51st National Direct Instruction Conference (2025)
“Direct Instruction is always going to be the most optimal way for getting kids to be accurate, automatic readers who can access meaning.”
At the opening for the 51st National Direct Instruction Conference, Dr. Jan Hasbrouck reminded us that fluency doesn’t happen all at once; it develops step by step. Direct Instruction remains the most effective approach to help students become accurate, automatic readers who truly understand what they read.
At the opening for the 51st National Direct Instruction Conference, Dr. Jan Hasbrouck reminded us that fluency doesn’t happen all at once; it develops step by step. Direct Instruction remains the most effective approach to help students become accurate, automatic readers who truly understand what they read.
“Catch the crumbs, and the cookies will come.”
That was the powerful message from our Closing Keynote by Dr. Kurt Engelmann, NIFDI President, at this year’s annual National Direct Instruction Conference. Every detail of instruction—the “crumbs”—matters. When teachers, coaches, and leaders attend to those details with consistency, the “cookies” come: confident students, positive outcomes, and long-term success. From classroom techniques to leadership practices, the keynote reminded us that Direct Instruction works because it builds on the small details that lead to big results.
The first annual presentation of the Silver Star School awards took place at the 51st National Direct Instruction Conference and Institutes.
These awards are to recognize schools or networks that have demonstrated a long-term commitment to utilizing Direct Instruction programs with fidelity.
The 2025 awards went to the following schools:
Mystic Valley Regional Charter School, Malden, MA
Classical Charter Schools/Roger Bacon Academy, NC
Baltimore Curriculum Project, Baltimore, MD
50th National Direct Instruction Conference (2024)
Casey Sovo presents the Opening Keynote for the 2024 DI Conference in Eugene.
Kurt Engelmann presents the closing comments for the 2024 DI Conference in Eugene.
View the accompanying PowerPoint pdf here .
View the accompanying PowerPoint pdf here .
Panel Discussion with Linda Carnine, Jerry Silbert, Geoff Colvin, and Doug Carnine.
Want to see more Conference videos? View the DI Conference Video Archive here.
Want to see more Conference videos? View the DI Conference Video Archive here.
