Projects

Texas Adolescent Literacy Academies

Overview

The Texas dolescent Literacy Academies (TALA) prepare middle school teachers to design appropriate instruction for all students, including those who struggle with reading due to limited English proficiency, learning disabilities, dyslexia, and other risk factors for reading difficulties. Included are a set of training modules on cross-curricular vocabulary, comprehension strategies, and academic writing; a diagnostic and progress-monitoring instrument; and guidance for intensive interventions targeting the needs of struggling adolescent readers.

TALA consists of three separate academies—the English Language Arts Academy (for English language arts/reading teachers), the Content Area Academy (for mathematics, science, and social studies teachers), and the Professional Development to Support Academic Writing Academy (for English language arts/reading teachers).

Dissemination Model

VGC created the content for TALA. The Texas Education Agency and the regional education service centers organize training sessions for teachers across the state.

Texas Middle School Fluency Assessment (TMSFA)

This assessment was developed as part of the TALA project. Materials available by grade (grade 6 to grade 8) include oral reading fluency and retell materials for screening students, word lists for diagnosing struggling students’ word reading, and progress-monitoring assessments. There also are resources that can be used across grades, including passages for oral reading fluency practice, word lists for word-reading accuracy and fluency practice, and graphs and record sheets for teachers and students to monitor progress over time. Also included are guidelines for interpreting results and suggestions for printing.

To download the materials, visit the TMSFA downloads folder.

Participants

Texas teachers for grades 6, 7, and 8 participate. English language arts/reading teachers for grades 5 and 9 may also be invited to the Professional Development to Support Academic Writing Academy.