Educator Resources

Just Read, Florida! offers high quality professional development opportunities for teachers, reading coaches, and principals.

Elementary Grade Levels

• Example Elementary Reading Block
  In an elementary classroom, a minimum of 90 minutes of reading instruction - grounded in the principles of scientifically based reading research (SBRR) - is the most effective way to reach all students. Please click to find an explanation on research behind the 90 minute block and a one page example of how to implement.



• Reading Block Video
   - Download Real Player



• Elementary Reading Block Q & A
  Answers to the most frequently asked questions about the 90 minute reading block



• Elementary Reading Block Presentation (PDF)
   - Presentation with Speaker's Notes (PDF)
  Presentation providing guidance for district and school administrators, reading coaches, and teachers at the elementary level in developing and implementing a 90 minute reading block. Though originally designed for delivery to reading coaches, this presentation may be helpful to all elementary educators implementing a reading block.



• Reading Intervention Curriculum (PDF)
  Whether reading mentors or classroom teachers, this curriculum is a great guide that includes an overview of current reading research and weekly lessons for intermediate struggling readers.



• Teen Trendsetter Reading Mentor Curriculum (PDF)
  Lessons and accompanying mentoring notes designed to provide reading tutoring as a primary activity during mentoring sessions with 3rd grade students at different reading levels.

Secondary Grade Levels

• Language Arts Supervisors Secondary Reading Initiatives Presentation (PDF)



• Secondary Reading Placement Chart (PDF)



• Secondary Regional Technical Assistance Meeting Presentation from October 2004 (PDF)
  This powerpoint was presented at the regional technical assistance meetings for middle and high school principals and reading coaches.
• Primary & Secondary Diagnostic Instruments
  A list of assessment instruments generated through a review conducted by in consultation with the Florida Center for Reading Research.

Other Professional Development Resources

• Content Area Reading Professional Development (CAR-PD) 60 Hour Face to Face Academy Memo (PDF)



• Summer Reading Coaches Academy Memo (PDF)



• Summer Reading Academy for 4^th and 5^th Grade Teachers Memo (PDF)



• Information on becoming a certified teacher in Florida



• FCRR - Evaluating Core Reading Programs



• SUNLINK
  A state database of school library media center holdings in Florida's K-12 public schools.



• School-Home Tool Kit
  Reading Kits that offer tips on creating community and family-school partnerships to improve children's reading.



• Clifford Reading Tips for Parents (PDF)
  Clifford the Big Red Dog has some great tips for parents about the five essential components of reading. Thanks to our partnership with Scholastic, we are happy to share these with you.



• Sunshine State Young Readers Award Program
  Statewide reading motivational program.



• Florida Public Libraries

Studies & Research

• Partnership for Reading
  The Partnership for Reading distributes scientifically-based research to improve reading instruction for children, adolescents, and adults. This site offers many answers to questions about reading instruction and offers the ability to download several publications.



• National Reading Panel
  Reviewing over 100,000 studies on reading, The National Reading Panel (NRP) found five components essential to a child's learning to read: phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension.



• Putting Reading First
  The Research Building Blocks for Teaching Children to Read is designed for classroom teachers, it describes the findings of the National Reading Panel and provides analysis and discussion of five areas of reading instruction.

• Florida Center for Reading Research (FCRR)
  Part of the leadership triangle for Reading First. They disseminate information about research-based practices related to reading instruction and assessment for children in pre-school through 12th grade. They also conduct basic research on reading, reading growth, reading assessment, and reading instruction that will contribute to the scientific knowledge of reading.