The Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) and the Education Service Cooperatives (ESC) announce the opportunity for teachers and administrators in Grades K-12 to participate in professional development with a focus on improving literacy instruction. Short-term and long-term professional development opportunities are available in all education service cooperative regions and the ADE.
SHORT-TERM PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Short-term professional development is more appropriate for schools who are interested in a quality workshop experience without a long-term commitment. Short-term professional development may include, but not be limited to, reading strategies, writing strategies, reading assessment, writing assessment, reading and writing workshop, phonics, literature circles, and writing-on-demand. Schools may consult the literacy specialists at the education service cooperatives and the ADE for the availability of these types of workshops.
LONG-TERM PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT - REGISTRATION DEADLINE: March 30, 2001. Long-term professional development requires a two-year commitment from schools. Long-term professional development includes the following:
Early Literacy Learning in Arkansas (ELLA)
EFFECTIVE LITERACY for Grades 2-4
Multicultural Reading and Thinking (McRAT)
Reading Recovery/Early Literacy Group
A description of each professional development is attached.
LONG-TERM PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: SCHOOL/ADMINISTRATOR/TEACHER COMMITMENT
Each long-term professional development requires a commitment by participating schools to provide some release time during the school year for teachers to participate in training sessions. School administrators must also agree to provide additional funding for classroom materials and supplies to implement the training. Because they must commit to full implementation of the training, teachers should not be enrolled in this professional development without full knowledge of the training requirements.
LONG-TERM PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: ENROLLMENT PROCEDURES
Requests for participation in any of the professional development will be considered upon receipt of the appropriate registration forms (see attached).
Please return the registration form and tentative list of participants by MARCH 30, 2001, to the following address: K-12 LITERACY UNIT, ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, #4 CAPITOL MALL, ROOM 401B, LITTLE ROCK, AR, 72201. Schools will be notified as to the status of their requests and the dates of the summer training by May 1, 2001. For additional information concerning any of the professional development opportunities, please contact one of the literacy specialists at the area education service cooperatives or the ADE at 501-682-4470.