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“The number one concern that I hear from educators is lack of time, particularly lack of instructional time with students,” says Nell K. Duke, Ed.D., Professor, University of Michigan. “I encourage you to scrutinize your use of instructional time minute by minute. If a practice is used because we’ve always done it that way or because parents expect it, it’s especially worthy of a hard look.” Her article on edutopia.org outlines some familiar practices that can be ineffective or even counter productive:

• Looking up words on lists
• Prizes for reading
• Weekly spelling tests
• Unsupported independent reading
• Taking away recess.

Read the article on edutopia.org

Some REAP followers have asked to come see our summer work in person. We’re very excited that this summer we’re working with 60 teachers in our Educator Level Training and 20 teachers in our Advanced Training. Even better, we’re serving 80 students in our Summer Reading Camps!

“I’m Brent Sopel, former Stanley Cup Champion of the Chicago Blackhawks. School was a nightmare for me. It was literally the last place I wanted to be. The only good thing for me was that at my school there was an outdoor rink.” Brent Sopel grew up with reading issues. Now he helps kids so they don’t have to go through what he did.

This video is a great introduction to dyslexia for those who may not understand. It was featured at an annual conference of the International Dyslexia Association.

I recently rediscovered this documentary, Embracing Dyslexia. It’s worth watching and very informative for anyone who doesn’t know much about dyslexia.

Watch the documentary: Embracing Dyslexia

Thank you to everyone who has donated money, time and support to REAP in 2016. With your help, we’ve provided training for 30 teachers in Atlanta Public Schools, 30 teachers in Fulton County Schools, and all the certified teachers at APS Burgess-Peterson Elementary.

We also provided 20 struggling readers with a week-long intensive reading camp in Decatur while REAP-trained teachers practiced their skills.

This slideshow gives you a glimpse at what the training is like, and shows how the teachers work with students to build crucial reading skills.

watch the slideshow on YouTube

REAP is truly grateful for the very generous donation of $20,000 from the Kay W. Cantrell Foundation. The funds are dedicated to year two of REAP’s work with K-5 teachers and students at Burgess-Peterson Academy. REAP is impacting over 380 students at Burgess-Peterson each year.

In July of 2016, REAP kicked off a partnership with Burgess-Peterson Academy in the Atlanta Public School system. This is REAP’s first school-wide training program.

All certified Burgess teachers will attend a year-long Orton-Gillingham training program. The OG program will include coursework, modeling, grade-level planning, practical application workshops and observation days.

As part of the training, Burgess teachers and administrators will observe REAP Literacy Leaders as they model whole-group OG lesson in each grade. After modeling the lessons, the REAP Literacy Leader meets with each grade level to review and answer teacher questions. Together they discuss next lessons and learn how to integrate the language arts standards into their OG lessons.

Dr. Lorna Kaufman has written a book called Smart Kid, Can’t Read: Five Steps Any Parent Can Take to Get Help. Dr. Kaufman is both a reading expert and a developmental psychologist. She  has served as president of the Massachusetts Branch of the International Dyslexia Association.

Her most important advice: “Get a comprehensive, diagnostic evaluation from an independent specialist–someone who will make recommendations based on your child’s individual needs. You must have an understanding of your child’s cognitive and academic strengths and weaknesses.”