Professional Development
Professional development is an integral part of the Right to Read Program. The goal of this initiative is to increase the capacity of teachers through the use of the Reading Readiness Screening Tool (RRST) and follow-up interventions. Training focuses on assessment philosophy and foundational building blocks for reading in the areas of oral expression, phonological, and print-based skills. Teachers will learn to administer and interpret the RRST and then use tools, strategies and resources to deliver effective interventions.
Workshop 1 - Catching Children Before They Fail
This workshop provides participants with:
- An overview of the need for universal screening of reading readiness skills.
- The development of the Right to Read Program
- A review of the RRST subtests and administrative guidelines
- Modelling and practicing the administration of the RRST
- Launching into specific instructional interventions for early foundational skills
During the workshop participants receive the following Right to Read materials:
- Teacher Manual
- Student Stimulus Booklet
- Recording Booklet
- Class Summary Score Sheet
- Activities for Teachers to Build Reading Readiness Skills, Part 1
Post training, participants are free to photocopy the recording booklets and are asked to test and record the results of as many students as possible prior to Workshop 2.
Workshop 2 - Assessment Informs Instruction.
This workshop provides participants with an opportunity to:
- Share screening experiences
- Interpret screening results
- Learn about programming options
- Explore a variety of specific instructional strategies to address identified weaknesses
Following completion of the workshop, participants receive the following Right to Read materials:
- Activities for Teachers to Build Reading Readiness Skills, Part 2
- Suggestions for a Parent Workshop
- Activities for Parents to Build Reading Readiness Skills
Learn more about English K-1 workshops
Learn more about French Immersion workshops
Right to Read Online
The LDAA has partnered with Foothills Academy Outreach to offer the online version of this course. Created to be flexible for professionals who have busy lifestyles, the learning platform is open 24/7 and can be accessed in the comfort of your own home. You will be provided with opportunities to complete article readings and reviews, listen to and view videos of experts in the field, and connect with other teachers through group discussions. We will be creating a sense of community throughout both Part 1 and Part 2 of the course where you will have many opportunities to share your practices.
Participants are given access to the complete set of documents.
Group discounts and Private cohorts are available.
Learn more about online workshop
The Science of Reading: Turning Theory into Practice
Presented by the LDAA's Right to Read Advisory Committee
A webinar series developed for educators to enhance their understanding of the key components of literacy instruction and how to implement evidence-based approaches in the classroom.
Teachers often feel at a loss to help those children who do not develop reading and writing skills on par with their peers. Understanding how literacy skills develop in children, why some children struggle to develop these fundamental skills, and what research tells us about how to best teach them, will help teachers and other school professionals bridge the gap between the science of reading and educational practice.
The series will lead educators through key research findings and then address each component of literacy instruction, providing teachers with tools, resources, and instructional strategies. Our panel of presenters, all experts in their fields, are committed to promoting evidence-based literacy instruction for all learners.