Virginia Department of Education's Training and Technical Assistance Center at Virginia Commonwealth University

Imagine a classroom where even reluctant writers feel empowered to express their ideas. That is the promise of the Self-Regulated Strategy Development (SRSD) model—an approach that combines writing strategies and self-regulation to transform how students learn to write. Originally designed to support students with disabilities, SRSD has been effective for writers of all levels, helping […]

Instructional coaching in K–12 education supports teachers and improves student outcomes. Two primary coaching approaches, coaching light and coaching heavy, provide specific strategies for facilitating growth. Coaching light is relationship-focused, providing resources and advice to teachers without addressing deeper instructional issues. This approach builds trust and creates a foundation for collaboration, making it a starting […]

Literacy instruction is foundational for all academic and content learning, beginning in preschool and throughout one’s education. Why is literacy so important? Kori Annan, Nobel Peace Prize winner and Secretary General of the United Nations, said: “Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope. It is a tool for daily life in modern society, a […]

The definition of specific learning disorder (SLD) in the DSM-V (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition) states that a specific learning disorder is a disorder with impairments in mathematics, reading, or written expression (Dyscalculia.org, 2019, para. 7). If you were to replace those three keywords with three “dys” words, mathematics could be […]

Invisible disabilities can significantly impact students in K–12 education, often presenting challenges that affect learning, social interaction, and emotional well-being. They are conditions such as dyslexia, ADHD, anxiety, or chronic illnesses that may go unnoticed but can hinder a student’s ability to engage in a traditional classroom setting. These challenges require proactive strategies from educators […]

Take a minute to think about how an adult helps a child learn to ride a bike. He doesn’t put her on the bike and say, “There you go! Ride the bike!” Instead, he scaffolds the support in order to help her learn to ride her bike independently: The adult knew a gap existed between […]

The science of reading is a vast, interdisciplinary body of scientifically based research about reading and issues related to reading and writing. This research has been conducted over the last five decades and is derived from thousands of studies conducted in multiple languages. The science of reading has culminated in a preponderance of evidence to […]

Assistive technology (AT) offers a multitude of benefits across all age groups by fostering independence, supporting inclusion, facilitating friendships, and leading to improved overall quality of life. For young children, it facilitates opportunities for play, learning, friendships, and development by providing tailored educational tools, enhancing communication skills through augmentative and alternative communication, and enabling access […]

Anyone who has successfully mastered a sport, a musical instrument, a culinary art, or public speaking understands the stages, time, and effort it took to get there. Even individuals with a propensity for sports, music, cooking, or speaking will admit that it took immense practice to achieve their goals. In the same way, learning to […]

What can teachers do to turn reading from a chore into an adventure? We live in a world of distractions for young and older students. Their lives are busy with endless schedules of activities, sports, technologies, family dynamics, etc. For some young people, it’s difficult to motivate them to enter the school doors consistently. Students […]