“In the beginning students resisted, because this approach really made them think!”

NHREADS Teacher Participant (Science)

 

About Us

What is NHREADS?

New Hampshire Reading Excellence Across DisciplineS (NHREADS) is an ambitious statewide project aimed at increasing middle and high school student reading comprehension in the content areas. Funded by Title II-A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 2001, the project is the result of a Request for Proposals process by the New Hampshire Department of Education. The project provides training for content area teachers at various locations across New Hampshire, including within individual school districts. Teachers are trained in the use of research-based reading comprehension strategies for students to apply in reading within and across their coursework.

NHREADS is a collaborative project. Our original partners include the New Hampshire Department of Education, Southeastern Regional Education Service Center (SERESC), Plymouth State University and three pilot partner districts: Franklin, Merrimack and Rochester.

Mission

The mission of New Hampshire Reading Excellence Across DisciplineS (NHREADS) is to increase middle and high school student achievement in the content areas by providing professional development to teachers in the use of research-based literacy strategies.

Goals

• NHREADS will provide workshops/conferences on the reading research and specifically on research-based strategies to improve reading comprehension
• NHREADS will provide workshops/conferences and on-site visitations to assist teachers with lesson/unit planning.
• NHREADS will encourage teachers or interdisciplinary teacher teams to submit "strong evidence" of the use of key reading strategies in lesson plans or units and request permission to use those examples in future years' project work.
• The pilot partner districts will participate in qualitative and quantitative evaluation activities that show improvement in reading scores in targeted classrooms over the life of the grant.
• NHREADS activities will be coordinated with other New Hampshire literacy initiatives.
• NHREADS reading specialists, content area leaders and participating teachers will develop a resource for parents and community members that addresses key reading skills in the content areas.

Who Works for NHREADS

A group of providers, administrators and stakeholders comprise the Management Team, serving in an Advisory capacity to NHREADS.

Consultants

Carolyn Woodman, B.A., M.Ed., Project Manager, SERESC

B.A. in English from University of Maine at Orono in 1969. M.Ed., in Guidance and Counseling from UNH in 1986, M.Ed., in Special Ed and Administration from University of Maine at Orono in 1978,

Ann Remus, B.A., M.A.T., CAGS, Consultant for Reading and Project Development, SERESC

Bachelor of Arts, major: religion, minor: biology, Mount Holyoke College, 1966 Master of Arts in Teaching, high school science, Harvard University, 1969, Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study, K-12 school administration, Rivier College, 2003,

             

Saundra Kent, B.S., MST, Math/Science Consultant

B.S. in Chemistry from St. Bonaventure University in 1972. MST in Biology from UNH in 1997.

Audrey Rogers, B.A., M.A., M.Ed., Humanities Consultant

B.A. History, Social Studies Certification M.A. U.S. History, Sub Field: European History M. Ed., Curriculum and Instruction with Economics Education

Robin Knight, B.S., Project Assistant, SERESC

B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Managerial Information Systems with a Math Minor in Computer Science from University of Lowell

Donna Ciocca, B.S., M.S.,Consultant

Bachelor of Science, Elementary Education, Cum Laude, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, May 1981. GPA: 3.6/4.0. Specialization: Teaching of Reading. Master of Science in Teaching, Department of English, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, September, 1989. Specialization: Teaching of Writing.

Betty Erickson, M.A., CAGS, M.Ed, Consultant

Master's in Instructional Media- second masters in el ed. CAGS in Curriculum and Instruction with a field of specialty in Mathematics Education. PhD in Curriculum and Instruction. Master's in Instructional Media- second masters in elementary ed.

Rob Lukasiak, B.A., MST, Consultant

B.A. from St. Anselm College 1983. (Psychology) MST from UNH 1997. (Mathematics)

Pauline Raiche, B.A., Consultant

B.A. in Elementary Education with 30 graduate credits toward a Masters.

Joan Sedita, B.A., M.Ed., Consultant

B.A. from Boston College in 1975. Masters in Reading Education from Harvard University in 1980.

Judy Ullman, B.A., M.Ed., Ph.D., Consultant

B.A in Arts (History) PhD in Education from Boston College in 1997, M.A in Moderate Special Needs from Lesley College in 1982, M.Ed.

Cynthia Vallaincourt, B.A., M.Ed., Consultant

B.A. Biology Education -UNH in 1973. M.Ed. Administration and Supervision at Notre Dame College in 1998.

Jane Weber, B.A., M.A., CAGS, M.Ed., Consultant  

B. A. in History Honors, University of Rochester 1966 M. A. in Education, University of Rochester 1967 P. D. in Educational Administration (CAGS),

C. W. Post, May 1998 M.Ed. in Reading, Rutgers University 1977
         
 

Advisory Group

Providers, administrators and stakeholders form the Advisory.

Janet Catalfano, Reading First Coordinator
Anne Davis, Title II-A Coordinator
Kathryn Nichol, Reading First Consultant
Deborah Wiswell, Administrator, Bureau of Accountability  

From the Partner Districts:
JoEllen Divoll, Superintendent, Franklin/Hill School District
Heidi Laughy, Franklin/Hill School District
Deborah Woelflein, Assistant Superintendent, Merrimack School District
Colleen Welsh, Assistant Principal, Mastricola Middle School, Merrimack School District
Sally Riley, Curriculum Director, Rochester School District
Jessica Carloni, Reading Specialist, Rochester School District

From Plymouth State University:
Cheryl Baker, Director of Graduate Faculty,Services and Outreach
Dennise Maslakowski,  Associate VP College of Graduate Studies, and 

                                      Graduate Program Coordinator for Reading and Writing Specialist.  

 

Project Evaluator: Dr. Kathleen J. Mackin                        

                         

     

 

Timeline of the Grant

NHREADS has funding that began in fall, 2006 and will continue through June 30, 2008, with a potential extension for at least one additional year. The management team anticipates that the work will be the basis for continuing attention to pre-service and in-service professional development in subsequent years.