science of reading sympsiom materials

Cover image for the Alaska Science of Reading Symposium materials, featuring three circular stickers resting on grass. The stickers feature native Alaskan animals, an otter, a moose, and a polar bear, reading books. Text: "Otterly excited about literacy," "The Science of Reading: Use it or Moose it," and "Reading brings endless clawsibilities."

A first-grade reading teacher in the classroom, wearing a t-shirt I designed for the Alaska Science of Reading Symposium.

Alaska Science of Reading Symposium sticker featuring an otter reading a book under water, sitting in a clam shell. Text: Otterly excited about literacy.

Alaska Science of Reading Symposium sticker featuring a moose reading a book against a forest/mountain landscape. Text: The Science of Reading: Use it or Moose it.

Alaska Science of Reading Symposium sticker featuring a polar bear reading a book in the snow. Text: Reading brings endless clawsibilities.

Alaska Science of Reading Symposium bookmark featuring an otter reading a book under water, sitting in a clam shell. Text: Otterly excited about literacy.

Alaska Science of Reading Symposium bookmark featuring a moose reading a book against a forest/mountain landscape. Text: The Science of Reading: Use it or Moose it.

Alaska Science of Reading Symposium bookmark featuring a polar bear reading a book in the snow. Text: Reading brings endless clawsibilities.

Alaska Science of Reading Symposium poster featuring an otter reading a book under water, sitting in a clam shell. Text: Otterly excited about literacy.

Alaska Science of Reading Symposium poster featuring a moose reading a book against a forest/mountain landscape. Text: The Science of Reading: Use it or Moose it.

Alaska Science of Reading Symposium poster featuring a polar bear reading a book in the snow. Text: Reading brings endless clawsibilities.

Client

Alaska Department of Education & Early Development

My Role

Design

Context

For years, Alaska ranked near or at the bottom among all states on national reading assessments, leading the Alaska State Board of Education to adopt Alaska’s Education Challenge in 2017, prioritizing early literacy to close opportunity gaps and improve student outcomes.

To support this, the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development began hosting an annual Science of Reading Symposium in 2022, where educators and educational leaders can explore approaches and strategies to literacy instruction backed by the Science of Reading. The Science of Reading is an ongoing field of study that examines the last fifty years of research to determine the most effective ways to teach reading.

Deliverables

For the 2024 symposium, I designed three themed visuals featuring an otter, moose, and polar bear—all native Alaskan animals—which were used for stickers, posters, and bookmarks distributed at the symposium to engage and inspire educators to share the materials with colleagues and students.

The designs resonated with educators and students alike. The stickers had flown off the shelves by the end of the first day, the symposium t-shirt vendor's inventory featuring my artwork sold out twice, and when I visited an Anchorage elementary school for b-roll footage for the Alaska's Road to Reading video, a 1st grade teacher was wearing a shirt with my design.

Science of reading materials

Client

Alaska Department of Education & Early Development

My Role

Design

Context

For years, Alaska ranked near or at the bottom among all states on national reading assessments, leading the Alaska State Board of Education to adopt Alaska’s Education Challenge in 2017, prioritizing early literacy to close opportunity gaps and improve student outcomes.

To support this, the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development began hosting an annual Science of Reading Symposium in 2022, where educators and educational leaders can explore approaches and strategies to literacy instruction backed by the Science of Reading. The Science of Reading is an ongoing field of study that examines the last fifty years of research to determine the most effective ways to teach reading.

Deliverables

For the 2024 symposium, I designed three themed visuals featuring an otter, moose, and polar bear—all native Alaskan animals—which were used for stickers, posters, and bookmarks distributed at the symposium to engage and inspire educators to share the materials with colleagues and students.

The designs resonated with educators and students alike. The stickers had flown off the shelves by the end of the first day, the symposium t-shirt vendor's inventory featuring my artwork sold out twice, and when I visited an Anchorage elementary school for b-roll footage for the Alaska's Road to Reading video, a 1st grade teacher was wearing a shirt with my design.

Science of reading materials

Client

Alaska Department of Education & Early Development

My Role

Design

Context

For years, Alaska ranked near or at the bottom among all states on national reading assessments, leading the Alaska State Board of Education to adopt Alaska’s Education Challenge in 2017, prioritizing early literacy to close opportunity gaps and improve student outcomes.

To support this, the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development began hosting an annual Science of Reading Symposium in 2022, where educators and educational leaders can explore approaches and strategies to literacy instruction backed by the Science of Reading. The Science of Reading is an ongoing field of study that examines the last fifty years of research to determine the most effective ways to teach reading.

Deliverables

For the 2024 symposium, I designed three themed visuals featuring an otter, moose, and polar bear—all native Alaskan animals—which were used for stickers, posters, and bookmarks distributed at the symposium to engage and inspire educators to share the materials with colleagues and students.

The designs resonated with educators and students alike. The stickers had flown off the shelves by the end of the first day, the symposium t-shirt vendor's inventory featuring my artwork sold out twice, and when I visited an Anchorage elementary school for b-roll footage for the Alaska's Road to Reading video, a 1st grade teacher was wearing a shirt with my design.

Science of reading symposium materials

Cover image for the Region 16 Tribal thank-you cards, featuring the word Luuwi, meaning "thank you," in Hanis, one of the Tribe's ancestral languages, against a photo of Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians Tribal members paddling in a canoe.

Cover image of the Burns Paiute Tribe thank-you card from Region 16 Comprehensive Center, featuring the words Pisa Eh, meaning "thank you," in Wadatika, one of the Tribe's ancestral languages, against a close-up photo of beaded slippers displayed in the Tribal headquarters.

Client

Alaska Department of Education & Early Development

My Role

Design

Context

For years, Alaska ranked near or at the bottom among all states on national reading assessments, leading the Alaska State Board of Education to adopt Alaska’s Education Challenge in 2017, prioritizing early literacy to close opportunity gaps and improve student outcomes.

To support this, the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development began hosting an annual Science of Reading Symposium in 2022, where educators and educational leaders can explore approaches and strategies to literacy instruction backed by the Science of Reading. The Science of Reading is an ongoing field of study that examines the last fifty years of research to determine the most effective ways to teach reading.

Deliverables

For the 2024 symposium, I designed three themed visuals featuring an otter, moose, and polar bear—all native Alaskan animals—which were used for stickers, posters, and bookmarks distributed at the symposium to engage and inspire educators to share the materials with colleagues and students.

The designs resonated with educators and students alike. The stickers had flown off the shelves by the end of the first day, the symposium t-shirt vendor's inventory featuring my artwork sold out twice, and when I visited an Anchorage elementary school for b-roll footage for the Alaska's Road to Reading video, a 1st grade teacher was wearing a shirt with my design.