post
BLOG AND NEWS

Job-Embedded PD makes the difference in Fulton County, Georgia

May 11, 2023
 
 

 

Fulton County Schools in Georgia is a diverse school district serving large parts of the Atlanta area. In 2019 the district’s special education department recognized the need for improved reading instruction for their students. They sought to address all components of decoding, including phonemic awareness, word recognition, and reading accuracy, as well as a way to help develop students’ vocabulary and comprehension for oral and written language. 

 

Fulton County selected Lindamood-Bell to provide initial and ongoing professional development in the Seeing Stars® and Visualizing and Verbalizing® (V/V®) programs. Seeing Stars addresses all components of decoding, while V/V addresses vocabulary and comprehension. The district decided to implement a phased-in model over five years, allowing the district to provide workshops and effectively support at least 100 new teachers each year. 

 

During the second year of implementation, Fulton County began expansion into additional elementary school sites, as well as several district middle schools.  Providing job-embedded professional development to middle school staff will allow upper elementary students to continue to receive process-based instruction and close the achievement gap as they move into secondary education. Teachers have been receiving the initial Level 1 workshop, and access to asynchronous review and next-step Level 2 professional development coursework to continue to grow their skills. 

 

Crucially, Fulton County Schools recognized the need for ongoing job-embedded professional development through Lindamood-Bell consultants present in live sessions via Zoom. This level of sustained and rigorous support has been a key factor in the quality and fidelity of instruction, a model supported by best practices in teacher preparation and effectiveness. 

 

During these live sessions, Lindamood-Bell consultants have been able to interact directly with students and teachers to model, co-teach, and provide feedback on lessons in real-time. They have also provided lesson plans and written session analyses to teachers. This has been supplemented by monthly Professional Learning Community meetings between Lindamood-Bell consultants and Fulton County staff. Building leaders have also been given opportunities to observe instruction alongside a Lindamood-Bell Project Director to help provide them with a better understanding of what instruction should look like, and how they can continue to support their teachers with implementation.

 

During the 2021-22 school year, Fulton County special education teachers implemented Lindamood-Bell® instruction to address the specific needs of this student population. One thousand six hundred eighty-eight(1,688) students received primarily Seeing Stars instruction to develop symbol imagery and phonemic awareness for reading. Instruction was delivered by Fulton County teachers who received professional development in the programs developed by Lindamood-Bell’s founders. Students in grades K-8 received small group instruction as close to daily as feasible for 30-45 minutes. Student gains were measured with the i-Ready Reading Diagnostic. (Note: Some small groups received Visualizing & Verbalizing instruction for language comprehension and thinking.)

 

 

RESULTS:
On average, Fulton County Schools achieved significant improvements in overall reading placement for their LindamoodBell students. In fall i-Ready® testing, 1,382 out of 1,688 students were two or more levels below the target for their grade. In spring testing, 1,112 students were two or more levels below, a decrease of 20%. Furthermore, the number of students on or above level in overall reading scores grew from 28 in fall testing to 186 in spring testing, an increase of 664%. The results of this study illustrate that Lindamood-Bell instruction leads to improved reading, which is essential to achieving success with school curricula.

PROFILE: Special Education Students – End-of-Year Results 
Number of Students: 1,688
Grade Levels: Kindergarten-8th Grade
Lindamood-Bell Programs Implemented: Seeing Stars®

Outcome Measures:
• i-Ready® Reading Diagnostic

 

 

The district and Lindamood-Bell are continuing their five-year partnership in 2023-24. Teacher workshops and ongoing professional development will be provided for Fulton County staff. 

 

Contact us to learn more about how Lindamood-Bell can make a difference for your students.

Connect with us
🌟 10% Off Personalized Online Learning! 🌟
Now through March 31, 2025, new enrollments in our live-online instruction save 10%!
✅ One-to-one instruction in reading, comprehension, and math
✅ Flexible, convenient, and proven effective
💬 “It completely changed everything for him.” – A grateful parent

📊 Students achieve significant gains in key areas like comprehension and spelling.

👉 Don’t wait—spaces are limited! Learn more and enroll today.
🎉 Follow the link in bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
Unlock your student’s potential with Lindamood-Bell!

Reading, comprehension, and math success for students from young learners to teens and beyond.
✅ Personalized one-to-one instruction tailored to individual needs
✅ Available in person or live online—flexible for any schedule
✅ Proven success for learners with dyslexia, autism, ADHD, and more

💡 Special Offer: Save 10% on live online instruction!

Help your student gain the confidence and skills they need to succeed. 📚Get started today—Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial
📣 Attention Educators!
Join us on Wednesday, February 12th, for an inspiring Leaders in Literacy webinar. Mandy Melville, founder and director of the nonprofit Creative Language-based Learning (CLBL) foundation, will share insights into her organization’s impactful partnership with Jamaican schools, providing professional development for teachers since 2017.
We’re also excited to feature Yvette Richards-Thompson, principal of Denham Town High School in Kingston, Jamaica, who will share her firsthand experiences with this transformative collaboration.
💻 Don’t miss out!
👉 Register now at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
📚 Turn a Bad Report Card into an Opportunity to Unlock Your Child's Potential! 🌟

Feeling stressed over a disappointing report card? Don’t worry—you’re not alone, and there’s hope. Our latest blog post offers strategies to:
✅ React positively and provide emotional support
✅ Identify the root causes of poor grades
✅ Collaborate effectively with teachers
✅ Discover how Lindamood-Bell can help your child thrive
✨ This isn’t just about grades—it’s about growth, resilience, and unlocking your child’s potential.

📖 Read the full article to learn how you can support your child every step of the way. 👉 Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
🚀 Don’t wait another school year to make a change! 🚀
At Lindamood-Bell Academy, we provide personalized learning plans and evidence-based instruction to help your child finish the year strong—whether in-person or live online. 🌟
✨ Enroll now to take advantage of our special Spring Savings on tuition! ✨
Give your child the tools they need to succeed. 💪
Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoobellofficial.
🎥 Watch the Full Video: Miss Massachusetts Shares Her Journey with Dyslexia

Diagnosed with dyslexia as a child, Kiersten Khoury began her journey with Lindamood-Bell in fifth grade, gaining the support she needed to succeed. Now, as Miss Massachusetts, she champions literacy and inspires others.

➡️ Hear her powerful story and see how she’s making a difference! For the full video, follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.

📚 At Lindamood-Bell, we develop the imagery-language foundation for reading, comprehension, math, and more—online or in person.
🎧 New Podcast Episode! 🎧
Hear a mom’s heartfelt story about her child’s transformative journey at Lindamood-Bell Academy. Once struggling with hours of daily homework and tears, her child found a love for learning, a passion for reading, and big dreams for the future. “It was the best decision of our life,” she says. Don’t miss this inspiring story of hope and success—listen now at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
🌟 Unlock Your Child’s Potential with Lindamood-Bell! 🌟
Transform reading, comprehension, and math with our proven, evidence-based instruction. In-person or live online, we tailor learning to your student’s needs. Let’s build skills—and confidence—together!
📚 Learn more and start today. Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
🌟 Kiersten Khoury’s journey from struggling with dyslexia to being crowned Miss Massachusetts is truly inspiring! After overcoming reading challenges with the help of Lindamood-Bell, she’s now preparing to represent her state at the 2025 Miss America Pageant. 👑
As an advocate for literacy, her mission is to turn challenges into superpowers, inspiring others along the way. 💪
We’re so proud of Kiersten and wish her the best of luck at the pageant! 🌟
Read more about her story at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
#MissMassachusetts #DyslexiaAwareness #MissAmerica2025
Lindamood-Bell helps students of all ages catch up, overcome learning gaps, or get ahead. Our personalized instruction builds essential skills and confidence, paving the way for lasting success!
👉 Visit our website to learn more and get started today.
💡 It’s not too late to save on Winter Break instruction! Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
Lindamood-Bell provides tailored instruction in reading, comprehension, and math for students of all ages and abilities.

✅ Customized one-to-one sessions
✅ Available both in-person and live online
✅ Effective for students with learning challenges, including dyslexia

✨ Special savings on winter break instruction—contact your local learning center today! 
Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
Lindamood-Bell Academy is a school where every student can thrive! We develop foundational skills and provide a personalized learning experience—in person or live online.
🌟 Learn more and get started today! Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoobellofficial.
Educators, is your literacy instruction grounded in a Theory of Cognition? 🤔📚

At Lindamood-Bell, our approach aligns with a specific theory of cognition known as Dual Coding Theory (DCT). In our latest blog, learn more about the theory, its impact on education, and how you can apply it in your teaching to boost literacy and comprehension. 

📖 Read the full article at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
Request Information

Request Information

When you complete our form, we'll send you to our digital information packet and reach out to you shortly.
You may also call us at

* required

Schedule a Learning
Ability Evaluation

Please fill out the form and we will be in touch to schedule an evaluation.

* required