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Brief Update on Cultivating Readers
SMART 2.0: A K-3 Literacy Initiative

Striving to Meet Achievement in Reading Together (SMART) 2.0 expands on the original goal of the previously known Cultivating Readers of improving literacy instruction for all students through a systemic approach, professional development, and technical assistance. By merging the Cultivating Readers framework with the original SMART project initiative (coaching and technical assistance), this new program is designed to provide comprehensive support for both individual educators and entire schools, while building capacity and creating sustainability.

For Individual Educators: A two-year commitment focused on literacy best practices through high-quality professional development and technical assistance.

For Systemic Schools: A four-year professional development program aimed at building capacity and sustainability through literacy best practices and MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Support) evidence-based strategies.

SMART 2.0 focuses on improving reading outcomes for all students, especially students with disabilities, by equipping educators with the tools, knowledge, and ongoing support they need for long-term success.

The Idaho Department of Education partners with Idaho’s individual educators, schools, and LEA’s throughout the state through the SMART 2.0 project. Here is how SMART 2.0 supports each of these partners:

For Individual Educators:

  • Professional development and technical assistance through monthly in-person coaching with an expert contracted SMART Coach.
  • Professional development and technical assistance through monthly book studies.
  • Professional development through various literacy instruction trainings throughout the year.
For Systemic Schools:
  • Professional development and technical assistance through monthly in-person coaching with an expert contracted SMART Coach.
  • Professional development and technical assistance through monthly book studies.
  • Professional development and technical assistance on Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) with a contracted expert.
  • Professional development for identified in-building coaches (IIBC) specifically on evidence-based coaching practices, focusing on building capacity.
  • Professional development and technical assistance in partnership with Idaho Parents Unlimited (IPUL) for parents on the Science of Reading, evidence-based literacy instruction and MTSS to increase family engagement.
  • A systemic approach within the school through their IIBC and MTSS team to produce sustainability after graduation from the SMART 2.0 project.

Currently, SMART 2.0 is supported by the State Personnel Development Grant (SPDG) awarded by the US Department of Education. Systemic Schools may receive additional allocation depending on grant fund availability. Grant funds are not guaranteed from year to year.

Smart 2.0 is for:

Individual teachers:

  • General Education Teachers
  • Special Education Teachers
  • Paraprofessionals
  • Teaching Assistants
  • Title 1 Teachers
  • Title 1 Paraprofessionals
  • Instructional Coaches
  • Academic Interventionist
System Schools which consist of:
  • An MTSS Team
  • A Reading Instruction Team (only 20 spots total)
  • The Systemic School staff:
    • Administrator
    • Special Education Director
    • Teachers
      • General Education Teachers
      • Special Education Teachers
      • Paraprofessionals
      • Teaching Assistants
      • Title 1 Teachers
      • Title 1 Paraprofessionals
      • Instructional Coaches
      • Academic Interventionist


Resources

Training Materials

  1. Foundational Skills
    1. Foundational Skills Facilitator Guide
    2. Foundational Skills Section 1 Video
    3. Foundational Skills Section 2 Video
    4. Foundational Skills Section 3 Video
    5. Foundational Skills Participant Handout
    6. Phonemic Awareness Rubric
    7. Comprehensive Decoding Rubric
    8. Foundational Skills to Support Reading for Understanding in Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade – IES Practice Guide
    9. Early Literacy Progression Tree
    10. Continuous and Stopped Sounds
    11. Literacy Instructional Routines with Instructional Videos
  2. Comprehensive Assessment System
    1. Comprehensive Assessment System Facilitator Guide
    2. Comprehensive Assessment Section 1 Video
    3. Comprehensive Assessment Section 2 Video
    4. Comprehensive Assessment Section 3 Video
    5. Comprehensive Assessment System Participant Handout
    6. Data Based Individualization Rubric
    7. Using Student Achievement Data IES Practice Guide
    8. Early Literacy Checklist
  3. Vocabulary
    1. Vocabulary Facilitator Guide
    2. Vocabulary Instruction Video
    3. Vocabulary Participant Handout
    4. Vocabulary Rubric
  4. Comprehension
    1. Development of Comprehension Facilitator Guide
    2. Development of Comprehension Participant Handout
    3. Comprehension Instruction Video
    4. Reading for Meaning Rubric
    5. Improving Reading Comprehension IES Practice Guide
    6. Comprehension Instructional Routines
  5. Science of Reading
    1. The Science of Reading Facilitator Guide (90 minutes)
    2. The Science of Reading Participant Handout (90 minutes)
    3. Teaching Reading is Rocket Science, 2020 Handout
    4. Science of Reading Video

Additional Training Support

  1. Foundational Skills
    1. Grades K-1 Routines (60-90 minute session)
      1. Explicit Instruction Routines K-1 Facilitator Guide
      2. Explicit Instruction Routines K-1 Video
      3. Explicit Instruction Routines K-1 Participant Handout
      4. Phonemic Awareness Rubric
      5. Foundational Skills to Support Reading for Understanding in Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade – IES Practice Guide
    2. Grades 2-3 Routines (60-90 minute session)
      1. Explicit Instruction Routines 2-3 Grade Facilitator Guide
      2. Explicit Instruction Routines 2-3 Grade Video
      3. Explicit Instruction Routines 2-3 Participant Handout
      4. Foundational Skills to Support Reading for Understanding in Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade – IES Practice Guide
  2. Comprehensive Assessment System (60-90 minute session)
    1. Comprehensive Assessment System Facilitator Guide
    2. Comprehensive Assessment System Participant Guide
    3. Comprehensive Assessment System Video
    4. Using Data IES Practice Guide Handout
    5. Use of Student Performance Data ISDE Handout
    6. Early Literacy Checklist Handout
    7. Data Based Individualization RESET Rubric
    8. Comprehensive Assessment System Description ISDE Handout
  3. Vocabulary (60-90 minute session)
    1. Vocabulary Facilitator Guide
    2. Vocabulary Participant Guide
    3. Vocabulary Video
  4. Comprehension (60-90 minute session)
    1. Comprehension Facilitator Guide
    2. Comprehension Participant Guide
    3. Comprehension Video

Tools

Coming soon

Other Resources

Coming soon

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Contact Us

Shannon dunstan

Results Driven Accountability & Early Childhood Coordinator
Idaho State Department of Education, Special Education
Phone: 208-332-6908
sdunstan@sde.idaho.gov


Lexie Pease

Program Evaluation Coordinator
Idaho State Department of Education, Special Education
Phone: 208-332-6925
apease@sde.idaho.gov