Elementary Reading Academy
Levels: K–6
Length: 5 days (optional 6th day)
Audience: District and site administrators and teacher leader teams, with coaches as determined by the client
Description
The Reading Academy offers educators fundamental knowledge in effective reading practices for all learners, applying research-based reading practices to research-based basal textbook series. By taking all five topical sessions, participants gain a comprehensive understanding of the basic components of reading instruction.
NOTE: Sessions 3, 4, 5, and 6 may be taken separately. Sessions 1 and 2 must be taken together.
Participant Outcomes
- Understand the research on the particular essential components of reading instruction and link research to practice.
- Gain clear and explicit models of instructional routines.
- Practice using instructional routines specific to the particular topic.
Session Descriptions
Day 1: Overview, Linguistics, and Early Literacy
This session provides an overview of the scientific research on teaching reading, including basic linguistics, phonic elements, and print awareness and letter knowledge. (This session may not be taken separately; it must be combined with session 2.)
Day 2: Phonemic Awareness and Phonics
During this session, participants learn how to develop phonemic awareness as well as explicit, systematic phonics instruction, including effective corrective feedback and various forms of blending, and the application to decodable text. (This session may not be taken separately; it must be combined with session 1.)
Day 3: Multisyllabic Words and Fluency
This session addresses the techniques that help students transition from reading single-syllable words to reading multisyllabic words. In addition, participants learn effective techniques to foster reading fluency: accuracy, appropriate rate, and expression.
Day 4: Vocabulary
This session focuses on vocabulary development. Participants study word-learning strategies and specific word instruction, and experience active ways to promote “word consciousness.” The needs of English learners are addressed.
Day 5: Comprehension
This session focuses on the different ways to assist students to access both narrative and informational texts. Specific reading skills and strategies—including questioning, graphic organizers, and monitoring techniques—are presented using explicit instruction, with hands-on lesson models and practice.
Day 6: Reading Assessment for Effective Instruction (Optional)
This session guides participants through Assessing Reading: Multiple Measures and also lays out the basic principles and purposes of different types of assessments and what a comprehensive assessment blueprint looks like within the context of a three-tier system.
Adolescent Reading Academy
Levels: 6–12
Length: 5 days (optional 6th day)
Audience: District and site administrators and teacher leader teams, with coaches as determined by the client
Description
The Adolescent Reading Academy targets teachers of language arts, interventionists, and special education staff in middle and high school settings. The content reflects the research on reading problems for struggling older readers and supports the recommendations of Striving Readers and Reading Next.
Note: Sessions 3, 4, 5, and 6 may be taken separately. Sessions 1 and 2 must be taken together.
Participant Outcomes
- Understand the research on the particular essential components of reading instruction.
- Gain clear and explicit models of instructional routines.
- Link research to practice.
- Learn about the skills needed to intervene with struggling adolescent learners.
Session Descriptions
Day 1: Overview and Linguistics
This session provides an overview of the scientific research on teaching reading, including basic linguistics: phonemes, morphemes, and phonic elements. (This session may not be taken separately; it must be combined with session 2.)
Day 2: Decoding Instruction for Adolescents
This session focuses on the decoding skills needed to support struggling adolescent readers. Topics include phonemic awareness, phonics, irregular high-frequency words, and multisyllabic word attack. (This session may not be taken separately; it must be combined with session 1.)
Day 3: Fluency
This session focuses on the development of fluency. Participants learn techniques to assess fluency and practical strategies to help students improve accuracy, speed, and prosody. Included are ways to increase time on text and resources for adolescent fluency development.
Day 4: Vocabulary
This session focuses on vocabulary development. Participants study word-learning strategies, specific word instruction, and experience active ways to promote “word consciousness.” The needs of English learners are addressed.
Day 5: Comprehension
This session focuses on the different ways to assist students to access both narrative and informational texts. Specific reading skills and strategies—including questioning, graphic organizers, and monitoring techniques—are presented using explicit instruction, with hands-on lesson models and practice.
Day 6: Reading Assessment for Effective Instruction (Optional)
This session guides participants through Assessing Reading: Multiple Measures and also lays out the basic principles and purposes of different types of assessments and what a comprehensive assessment blueprint and schoolwide literacy plan look like.
Reading Fundamentals
Levels: K–12
Length: 3 days
Audience: Administrators and teachers
Description
This three-session course covers the fundamentals of teaching reading. It is neither as extensive nor as deep as the Reading Academy; however, it can serve as a review or a short overview of five critical topics: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
Participant Outcomes
- Understand the basic principles of five critical reading foundational skills.
- See models of instructional lessons.
- Practice specific routines.