The Mississippi Department of Education’s Division of Literacy announces that registration will open in August to the Mississippi Science of Reading Training for Teachers and Leaders offered through professional development courses by AIM Institute for Learning and Research.
This training for Mississippi teachers and school leaders is designed to help educators learn and implement the science of reading. In the 2024-25 cohort, AIM Pathways professional development will assist K-5 general education teachers, reading interventionists, K-8 special education teachers, and leaders in furthering their ability to apply the science of reading.
Courses will run September 2024 through March 2025 and include asynchronous sessions, with in-person sessions in November 2024 and February 2025. Seats are limited. Educators are encouraged to sign up early via AIM Institute for Learning and Research when registration opens in August.
Brief course descriptions are below. Full descriptions can be viewed online once registration opens.
LEVEL 1 COURSES:
- Pathways to Proficient Reading for Teachers (300 seats available) is a 52-hour course through North MS Education Consortium (NMEC) that will provide educators access to resources for application-based classroom practices to support strong, proficient readers through the science of reading. Designed for K-5 general education teachers and K-8 special education teachers. Classes held in person in Jackson, Hattiesburg and Oxford. Receive 5.2 CEUs, 40 SEMIs, or 4 OSLs upon course completion.
- Pathways for Literacy Leadership for Educational Leaders (150 seats available) is a 42-hour hybrid course through North MS Education Consortium (NMEC) that will provide tools and resources to create and implement a comprehensive literacy plan for schools and develop administrators’ understanding of the classroom application of the science of reading. Classes held in person in Jackson, Hattiesburg and Oxford. Receive 4.2 CEUs, 30 SEMIs, or 3 OSLs upon course completion.
- Pathways to Proficient Reading for Secondary Educators (200 seats available) is asynchronous training for grades 4-12 general education teachers. Sessions will cover the connection between reading research, theoretical models such as the Simple View of Reading and Scarborough’s Reading Rope, and best practices for language and literacy instruction in the classroom. Participants will learn effective instructional practices to benefit all students, including linguistically diverse populations and those with language-based learning disabilities. Receive 5.2 CEUs, 40 SEMIs, or 4 OSLs upon course completion.
LEVEL 2 COURSES:
An individual must complete one of the Level 1 courses as a prerequisite to the Level 2 courses.
- Pathways to Structured Literacy (240 seats available) focuses on diagnostic and prescriptive literacy instruction. This International Dyslexia Association (IDA) accredited online offering will enhance participants’ practice in a Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)/Response to Intervention (RTI) framework. Classes held in person in Jackson, Hattiesburg and Oxford November 2024 and February 2025. Receive 4.2 CEUs, 30 SEMIs, or 3 OSLs upon course completion.
- Pathways to Proficient Writing (100 seats available) focuses on best practices for writing instruction grounded in writing research including The Writing Cycle and the Not-So-Simple View of Writing. The approaches benefit all students, including linguistically diverse populations and those with language-based learning disabilities. Classes held in person in Jackson. Receive 4.2 CEUs, 30 SEMIs, or 3 OSLs upon course completion.
- Specialized Reading Knowledge: English Learners (200 seats available) is an asynchronous training designed to support teachers who work with English learners. This may include general education, English learner, and special education teachers who work with English learner students. Receive 1.3 CEUs, 10 SEMIs, or 1 OSL upon course completion.
Questions: For questions regarding registration, contact Susan Scott of North MS Education Consortium at sscott@olemiss.edu. For general information questions, contact Brandi Bankston, MDE’s Literacy Projects and Professional Development Manager, at bbankston@mdek12.org.