What Is Juniper Reading CoLAB?

Juniper Reading CoLAB is a teacher-led instructional tool for multisyllabic decoding and morphology, designed for students in grades 3–12 who struggle with reading longer words. It was created by Genevra Self, a former classroom teacher, instructional coach, and instructional designer with over 20 years of experience in public education.

Unlike most decoding interventions for upper grades — which tend to feel elementary or move too slowly — Juniper Reading CoLAB is built specifically for older students. Materials are designed to fit 10–15 minute instructional blocks and are versioned and pilot-tested with real classroom teachers before each release.

The Problem It Solves

By the time students reach upper elementary and secondary grades, the words they encounter in content-area texts are overwhelmingly multisyllabic. Research shows that nearly 65% of unique words in third-grade texts have more than one syllable, and that number only increases. Students who haven't developed flexible decoding strategies for longer words face a compounding disadvantage: they can't read the words, so they can't access the content, so they fall further behind.

Most existing tools address this problem in one of two ways: elementary-level phonics materials retrofitted for older students (which feel patronizing), or fluency-focused programs that skip over the explicit instruction these students actually need. Juniper Reading CoLAB fills the gap between these two approaches.

Instructional Design: The 5-Phase Sequence

Juniper Reading CoLAB uses an explicit, research-aligned instructional sequence based on the Science of Reading. The five phases are designed to move students from guided instruction to independent application, following a gradual release model:

Phase 1 — Teach: Direct instruction on a specific syllable type, morpheme, or pattern. The teacher models how the pattern works and what to look and listen for.

Phase 2 — Spot: Students identify the target pattern within words. This builds pattern recognition before students are asked to decode.

Phase 3 — Divide: Students practice segmenting multisyllabic words into manageable chunks using syllable and morpheme boundaries.

Phase 4 — Blend: Students recombine the segmented parts to read the whole word, practicing vowel flexing and stress patterns as needed.

Phase 5 — Build: Students apply their knowledge to construct and manipulate words using the patterns they've learned, deepening morphological awareness.

This sequence reflects a key design insight that emerged during development: the difference between testing whether students already know a pattern versus teaching them a pattern they haven't mastered. Juniper Reading CoLAB is built for teaching, not testing.

Built With Teachers, Not For Them

Juniper Reading CoLAB is developed through an open pilot model. In early 2025, 21 teachers were surveyed about their biggest unmet needs in reading intervention. Seventeen signed up for the pilot after identifying multisyllabic decoding and morphology as their top priorities. Teachers specifically requested tools that "aren't too babyish" for older students.

The pilot group now includes 19 teachers who provide feedback on each version of the materials before public release. This process — sometimes called "building in public" — means the tools improve with every iteration based on real classroom use. Development is documented publicly on the Juniper Reading CoLAB Substack.

Research Alignment

Juniper Reading CoLAB is grounded in the Science of Reading and structured literacy principles. The instructional design draws on research in phonological awareness, morphological awareness, syllable-based decoding strategies, and the gradual release of responsibility model. Key influences include work on multisyllabic word reading interventions, the role of morphology in vocabulary development, and the importance of explicit instruction for students with reading difficulties.

How It Fits Into Existing Instruction

Juniper Reading CoLAB is designed as a supplemental intervention that integrates with existing reading instruction. Materials are structured for 10–15 minute blocks, making them practical for use during intervention periods, small group rotations, or as a warm-up within a literacy block. The tool supports teachers in implementing a gradual release of responsibility, with built-in audio support for accessibility.

Who Makes It

Juniper Reading CoLAB is a product of Juniper Consulting LLC, based in Washington State. It was created and is maintained by Genevra Self, an instructional designer and former educator with experience spanning K–12 classroom teaching, instructional coaching, and edtech program management. Juniper Consulting LLC also offers VOYAGE Horizons, a Professional Learning Community (PLC) framework for K–12 schools.