Learn how to align texts with a systematic phonics scope and sequence, provide purposeful decoding practice, and use effective routines to build accuracy, automaticity, and fluency. Walk away with practical strategies for helping students apply what they have learned as they read.
- Download Record of Attendance [PDF]
Session 2: Beyond the Words—Fostering Motivation, Comprehension, and Knowledge
Decodable texts provide opportunities to practice more than accurate word reading. Explore ways to maintain a strong focus on decoding while also supporting oral language, vocabulary, comprehension, and knowledge-building. Learn how engaging stories and informational decodables can encourage students to think, talk, and learn from what they read—without losing sight of the text’s primary role in supporting phonics application.
- Download Record of Attendance [PDF]
Session 3: From Sounds to Sentences—Using Decodable Texts to Support Writing
Reading and writing develop through reciprocal processes that reinforce students’ understanding of the alphabetic code. Explore practical ways to connect decoding with encoding, sentence construction, and writing in response to text. Learn how decodable books can provide meaningful opportunities for students to apply taught phonics patterns as they spell, write sentences, and communicate ideas about what they have read.
- Download Record of Attendance [PDF]
Strengthening Comprehension in Grades 3–6
April 30, 2025, 4:00pm EST
Join Dr. Jan Richardson, renowned author of The Next Step Forward in Reading, for an exciting webinar! Dr. Richardson explores how Literacy Footprints for Grades 3–6 helps educators deliver targeted small-group instruction in vocabulary, comprehension, and morphology.
She also highlights findings from the study that meets the criteria for Tier 1 under ESSA that show the powerful impact this program can have on student growth—and share strategies you can use right away to boost comprehension in your classroom.
Watch WebinarClosing the Gaps in Phonics with In Tandem
January 22, 2025, 4:30pm EST
Students don’t always master phonics skills at the same pace. While core instruction follows a systematic grade-level scope and sequence, some students require additional targeted instruction and practice to reach mastery.
In Tandem, from Pioneer Valley Books, provides assessment-informed, small-group literacy instruction designed to complement core instruction and respond to students’ specific skill needs.
Join literacy experts Karen Cangemi, Michelle Hajian, and Allison Stull for this insightful webinar where you’ll learn:
- How In Tandem uses assessment data to inform targeted small-group instruction
- Practical routines for providing explicit, systematic phonics instruction and meaningful practice
- Ways to strengthen decoding, encoding, fluency, comprehension, and writing through connected instruction
- Tools and resources that support efficient planning and responsive teaching
- Examples of how educators are using In Tandem to support student growth
Whether you’re a teacher, administrator, literacy coach, or interventionist, this session will provide practical strategies for using targeted small-group instruction to reinforce core instruction, address skill gaps, and help students make meaningful progress as readers and writers.
Watch Webinar
