Join AIM Institute this summer for a variety of literacy development opportunities! In this blog, discover our upcoming webinar with Dr. Hugh Catts, explore the structured literacy training happening in New Mexico and Georgia, and find out about state-funded AIM Pathways courses in additional states. Don’t miss our sessions at the Big Sky Literacy Summit and New Berlin Literacy Symposium (WI) in August, and check out our free video resources to enhance your teaching strategies.
Join Us Thursday for a FREE Literacy Webinar
Join Dr. Hugh Catts for a FREE AIM Literacy Webinar on Thursday, July 25 at 6:30 pm. Learn more about the components of the IDA's 20-year-old definition of dyslexia through a recent paper he wrote with colleagues from the The Florida Center for Reading Research.
The paper offered recommendations for revisions based on literacy research including: recognizing the severity and persistence of word-reading, decoding and spelling difficulties, acknowledging the multifactorial causal basis of dyslexia, clarifying exclusionary factors, and highlighting secondary academic and biophysical consequences associated with dyslexia.
Recordings provided. Register today to join the more than 1,000 people who have already registered!
Pathways Partner Spotlights
Education leaders in school districts throughout New Mexico and secondary leaders in Marietta City Schools in Georgia are both diving into structured literacy training this summer with instruction in Pathways to Literacy Leadership.
AIM facilitators are traveling to New Mexico this summer to lead leadership courses with educators training in Pathways to Literacy Leadership through the New Mexico Department of Education as well as in Lea County where leaders from five municipal school districts have begin their online training thanks to a grant from the J.F. Maddox Foundation.
In Georgia, Marietta secondary leaders and educators are both benefiting from comprehensive literacy instruction this summer with leaders enrolled in Pathways to Literacy Leadership and 6-8th grade educators participating in AIM's newest course, Pathways to Proficient Reading: Secondary. AIM facilitators were in Georgia last week working with secondary teachers as part of the hybrid instruction selected by the district.
Course Spotlight: Pathways to Proficient Reading: Secondary
AIM's newest course adapts Pathways to Proficient Reading, our IDA-accredited comprehensive literacy learning course, including new articles, classroom resources, adolescent student profiles, and secondary classroom videos, to address the unique literacy needs of adolescent learners. Virtual Community of Practice sessions with expert AIM facilitators focus on hands-on practice to support classroom implementation so secondary teachers are knowledgeable in their implementation of evidence-based practices in their middle and high school classrooms.
Learn more about Pathways to Proficient Reading: Secondary today and start a conversation to schedule training for your team of 20 or more educators today.
State-Funded Literacy Learning with AIM
AIM is proud to partner with educators and leaders in over 30 states to provide high-quality literacy training opportunities for educators at all levels. As part of these partnerships, we are excited to offer state-funded AIM Pathways training to educators and leaders in many states across the country. Current training opportunities with open registration include:
- Arizona - Fulfill the K-5 Literacy Endorsement with Pathways to Proficient Reading and Pathways to Structured Literacy offered through Arizona's OnDemand Academy (Registration opens 7/19)
- Maine - Maine educators who register for Steps to Literacy modules through the state and complete coursework by August 23 are eligible for a $25/hour stipend.
- North Dakota - North Dakota educators and leaders can enroll in Demystifying Dyslexia at any time and can complete the Fall Registration Interest form for Pathways to Literacy Leadership and Pathways to Structured Literacy cohorts that will begin in September.
- Oklahoma - Oklahoma's will again offer Pathways to Proficient Reading to state educators to fulfill including a Pathways to Proficient Reading Micro-Credential course which is eligible for a $2,000 stipend. Don't miss the info session on Wednesday, August 7.
- South Dakota - South Dakota continues to offer Science of Reading training to educators from paraprofessionals to principals with AIM's full suite of course options including comprehensive Pathways courses including Pathways to Proficient Writing as well as Foundational Skills and Early Childhood Education bundles. Register today for courses beginning in September.
We look forward to launching AIM Pathways training registration provided by the Mississippi Department of Education for the third year and to secondary educators and leaders in Maryland as part of our new partnership with Ibis Group and the Maryland State Department of Education soon.
Where to Find AIM in August
Big Sky Literacy Summit
Loving and Leading Large
The Reading League Montana and The Transformative Reading Teacher Group
Thursday, August 1- Saturday, August 3
AIM is proud to be a silver sponsor of this annual conference and to have AIM's Dr. Megan Gierka & Nicole Kingsland presenting three different breakout sessions:
- Cultivating Comprehension Through Cross-Language Connections
- Apple, Baseball Bat, Caterpillar: Embedded Mnemonics for Early Literacy
- The Myth of the Quick Fix: Using Implementation Science to Drive Outcomes
If you will be at the summit, don't miss our book signing with AIM Research Advisory Board member and The Reading Comprehension Blueprint author Nancy Hennessy and activity book co-author Julia Salamone during the Stroll and Learn from 5:30 - 6:30 pm on August 2 in the Canyon Room. Books for the signing can be purchased during the summit at the Brookes Publishing booth.
New Berlin Literacy Symposium
School District of New Berlin, The Reading League Wisconsin, Wisconsin Reading Coalition
Monday, August 5
Join AIM's Dr. Megan Gierka for a day of literacy learning for leaders in Wisconsin or join Amplify's training tack for teachers and start a conversation about Act 20 training with AIM's June Heeter.
Register to attend this IN-PERSON day of FREE learning today.
Resources for Literacy Learning
Reading Universe
During the 2023-2024 school year, AIM welcomed the team from Reading Universe to AIM Academy to film students and team members to be included on the teaching-strategy resource site. The first video, featuring AIM's Nicole Ormandy was recently added to the Reading Universe site. Check out When Students Need More Phonics Practice: What a Review Day Looks Like and look for more videos featuring the fearless learners and innovative teachers at AIM.
PaTTAN Literacy Summit
In June, PaTTAN, the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network, held its virtual 2024 Literacy Symposium including AIM's Dr. Megan Gierka and Nicole Ormandy presenting Evaluating and Extending Language Skills among English Learners. Be sure to check out the library of presentation recordings including keynote speaker Kareem Weaver who elevates AIM's work in his Excellence and Literacy presentation.
#AIMSymposium2025
Join us on Monday, March 10, 2025 for AIM's 13th annual Research to Practice Symposium: Implementation Science and Systems Change for Literacy Improvement.
Did you know that all of AIM's professional learning opportunities are open for individual enrollment? If you are interested in group training for 20 or more educators in your school, district, or state, be sure to reach out and start a conversation today to develop a training schedule that meets your organization's needs.
About AIM Institute: The AIM Institute for Learning & Research® is a non-profit center for educational excellence and professional development, providing educators with the latest research, technology, and evidence-based practices in the fields of literacy and language-based learning disabilities.