December '21 Newsletter
May Teacher Institute is proud to announce that our Structured Literacy Specialist program has been accredited through the International Dyslexia Association! May Center for Learning is the only teacher preparation program in New Mexico to earn this accreditation.
The Structured Literacy Specialist program provides general education, special education teachers or literacy specialists with a deep knowledge of the science of reading and the practical knowledge necessary to apply this understanding in the classroom. May Center for Learning Executive Director Amy Miller says, “This accreditation is a significant endorsement of the quality and effectiveness of May Teacher Institute’s Structured Literacy programs. Teachers who complete our program develop expertise in teaching reading. In a state where only 24% of third grade students are reading at proficient levels, this expertise is critical to improve reading outcomes for all students.”
Currently, May Center offers the Structured Literacy Specialist course through CES LEAP alternative licensure program, and to schools and districts throughout New Mexico. May Teacher Institute also offers a Dyslexia Specialist program that allows educators to become Certified Academic Language Practitioners–a national certification program offered through our relationship with Shelton School in Dallas. For more information about May Teacher Institute, call 505 983 7407 or contact yohta@maycenter.org.
May Center for Learning is the recipient of a $50,000 Daniels Fund grant to support our literacy teacher development partnership at Turquoise Trail Charter School! The program is focused on improving reading outcomes for all students at Turquoise Trail, and it will serve as a model for excellence in the teaching of reading for the state of New Mexico. “We are thrilled to partner with Turquoise Trail Charter School to develop a model for excellence in the teaching of reading for New Mexico,” says Amy Miller, May Center Executive Director. “We look forward to developing this pilot program and sharing what we learn with educators and school districts across the state.”
The Daniels Fund, established by cable television pioneer Bill Daniels, is a private charitable foundation dedicated to making life better for the people of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming through its grants program, scholarship program, and ethics initiative.
May School students collected donations this holiday season for the Bag ‘n Hand Food Pantry which is housed at St. John’s United Methodist Church. The Bag ‘n Hand Food Pantry, operated solely by volunteers, is one of the largest food pantries in northern New Mexico
Students turned the collection into a friendly competition amongst the classes. They tallied and charted the number of items collected each day and kept close tabs on the number of items collected by each class. There was a daily buzz about whose class was in the lead. In the end, regardless of the class who collected the most items, students were proud of the 2,872 items that were donated to the food pantry which filled over 15 shopping carts!
Meet Ms. Ellen!
Ms. Ellen is in her 4th year of teaching elementary students at May Center. She holds primary and elementary diplomas from the Association Montessori International and has had years of teaching and administrative experience. Our students and staff alike benefit from her years of experience and education.
Stepping inside Ellen’s classroom immediately gives a sense of peace. Her organized classroom coupled with her calm demeanor provides her students with the structure necessary to step into a day filled with learning opportunities. There is no doubt that each of Ellen’s students know she has a belief in their learning abilities and is supporting them all along the way.
Here’s what her students have to say about her:
“She’s really sweet and nice.”
“She’s kind”
“She helps me with my favorite things like passage fluency, math and free art.”
Pictured: Solar system projects students in Ms. Ellen's class recently completed
