At-A-Glance

Empowering Educators, Motivating Readers, Transforming Futures

NE Early Literacy Workshop Experience

Empowering Educators to Strengthen Early Literacy

The NE Early Literacy Workshop provides a rich, research-informed learning experience for educators dedicated to improving literacy outcomes for Nebraska’s youngest learners.

Participants engage in collaborative learning, reflective practice, and evidence-based application—all designed to deepen understanding and enhance classroom instruction.

Expected Outcomes

Participants in the NE Early Literacy Workshop can expect to see measurable growth in both teachers and students across the 5 Pillars of the Science of Reading.

Early data shows:

Increased Teacher Confidence
- Educators will develop greater self-efficacy in literacy instruction, as demonstrated by significant growth from the beginning to the end of the year following participation in the workshop.
Improved Student Achievement
- Students taught by teachers who complete the workshop demonstrated higher levels of success on literacy assessments and classroom measures.
Stronger Supports for At-Risk Students
- Teachers gained literacy strategies that significantly accelerated the literacy growth of students identified as at-risk at the beginning of the year and prevented additional students from falling into the at-risk category throughout the year.

Enrollment

Enrollment is simple and seamless through NU Advance. Once enrolled, participants gain access to a blend of in-person and online learning experiences that focus on achieving excellence in early literacy.

The Workshop Experience

In-Person Sessions

Participants engage in five shared learning sessions focused on the workshop’s core objectives. These sessions foster collaboration, practical learning, and immediate classroom application.

Module Reflections

Through four asynchronous online learning modules, participants build knowledge and complete application-based tasks designed to strengthen instructional practices.

Professional Text Reflection

Participants select a professional text to read, discuss, and reflect upon throughout the workshop, connecting theory to classroom implementation.

Accountability and Recognition

To successfully complete the program, participants must achieve a score of 80% or higher to earn their NE Early Literacy Workshop Digital Badge.

Upon completion, participants receive one of the following:

$1300 stipend or
3 hours of UNO graduate course credit

NE Early Literacy Workshop Objectives

The NE Early Literacy Workshop is designed to strengthen educators’ understanding and application of foundational literacy concepts that drive reading success. Participants will:

Identify the relationship between phonemic awareness and reading proficiency.
Develop effective strategies for teaching phonics using an explicit, systematic approach.
Enhance students’ sight word vocabulary and word analysis skills to improve word recognition and meaning.
Explore the dimensions of fluency, examining how fluency—or the lack thereof—affects comprehension, and apply strategies to enhance it.
Apply practical knowledge to promote deep comprehension by understanding key factors that influence reading understanding.
Collaborate and share expertise within their schools and professional communities through presentations, professional learning networks, and interdisciplinary partnerships—ensuring comprehensive support for early readers.

Participant Supports

FAQ

To aid in the recruitment process, interested participants are provided with answers to frequently asked questions.

Monday Messages

Weekly communication is provided to participants, outlining important workshop information, module task expectations, and additional resources to support classroom implementation.

Cohort Facilitator

The facilitator serves as the primary point of contact for the participants. The facilitator is the primary source of content and feedback for participants throughout the workshop implementation.

UNO Team

The UNO Team is always available for extra support or feedback when certain circumstances arise. The team is also the main support for the compensation module and payment upon completion of the workshop.

What are Participants Saying?

"I really liked this class. It was nice to see the connection between the current research and the curriculum that I use. I also learned so many strategies that have been easy to incorporate into my daily practice." - Fall '24 Participant

"The in-person sessions were phenomenal! Full of information and applicable strategies. The book study was awesome as well. It helped that everyone was able to bounce ideas off of each other." - Spring '25 Participant

This image shows the badge that each participant can earn upon successful completion of the Workshop.

Facilitators

Who Are They?

Our NE Early Literacy Workshop facilitators combine in-depth knowledge of literacy content with strong presentation skills to create authentic, engaging, and high-quality professional learning experiences.

By modeling effective instructional practices and demonstrating research-based literacy strategies, facilitators empower educators to strengthen their teaching, enhance their confidence, and positively impact student literacy outcomes across Nebraska classrooms.

Facilitator Training

The UNO team has developed a two-day training on UNO's campus for facilitators to equip them to effectively lead the workshop.

The following topics are included in the training:

State Alignment
Workshop Expectations
Role of Facilitators
Adult Learning Theory
Workshop Content & Facilitation

Facilitator Supports

UNO Mentor

Facilitators are assigned a UNO Team mentor to support them as they prepare and facilitate the workshop.

“Just-In-Time” Sessions

Zoom sessions are held before in-class sessions to build consistency in session facilitation and address other timely workshop topics.

Facilitator Guides

To ensure a high-quality, consistent implementation of the workshop content, this guide serves as a planning tool to help facilitators navigate in-person workshop sessions.

Grading Companion

The Grading Companion is a resource available to facilitators to help provide feedback on each submitted assignment.

Friday Features

Weekly communication with facilitators is provided to give workshop reminders, resources, and tips for upcoming sessions.

What Facilitators Are Saying

“I really appreciate the positive support and the responsiveness of the UNO team. I have never had such a well-developed course placed in my hands, ready to go, and so well thought out! Amazing!”
— Summer ’25 Facilitator

"Ensuring the Workshop is effective has been a lot of work on their [UNO's NE Early Literacy Workshop Team] part, in terms of the materials, the resources, and the meetings that they have with facilitators. Ultimately, that's what will make this program successful across the state: they've thought ahead to develop all those pieces. I can't say enough about the great work that they've done." - Curriculum Specialist Summer '25 Faciliator

Are you interested in becoming a NE Early Literacy Workshop Facilitator?

This image shows the facilitator's digital badge that is awarded upon successful completion of Facilitator Training.

Ready to Join the Movement for Early Literacy Excellence

Contact us today at NELiteracy@unomaha.edu to see how you can become part of a professional community dedicated to ensuring that every Nebraska student develops a strong literacy foundation.