This spring, the Mary and Jean Borg Center for Reading and Literacy continued its efforts to serve Illinois communities and districts by enhancing K-12 instruction. Supported by the center’s director and Illinois State Professor Tom Crumpler and lead by Borg center associate, Julie Eckberg, the University delivered delivered intensive professional development to almost 30 K-12 teachers and administrators from LeRoy, Gibson City, Lexington, and Fieldcrest School districts.
“The purposes of this professional development were to provide opportunities for teachers and principals to learn about small group instruction as an effective practice for K-12 literacy teaching,” Crumpler said.
Participating educators completed the equivalent of a two credit hour graduate-level course that shared best practices. The work of the Borg center is based in public service. Since 2007, the efforts of its employees have help countless Illinois residents to develop various literacies. It is supported through an endowment made by alum Jean Borg, and the namesake honors Jean and her mother, Mary.
The center’s professional development sessions brought practitioners from neighboring districts together, and will help to build a network that Crumpler believes can serve as a catalyst for improving student achievement.
“The class was full of valuable information and it allowed my staff and I to evaluate some of the things that we are doing at GCMS Elementary, while also allowing for some professional dialogue with other schools,” said Justin Kean, principal of Gibson City Melvin Sibley Elementary School.
“The instruction on running records, on small group reading instruction, and the observation of a school who is implementing these practices, was very beneficial.”
Anonymous post-conference feedback pointed toward immediate implementation of concepts and practices into K-12 classrooms. The educators said:
“This class has given me more confidence as a teacher; affirmed teaching instruction and the direction I am heading; helped me identify areas of weaknesses and given strategies to correct them…”
“ I have taken back to my classroom/lesson plans, strategies, and ideas to adjust assessments to enhance my reading teaching.”
“ I have begun to look at my students and their abilities differently. I can change more things to make them successful and utilize more tools and resources.”
Crumpler anticipates additional professional development sessions during the fall semester. Educators interested in exploring professional development opportunities focused on K-12 reading and literacy instruction for their district are encouraged to contact Crumpler.
