Read-a-Rama Online Educator Training
Professional development for educators
Take your storytimes and youth programming to the next level!
For 16 years, Camp Read-a-Rama has used music, movement, field trips, arts and crafts, community exploration, STEM, and children’s books to grow passionate, life-long readers.
Now you can learn their best practices for igniting a passion for reading, on your own schedule, with asynchronous training designed for teachers, librarians, and other educators.
Choose your learning pathway
Three pathways, one for every role in your Read-a-Rama program.
Leadership
For Site Directors and Program Facilitators
Lead the planning and execution of your organization’s Read-a-Rama programming. (Those roles may be combined.)
- 11 content-rich courses
- Live onboarding session
- Live launch planning sessions
Register for a cohort up to the week before the onboarding live session.
Upcoming cohorts
- August 1 – October 30, 2026
- October 1 – December 10, 2026
Program Staff
For staff who join in camp activities
Get ready to take part in camp activities at your organization’s Read-a-Rama programming.
- Eight (8) weeks to complete the pathway
- Register up to the last Friday of the month a cohort begins and still have the full eight weeks
Upcoming cohorts
- August 1 – October 30, 2026
- October 1 – December 10, 2026
Counselor-in-Training (CIT)
For teens ages 14–17
Prepare CITs to take part in camp activities at your organization’s Read-a-Rama programming.
- Register up to the last Friday of the month a cohort begins
Upcoming cohorts
- August 1 – October 30, 2026
- October 1 – December 10, 2026
Meet your instructor
Dr. Michelle H. Martin
Dr. Michelle H. Martin is the Beverly Cleary Endowed Professor for Children and Youth Services in the Information School at the University of Washington, where she teaches graduate courses in children’s and young adult literature and youth services. Michelle is a renowned author, essayist, lecturer, book critic, community literacy activist, and champion of diversity in children’s literature. She has published Brown Gold: Milestones of African-American Children’s Picture Books, 1845–2002 and Sexual Pedagogies: Sex Education in Britain, Australia, and America, 1879–2000 (co-edited with Claudia Nelson).
In addition to her teaching and writing, she is the founder and co-director of Camp Read-a-Rama with Dr. Rachelle D. Washington, a day camp for children ages 4–11 that uses children’s books as the springboard for all other camp activities.
Martin holds a B.A. from The College of William and Mary, an M.S. in Outdoor Teacher Education from Northern Illinois University, and a Ph.D. in English, specializing in Children’s and Young Adult Literature and Composition, from Illinois State University.
Get a taste of the training
Watch the recording of All Fired Up About Reading: Camp Read-a-Rama @ Your Library, our April 30, 2026 webinar.
Ready to get started?
Select Learn More and Register at the top of this page, then enter code ALAMEMBER2026 at checkout to save 10%.
About Camp Read-a-Rama
Camp Read-a-Rama is a non-profit that uses books for children as the springboard for all program activities. They champion children’s literacy because it is the cornerstone of opportunity, supporting children, especially in historically under-resourced communities, to develop the critical ability to read by third grade.
They envision a future in which every child has access to the programs, high quality books, and the community support they need to develop strong reading skills, and they are committed to fostering a nation of readers, one child and one book at a time.
