"As a district, we have made a commitment that all students will read and write at grade level by the end of third grade. AL supports and builds a culture in which this goal can become a reality."
Bev W., Assistant Superintendent

The staff development model used for AL and ELI involves teamwork. Three pieces-training, coaching, and implementation are viewed as ongoing and process-oriented.

With ELI, a safety-net intervention strategy for at-risk first graders, teachers are trained to assist students in building a balanced thinking approach to processing print. Students develop print awareness; relate sounds and symbols effectively; improve comprehension skills; and gain graphophonic, phonemic, semantic, and syntactic strategies.

ELI tutoring support includes the following:

ELI Trainer (District or Walker Enterprises)

The ELI Trainer provides the training sessions and modeling necessary for achieving tutoring expertise. Teachers are supported with three days of base training (eighteen hours), six in-service sessions (approximately nine hours), and six on-site coaching sessions (approximately six hours, requires coverage). Walker Enterprises will train on-site with a minimum enrollment of twelve teachers. Cost is $2650 per participant. Districts may sponsor ELI certificated tutors to train other teachers in their districts (see Information Request Form).

ELI District Coach

A teacher, sometimes a mentor, is chosen by the district to be the District ELI Coach. The District Coach coordinates coaching schedules, collects ELI data, assesses materials, and holds bimonthly ELI support meetings. The ELI mentor, who also tutors a minimum of two students a year, trains in coaching techniques by shadowing the ELI trainer for eight days. We recommend that the coach attend the one day ELI conference each year. Cost is $145. per participant.

ELI School Site Representative

To make the ELI program run smoothly, a designated teacher who is tutoring in ELI is appointed or volunteers to provide the necessary site leadership.

ELI Teacher/Tutor

ELI teacher and students meet for thirty minutes a day for sixty days, with an objective of moving students who are functioning in the lower third of their class to average level in just twelve weeks.

Tutoring models are also available for students above the first grade. Walker Enterprises has an effective tutoring program for all ages including adults. Information on the AL Reading Specialist Trainer of Tutors is given below.

Accelerating Literacy®

The AL model focuses on meeting the needs of all students in the elementary classroom by creating balanced literacy instruction. It assists teachers in understanding and implementing balanced instruction, including accurate grouping of students to enhance reading skills, using thematic instruction to connect content areas, improving students' critical thinking, organizing the classroom and curriculum to support both the teacher and students, mastering balanced instruction assessment techniques, and using materials appropriately at every grade level. With a network of trainers, coaches, and teachers who are specially instructed in the practical application of the theories and strategies of balanced instruction, AL is an effective base for understanding reading and writing instruction in the elementary classroom.

AL classroom support includes the following:

AL Trainer (District or Walker Enterprises)

An AL District Trainer may train as many teachers, support staff, instructional assistants, and administrators district-wide as needed in AL and balanced instruction. Training addresses specifics to maximize teaching effectiveness in read-aloud, shared reading, guided process reading, silent sustained reading, modeled writing, guided process writing, thematic instruction, critical thinking, and assessment. A district may prefer multiple trainers (preschool-first, second and third, fourth to sixth, and/or middle school). AL Trainer Conference package includes five days and two follow-up support days for a total of seven conference days. Tuition also includes training crates with transparencies, twelve training videos, sample literature books for demonstrations, twenty-five AL handbooks, twenty-five reading and writing assessment portfolios, and more. Additional AL handbooks may be purchased for $38.95. The AL Trainer will be authorized to train teachers in Accelerating Literacy® who are employed by the sponsoring district. Cost is $6995 per participant. We recommend that AL Trainers attend the one day AL Trainer Conference each year. Cost is $145 per participant.

An AL County Trainer may train teachers and administrators county-wide in AL and balanced instruction. The county contracts to charge a registration fee of which a portion is remitted to Walker Enterprises.

AL Reading Specialist Trainer of Tutors (District or Walker Enterprises)

Reading Specialists and/or Tutor Coordinators are trained to organize and support tutoring for students above the second grade. A Reading Specialist provides teachers, volunteers, and parents with training and materials to effectively tutor students in reading and writing. AL Reading Specialist Trainer of Tutors Conference package includes four conference days and one follow-up support day for a total of five conference days. Tuition also includes training crates with transparencies, sample literature books for demonstrations, twenty-five AL handbooks, twenty-five tutoring guides, and more. Additional AL handbooks may be purchased for $42.95. The AL Reading Specialist Trainer of Tutors will be authorized to train tutors in Accelerating Literacy® who are employed by or volunteer in the sponsoring district. Cost is $6995 per participant. 

AL School Site Coaches (Primary, Intermediate, Administrator)

AL Coaches assist the site teachers at specific schools, to successfully implement the training and balanced instruction. They work with the school staff to develop and implement an effective Literacy Plan for their community.

AL Teachers (Preschool through Middle School)

Teachers are trained to successfully raise the literacy level of ALL students at a specific school site. They are trained in balanced literacy instruction and to support fellow teachers in instructional decision making, resources, and assessment to achieve dramatic results. AL Training Conference package includes three conference days, an AL handbook, and a copy of the reading and writing assessment portfolios. Cost is $289 per participant.