IRRC Professional Development (PD) Toolkits comprise materials created and curated by IRRC staff and affiliated researchers. The materials are designed to support the training of educators in evidence-based literacy practices. Research on educator PD suggests that ongoing support with sufficient opportunities to practice new content and skills is critical to successful adoption of evidence-based practices. As such, toolkits have different kinds of materials to use for ongoing PD with structured practice. Toolkits may include any of the following resources:
Webinar recording: Video of IRRC staff or affiliated researchers reviewing relevant research and providing an overview of evidence-based practices related to a given topic.
Scripted slide deck: A PowerPoint slide deck that extends the review of relevant research and overview of evidence-based practices with structured opportunities to practice the techniques with other educators. In addition, each slide deck includes notes at the bottom of each slide with suggested language and directions for facilitators.
Knowledge assessment: A brief assessment designed to test essential knowledge of the evidence-based practices covered in the webinar recording and slide deck.
Toolkits can be accessed through the University of Iowa's eLearning platform, UI Learn. Follow the instructions in this guide to create an account.
PD Toolkit Library
PD Toolkit for CLIFTER
This PD Toolkit is for CLIFTER (Cursive Letter Identification and Formation for Transcription and Early Reading)—a free tool designed to empower educators and caregivers in supporting students’ cursive handwriting and early reading skills. This PD Toolkit includes all of the materials needed to train teachers in implementing effective and efficient cursive handwriting instruction.
PD Toolkit for Effective Morphology Instruction for Secondary Students Across Content Areas
Spelling in English can seem irregular and confusing—it's easy for students to feel lost at sea! But small word parts called morphemes can be islands of regularity, helping students tackle big words. This PD Toolkit includes all of the materials needed to train secondary teachers in three versatile morphology instructional strategies that can be used across content areas, including social studies and science.
PD Toolkit for Fidelity
Explicit instruction is a cornerstone of the science of reading. It is imperative that educators have support in not only understanding what the steps of explicit instruction are, but also understanding how to deliver them across different literacy content. This PD Toolkit includes all the materials needed to train educators in monitoring fidelity of explicit instruction practices and determining targeted areas of support for teachers.
PD Toolkit for LIFTER
This toolkit is for Literacy LIFTER (Letter Identification and Formation for Transcription and Early Reading)—a free tool designed to empower educators and caregivers in supporting students’ handwriting and early reading skills. This PD Toolkit includes all of the materials needed to train teachers in implementing effective and efficient print handwriting instruction.
PD Toolkit for Supporting Your Child's Early Word Recognition Skills
Caregivers have the power to make a big impact on their children’s early literacy development! Daycare providers, librarians, and other early educators can use this PD Toolkit to teach caregivers of PK children strategies for supporting literacy learning at home.