Join Our Shifting the Balance Book Studies!

Are you looking to refine your literacy instruction and align your teaching with the science of reading? Join our professional book studies featuring the Shifting the Balance series by Jan Burkins and Kari Yates, designed specifically for elementary and middle school educators!

Why Join?

Engage in meaningful discussions with fellow educators.
Gain research-based strategies to transform literacy instruction.
Learn practical shifts to bridge balanced literacy and the science of reading.
Receive support as you implement new strategies in your classroom.

How It Works

Weekly virtual discussions with a professional learning community.
Thought-provoking reflection prompts and classroom application ideas.
Flexible participation—engage at a pace that works for you!

Who Should Join?

Any teachers looking to strengthen their literacy instruction.
Reading specialists and interventionists.
Instructional coaches and curriculum leaders.

Book Study Options

Shifting the Balance K-2: Shifting the Balance: 6 Ways to Bring the Science of Reading into the Balanced Literacy Classroom (K-2)

This book club will meet virtually once a week for six consecutive weeks, starting in September 2025.

Meeting dates: Mondays from 3:30-4:15pm
- 9/8, 9/15, 9/22, 9/29, 10/6, 10/13

Shifting the Balance 3-5: Shifting the Balance: 6 Ways to Bring the Science of Reading into the Upper Elementary Classroom

This book club will meet virtually once a week for six consecutive weeks, starting in October 2025.

Meeting dates: Mondays from 3:30-4:15pm
- 10/20, 10/27, 11/3, 11/10, 11/17, 11/24

Shifting the Balance Authors

Jan Burkins

Jan has worked as a classroom teacher, an interventionist, a district literacy coordinator, a regional language arts consultant, a part-time assistant professor, and an independent literacy consultant.

Kari Yates

Kari has experience as a classroom teacher, special education teacher, Reading Recovery teacher, elementary principal and district literacy coordinator.

Potential full-day in-person training

If we have enough interest, we are exploring a full-day training opportunity at the RVA Learning Center in February 2026. The training would be facilitated by one of the authors (Jan Burkins or Kari Yates) of Shifting the Balance. Stay tuned for more information about this potential professional development opportunity!

Don’t Miss Out! Transform your teaching, deepen your understanding of the science of reading, and collaborate with a network of passionate educators.

Let’s shift the balance together!