Learn to support early literacy by integrating the science of reading into your elementary library

Course Description 

School librarians and staff can better support early literacy development if they first understand the latest research regarding literacy instruction. This course will start by providing foundational information on the science of reading and the foundational big six literacy skills and competencies alongside a discussion of the role of school libraries in literacy development. You will then learn how to integrate literacy skills into engaging library programs and leave with practical ideas for how to support and partner with teachers in your school. 

This course includes one half-day of live, online presentations from an expert speaker, as well as three weeks of a guided asynchronous workshop with facilitated peer cohorts and assignments. In this workshop, you’ll have the opportunity to practice what you’ve learned through prompted activities, share and crowdsource issues with peers, and get feedback from peers and your facilitator.

The live sessions run on Wednesday, July 23, 2025 from 12:00 to 4:35 pm (recorded for on demand viewing) with an asynchronous workshop over 3 weeks. Don’t miss this opportunity!

Who should take this course?

This course is geared toward elementary librarians serving preK-3rd grade students.

Course Features 

This is an online course with a half-day of live, online speaker presentations and an asynchronous 3-week workshop and will include:

• Live sessions: Guest speaker presentations by leaders in their field. (All sessions are recorded for on demand access for six months after the course ends.) 

• Facilitated discussions: Audience participation in Q&A and discussion with guest speakers.

• Asynchronous workshop: Project-based weekly assignments to connect what you’re learning to your professional life. Includes written feedback from an expert in the field who functions as the workshop facilitator, as well as peer conversation via discussion forums.

• Early access on-demand resources: Access to a series of past live session archives from Library Journal and School Library Journal courses to explore at your own pace. 

• Online Classroom: The virtual learning platform that holds all course content and is accessible for six months after the course ends. 

Course Advisor

Expected time commitment

If you attend or watch the recordings of all live sessions and participate fully in the asynchronous workshop, you'll spend approximately 4 hours per week on this course. You'll earn 12 hours of PD credit and a Library Journal certificate of completion. 

On-demand access

All live guest speaker sessions are recorded and available on-demand for six months following the initial broadcast as a part of your purchase.

Certificate of completion 

Complete the course and earn 12 professional development credit hours. We provide a certificate that is emailed to you. 

Accessibility

All guest speaker sessions feature auto captioning and are made available on demand after the initial broadcast. Please email libraryjournal@edmaker.co upon registration if you require any special accommodations and we will make our best efforts to facilitate them.

Support

For support with online courses, please contact libraryjournal@edmaker.co.

Group Rates

We offer discounts for groups of 3 or more. Groups have the option to collaborate in the same workshop group, where discussions and project-based assignments receive feedback from an experienced librarian.

For larger groups of 15 or more, we offer the option to apply group rates across multiple courses to receive significant discounts. For more information, select “Bulk Course Credits Packages” in the form below. 

Request a group discount!

By registering for this event you confirm that you have read and agree to our Code of Conduct.

Course & Workshop Introduction | 12:00-12:20 pm ET
An introduction to the weekly assignments, an overview of what to expect from the online workshop in this course, and a chance to complete the course pre-assessment.

Session 1 | 12:20-1:00 pm ET
The Librarian's Role in Literacy Development 
What is the role of the school librarian in helping children develop early literacy? What kind of impact can librarians have on the current literacy crisis? This opening session will discuss practical ways librarians can get involved in promoting and developing student literacy. Leave with a clear understanding of the scope of your role and how best to make a positive difference at your school.

Speaker: Dr. Elizabeth Dobler, Professor at Emporia State University in The Teachers College and author of Reading the Web: Strategies for Internet Inquiry

Break | 1:00-1:10 pm ET

Session 2 | 1:10-2:00 pm ET
The What and Why of the Science of Reading
What is the science of reading and how is it different from other methods for teaching early literacy? What are the "big six literacy skills and competencies," and how can you apply them at your school? This session will cover the foundations of current literacy research and discuss tips for helping students gain confidence while reading.

Speaker: Jess Hesselberg, Youth Services Librarian, Bemis Public Library in Littleton, CO

Break | 2:00-2:05 pm ET

Session 3 | 2:05-2:50 pm ET
Making Sense of Book Selection Aligned with the Science of Reading
How can you help readers select books for different purposes? How can you critically evaluate and select texts for your instruction that better align with the science of reading? This session will discuss how to support readers and book selection for a variety of purposes, including growing reading accuracy and automaticity, gaining new knowledge, exploring a new topic, and falling in love with a new author, genre, or series. We will also discuss the use of decodable texts, problems with early leveled texts, and when to encourage students to make the leap to more complex texts. Leave this session better prepared to evaluate and recommend texts that support the science and joy of reading.

Speaker: to be announced 

Break | 2:50-3:00 pm ET

Session 4 | 3:00-3:45 pm ET
Literacy-Enriching Library Programming
What types of activities or programs can you lead in your library to support literacy? This session will detail successful school library programs and give you practical ideas to take back to your library. Leave this session with both large and small scale program strategies to engage students in the joy of reading.

Speaker: Vincent Hyland, Library Coordinator, North Brooklyn, Office of Library Services NYCDOE

Session 5 | 3:45-4:30 pm ET
Librarian and Teacher Partnerships to Promote Literacy
How can librarians and classroom teachers partner together to increase student literacy rates? This session will discuss ideas for integrating the library more fully into classrooms through robust partnerships with faculty. Leave with a plan for how to build and maintain meaningful relationships that center student literacy.

Speaker: Dr. Rita Reinsel Soulen, PhD, Assistant Professor, MLS Library Science , Interdisciplinary Professions, College of Education, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC

Closing Remarks | 4:30-4:35 pm ET
 

Online Course Preview

A preview of how we build your library skills and bring inspiration to your projects with our online learning experience.

Course Format

One-Week Timeline (Course Runs 3+ Weeks)

DAYS 1-2 On-Demand	DAY 3 4 hours	DAYS 4-7 1-2 hours (optional)
PRE-LIVE SESSION - Resources - Discussions - Bonus Content	LIVE SESSIONS - Guest speakers via webcast -  Facilitated discussions - Recordings available for 6 months	ASYNCHRONOUS WORKSHOP - Project-based weekly assignments - Written feedback from a facilitator - Peer conversation via discussion forums

Course Features

Live session with Andrea Blackman and Tasneem Ansariyah Grace	Live Guest Speakers Sessions Guest speaker presentations by leaders in their field.  Audience participation in Q&A and discussion with guest speakers. Optional interactive working sessions with breakout groups during live sessions to practice skills with peers.

Recordings of guest speakers

Recordings Available On Demand Sessions are recorded for on demand access for six months after the course ends.

Asynchronous workshop

Online Classroom + Asynchronous Workshop The virtual learning platform that holds all course content and is accessible for six months after the course ends.  Live session recordings. Project-based weekly assignments.  Written feedback from an expert in the field who functions as the workshop facilitator. Peer conversation via discussion forums.

Early Access On-Demand Resources

Early Access On-Demand Resources Bonus: Register early and get access to a series of past live session archives from Library Journal and School Library Journal courses to explore at your own pace.  Some courses include supporting resources in the online classroom.