Verna’s Vlog is a series in which I sit down with some of the incredible people who are a part of the U of A community to share their stories and learn more about what they do.
For over two decades, research on early literacy has been at the forefront of Alberta initiatives driven by collaboration between academic institutions, schools and local governments.
George Georgiou, professor in the Faculty of Education and Director of the J.P. Das Centre on Developmental and Learning Disabilities, has dedicated his research to the early prevention and remediation of reading difficulties in young students for over 20 years, collaborating with schools in Alberta, other parts of Canada and countries like Belize and Cyprus.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Georgiou was seconded to Alberta Education to oversee the development of the new English Language Arts curriculum. His team also helped them identify students struggling with reading and provided targeted interventions based on data from early literacy screenings. This productive collaboration with the provincial government included creating assessment guides and videos for teachers and a reading intervention program developed by Kristy Dunn and other Canadian reading experts. Approximately 80,000 children in grades two and three have received this intervention, significantly improving their reading abilities.
The success of this program led to its distribution in Belize, aiding over 40,000 children who had suffered from prolonged school closures. It has also been shared with English-speaking schools in Mexico, and discussions are ongoing with Beijing Normal University to extend its impact to schools there.
This journey for Georgiou began serendipitously when a conversation with his neighbour, a school principal at the time, led to a partnership with local schools. This collaboration has expanded to multiple school divisions within and outside of Alberta, emphasizing the practical application of his research.
His work underscores the importance of early, reliable and valid assessments and effective interventions for struggling readers. The work being done in Alberta is reshaping literacy education, not just within the province, but globally, providing valuable insights into how early intervention can change the trajectory of children's lives.
Watch for his latest book which will be released on April 11. Titled “Better Together: Blending the Science of Reading and Professional Learning Communities at Work (A comprehensive guide to effective reading instruction),” the book is a collaboration with educator Greg Kushnir.
Watch previous episodes of Verna’s Vlog.
Verna Yiu
Provost and Vice-President (Academic)