The Indiana Reading License Is the Starting Point

      The obvious next step for middle grades reading teachers is the reading specialist license.  Courses taken for the license will help teachers become skilled in diagnosis and instruction for all students.  Additionally, the reading specialist license experience provides teachers with a better overview of reading instruction and leadership for their schools and school corporations.

      No two teachers come out of their reading license experiences the same.  This dynamic process yields different results, but it accounts for a good start toward becoming a highly skilled reading professional.  There is always room for teachers to concentrate on specific areas during and  after completing reading courses.

      It is much easier for school corporations to provide professional development for elementary school teachers compared to those in the middle grades.  Most elementary school teachers are responsible for reading, so they can all benefit from professional development at the local level.  At the middle grades level, teachers need specific training in specific areas.  An elementary school might have 25 teachers responsible for reading while a middle grades school might have only three, so it is much more difficult to provide all the support needed for such a small number of teachers.

      Middle grades reading teachers, both during and after work on reading licenses, need to participate in local, state, and national reading associations.  These organizations provide professional development opportunities that are difficult for school corporations to provide for middle grades reading teachers.

      The professional reading organizations for Indiana middle grades reading teachers are local reading councils, the Indiana State Reading Association, and the International Reading Association.   All of these groups provide opportunities for improving the quality of reading instruction with their publications and meetings.  All were started by reading professionals, and if there is no local council in an area, a middle grades reading teacher can get one organized.  College and university professors and middle grades reading teachers can keep in touch while participating in the organizations.

      Classroom experimentation is an area of professional development much more under the control of reading teachers.  Using pre and post tests, one group of students can have something new provided, and the results could be compared to other groups.  For example, one group could use a variety of skill materials while another group could use whatever is the regular program.  One group could be encouraged to use the Young Hoosier Book Award books using classroom charts and booktalks, and the results could be compared with other sections.  The test results can be shared and used not only in the school and school corporation but also in professional presentations and articles.

      Reading teachers obtain Indiana reading licenses as a starting point, but they also become involved with their reading organizations and work on their own to provide classroom and school reading leadership.  Take advantage of the many opportunities to become a highly qualified reading teacher.  The results will be both professional satisfaction and increased expertise in building communities of readers.