The goal of the Reading Network is to provide K-12 teachers with effective strategies to increase the achievement of students with disabilities in the area of reading. In support of this goal, Reading First in Virginia in cooperation with the Office of Elementary Instruction and the Office of Special Education at the Virginia Department of Education are conducting Reading First Academies for teachers of special education.  The academies include:

• A focus on the reading components identified in the National Reading Panel Report of the scientifically-based reading research specific to five critical areas of reading instruction: phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary development, comprehension, and fluency.
• Strategies to differentiate instruction with emphasis on interventions for struggling readers.

 To register for Reading First Academies please visit their website.

In addition to the Reading First training, project members continue to provide professional development and support teachers with the implementation of research-based practices for struggling readers. Webshops and Reading Resources are available on TTAC Online that address the critical reading components noted above.  

Go to TTAC Online (Please note: You will see a map, click on the region you are from, and then go to the Online Training Tab for Webshops and the Resources Tab to search Reading Resources.)