K–4 Online Texas Teacher Reading Academies (OTRAs)

• The Texas Online Teacher Reading Academies are scientifically based professional development courses designed to enhance teachers’ knowledge and skills so they can effectively teach young students to read. All grade-level Online Teacher Reading Academies (OTRAs)—Kindergarten, First Grade, Second Grade, Third Grade, and Fourth Grade — include explicit and systematic instruction in phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
  
• In addition, the Academies highlight effective instructional practices such as grouping, monitoring student progress to inform instruction, and providing interventions for struggling readers. Each Academy offers engaging activities and videos of real teachers in their classrooms, as well as research articles, reference materials, lesson plans, and classroom masters.
• Click on the link to take one of these courses: Online Teacher Reading Academy Course

K–3 Texas Online Teacher Reading Academy (OTRA) Study Guides

• The OTRA Study Guides supplement the K-3 OTRAs. They provide teachers with activities to review Academy content, assist with transferring recommended effective instructional practices to the classroom, and make explicit connections between the five reading components and their districts’ adopted core reading programs.
• On—site facilitators may lead grade-level study group sessions to support and guide participating teachers and other instructional staff as they take a closer look at implementing OTRA content and instructional practices in their classrooms.
  
• Within each grade level, the study guide is organized into corresponding OTRA sections.The guide is designed to allow facilitators options within each Academy section. Three types of activities are generally included per section:
  
  1. Facilitators can present a study group activity for teachers to complete on their own before the next study group session. When teacher’s reconvene, on your own activities are shared and discussed.
  2. A follow-up group activity can then be conducted with the whole group.
  3. An extension activity is generally included for each Academy section to help facilitators design study group content tailored to site-specific needs.
• Each Study Guide Activity has been linked to the specific slide that it refers to in the Online Teacher Reading Academy (OTRA).
• Please click on the links below to view the activities that have been extracted.
• Kindergarten Study Guide Activities
• First Grade Study Guide Activities
  
• Second Grade Study Guide Activities
• Third Grade Study Guide Activities

Special Education Reading Project (SERP) Elementary Online Institute

• This Online Institute is for teachers of elementary students who are struggling with learning to read. Just like the face-to-face Institute, it examines the important components of beginning reading instruction and instructional adaptations that general and special education educators can make to ensure that all struggling readers benefit from instruction. It covers topics such as phonological awareness, word study, spelling, fluency, and comprehension. Texas teachers can earn up to 10 Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits for completing the Institute.
• Click on a link below to access this resource by section.
  

• Introduction Section
  
• Phonological Awareness
  
• Word Study and Spelling
  
• Fluency
  
• Comprehension

Special Education Reading Project (SERP) Secondary Institute

• The Special Education Reading Project (SERP) Secondary Institute—Effective Instruction for Secondary Struggling Readers:  Research-Based Practices offers instructional adaptations for reading, language arts, and special education teachers who serve students reading below grade level.  The SERP Online Secondary Institute offers valuable, research-based instructional methods while focusing on issues important to Texas teachers, such as implementation of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).  Although the Institute was originally created for Texas curricula, the strategies and activities it describes have value for classrooms beyond Texas.

• Click on a link below to access this resource by section.
• Introduction 
• Reading Comprehension
• Vocabulary
• Word Identification
• Fluency

Supplemental Instruction for Struggling Readers, Grade 3: A Guide for Tutors

• The lessons in this booklet are designed specifically for students who experience persistent reading difficulties. The lessons provide supplemental reading instruction on topics that include fluency, word study, instructional reading, and writing, with particular emphasis on explicit teaching of word-analysis strategies.

• You may access the full document by clicking on the PDF icon or click on this link to view lessons extracted from this resource.

• Supplemental Instruction for Struggling Readers, Grade 3: A Guide for Tutors

Essential Reading Strategies for the Struggling Reader: Activities for an Accelerated Reading Program

• The activities in this manual are intended to supplement the regular classroom reading program and to provide the additional practice struggling readers need to develop basic reading strategies. The activities can be used to review, practice, or reinforce the skill(s) associated with the instructional element. Topics include fluency, phonological awareness, instructional reading, word analysis, and spelling.
• You may access the full document by clicking on the PDF icon  or click on this link below to view lessons extracted from this resource.
• Essential Reading Strategies for the Struggling Reader: Activities for an Accelerated Reading Program

Reading Strategies and Activities Resource Book for Students at Risk for Reading Difficulties

• This book presents a set of instructional strategies for beginning reading and is specifically designed for classroom teachers to use with students who are at risk for reading difficulties. This book contains sequential, in-depth, systematic instructional strategies that provide specific examples and a recommended sequence to maximize learning opportunities. Each strategy covers three activities: initial instruction, review/reinforcement, and expansion/integration. Topics include phonemic awareness, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension.
• You may access the full document by clicking on the PDF icon or click on the links below to view lessons extracted from this resource.
• Fluency Lessons
• Comprehension Lessons
• Vocabulary Lessons
  
• Alphabetic Understanding  Lessons
• Phonemic Awareness Lessons

• Reading Strategies & Activity Resource Book For Students at Risk for Reading Difficulties, Including Dyslexia

Meeting the Needs of Struggling Readers: A Resource for Secondary English Language Arts Teachers

• This resource book includes activities and ideas designed for high school language arts or reading teachers who teach students with a wide range of abilities. The lessons and activities included are specifically designed for struggling readers and are intended as a supplement to regular classroom instruction. One of the goals of this resource book is to make thinking visible and teaching explicit.
• Click the PDF icon to view the full document or click this link to view the lessons that have been extracted.

• Meeting the Needs of Struggling Readers: A Resource for Secondary English Language Arts Teachers

Effective Instructional Practices

• This resource provides a framework for trainers to create professional development presentations. The resources are organized by component of reading instruction (phonological awareness, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension; phonics is in development). Trainers may want to modify these materials to meet the individual needs of their audience.
• Click on a link to view this resource by component.
• Vocabulary
  
• Comprehension
  
• Phonological Awareness
• Fluency