LETRS Training: Final Update!

Well, I did it! I successfully completed LETRS training this past week. I had finished the last live Zoom session last month, but still had a unit to go on the online platform along with the final assessment. It really is a two year commitment that takes many hours to complete. Here is my final update now that I have completed the program!

The second year of LETRS training uses the Volume 2 LETRS manual and focuses on comprehension and writing. I found this year to be less interesting. Since I have taught early elementary for several years prior to taking this training, I found much of the content to be review. In fact, on the pre-assessment before diving into the online training, I scored in the upper-80s compared to the mid-60s for Volume 1.

However, I know I gained some new knowledge because my score did increase to the upper 90s on the post-assessment. And would’ve been 100 if I had read the questions a bit more carefully. It is a fairly lengthy multiple choice test and I was tired by the end. When I went back to the questions I answered incorrectly, I was, like, “Wow, that was dumb of me. I know what the answers were supposed to be.” So, a word of caution to make sure you read the questions correctly before answering.😉

What I gained the most knowledge on were some definitions about sentences and how to identify examples. For instance, the use of cohesive devices. I had not heard that term before, therefore I did not know what a cohesive device was. I, also, learned how to better assess writing. That has always been something I felt I could be better at.

As stated above, there was a lot of content that was review for me. I had either learned it in college, through other PD, or through experience. Some of the content that I already knew a lot about was vocabulary types and how to choose what words to teach, the types of graphic organizers to use for fiction and informational texts, and the writing process.

With that said, I still highly recommend the LETRS program for teachers, interventionists, and literacy coaches. The training will hold varying degrees of value dependent upon the grade level you teach and your experience level.

Here are my key takeaways from my LETRS training experience:

1. It is a two year commitment that takes many hours to complete. Part of the reason for the two years is that there aren’t many live Zoom option dates to choose from and you are supposed to take them in order. There were times that the Zoom was full, and I had to push back my whole training schedule in order to complete them in order. Your experience may be better if you are taking the training as a whole school. Then, the school will, most likely, schedule it for you. I had to do make-up sessions because I started at my school after the cohort had started.

2. Volume 1 is amazing! I learned so much about how the brain works when people learn to read. I found it fascinating and it added depth to what I already knew about teaching students to read.

3. Volume 1, also, added to my knowledge of how to teach the foundations of reading. In fact, I put some of those skills into practice this year and saw much success with it! To see how my new learning really does benefit students was exhilarating!

4. Seeing and hearing about activities that I already do with students during this training reinforced to me that what I am already doing is best practice for my students. I am simply adding more to it.

5. If I had the option to not complete Volume 2, I would’ve chosen to do that. I did not get a whole lot out of it, but it had its moments.

6. The online facilitator can make or break the online sessions. I had several really good ones who added to the content and made the session engaging. For instance, during one session I had a facilitator who talked about her experiences as a left-handed writer that added to the quality of the session. I, also, experienced a few who put me to sleep.🥱 Unfortunately, you don’t know who you’re going to get.

7. It can be difficult to complete the bridge to practice and portfolios. If you don’t teach in a regular classroom, or work directly with students, while taking the training, it’s more difficult to follow through with all the bridge to pratice activities or portfolio pieces. You may have to ask another teacher if you can work with a few students in their class to get this piece completed.

8. Overall, it was a worthwhile experience! While I was required to take the training, it was valuable to me as an educator. You can see the proof when you hear my students read and see the gains they have made this year by what I have put into practice based on my LETRS journey!

If you are reading this post, you probably have heard of LETRS, but, if not, check out my other two posts about the LETRS program: LETRS: What is it? And what does it entail? and LETRS Training Update.

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with LETRS in any way. This post is my opinion only, based on my personal experiences while in the program.