The NESC supported 20 educators in Volume I and 18 educators in Volume II of Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS®) throughout the 2023-24 school year. This was an in-depth professional learning series co-facilitated by NESC Instructional Coach and LETRS® trainer, Dawn Johnson, and Grand Forks-based LETRS® trainer, Tami Schumacher.

LETRS® provides K-12 educators with an in-depth understanding of the science behind teaching literacy and gives them the background and depth of knowledge to teach language and literacy skills to every student. Designed to be the cornerstone of a multiyear, systemic literacy improvement initiative, LETRS® is the most respected comprehensive professional development course for instructors of reading, spelling, and related language skills.

Participating educators were surveyed in April upon completion of their professional learning series. We're excited to share the following results! (n=32)

To what extent do you value the content of the workshop?

Responses were 100% positive, with 88% of participants responding "to a substantial extent!"

• "Everyone should take this!"

To what extent did this workshop increase your knowledge required to implement the content?

Responses were 100% positive, with 84% of participants responding "to a substantial extent!"

• "I thoroughly enjoyed the past two years and learned a great deal about the brain and what is involved in the process of reading."

To what extent did this workshop increase your skills required to implement the content?

Responses were 100% positive, with 88% of participants responding "to a substantial extent!"

• "It taught me great strategies to use with my 1st graders. There was a lot I didn't know and now it has me thinking differently."
• "Knowing and growing in abilities to teach readers how to read."
• "Learning and utilizing skills to grow my reading and writing instruction."
• "Teaching is easier to manage if you know what you are doing."

To what extent were the presenters effective in their delivery of the workshop?

Responses were 100% positive, with 91% of participants responding "to a substantial extent!"

• "Tami & Dawn did a great job as presenters."
• "Presenters are well-equipped, well experienced - learned a lot from them."
• "The activities were engaging and helped so much."

We look forward to continuing this work in the 2024-25 school year with our current Volume I cohort of educators as they extend their learning and application through Volume II.