About the Opportunity

Northeastern University’s Speech-Language and Hearing Center is seeking an innovative, collaborative, flexible, and experienced reading teacher with specialized training in Wilson or Orton-Gillingham and the RAVE-O program to lead teaching during the summer of 2024. Word Detectives offers specialized instruction to ensure that struggling readers maintain important reading skills over the critical summer months, and to provide spelling and/or written expression strategies to enhance development in these areas.

Program Logistics: Word Detectives is offered in-person for 16 days in July: Monday - Thursday, July 8-11, 15-18, 22-25, and July 29-August 1.

The program consists of instruction from 9:00am – 1:00pm, with a supervised recess from 10:30 – 11:30am, and teacher planning from 8:30 – 9:00 and 1 – 2pm. All staff attend team trainings prior to the program (select dates in May/June—TBD) and participate in one weekly staff meeting during the program from 1:15 – 2:15pm. Teachers also participate in two pre-program assessment days in June for accepted students.

Role & Responsibilities: The Head Teacher will have teaching responsibilities that involve preparing and executing daily specialized reading lessons and monitoring student progress using the RAVE-O and Wilson or Orton-Gillingham programs. Our summer program functions more similarly to a language-based classroom in which initial daily activities focus on building community (e.g., morning meeting, then a mini-lesson for all students), followed by opportunities for students to practice concepts and receive targeted differentiated support in small groups. The Head Teacher will be expected to work collaboratively with a group of 2-3 Assistant Teachers who are graduate students in speech-language pathology; these students will also being trained in basic multisensory reading instruction and the RAVE-O program, and will assist with differentiation and supporting instruction.

Emphasis on Motivation: Word Detectives also specializes in facilitating motivation and engagement among participating students. Rather than relying on incentives, Word Detectives integrates research-based motivational strategies designed to encourage persistence, engagement, and independent learning. Motivational strategies are centered around four themes: autonomy, belonging, competence, and meaning. Many of the academic activities that reinforce these themes are borrowed from the Responsive Classroom program.

Student Reports & Parent Meetings: Head Teachers will also be responsible for participating in 20 min parent/teacher meetings midway through the program, and contributing to each student's progress report written at the end of the program. The report consists of a prepared template which details students’ pre-program performance and progress monitoring reading scores (not the teacher's responsibility). Head Teachers add several paragraphs about the concepts covered during instruction.

Position Type

Additional Information

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.  

Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more information.  

Northeastern University is an equal opportunity employer, seeking to recruit and support a broadly diverse community of faculty and staff.  Northeastern values and celebrates diversity in all its forms and strives to foster an inclusive culture built on respect that affirms inter-group relations and builds cohesion. 

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other  characteristic protected by applicable law.

To learn more about Northeastern University’s commitment and support of diversity and inclusion, please see www.northeastern.edu/diversity.