Background Information Sheets

Over the last few months, I have been working on creating a selection of resources that can be downloaded free of charge. The goal of these resources will be to help teachers better understand our in-depth language system. Each background sheet provides definitions of key terms and concepts contained within our scope and sequence and ideas for teaching these concepts. These sheets are being offered for free download because the more we (as a community of educators) understand about our language, the more powerful decodable books can be for our students. 

The information for these sheets has been (and will continue to be) compiled from a wide variety of sources. Many thanks to those in the field who have researched, practised, and shared their knowledge with educators. Please note - these sheets are based on my current understanding, both from my studies and from my personal experience. As I continue to learn, my understanding will evolve. If I reach a point where I feel these sheets need to be adjusted, I will do so and provide updated versions for free download.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank three of my colleagues who have spent hours with me, reviewing these sheets, helping me clarify wording, choosing examples that best demonstrate concepts, and being all around amazing cheerleaders. Shari Kudsia, Helen Maclean, and Mara Hockenhull - you are the best, and I cannot thank you enough for your friendship, your knowledge, and your amazing gift of time, which you have given so generously. I will always look back on the editing process as being filled with debate, laughter, and endless fun! (Only other self-proclaimed “word geeks” will get how fun this has been!) I will be forever grateful for having met the three of you, and for our amazing teacher Liisa Freure (Fundamental Learning, Toronto), who started us all on this amazing journey!