Learning from Pam Kastner

<p>For this episode of <em>CA Today</em>, Sarah Cartmill sits down with Dr. Pam Kastner following her fourth year leading ELA Camp with educators across the CA BOCES region. Dr. Kastner explores the Instructional Hierarchy, a framework grounded in the science of learning that explains how students move from initial learning to mastery. She unpacks the four stages of acquisition, fluency, generalization, and adaptation, emphasizing the importance of explicit instruction, immediate feedback, frequent opportunities to respond, and achieving high levels of accuracy before expecting independent application of new skills. ​<a href="https://cabocesorg-my.sharepoint.com/personal/richard_weinberg_caboces_org/Documents/Microsoft%20Copilot%20Chat%20Files/Pam%20Kastner%20Podcast%20adj82426.m4a.txt" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">[Pam Kastne...j82426.m4a | Txt]</a>​</p><p>The conversation highlights practical connections between the science of learning and literacy instruction. Dr. Kastner discusses how educators can support students in building automaticity and transferring skills to authentic contexts, while also stressing the critical role of vocabulary development, spelling instruction, and purposeful practice. Teachers from the region join the discussion to reflect on their own learning and share how concepts such as spelling inventories, embedded vocabulary instruction, and data-driven decision making can help identify instructional gaps and better support student growth. ​<a href="https://cabocesorg-my.sharepoint.com/personal/richard_weinberg_caboces_org/Documents/Microsoft%20Copilot%20Chat%20Files/Pam%20Kastner%20Podcast%20adj82426.m4a.txt" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">[Pam Kastne...j82426.m4a | Txt]</a>​</p><p>A recurring theme throughout the episode is the power of consistency. Educators discuss the need for common language, shared instructional routines, and aligned practices across grade levels to create stronger learning experiences for students. Dr. Kastner also encourages schools to think about &quot;de-implementation,&quot; identifying practices that are no longer effective and making space for research-based approaches that have the greatest impact on learning. Together, these insights provide listeners with practical strategies for strengthening instruction and building more coherent systems of support for all students. ​<a href="https://cabocesorg-my.sharepoint.com/personal/richard_weinberg_caboces_org/Documents/Microsoft%20Copilot%20Chat%20Files/Pam%20Kastner%20Podcast%20adj82426.m4a.txt" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">[Pam Kastne...j82426.m4a | Txt]</a>​<br></p>