Education Revolution: Tara West Of hand2mind On Innovative Approaches That Are Transforming Education
An interview with Eden Gold
Being patient with myself and my expectations. As an educator, you want results as soon as possible for your students. However, achieving learning goals takes time. Learning how to read is a marathon and not a sprint!
The landscape of education is undergoing a profound transformation, propelled by technological advancements, pedagogical innovations, and a deepened understanding of learning diversities. Traditional classrooms are evolving, and new modes of teaching and learning are emerging to better prepare students for the complexities of the modern world. This series will take a look at the groundbreaking work being done across the globe to redefine education. As a part of this interview series, we had the pleasure to interview Tara West.
Tara West is a best-selling author, kindergarten teacher and Science of Reading expert, with over 15 years of experience in education. She is the author of Guided Phonics + Beyond, a comprehensive Science of Reading-aligned phonics resource. Tara believes in the importance of creating instructional materials and resources that are fun and engaging for students and in supporting the teachers who use her materials.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you share the “backstory” behind what brought you to this particular career path?
As an educator myself, I worked extended hours to prepare lesson plans and activities that would supplement the curriculum provided by my district. I went from creating a single worksheet to developing extensive units complete with lesson plans. As I started to share those ideas, I quickly realized that teachers not only were drawn to my comprehensive approach and style of lessons based on kid-friendly language, but they also marveled at the level of engagement shown by my students while utilizing my materials. I still feel a flutter of excitement not only when I see my materials being implemented in classrooms across the country, but also when I receive messages about the pure joy students experience when they are completing activities that I have developed.
One key factor that I observed through the usage of my materials was that students were fully engaged and able to build and maintain new knowledge. But, most significantly, the data was there to back it up. As I continued to create and share with educators, I was approached by hand2mind for a partnership. hand2mind has truly given my work a voice and the ability to impact classrooms farther than I dreamt possible. Through hand2mind, my most impactful program, Guided Phonics + Beyond®, a scripted and comprehensive phonics program, is now readily available for classroom use. The hand2mind Guided Phonics + Beyond Focus Lessons follow the same model as my initial creations: engaging, hands-on, and data-driven.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
One lesson that I have learned throughout my career is: small ripples can turn into big waves with perseverance and, of course, the support of educators. For instance, I created Guided Phonics + Beyond to help educators who were struggling with their reading instruction. When I wrote it, I was completely heads-down — simply focused on getting as much information as I could to help our young learners. Now, several years later, Guided Phonics + Beyond has been published by hand2mind, and just added to its first state list of approved instructional materials, in my home state of Missouri. I am so proud of this accomplishment and the ability to make an impact not only at the teacher level but now at the state level. My advice to other educators is to remember there are many small wins along the way and you are making a difference with each creation!
Can you briefly share with our readers why you are an authority in the education field?
Educators are tasked with teaching students a range of skills — both academically and socially. Because of my experience as a teacher myself, I have gained expertise in creating developmentally appropriate and pedagogically effective materials, with a special passion for teaching students how to read. My lesson plans are enjoyable for students, but also firmly rooted in research to advance skill development. I incorporate multimodal techniques to enhance instruction, including hand gestures, songs, body movements, and manipulatives.
Beyond that, I manage a Facebook Community of educators with over 125,000 members, where we connect, share, and test out new teaching ideas. Through this community, I maintain a constant connection to teachers nationwide.
Can you identify some areas of the US education system that are going really great?
If you want to excite an educator mention these three words to them — Science of Reading. These three words, or sometimes known as SOR, mark a monumental shift in the US education system. SOR has given teachers a much clearer path to follow to develop a strong literacy foundation in our youngest learners. SOR isn’t a magic button that immediately transforms all students into proficient readers. Instead, it provides educators with a path that is based on a large body of research that has examined how we read and the most effective best practices that make an instantaneous impact on readers. Educators and policymakers are beginning to recognize the importance of integrating evidence-based practices from SOR into literacy instruction, with over 35 states adopting legislation around it. This is what’s best for all students and that makes me very excited!
Can you identify the key areas of the US education system that should be prioritized for improvement? Can you explain why those are so critical?
What truly has made my work stand out for educators is the hands-on component. For a long time, many thought that “play” was not effective for learning and should be removed from the classroom altogether. Outdated beliefs such as this can have a huge impact on student engagement and student “buy in.” There is thorough research that supports the importance of hands-on or multimodal learning. Multimodal learning incorporates visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile senses, ultimately enhancing engagement, understanding, and retention. Prioritizing hands-on learning in the classroom is critical for student success.
Please tell us all about the innovative educational approaches that you are using. What is the specific problem that you aim to solve, and how have you addressed it?
Currently my goal is to help educators be confident in teaching students how to read. I strive to make sure the work I create includes explicit language for the educator and systematic routines that are used every day. One of these best practices that I include in all my Science of Reading work is a phrase called, “Say It, Tap It, Map It, Write It.” This is a process that educators will use to help students break down a word into smaller parts. Through my partnership with hand2mind, I was able to create The Science of Reading Essentials Toolkit. In this toolkit, the educator gets to provide each student with multiple hands-on items that allow the student to “tap,” “map,” and “write” the skill-based words.
In what ways do you think your approach might shape the future of education? What evidence supports this?
The ability to both read and write with confidence will impact an individual for life. Techniques like “Say It, Tap It, Map It, Write It” enhance student recall, and ultimately lead to the creation of strong readers and writers. This technique is effective because it helps students form and strengthen the connection between sounds, letters, and words through a simple yet effective routine. Students begin by saying the word (sat), proceed to tap out the sounds (ssss-aaaa-tttt), and finally map the sounds of the word (connecting the sound to the letter, s-a-t). By introducing techniques like these to educators, I am equipping them with the tools they need to lay a strong literacy foundation that will assist students on their path to becoming skilled readers.
How do you measure the impact of your innovative educational practices on students’ learning and well-being?
Educators assess their students approximately three times every school year, and I use this data to measure the effectiveness of my programs. Just recently, an educator using the hand2mind Guided Phonics + Beyond Focus Lessons shared her end-of-year data with me — 80% of her students were at or above benchmark, compared to mid-year data where 80% of students were below benchmark. However, beyond the incredible data and gains, the teacher shared that her students began making daily requests for phonics lessons after using the Focus Lessons. Not only did my resources help students on their path towards becoming skilled readers, but the materials also made reading enjoyable! I credit this remarkable success story with the major focus I put on incorporate hands-on elements into my instruction, which increases engagement and separates my work from other instructional resources.
Keeping in mind the “Law of Unintended Consequences” can you see any potential drawbacks of this innovation that people should think more deeply about?
My biggest fear is that someone sees students using the hands-on materials from the Guided Phonics + Beyond Focus Lessons or the Science of Reading Essentials Toolkit, and immediately assumes that the students are playing instead of learning. I encourage all educators to reflect on their approach to hands-on learning and consider how they can leverage these tools to increase engagement, deepen understanding, and enhance recall. When you watch a student work with hands-on materials, you notice students forge connections and have “a-ha” moments. Just because a resource is fun or colorful, doesn’t mean it can’t also be effective!
What are your “5 Things I Wish I Knew When I First Started”?
1 . Being patient with myself and my expectations. As an educator, you want results as soon as possible for your students. However, achieving learning goals takes time. Learning how to read is a marathon and not a sprint!
2 . Not all mistakes are a bad thing. As a creator, I must always be open to feedback from my fellow educators. There is no space for pride or ego when a student’s future and success are in question. I hold myself accountable to solicit feedback on my resources, as well as extend my education through professional development in the field of reading science.
3 . Remember when I mentioned play? Well, when I first started teaching, I became convinced by others that play didn’t belong in the classroom. This was a huge mistake on my part! After seeing how it negatively impacted the success of my students, I started blocking out the noise and following best practices based on research. I credit this learning experience with leading me to my current writing style of incorporating lots of hands-on learning experiences into instruction.
4 . Along those same lines, as a beginning teacher, I thought that all students can show success using one set curriculum. I very quickly learned the reality that all learners have different needs. Educators can utilize supplemental-based learning material to differentiate in their classrooms, recognizing that some students require scaffolding and enrichment.
5 . One big misstep I made when first starting out was underestimating the power of the teaching community. As a new teacher, you have this idea that you must do everything on your own and if you ask for help, it might appear as though you are not qualified. This is not true at all! Teachers are better when we come together as a community to support the success of all students. I’m so grateful for my Facebook community, as it has truly made me a stronger educator.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
“Take joy in the journey” is one of my favorite quotes to sum up the experience of teaching. Learning new skills may not be a linear path for every student, and that is okay! The journey of taking a student from learning how to write their own name to writing a string of sentences is incredibly gratifying — it is the reason that I am motivated every day to create resources that help improve the process of teaching students how to read.
A close second is the quote by Frederick Douglas: “Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.”
We are blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US, with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them 🙂
I’m a huge fan of LeVar Burton and would be incredibly honored to meet him. The work he has done to increase awareness around the reading crisis (specifically, The Right to Read documentary) is inspirational!
How can our readers further follow your work online?
https://littlemindsatwork.org/
hand2mind, Guided Phonics + Beyond Focus Lessons
Thank you so much for these insights! This was so inspiring!
About The Interviewer: Eden Gold, is a youth speaker, keynote speaker, founder of the online program Life After High School, and host of the Real Life Adulting Podcast. Being America’s rising force for positive change, Eden is a catalyst for change in shaping the future of education. With a lifelong mission of impacting the lives of 1 billion young adults, Eden serves as a practical guide, aiding young adults in honing their self-confidence, challenging societal conventions, and crafting a strategic roadmap towards the fulfilling lives they envision.
Do you need a dynamic speaker, or want to learn more about Eden’s programs? Click here: https://bit.ly/EdenGold.
Education Revolution: Tara West Of hand2mind On Innovative Approaches That Are Transforming… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.