The legislative intent of the Nebraska Reading Improvement Act calls for 1) identification of any students in grades kindergarten-three to be identified as having a reading deficiency if a student performs below an identified threshold level and 2) all teachers should be effective reading teachers based on observation, student improvement in reading and/or specialized training in reading improvement. This session will support teachers in the new legislation in grades K-2, administration, instructional coaches, special education teachers and interventionists. 

In this workshop we’ll focus on the most efficient methods that lead to strong decoding and future academic success.  The training will feature diagnostic assessments, an online data-based grouping system and best practice foundational skills instruction for teaching phonemic awareness, phonics, letter knowledge, and high frequency word fluency.  The approach discussed in the workshop can be used to supplement early reading instruction with any reading program.  ESU 3 staff will be available to support and coach teachers after this session if requested.