2008 Reading First Teacher Reading Academy for Special Educators, Grades 4-12

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

SUPTS. MEMO NO. 227

October 26, 2007

INFORMATIONAL

TO:

Division Superintendents

FROM:

Billy K. Cannaday, Jr.

Superintendent of Public Instruction

SUBJECT:

2008 Reading First Teacher Reading Academy for Special Educators, Grades 4-12

The Department of Education is pleased to announce the second statewide Reading First Teacher Reading Academy for Special Educators to be held during the spring of 2008 in the Williamsburg area. Dates for the academy are four Saturdays: January 26, February 9, February 23, and March 8, 2008. The academy is designed for special education teachers of grades four through twelve. Enrollment in the academy is limited to 100 teachers. Participants must attend the entire academy.

This academy will provide a focused professional development experience for special education teachers of students with reading difficulties. This professional development training may be used by teachers to satisfy the reading/English/language arts requirements of the High Objective Uniform State Standard of Evaluation (HOUSSE) approved by the Virginia Board of Education on February 25, 2004.

The academy includes sessions on the critical components of a comprehensive reading program focusing on scientifically-based reading research with emphasis on interventions for struggling readers, word attack skills, fluency, spelling, vocabulary development, comprehension strategies, and strategies to differentiate instruction within content area text. There is no cost for registration or materials. Lunch will be provided each day. Transportation and lodging expenses will not be reimbursed.

Registration will be conducted through the Reading First in Virginia website: http://www.readingfirst.virginia.edu and will begin November 1, 2007, for schools receiving Reading First funding, and November 8, 2007, for all other schools.

Questions regarding the online Teacher Reading Academies should be directed to Patience Scott, Reading First coordinator, via e-mail Patience.Scott@doe.virginia.gov or telephone (804) 225-3203.

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