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- Evidence-Based Reading Instruction (EBRI) in the 2021-2022 School Year
June 7, 2021
Evidence-Based Reading Instruction (EBRI) in the 2021-2022 School Year
For a number of sound reasons, ATLAS is not sponsoring a hybrid STudent Achievement in Reading (STAR) training cohort during the school year 2021-2022. We realize that the summer-fall months and perhaps even the winter-spring months may involve much program transition or change. However, as required by the federal Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act (WIOA), there will be a variety of regional, program, and statewide trainings on Evidence-Based Reading Instruction (EBRI) that cover “the essential components of reading: (A) phonemic awareness; (B) phonics; (C) vocabulary development; (D) reading fluency, including oral reading skills; and (E) reading comprehension strategies.”
A longer-term ATLAS professional development option will be program-based or statewide EBRI Study Circles (SC). As developer and lead presenter of a virtual EBRI SC this winter-spring, I was so fortunate to have the support of ATLAS staff, STAR leadership members, and participation from over 15 Minneapolis Adult Education and Literacy Minnesota teachers. As I write this article, I am in the process of using participants’ honest and valuable feedback to keep, change, or expand certain features of the EBRI SC format. By July or August 2021, participation in the improved version will be available in two ways:
1) During the summer-fall of 2021, a STAR- or EBRI-trained manager or teacher can request access to the training materials from ATLAS and lead a virtual or in-person EBRI SC within their own program. This approach has been proven to build effective reading instruction across multiple program levels.
2) During the winter-spring of 2022, I will return as an ATLAS consultant to lead one-two statewide, virtual EBRI SCs (with a little help from my ATLAS/STAR/EBRI friends). They will be open to all MN Adult Ed teachers serving adult readers across Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced levels.
If you are interested in leading or attending a future EBRI SC, the format involves six meetings, offered over three months, each between 90 and 120 minutes in length. The meetings include a combination of slide presentation, participant input and questions, breakout groups for content processing, and recognition of STAR/EBRI teacher wisdom. There is also a robust Participant Folder with many files related to the meeting contents and instructional resources. To measure progress and satisfaction, there will be short pre- and post-surveys. All completers will receive state-approved, Continuing Education Units (CEUs) in the area of Reading Preparation.
