Kentucky Reading Project Summer Institute
The two-week summer institute of the Kentucky Reading Project (KRP) was held June 14-25 in Alexander Hall on the campus of Murray State University. The Kentucky Reading Project is a professional development initiative for Kentucky public school elementary (P-5) teachers designed to improve student achievement and emphasize family involvement in literacy. It is a yearlong, graduate level reading course consisting of a two-week summer institute, four follow-up sessions during the year, and at least one coaching visit to each teacher. Twenty-seven teachers from nine different school districts participated in this year’s KRP summer institute. The school districts involved include Murray Independent, Crittenden County, Paducah Independent, Union County, Graves County, Marshall County, McCracken County, Livingston County, and Hopkins County.
Each day of the institute had a different theme such as “Applying Theory and Research,” “Reading and Writing Across the Curriculum,” and “Providing Assistance to Struggling Readers.” Activities each day included strategy demonstrations, discussions of personal theories about literacy, literature circles, and guest presenters. During the institute, participants developed a Literacy Action Plan (LAP) to address literacy needs in their classroom. The LAP focused on a balanced literacy approach that will improve teachers’ knowledge and instructional practices in literacy.
KRP is a state-wide initiative funded by the Kentucky Department of Education and the Collaborative Center for Literacy Development. There are KRP sites at each university in Kentucky with a director(s) at each site. Bonnie Higginson, professor in the College of Education, Department of Early Childhood and Elementary Education, and Holly Bloodworth, teacher at Murray Elementary School, are co-directors for KRP at MSU.
The teachers involved in KRP, who went through an interview to be selected, will receive a $350 stipend, at least $200 in books and teaching materials, and three hours of graduate credit upon completion of the course in May.
The Kentucky Reading Project has been at MSU for seven years. According to Higginson, this year’s institute was the most successful. Evaluations are done at each institute and this year every item was rated the highest possible.
Comments from participants this year echo Higginson’s judgment of a successful event. Robert Cross of Clark Elementary School commented, “My summer experience as a member of the 2005- 2006 Kentucky Reading Project was wonderful. I went into the summer institute with the intent of learning new reading strategies for my class and came out with so many resources and ideas that elevated my excitement about teaching and working with parents to build a society of learners through literacy.”
Joanna Mounger, another participant this year, is in her second year of teaching second grade at Crittenden County Elementary. According to Mounger, all teachers would benefit from the Kentucky Reading Project. “The Kentucky Reading Project is providing me a vast amount of information that is easily incorporated into my classroom. I have learned a great deal about how to actually implement phonics/phonemic awareness into my daily lessons. I especially enjoyed receiving hands-on strategies, lesson plans, and tips from classroom teachers who had completed the Kentucky Reading Project. The Kentucky Reading Project has been a wonderful experience.”