Over 900 educators from 56 counties participated in professional learning sessions throughout the summer.
Leaving with a 216-page, evidence-based Science of Reading handbook and enhanced literacy skills, Alachua County educators attended a New Worlds Reading Teacher Professional Learning session to enhance student learning outcomes.
“I think it’s full of great information,” said Lacy Roberts, a north Florida educator of 32 years. “I’ve already tabbed a lot of pages. I think my team at school can use a lot of this information, this manual, in our planning.”
Educators from Alachua County and other neighboring counties were invited to participate in our New Worlds Reading two-day professional learning session from June 6 to June 7. In addition to professional learning, the sessions also share resources for New Worlds Reading, Florida’s free at-home program that mails free books and reading activities to eligible VPK through fifth grade students.
It was a good review’
In 2024, New Worlds Reading Teacher Professional Learning attendance more than doubled from 359 participants last year to 914 participants this year. Throughout the 2024 cohort of professional learning sessions, educators across 56 counties were served through eight two-day sessions spanning June to July.
From Science of Reading theories to hands-on demonstrations, educators split into groups based on grade-level to brush up on old skills while learning new ones. Some topics, in addition to activities like interactive read-alouds and writing connections, were:
- Comprehension
- Decoding
- Fluency
- Oral language
- Phonological awareness and
- Vocabulary
Marcia Butler, a fifth grade teacher at The One Room School House charter school, described how the professional learning sessions improved her understanding of interactive read-alouds while also serving as a refresher for topics like phonological awareness.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been in college, so I had forgotten about all that since I teach upper grades,” Butler said. “It was a good review.”
‘Positive experience and good outcomes for kids’
Teachers who participated not only had the chance to improve student literacy outcomes but also received a $450 stipend and New Worlds Reading books and resources for classroom instruction.
Through the professional learning sessions’ structure, educators are provided with intensive instruction and encouraged to engage with other professionals across different school districts.
“Teachers and the participants here are coming with a really high level of knowledge and a really high level of engagement,” said UF Lastinger Center Literacy Implementation Manager Jesse Steif, who engaged with teachers at the event. “So they’re going to be leaving here with some excellent high quality resources, too. So all around just a really positive experience and good outcomes for kids.”
After participating in the professional learning sessions, more than half of educators reported an improved understanding of key reading theories, according to surveys collected after each session. Nearly all educators reported they would recommend the experience to other educators.
To meet educators’ individual literacy needs across Florida, New Worlds Reading Teacher Professional Learning sessions were held across seven counties to invite local school districts.
- Alachua
- Duval
- Lee
- Leon
- Miami-Dade
- Palm Beach and
- Orange
With representation from local school districts, the Florida Department of Education Division of Early Learning, and two New Worlds Reading Regional Partners, the New Worlds Reading Teacher Professional Learning sessions provide an opportunity for practitioners from every level of the education system to participate in a shared learning experience.
Regarding his experience facilitating a professional learning session in Alachua, Steif thought of one word.
“Fantastic, from multiple perspectives. The folks at the New Worlds Reading Initiative have put together an amazing high-quality presentation with amazing resources for teachers.”
To learn more about New Worlds Reading Teacher Professional Learning sessions and other UF Lastinger Center programs, please fill out our Program Interest Form.