Professional Development
In the spring of 2024, the Michigan Department of Education awarded a grant to Howell Public Schools totaling $988,619 to "improve literacy instructional practices by investing in quality, research-based best practices, and professional learning."
"35j legislation states that ALL (100%) Pre-K to 5 teachers (this includes classroom teachers, resource teachers, electives teachers, etc.), building administrators, and instructional coaches must complete the selected professional learning."
To that end, over 200 HPS elementary staff are engaging this year (2024-25) in literacy professional development aligned to the science of reading, including:
- Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) by Lexia Learning
- Orton Gillingham Comprehensive by the Institute for Multi Sensory Education (IMSE)
- Orton Gillingham Morphology (IMSE)
- Orton Gillingham Phonological Awareness (IMSE)
- Orton Gillingham Refresher (IMSE)
- Orton Gillingham for Administrators (IMSE)
- Orton Gillingham Esperanza by Valley Speech
- Online Language & Literacy Academy (OL&LA) by CORE Learning
- Science of Reading Overview by CORE Learning
This is a daunting prospect for our district, but also unprecedented opportunity to come together, learn together, grow together, and empower our students to be successful readers together.
Curriculum & Assessment
Furthermore, the grant states that the “district is required to…post on the district’s website which Pre-K to 5 literacy curriculum and benchmark assessment the district is using.”
Pre-K to 5 literacy curriculum:
Howell combines multiple instructional resources to support the BK-5 core curriculum of ensuring students develop content knowledge and skills in reading, writing, speaking and listening, and language. The resources used include Heggerty, Orton Gillingham, and the new Units of Study for Reading, Writing, and Phonics (Heinemann). We plan to use 35j funds to purchase new Elementary ELA resources better aligned to the science of reading, and are currently in the process of selection. Final selection is expected during the 2024-25 school year. Curriculum options include:
Benchmark assessment: