ProjectREADERS: Response to Effective Assessment-Driven Early Reading Support

Classroom Teachers in Grades K-3 and Title I Interventionists at both Cambria and Jackson Elementary Schools have volunteered to participate in Project READERS! Central Cambria’s Elementary Curriculum Director, Dr. Luke Lansberry, has coordinated this opportunity for both Elementary Schools with Lehigh University, and the University of Nebraska, and the Jackson Elementary Principal, Mrs. Tricia Murin. Our participating teachers will work closely with the principal Investigators of Project READERS: Drs. Todd Glover and Tanya Ihlo from the University of Nebraska and Dr. Edward Shapiro from Lehigh University. The Project Coordinator at Lehigh University is Dr. Stacy Martin.

What is the purpose of Project READERS?

Project READERS is an initiative through the National Center for Research on Rural Education designed to implement and examine the impact of professional development in Response-to-Intervention (RTI) and early reading supports for students in kindergarten through third grade in rural schools.

The benefits of participation

Participating classroom teachers:

• receive professional development through Project READERS Institute trainings 
• receive ongoing coaching in reading supports and RTI from a Project READERS RTI Reading Coach via distance technology 
• learn how to identify students in need of additional support and monitor student progress to ensure instruction is meeting their needs 

Participating interventionists:

• receive professional development through Project READERS Institute trainings 
• receive ongoing coaching in reading supports and RTI from a Project READERS RTI Reading Coach via distance technology 
• receive intervention materials 
• learn how to implement reading supports and interventions matched to students’ needs 

All Professional Development trainings will take place at Lehigh University’s Asa Packer campus and will be supported through Federal Grant funding. The training schedule is different for teachers, interventionists, and DIBELS Next data collectors.

We are looking forward to working with Lehigh University and the University of Nebraska to help strengthen our Response to Instruction and Intervention (RtII) program in both Central Cambria Elementary Schools!