LETRS FAQs
When will the textbooks arrive?
Textbooks are here and will be delivered to schools beginning Friday, August 27!! Hooray!!! Any not delivered on Friday, will be delivered next week.
What do I need to know about the shipment?
Your school’s shipment will arrive in 2-5 different boxes. It should include: teacher textbooks for Units 1-4, Teacher textbooks for Units 5-8, Administrator textbooks (A PRINCIPAL’S PRIMER FOR RAISING READING ACHIEVEMENT), and a school list of teachers.
- Please make sure each teacher has a textbook for Units 1-4 and for Units 5-8.
- The green administrator textbooks are for you (principal), your assistant principal, and the school psychologist. Every school was given at least 2 books—one for the principal and one for the school psychologist. If your school doesn’t have one for your assistant principal or intern, it was probably delivered to their other school.
- Please sign the enclosed list of teachers once all have been given out and send it to Ronna Hoffman in Teaching & Learning. You are welcome to track this by having teachers sign when they receive the books as well.
What if I have teachers who do not have a username and password?
Please let Ronna know!! Chances are, if they are on your school list, their username and password are in the process of being created. However, we would hate to have someone slip through the cracks. As you hire new teachers (those of you who are still trying to fill positions), please let Ronna know asap so we can get them set up as quickly as possible.
What if I have teachers who are not on the list, but should be?
Please let Ronna know!! Some orders were already being packed when we received your updated lists. We tried to make the changes, but there were a few schools that we missed updating the list before it was packed with the books.
What if I have teachers who are on the list, but should not be?
Please let Ronna know!! We will update that information. If you have extra textbooks, Ronna will happily pick them up from you (see next FAQ).
What if I have extra textbooks?
Please let Ronna know!! She will happily pick them up from you and will most likely have a chocolatey treat in exchange.
What if I need more textbooks?
Please let Ronna know!! If other schools have extras, we’ll get you what you need from the extras. Otherwise, we’ll order more through USBE. We automatically order textbooks when we request a username and password for someone.
Will there be compensation for completing LETRS training?
Teachers, coaches, and school psychs will be paid $400 per completed unit. This includes completing the online modules and attending the course. There is an extra $100 incentive for all of the above who complete Unit 1 by the end of October.
Most of the in-person session dates for Unit 1 are contract days. Subs will be provided. Teachers can use the “LETRS Training” option when putting in for a sub. The budget code will be coming soon!! If a teacher chooses to attend the in-person session on a non-contract day, they will be compensated for that rather than having a sub. Please have them fill out a time sheet.
**Please note that Grade Transmittal Days are contract days. Teachers are welcome to choose to attend a session on that day, but will not receive compensation.
Do DLI target-language teachers participate in LETRS?
No. Only the English side teachers of DLI participate.
Do EXCEL/Cluster/SCSC teachers participate in LETRS?
No. If there is an unusual situation and you would like your SCSC teacher(s) to participate, please contact Ronna Hoffman or Shelley Nordick.
Can teachers complete the in-person (via zoom) session from home?
Teachers will need a sub for the in-person sessions, but since they are now via zoom, they are welcome to participate from home. If teams want to participate together, they are welcome to do that as well.
Do teams have to work on each unit together?
No. Though it may be helpful, it’s not required to complete the units as a team.
Is there a timeline to complete the units?
Yes, but there is some flexibility. Unit 1 MUST be started by February 2022!! Otherwise, everyone can take this on his/her own timetable as long as all eight units are completed by the end of the 2022-23 school year.
What do my teachers need to know about registering for the in-person session in MIDAS?
There are only 40 seats per session that we share with many other districts. If a session is full, teachers will have to find another date that works for them.
Please make sure your teachers understand that they should NOT register for a course in MIDAS until they have their username and login AND can complete the entire unit BEFORE the in-person session. Doing so will take seats away from other teachers. If teachers need to un-schedule a session, the MIDAS helpline number is 801-538-7807.