Leading Change in Literacy

Five from Five's 'Leading Change in Literacy' professional learning seminar, presented by Maddy Goto, equips school leaders with the knowledge and strategies needed to drive meaningful literacy improvement grounded in the science of reading. Five from Five is a community education initiative guided by The Academy for the Science of Instruction that aims to improve literacy levels by ensuring all children receive effective, evidence-based reading instruction built around the five keys to reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. This online seminar addresses the critical role that school leaders play in translating literacy research into classroom practice—because even the best evidence-based programmes fail to achieve their potential when implementation lacks strong, informed leadership. The session helps leaders understand what constitutes high-quality reading instruction according to the scientific evidence, how to evaluate and improve current literacy practices in their schools, and how to support teachers through the professional learning and coaching needed to shift practice. Five from Five's resources draw on the extensive body of scientific research that unequivocally demonstrates the effectiveness of explicit, systematic instruction for teaching reading, particularly for novice readers and children at risk of reading failure. For principals, deputy principals, literacy leaders, and curriculum coordinators who want to move their schools toward genuinely evidence-based literacy instruction, this seminar provides both the research foundation and the practical leadership strategies to make that change happen.