FAQ’s

Find answers to some of our most commonly asked questions.

About Us

Don’t colleges/universities provide teachers with this knowledge during their preparation programs?

Not necessarily. Much of the science of reading comes from disciplines outside of schools of education (e.g., neuroscience, linguistics, cognitive psychology, etc.) Therefore, professors who teach in schools of education are often unfamiliar with the scientific evidence base.

Don’t school districts provide teachers with this knowledge once they are hired?

Not necessarily. School district administrators and teachers who plan professional development experiences are often not aware of the scientific evidence base on how students learn to read. Schools tend to implement popular, heavily advertised approaches and materials that they assume are grounded in the evidence base. Sadly, the profit-driven commercial entities that dominate the educational marketplace are often not aligned with the science of how students best learn to read.

Is The Reading League just about teaching phonics?

Not at all. We tend to do a lot of work around phonics and phonemic proficiency because the research on teacher knowledge indicates that these are the areas in which educators have the most significant gaps. However, The Reading League also addresses vocabulary, comprehension, fluency, early speech and language development, response to intervention, assessment, text types, writing, and other related topics. Check out our YouTube Channel for a sampling of our past Live Events and professional development videos.

How does The Reading League fund its work?

Much of The Reading League’s work is done by dedicated volunteers. However, we do incur operating costs (e.g., video recording, photocopying, conference expenses, insurance) and personnel costs (e.g., tech support, school-based reading coaches). The Reading League relies on donations, grants, corporate sponsors, Live Event raffles, and merchandise sales to continue providing our services at low or no cost to educators. Please consider supporting The Reading League through a personal donation or any of the other avenues above. Because The Reading League is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, your donation is tax-deductible.

Is The Reading League only for educators who work with students who struggle with learning to read?

Absolutely not. The Reading League is for all educators. General education classroom teachers are critically important to the literacy achievement of all children. When general education teachers provide “core,” or “Tier 1,” instruction that is grounded in the scientific research evidence base, fewer children experience difficulty and need extra help. Of course, The Reading League is also for teachers who provide intervention instruction and special education, as some students will need more than the core. The good news is that all students benefit from evidence-based instruction. We find that all types of educators at all grade levels – including speech and language pathologists/therapists, school psychologists, administrators, librarians, middle and high school content teachers, special area teachers, and more – attend our events and find them useful.

Events

I am a NY State teacher who needs CTLE hours for certification purposes. Will my attendance at the Annual Conference count toward this requirement?

Yes. The Reading League is an NYSED CTLE, ALTA, and IMSLEC approved sponsor. You will be provided with a certificate of attendance at the end of the event to use to process your credits.

Will I get NYS CTLE credit for viewing on-demand recordings?

By attending the event in person you will receive NYS CTLE credit.

Due to restrictions and regulations of the New York State Education CTLE program, The Reading League cannot directly offer CTLE credits for live stream viewers.

School districts and other organizations may choose to accept The Reading League’s on-demand viewing as CTLE credit under their policies. These entities are responsible for following all NYS Department of Education rules and regulations including, but not limited to, attendee documentation.

Professional Development

What is The Reading League’s instructional program? Do you recommend a particular program or strategy?

The Reading League does not have an instructional program. We believe that educators, not programs, teach students. That being said, some published instructional programs are more informed by the existing research evidence than others. When teachers build their knowledge of the evidence base, they are better positioned to make informed choices when selecting instructional programs, materials, and approaches.

Does The Reading League provide direct service to children?

No. The Reading League does not work directly with children. Our mission involves elevating the knowledge and skills of educators so that their instructional time with students is more impactful. We believe that we can make the most impact by helping educators maximize the instructional time they have, rather than adding instructional time to children’s already busy lives.

Does The Reading League provide direct service to adults who want to become better readers?

Not yet. We do not have the capacity to do this important job now, but we hope to get there someday. Sadly, far too many adults did not have their literacy instructional needs met when they were in school. Evidence-based instruction can help these individuals. It is never too late to learn to read.

Miscellaneous

Where should I park when I come to your office?

Parking for TRL Headquarters is located at Performance Park located on the corner of Marcellus and Wyoming Streets in Syracuse, NY. Please get in touch with the office ahead of time for a gate code.

How do I become a Reading League volunteer?

If you would like to become a TRL volunteer to help with the events or the conference, please email events@thereadingleague.org

Where do I find the W-9 form?

Download a PDF of The Reading League’s W-9 form.