Collaboration is a CLEAR path forward

Oct. 9, 2023

We are excited for another strong year of Project CLEAR, launching with a Teacher Leader class, a statewide Teacher class, and additional Teacher and on-going professional development (OPD) classes. We are growing!

This newsletter continues to focus on strong professional learning in literacy acceleration.

One key finding in the research about professional learning has been the power of collaboration. Read the latest blog from Dr. Deb Semm Rich and Dr. Adria Klein to learn more about bringing meaningful job-embedded learning to adults: Why Is it Essential to Support Collaboration in Job-Embedded Contexts?

Visit Project CLEAR website

New Teacher Leader Cohort

Six new Teacher Leaders in Project CLEAR began classes at Saint Mary’s College as they started the 2023-24 school year at their sites. These Teacher Leaders are very committed and meet for two full days of class every three weeks, while working with students every day. The training classes are held in the Kalmanovitz School of Education. Saint Mary’s College aims to empower students to lead change according to the principles of social justice and the common good through shared inquiry, collaborative learning, and community engagements: “Our graduates become highly effective teachers, administrators, leaders, and counselors.”

Please help us welcome this new cohort!

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New Two-Unit Assessment Course

Newly added this year! Project CLEAR is offering a two-unit course on assessment with two pathways (one for teachers and the other for administrators). This course will extend October to December, as a pilot.

Participants will learn how to:

Administer, score, and interpret assessment tasks of early literacy acquisition
Administer, score, and interpret observations of oral reading of text
Develop skill in summarizing results of early literacy assessment tasks
Construct an assessment kit of materials for observing children's literacy development
Acquire observational competency in determining children's strengths related to early literacy acquisition
The two-unit introductory course credits earned by participants will count as one of the four necessary courses for those who choose to continue toward full certification

Visit the Project CLEAR webpage to learn more and register.

Lit Con

Save the date and save some money — Lit Con early bird registration is due by Nov. 16 to save $100.

California Reading Association

The Annual Conference will be in Camarillo Oct. 20 to 21. Sessions will include professional learning on effective reading instruction as well as others on connections to biliteracy.

We invite you to join the growing network of literacy experts in Project CLEAR. Please share this newsletter and the link to join our network with your colleagues as well. Teachers, teacher leaders, teachers on special assignment, reading interventionists, resource teachers, and administrators at both the site and school levels are all welcome to join.