S4 E8: Reading Interventions for Older Students with the NNDSB Team

From Reading Road Trip by International Dyslexia Association Ontario

August 18, 2025 · 50 min · Season 4 · Episode 8

About this episode

Kate discusses reading interventions for older students with educators from the Near North District School Board.

Kate welcomes three educators from the Near North District School Board to share how they transformed reading outcomes for intermediate students through a targeted, data-driven structured literacy intervention. Lisa Rogers, Courtney Berger, and Kristen Roy walk us through the data that prompted the initiative, the logistics of scheduling and grouping, and the instructional choices that made a difference for older students. From explicit instruction with the REWARDS program to building safe, motivating classroom spaces, their stories highlight not only measurable academic growth but also powerful shifts in student confidence and identity as readers. This episode mentions: Indigenous Peoples in the World Wars by Simon Rose (Beech Street Books) Fluency in Perspective: Grade 8 Changemakers (ONlit) Fluency in Perspective: Grade 7 Across the Curriculum (ONlit) REWARDS program by Anita Archer, Mary Gleason, and Vicki Vachon Tolentino Teaching website No Time to Waste: Structured Literacy with Young Adults (Dr. Julie Brown)

People in this episode

Host: Kate

Guests: Lisa Rogers, Courtney Berger, Kristen Roy

Topics covered

reading interventions
structured literacy
data-driven instruction
student confidence
educational outcomes

Keywords

reading outcomes
intermediate students
explicit instruction
classroom spaces
academic growth

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Near North District School Board

Products: REWARDS program

Books & works: Indigenous Peoples in the World Wars, Fluency in Perspective: Grade 8 Changemakers, Fluency in Perspective: Grade 7 Across the Curriculum