Educators, district and school leaders can benefit from a shared understanding of ways to bolster literacy skills, through a series of professional development opportunities for educators of upper elementary students in grades four, five and six. The intent of the professional learning, in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Education, will be to offer both in person and webinar style workshops to outline a system that supports effective literacy instruction in upper elementary grades.
There are three key features of the professional learning series:
1. Increase educator knowledge and skills in effective literacy instruction strategies
2. Improve student literacy outcomes and close achievement gaps
3. Build a collaborative network of educators committed to literacy excellence
Educator four-part series, one (1) hour each in length:
Session 1: Neurobiology of Reading
Session 2: Strategies to Support Advanced Word Study
Session 3: Building Meaningful Fluency
Session 4: Language Comprehension Role in Reading Comprehension
Leader six-part series, thirty (30) minutes each in length:
Session 1: Introduction to Foundational Literacy
Session 2: Culture that Supports Effective Literacy Instruction
Session 3: High-Quality Instructional Materials
Session 4: High-Quality Aligned Assessment
Session 5: High-Quality Professional Learning
Session 6: Monitoring and Appropriate Instructional Responses
District leaders, school leaders, and instructional coaches play a crucial role in designing systems and supports that promote effective literacy instruction.
In this three-hour professional development session by Kean University, we’ll guide…to life consistently across grades 4-6.
Through a combination of video clips, observation tools, sample lesson plans, and other research-based resources, leaders will gain a comprehensive understanding of the key components you need to create a strong foundation for literacy instruction across your school. This webinar provides tangible examples of research-aligned practices that leaders can use as a reference to drive instructional improvements.
This workshop will also focus on key criteria for evaluating, selecting, and monitoring high-quality instructional materials and a comprehensive assessment plan to foster strong reading skills.
Participants will gain tactics for how to communicate shifts in your schools that will ensure a unified and effective approach to literacy education. You’ll learn strategies for leveraging data and research to generate staff investment and commitment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the New Jersey Department of Education's RAPID initiative?
The Reading Acceleration Professional Integrated Development (RAPID) Plus Initiative will bolster literacy in upper elementary grades (Grades 4 through 6). The NJDOE partnered with New Jersey institutes of higher education to provide professional development opportunities for New Jersey educators and leaders, and to create resources supporting learning acceleration in literacy
Who can participate in this program and will it cost anything?
Educators, including teachers and instructional coaches, and Leaders (Grades 4-6) in the schools of Mercer, Monmouth, Ocean, and Union counties are eligible to participate in the NJ RAPID Plus program. Participation in the NJ RAPID Plus program is entirely free for eligible educators. The program is funded to provide high-quality professional development hours at no cost to participants.
Is the program aligned with state standards?
Yes, the program is aligned with the New Jersey Student Learning Standards and evidence-based reading instruction standards, ensuring that the professional development provided is in accordance with the state's educational goals and that you will receive credit for these PD hours.
How long are the workshop sessions?
Teacher workshops take place in person (June and August) and synchronously via Zoom (May and June) and are 60 minutes in length each (4 sessions), with total time not to exceed 240 minutes.
School Leader Workshops take place in person (June and August) and synchronously via Zoom (May and June) and are 3 hours in length (6 - 30 minute sessions), with total time not to exceed 180 minutes.
Are there any prerequisites to register?
There are no specific prerequisites to join the program. As long as you are an eligible Educator or Leader (Grades 4-6), you are welcome to participate.