On February 25, the Ohio Deans Compact, in collaboration with OCTEO, hosted a pre-conference event, Rising Education Leaders: A Peek into Ohio’s Future. This special event featured a panel of teacher education students from the University of Akron, Ashland University, the University of Findlay, Lourdes University, Marietta College, Mount St. Joseph University, and Walsh University, who shared insights into their literacy instruction training.
Panelists reflected on key “oh wow” moments, highlighting the shift from traditional memorization-based methods to evidence-based, systematic reading instruction with an emphasis on phonics and decoding. They explored the critical role of brain science in reading development, underscoring the importance of word recognition and language comprehension in fostering literacy.
Through hands-on experiences, such as tutoring struggling readers and implementing intervention strategies like repeated readings and phonics-based instruction, students gained valuable skills. They also stressed the power of data-driven instruction, using assessments to monitor progress and tailor lessons to meet student needs. Students also shared their optimism for the future of literacy education, reinforcing the need for structured, research-backed approaches to ensure all students develop strong reading skills and succeed in the classroom.
Hear from Ohio’s teacher education students in the video below: