Hundreds of UFT members, many of whom are teachers with 10 or more years of experience, took advantage of a free UFT Teacher Center course on the science of reading in July.

The course, which combined in-person and virtual learning, was part of the union’s effort to support educators as the Department of Education embarks on a major change in how reading is taught in elementary schools.

Jonathan Fickies

James DiGennaro of the Jamaica Learning Center in Queens explains the help-wanted ad his group created for a new curriculum during the summer course.

Teachers who took the summer course titled “Reading for All: The Science of Reading Across Curriculums” were “energetic and open to changing their classroom practices” to teach one of the three approved phonics-based reading curricula, said Mary Vaccaro, the UFT vice president for education.

Michelle Grant, an English as a new language teacher at PS 280 in Jackson Heights, said the training gave her a toolkit and resources she can use to help her English language learners.

“At first I felt overwhelmed, but now I’m starting to feel more confident and at ease about how I can support my students in the 2023–24 school year,” she said.