Kansas Science of Reading Professional Learning Course with LETRS®
Kansas Science of Reading Professional Learning Course with LETRS®
KSDE has allocated a portion of the State's ESSER funds to address potential learning loss that resulted from the shift to emergency remote instruction due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This shift disrupted instruction of foundational literacy skills of young students in Kansas and leading to a potential learning loss. To help recover from this KSDE is offering free LETRS® training to any educator who works in an KSDE accredited public or private elementary school or provides reading instruction to struggling learners at all grade levels. This opportunity covers the cost of the online course and training days; there is no cost to the school nor teacher for this training. To ensure that all teachers, including teachers just coming out of college, will be able to help students this training opportunity is also available to higher education faculty who teach literacy courses in Kansas teacher preparation programs.
For Kansas educators who provide reading instruction in KSDE Accredited schools there is no cost for the online course, materials, or training days.
An Overview of the LETRS Course and Why Participate provided by Dr. Corol Tolman, LETRS Co-Author [52 Minute Runtime]
Currently Enrolling August 2023 Cohort.
What is LETRS® training?
LETRS stands for Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS®). LETRS® is a professional learning course for instructors of reading, spelling, and related skills. LETRS® is not a curriculum not a program used to provide intervention. It is a professional learning program that builds knowledge and skills so that teachers can be more successful with any curriculum and intervention materials and make informed decisions when choosing what materials to use to provide effective instruction. Specifically, LETRS® is intensive professional learning to empower teachers to understand the science behind why students struggle to read through learning evidence-based instructional practices. LETRS® provides details for educators to understand the what, why, and how of scientifically based reading instruction including:
- What must be taught during reading and spelling lessons to obtain the best results
- Why reading instruction has several key components and how they are related to one another
- How to explain spoken and written English language structures
- How to interpret individual differences in student achievement
- How to implement instructional routines, activities, and approaches and differentiate instruction
Who is LETRS® training appropriate for?
LETRS® for Early Childhood Educators (Pre-K and Kindergarten)
This course is appropriate for any educator designing, providing instruction, or coaching staff in any early childhood or pre-kindergarten setting. This professional learning experience has been approved by KDHE for 28.9 in-service clock hours. Full Description of the LETRS for Early Childhood Educators
LETRS® (Kindergarten and above)
This course is appropriate for any educator designing and providing instruction to students or coaching staff in kindergarten through 5th grade or providing instruction to students struggling to read at any grade level. Full Description of LETRS
What is included in the LETRS® professional learning?
LETRS® and LETRS® for Early Childhood Educators are both hybrid professional development experiences consisting of asynchronous online learning, reading from a participant manual, classroom application activities, and live training days.
LETRS® for Early Childhood
- The LETRS® for Early Childhood course is completed over a single school year.
- Teachers will complete an asynchronous online course, reading from the LETRS for Early Childhood Educators manual, and classroom application estimated to require 24-30 hours (approximately 1.5 hours per week) over the school year. Unit Outcomes and Estimated Time to Complete Each Unit
- The self-paced online course should be completed prior to live training sessions.
- In addition to the online course, teachers will also participate in 12 hours of live training provided in 2 full days about 12 weeks apart during the school year. Corresponding Units of the online course should be completed prior to training days. The two days of training are virtual unless completed through a service center or a district training group.
LETRS®
- The LETRS® course is composed of two volumes which are completed over 2 school years.
- Teachers will complete a self-paced asynchronous online course, reading from the LETRS® manual, and classroom application activities estimated to require 45-55 hours (approximately 2 hours per week) each school year. Unit Outcomes and Estimated Time to Complete Each Unit
- In addition to the online course, teachers will also participate in 24 hours of live training provided in 4 full days about 6-8 weeks apart each year. Corresponding Units of the online course should be completed prior to the training days. The 4 days of training each year are virtual unless completed through a service center or a district training group.
Free LETRS® training for Kansas Teachers in KSDE Accredited Public and Private Schools.
LETRS® for Early Childhood Educators
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Educators who support early learning for children in preschool programs and kindergarten students – including these programs:
- Preschool-Aged At-Risk (State Pre-K 4-Year-Old At-Risk) teachers who teach Pre-K students
- Kansas Preschool Pilot (KPP) teachers who teach Pre-K students
- Early Childhood Special Education teachers who teach Pre-K students
- Head Start teachers who teach Pre-K students
- District funded preschool programs teachers who teach Pre-K students
- University faculty who teach early childhood literacy courses
LETRS® Volumes 1 and 2
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Educators who support reading instruction for K-12:
- Elementary general education teacher
- Special education teachers
- Title teachers
- English Learner teachers
- At-Risk teacher
- Reading Specialist/Interventionist at any level
- Instructional Coaches who support reading at any level
- Building principals
- Curriculum leaders
- Special Education Related Service Providers (school psychologists, speech language pathologist, etc.)
- University faculty who teach literacy courses in Kansas teacher preparation programs
Sign-Up for LETRS® Professional Learning Course
In-Person Trainings with Regional Service Centers - If you prefer the training days in support of the online course to be in-person, the education service centers have Certified LETRS® Facilitators and will be scheduling them. To sign-up for training through one of the service centers reach out directly to them, please do not sign-up here.
Virtual Trainings - If you prefer the training days in support of the online course to be virtual, please use the links below. These training days will be provided virtually by National LETRS®. If you're a district with 40 teachers and would like to arrange for the training days based on your local schedule, please indicate that when signing-up.
- Administrator Considerations for LETRS® district or building-wide
- Teacher Considerations for Participation in LETRS® Professional Learning
Registerining for January 2024 Training Cohorts - Register by November 17th.
COURSE MATERIALS WILL SHIP DECEMBER 2023
During sign-up you will select one date from each of the bullet points for a virtual training date to attend.
Due to publisher capacity limits and active registration process some sessions may no longer available.
January 2024 LETRS Training Dates
Kick-Off Session
January 10, 2024: 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Unit 1
March 5, 2024: 8:30am - 3:30pm
March 6, 2024: 8:30am - 3:30pm
March 7, 2024: 8:30am - 3:30pm
February 27 & March 5, 2024: 4:00pm - 7:00pm (Evening Session must attend both dates)
Unit 2
May 7, 2024: 8:30am - 3:30pm
May 8, 2024: 8:30am - 3:30pm
May 9, 2024: 8:30am - 3:30pm
April 23 & 30, 2024: 4:00pm - 7:00pm (Evening Session must attend both dates)
January 2024 LETRS Early Childhood August Training Dates
Kick-Off
January 11, 2024 - 4:00pm - 5:30pm
Unit 1-2
March 1, 2024: 8:30am - 3:30pm
Units 3-4
May 3, 2024, 2023: 8:30am - 3:30pm