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Berlin School District schedules Science of Reading training and phases in Wit and Wisdom curriculum
Summary
Berlin School District announced staff training and a phased implementation of the Wit and Wisdom reading program, with evaluator preparation, report-card updates and family communications planned as part of the rollout.
Berlin School District is moving forward with a district-wide rollout of the Wit and Wisdom reading curriculum and accompanying Science of Reading training for staff, district personnel said at a staff workshop.
A district staff member told attendees the district will phase implementation rather than introduce the full program at once; the district plans to implement three of the four Wit and Wisdom modules next year to limit initial workload and allow teachers time to build capacity. The staff member said the district is scheduling training dates and preparing evaluators for the instructional changes so classroom observations and feedback align with the new approach.
Trainer Lori Kuso, introduced to staff as an Accredited Training Fellow with the Orton-Gillingham Academy, reinforced the district’s approach to a phased rollout. "We want to make this a process that's going to make not only our students successful readers but you feel successful as reading teachers," Kuso said during the workshop.
District leaders also described several operational steps tied to the rollout: a small group of teachers will update report cards to reflect new instructional emphases; grade-level teams will discuss building schedules to accommodate new instruction and interventions; and staff will prepare family-facing slides and materials for open house events to explain what families should expect next year.
The district noted it has worked with external partners, including TNTP for classroom observation work, and that some classroom visits were required in the runup to the training. Staff apologized for scheduling inconveniences to teachers asked to host visits but said the visits were needed to build a common frame of reference for evaluators and leaders.
Next steps: the district will finalize training dates still in development, convene the teacher group to revise report cards, and circulate communication materials for families. Lori Kuso said she will provide additional resources and remain available for follow-up questions.
