January 6, 2015 Dear Administrator: As you know, many reading difficulties can be resolved if effective intervention is provided early in a child’s school career. However, up to 10% of all reading difficulties are “treatment resistant”—a condition often referred to as dyslexia. Students with these difficulties require specialized, intensive intervention from a highly trained professional. Unfortunately, few educators in Utah have the necessary expertise to provide these services. In response, the University of Utah Reading Clinic (UURC)--with much-appreciated donations from the George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation and the Crawford Family Foundation-- has established a scholarship fund for educators to receive professional development in this much-needed area. The scholarships are specifically designed for practicing educators to complete certification for Wilson Reading System® (WRS) Level I--a highly effective intervention for students with severe reading difficulties. The UURC is in its thirteenth year of providing this intensive professional development experience and the response has been overwhelmingly positive from educators, parents, and students. Enclosed is a description of practicum requirements and an application for our 2015-2016 WRS® Level I year-long certification practicum. This year we have three options available for the practicum delivery. Option 1: The WRS Level I certification practicum will be taught at our Murray, Utah site. Option 2: The WRS Level I certification web-based practicum (ideally, but not exclusively, for individuals in areas where a distance model would be appropriate). Option 3: The WRS Level I certification site-based practicum (6 or more educators from a school or district, observations in your district). We encourage all interested practicing educators to examine these materials carefully and consider making an application. We also encourage you to make copies of this letter and share it with other potential applicants. This application is also available on-line at: uurc.org. WRS® Level I Certification and UURC Practicum Requirements - attend a 3-day WRS® Introductory Workshop at our Murray location (TBA) - workshop registration fee is $250 (includes lunch all 3 days). - tutor 1 student at least twice per week (approximately 1 hour/lesson) for a minimum of 60 lessons - conduct baseline, progress monitoring, and post assessments - attend at least 4 out of 5 WRS® Level I implementation meetings - complete 5 tutoring observations with Wilson trainer - attend at least 3 out of 4 UURC coaching sessions - complete Steps 1-6 of the Wilson online course It is important to note that this practicum is extremely time-intensive (at least a school year in length) and the requirements described above are mandatory. Trainings, observations, and coaching sessions will be held primarily during the school day. This may necessitate arrangements for substitutes, as well as transportation to and from the UURC for observations. The total cost of this training exceeds $2,500 per individual. However, educators who receive a scholarship will be responsible for the following approximate costs: - 3-day WRS® Introductory Workshop registration fee ($250) or tuition differential ($250) if educator attended a WRS® Introductory Workshop somewhere other than the UURC. - all tutoring materials (approximately $175). - transportation of self (and student, if applicable) to and from UURC. - Web-based only – flexible document camera (HUE, $50) - WRS Starter Set - one kit per educator (Order #: 978-156778-159-5, $149.00) - access to the Wilson Word identification and Spelling Test (WIST), available from Wilson or ProEd. We recommend that each district have access to a WIST. A WRS Starter Set that includes a WIST provides a discounted price (Order Item #: WRSCERTSET $369.00). If educators already purchased WRS Starter Sets and will be continuing this coming school year with a Level 1 Certification Practicum, they are eligible to receive a 15% discount from Wilson on the purchase of a WIST assessment kit. Given the challenging nature of this practicum, previous participants have found that collegial support is very important. With this in mind, applicants are encouraged to “yoke” their applications in pairs. Priority in the awarding of scholarships will be given to highly qualified pairs of practicing educators working in the same school or district. Please note that completed applications are due at the UURC no later than (March 13, 2015). Completed applications may be emailed to [email protected], or brought, or mailed to: Wilson Scholarship 2015-2016, UURC, 5242 South College Drive (approximately 480 West), Suite 100, Murray, UT 84123. Applicants will be notified regarding their status no later than (March 27, 2015). If participation in the year-long practicum is not feasible during the 2015-2016 school year, interested educators are still encouraged to attend the UURC’s 3-day WRS® Introductory Workshop on (April 14-16, 2015). This workshop does not certify educators in Wilson but it does provide valuable training and fills a prerequisite for the WRS® Level I year-long practicum. The registration fee for all attendees is $250, (lunches are included). Educators should register for this workshop online. Visit uurc.org and click on the educator tab for more information. We believe this is an exciting opportunity to expand intervention resources for Utah’s most impaired readers by providing high quality, intensive professional development for dedicated educators. If you have questions regarding the scholarship or the two practicum options, please contact Ms. Michele Blake at 801-265-3951, [email protected], or Ms. Grace Craig at 801-265-3951, [email protected]. Sincerely, Dr. Kathleen J. Brown, Director University of Utah Reading Clinic The University of Utah Reading Clinic, The George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation, and The Crawford Family Foundation Scholarship Application 2015-2016 Name _________________________________________ Date ___________________ Name of Applicant with whom your application is yoked __________________________ □Option 1: observations at the UURC in Murray, UT □Option 2: web-based observations □Open to either Option 1 or 2 □Site-based (6 or more educators from a school or district, observations in your district) Mailing Address __________________________________________________________ Home Phone ______________________ Cell Phone________________________ Home Email _____________________________________________________________ Current Position __________________________________________________________ School _____________________________ District _____________________________ School Address___________________________________________________________ Work Phone_________________________ Work Email__________________________ Have you attended a WRS® Introductory Workshop within the last 5 years? __________ Where Attended____________________________ Date Attended________________ ** If you have not attended a WRS® Introductory Workshop within the last 5 years you must register for the 3-day workshop online at uurc.org . University Degrees & Certifications __________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ Relevant Educational Experience ____________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ Reference Name, Position, and Phone ________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ Reference Name, Position, and Phone ________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ In a brief attached, typed essay, please describe why you want to become more skilled at helping students with severe reading difficulties/dyslexia. In particular, please describe how you will apply what you learn in a school setting.
Posted on: Fri, 19 Dec 2014 19:33:38 +0000
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