COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O. BOX 2120
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 264
December 21, 2006
INFORMATIONAL
|
TO: |
Division
Superintendents |
|
FROM: |
Billy K. Cannaday, Jr. Superintendent
of Public Instruction |
|
SUBJECT: |
2007 Reading First Online Teacher
Reading Academies |
The
Department of Education is pleased to announce the Reading First K-3 Online Teacher Reading Academies
to be held during the spring of 2007.
These online Teacher Reading Academies continue the professional
development opportunities provided by the state as part of the Reading First
grant. The academies are based on
materials produced by the University of Texas, Center for Reading and Language
Arts, and modified for use in Virginia by the University of Virginia’s Curry
School of Education.
Each online academy includes a series of sessions built on scientifically-based components of reading instruction: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension. They will be offered from February 12 to April 8, 2007.
The Blackboard Learning System will be utilized for this course. All coursework will be
done online and participation will consist of online discussions and other
activities with the instructor and participants. At the end of the online
academy, a certificate of completion will be awarded.
The
Online Teacher Reading Academies serve as an alternative to the live K-3
Teacher Reading Academies held across the Commonwealth. The online academies are open to all Virginia
administrators; teachers of kindergarten, first, second and third grades; as
well as K-3 English as a second language (ESL) teachers, Title I teachers, and
K-12 special education teachers during the spring of 2007. However, registration priority will be given
to schools in divisions that received Reading First grant funding.
Registration
will be conducted through the Reading First in Virginia Web site:
http://www.readingfirst.virginia.edu
and will begin December 27, 2006, for schools receiving Reading First
funding, and January 15, 2007, for all other schools.
Questions
regarding the Online Teacher Reading Academies should be directed to Patience
E. Scott, Reading First coordinator, via e-mail Patience.Scott@doe.virginia.gov
or telephone (804) 225-3203.
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