Boundless Readers 5153 North Clark Street, Suite 206 Chicago, IL 60640 p. 773.989.8582 e. info@boundlessreaders.org
© 2009 Boundless Readers
Rochelle Lee Teacher Awards: RLTA
The Rochelle Lee Teacher Awards (RLTA) are named in honor of Rochelle Lee, the inspirational founder of Boundless Readers. Each year our Selection Board chooses several hundred Chicago public elementary and middle school teachers from across the city to receive this professional development award. Teachers are selected through a competitive application process. Teachers participate in RLTA as an individual or as a study group participant.
Teachers choose from over 600 hours of professional development workshops about literacy to fulfill RLTA program requirements. This broad choice allows them to select workshops that are relevant to their professional needs. Participation in sessions that focus on teacher as reader is also required for every teacher. RLTA programming includes: summer workshops, monthly study groups, teacher book discussion groups (TACAR), and ongoing support from Boundless Readers.
Teachers also receive between $500-$850 worth of new children’s books for their classroom libraries. Teachers are not given a specific book list; rather they select books that best meet their students’ interests and needs. To enhance the selection process, teachers spend at least four hours in the Rochelle Lee Review Library reviewing books prior to placing their order.
RLTA is rooted in the belief that providing children with classroom libraries of high quality, relevant books, the time to read and be read to every day, and the opportunity to take books home, are essential to developing their reading ability, habit, and independence. To foster development of a regular reading practice among their students, RLTA teachers agree to read aloud to their class for 20 minutes each day and to provide another 20 minutes for independent reading. Students have daily access to their classroom library so they can choose the books they want to read.
