Teacher Leader Institute – A Gathering to Learn, Lead, and Inspire

We’re only a few weeks away from the Teacher Leader Institute, an energizing and thought-provoking professional learning event designed to build capacity, foster collaboration, and deepen our collective expertise.

As required professional development for all Teacher Leaders in the U.S. and recommended for all Reading Recovery leaders and Site Coordinators, this year’s TLI will feature a series of engaging General Sessions designed to inspire new thinking and strengthen our impact on literacy outcomes. Here’s a preview of what you won’t want to miss:

General Session: Leading on the “EDJE”: A Framework for Transforming Educational Institutions and Organizations with Kevin Kumashiro

When we look to social movements that are working to advance democracy and justice, what are some of the guiding principles that can apply to our work in education and as leaders?  This presentation describes the “EDJE Framework for Assessment and Transformation,” which draws on five such principles, and explores how we might apply these concepts today in our organizations and institutions: naming the moment and our intervention; priority areas of work; diving into contradiction; levels of injustice; and collective action.

Working Together to Construct a Literacy Processing System: The Teacher Leader Role with Mary Fried

Clay (COT p. 232) states that teacher leaders “need to be able to lead teachers into discussions of the ‘why‘ questions but their personal challenge is to become more articulate about what they understand by the term ‘literacy processing,’…  Their discussions should be about the kinds of processing which might be developed in each of the components  of the lesson.”

In this session we will begin with theory and then explore some examples of teaching interactions and how they change over time in relation to literacy processing.

Science of Reading Principles at Work in Reading Recovery, Comprehensive Literacy Classrooms, and Interventions with Jeff Williams

Current reading initiatives focus much attention on heady concepts of orthographic mapping, set for variability, and statistical learning. This session de-mystifies these elements and shows how they are developed within Reading Recovery, Comprehensive Literacy classrooms, and allied interventions without the need for scripted programs.

Rethinking The Possibilities – Exploring the Design of Ongoing Professional Learning Sessions with Journey Swafford

In this session, participants will have the opportunity to consider ways to design and plan responsive professional development for previously trained Reading Recovery Teachers. This session will review the Reading Recovery standards and guidelines for “continuing contact,”  consider options for behind-the-glass sessions, and discuss additional professional learning that teacher leaders may arrange.  Please bring your questions, ideas and reflections to this interactive session.

Integration as Inquiry with Nancy Anderson

Drawing on Marie Clay’s view that children construct literacy processing systems  “in some integrated way,” this session will explore integration as both a theoretical construct and a professional stance.

IDEC Update 2025: A Look at Growth with Kate Nelson

This presentation will examine data for the 2023-2024 school year through the lens of growth for all students, highlight IDEC reports that can be easily used to focus on growth, and provide updates for what’s new at IDEC for the upcoming school year.

If you aren’t registered for TLI 2025 yet, now is the time. Find all the details at https://readingrecovery.org/teacher-leader-institute2025.

Can’t wait to see you in Ann Arbor!