New Reading Courses Offered — Professional Development

Educational policymakers have made helping students learn to read a top priority.National, state, and local education agencies have crafted program and policy initiatives committing financial resources through both state and federal funding to improve the nation's reading achievement through President Bush's "Reading First" initiative.

PLS has responded by providing educators a course that will deepen their reading content knowledge using "integrated approach" research to guide instruction. Participants become engaged through intense reflective practice to connect this knowledge to individual teaching practices. Educators are able to evaluate their existing reading programs, texts, or resources, and add additional research-based teaching strategies to accomplish a comprehensive, balanced, and integrated reading program for their students.

CD-ROM Instruction

Learning to Read:Beginning Reading Instruction™, targeted at preK-3 teachers, is the first CD-ROM-based course in a two-part series. The interactive professional development course uses a CD-ROM and provides clear, practical research-based information about effective beginning reading instruction.

The course also outlines research as supported by reports of the National Reading Panel, NICHD, April, 2000. Through the CD-ROM, information is shared regarding the application of research in the classroom as well as the rationale for using a balanced and integrated approach to reading instruction. This course will be offered in some states this summer for graduate credit.

A second CD-ROM in the series, Reading to Learn: Comprehension Instruction™, providing research-based strategies targeted at teachers, is also available. Its format, features, and outcomes are similar to the Learning to Read process.

For more information, contact PLS Reading Trainer, Diana Brown (insert email link to: dbrown@plsweb.com), at 1-352-394-4411. To register,call 1-800-862-7263.