Boundless Readers      5153 North Clark Street, Suite 206     Chicago, IL 60640     p. 773.989.8582   e. info@boundlessreaders.org
© 2012 Boundless Readers
2012-2013 RLTA Application
Review the information below before beginning your application. 
 
Once you click the blue apply button, you will be transported to a secure, external application website where you will apply for participation in RLTA 2013.  We recommend that you keep the application information on the Boundless Readers website open so that you may reference it to complete your application.  Make sure to save your application frequently. 
 
Application Menu:
Introduction
 
All RLTA Awardee Information (Individual Award and building blocks for Study Group Member Award)
Study Group Award (additional information)
Introduction:  What is a Rochelle Lee Teacher Award?

The Rochelle Lee Teacher Award (RLTA), for Chicago Public School teachers of grades PreK-8, invites teachers to participate in relevant literacy professional development during the summer and attain high-interest texts for their students.  The possibilities for engaging the Boundless Readers network allow teachers receiving this award to have opportunities to develop their literacy instruction as well as resources to impact student motivation and ability to read.

RLTA teachers receive:
  • Professional development:  During the summer, Boundless Readers offers over 600   hours of professional development experiences about literacy that allow teachers to select and fulfill their program requirements with workshops relevant to their needs. 
  • Children’s books:  RLTA teachers choose children’s books for their classroom libraries that match student needs and desires.
  • Collaboration and support: With a vast network of awardees, teachers have multiple avenues to collaborate with peers. In addition, Boundless Readers offers a range of support for this collaboration.

Boundless Readers believes that every child should have the opportunity to be a real reader, thinker and learner.  To ensure that reading becomes a habit for their students, RLTA teachers agree to:
  • Read aloud to their students for 20 minutes each day
  • Provide another 20 minutes for independent reading daily
  • Enable and encourage all students to take home books daily
  • Use books provided by Boundless Readers across the curriculum.   

Boundless Readers believes in teachers as the leaders of their professional development.  When applying, you may choose to apply as an individual as outlined below, or you may apply with a group of teachers as a study group. 


Benefits for all RLTA Awardees as Individuals or Study Group Members


Boundless Readers offers long-lasting and high-impact benefits to RLTA teachers.

All RLTA teachers receive:
  • Increased knowledge of children’s books and strategies to use literature throughout the      curriculum
  • Access to high quality professional development related to literacy best practices.
  • Use of Boundless Readers Libraries
  • Access to Rochelle Lee Review Library with over 6,000 children’s and professional books
  • Borrowing privileges from Rochelle Lee Lending Library to access over 400 book sets
  • Support and feedback from Boundless Readers
  • Monthly e-newsletter with information and invitations to Boundless Readers events
  • Recertification (CPDUs) and lane promotion credit


Eligibility


We welcome new teachers to join our prestigious network of awardees, and we invite returning awardees to apply again!

  • CPS classroom teachers of grades preK-8
  • Teachers utilize reading and writing daily with students
  • Teachers may participate for a total of two years as an individual awardee.  If you’ve met your maximum individual awardee status, please consider applying as a study group member.  Teachers may apply up to a total of four years, so there are two years left to apply as a study group.
  • Third and fourth year applicants must participate in the RLTA Study Group program


Requirements for all Awardees

Know what you are agreeing to do!  Click here to view RLTA program requirements for Individual and Study Group awardees.



Application Details

Boundless Readers selects between 200 and 300 Chicago Public elementary teachers through a competitive application process. Each applicant will be asked to respond to the following questions.  Study group applicants will answer additional questions to those listed below.

Questions:
  • Reflect on your teaching in the past year.  Describe the important thing you learned about your students related to teaching reading, whether in language arts or in a content area.  How did you change your teaching practice(s) to incorporate what you learned?  How did your students respond?
  • Describe yourself as a reader of adult-level material.  How do you share these experiences with  your students?
  • Describe how you have used a children’s or young adult book in your teaching this past school year.  What impact did it have on your students?
  • What strategies do you currently use in your classroom that have the most impact on student motivation to read and engage with text?
  • What aspect of your literacy teaching do you most hope to develop by participating in the RLTA program?


Criteria for receiving award:
  • Level of reflection
  • Commitment to student engagement
  • Understanding of balanced literacy


Timeline:
  • Applications due by 11:59pm Friday, February 24, 2012.  Applications will only be accepted online.
  • All applicants notified of program participation mid-April, 2012
  • Awards Reception, May 15, 2012
  • Complete professional development hours, June-August 2012
  • Book orders due, September 2012
  • Classroom visits from Boundless Readers, Fall 2012


RLTA STUDY GROUP AWARD





Study Group Introduction


Rochelle Lee Teacher Award study groups are school-based teams of teachers who meet monthly throughout the school year to collaborate around a self-selected group literacy goal that strengthens their instructional practices and best meets a need of their school and their students.  This is a collaborative and reflective form of professional development where teachers learn together, share their expertise, and support each other’s learning.  In addition, many study groups work together to examine student work, develop curricula and tools, and conduct peer observations to further their own professional learning.

Guidance is provided by Boundless Readers to help study groups develop and hone their collective process as well as deepen the rigor of their literacy goal and discussion.  Boundless Readers also provides the study group with a professional text that is selected by the group to support their literacy focus.


Additional Study Group Benefits


Boundless Readers offers long-lasting and high-impact benefits to RLTA teachers.  In addition to All Awardee Benefits, all RLTA study group teachers receive:

  • An extra $200 credit in January to purchase children’s books selected by the teacher in addition to the $300 credit in September (total retail value of $800) 
  • Professional text selected by study group to support literacy focus
  • Increased knowledge of professional literature
  • Leadership opportunities and professional development facilitation experience
  • A professional collaborative forum

Study Group Eligibility


We welcome new teachers to join our prestigious network of awardees, and we invite returning awardees to apply again!

  • CPS classroom teachers of grades preK-8
  • Teachers utilize reading and writing daily with students
  • Four to seven teachers interested in pursuing a self-selected literacy focus
  • Study group leader must be a returning RLTA participant
  • Each study group should include at least one new RLTA participant
  • There may be more than one study group at a school
  • Third and fourth year applicants must participate in the RLTA Study Group program
  • Teachers may participate in RLTA programs for a total of four years


Study Group Requirements


Know what you are agreeing to do!  Click here to view RLTA Study Group program requirements.


Study Group Application Details

In addition to answering the individual questions above, study group applicants will be asked to complete the questions below as a study group:
  • Describe one major literacy issue that you would address as a study group next school year (2012-2013).  Why did you choose this goal?  What circumstances in your school support the need to address this goal?  What do you hope to accomplish?
  • How do you think being a part of a study group with your colleagues will enhance your professional development and relationships with your school?
  • What group expectations and practices will you need to establish in order to make your study group a successful experience?  What potential difficulties might you face and how will you address these?


Study Group Timeline:

In addition to the All Program Timeline, additional dates include:

  • Applications due by 11:59pm Friday, February 24, 2012.  Applications will only be accepted online.
  • Study groups meet August/September 2012-May 2013
  • Professional book orders due August/September 2012
  • Study group visit from Boundless Readers, Fall 2012
  • Second book order due, January 2013
  • Mid and end year celebration for study group leaders, January and May 2013
“Teacher collaboration is closely tied to student achievement.  Teachers who enjoy regular opportunities to observe, interact with, and trade ideas with colleagues show higher gains in their students’ achievement than those who don’t have similar opportunities.”
(Advance Illinois, “Transforming Teacher Work for a Better Tomorrow, 2011)